MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class 2011 W204 Owner's Manual
Manufacturer: MERCEDES-BENZ, Model Year: 2011, Model line: C-Class, Model: MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class 2011 W204Pages: 320, PDF Size: 13.17 MB
Page 221 of 320

occupied, or the extended cargo volume is not
in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the seat backrest.
In an accident, during hard braking or sudden
maneuvers, loose items will be thrown around
inside the vehicle. This can cause injury to
vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a collision
or sudden maneuver, exercise care when
transporting cargo.
iYou should always engage the rear seat
backrests if you do not need the through-
loading feature. This will prevent
unauthorized access to the trunk from the
vehicle interior.
XAdjust the head restraints if necessary
(Y page 96).
XMove the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
Securing cargos
Lashing eyelets
Observe the following notes on securing
loads:
Rsecure the load using the cargo tie down
rings.
Rdo not use elastic straps or nets to secure
a load, as these are only intended as an
anti-slip protection for light loads.
Rdo not route tie downs across sharp edges
or corners.
Rpad sharp edges for protection.
There are four cargo tie down rings in the
trunk.
Vehicles with through-loading feature on the rearbench seat
:cargo tie down rings
Bag hooks
! The bag hook can bear a maximum load
of 6.6 lbs (3 kg). Do not use it to secure a
load.
:Bag hook
Stowage well under the trunk floor
The TIREFIT kit, the vehicle tool kit, etc. are
located in the stowage compartment.
Stowage areas219Loading, stowing and featuresBA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 219Z
Page 222 of 320

XTo open: pull handle : upwards.XHook handle : into rain trough ;.
! Unhook the handle before again before
closing the trunk lid and clip it in securely
to prevent the handle flap from protruding.
Otherwise, you could damage the handle.
Roof carrier
Important safety notes
GWarning!
Only use roof racks approved by Mercedes-
Benz for your vehicle model to avoid damage
to the vehicle.
Follow the manufacturer's installation
instructions. Otherwise, an improperly
attached roof rack system or its load could
become detached from the vehicle.
Do not exceed the maximum roof load of
220 lb (100 kg).
Take into consideration that when the roof
rack is loaded, the handling characteristics
are different from those when operating the
vehicle without the roof rack loaded.
! Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use roof carriers that have been tested
and approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
This helps to prevent damage to the
vehicle.
Position the cargo on the roof rack in such
a way that the vehicle will not sustain
damage even when it is in motion.
Depending on the vehicle equipment,
ensure that when the roof carrier is
installed you can:
Rraise the tilt/sliding sunroof fully
Ropen the panorama roof with power tilt/
sliding panel fully
Ropen the trunk lid fully
! To avoid damaging or scratching the
covers, do not use metallic or hard objects
to open them.
Fastening the roof carrier
XOpen covers : carefully in the direction of
the arrow.
XFold covers : upwards.XOnly secure the roof carrier to the
anchorage points under covers :.
XObserve the manufacturer's installation
instructions.
Features
Cup holder
Points to observe before use
GWarning
In order to help prevent spilling liquids on
vehicle occupants and/or vehicle equipment,
only use containers that fit into the cup
holder. Use lids on open containers and do
not fill containers to a height where the
contents, especially hot liquids, could spill
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an
220FeaturesLoading, stowing and features
BA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 220
Page 223 of 320

accident. Liquids spilled on vehicle occupants
may cause serious personal injury. Liquids
spilled on vehicle equipment may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
When not in use, keep the cup holder closed.
An open cup holder may cause injury to you
or others when contacted during braking,
vehicle maneuvers, or in an accident.
Keep in mind that objects placed in the cup
holder may come loose during braking,
vehicle maneuvers, or in an accident and be
thrown around in the vehicle interior. Objects
thrown around in the vehicle interior may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Cup holder in the center console
Cup holder in the rear seat armrest
! Do not sit or lean your bodyweight on the
armrests when they are folded out as you
could damage them.
! Only fold the armrests up when the cup
holder is closed. The cup holder may
otherwise be damaged.
XTo open: raise the armrest cover.XPress release catch :.
Cup holder ; folds out forwards.
XSwing the armrest cover back down, if
necessary.
XTo close: raise the armrest cover.XSwing cup holder ; back until it engages.XSwing the armrest cover back down, if
necessary.
Sun visors
Overview of the sun visor
GWarning
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the vanity mirrors in the sun visors
closed while the vehicle is in motion.
Reflected glare can endanger you and others.
:Mirror light;Bracket=Retaining clip, e.g. for a car park ticketFeatures221Loading, stowing and featuresBA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 221Z
Page 224 of 320

?Vanity mirrorAMirror cover
Vanity mirror in the sun visor
Mirror light : only functions if the sun visor
is clipped into retainer ; and mirror cover
A has been folded up.
Glare from the side
XFold down the sun visor.XPull the sun visor out of retainer ;.XSwing the sun visor to the side.XPull or push the sun visor in the direction of
the arrow.
Roller sunblinds for the rear side
windows
XTo extend: pull the roller sunblind out by
tab : and hook it onto retainers ; at the
top of the window.
! Always guide the roller sunblind by hand.
Do not let it snap back suddenly as this
would damage the automatic roller
mechanism.
! Do not drive the vehicle with the roller
sunblind hooked in and the side windows
opened simultaneously. The roller sunblind
can jump out of the retainers and spring
back suddenly when driving at high speeds,
e.g. when driving on the freeway. This could
damage the inertia reel. Therefore, either
close the side window or retract the roller
sunblind before driving at high speeds.
Rear window roller sunblind (Sedan)
To extend/retract the roller sunblind
GWarning
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could:
Rinjure themselves on parts of the vehicle
Rbe seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
Rinjure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
222FeaturesLoading, stowing and features
BA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 222
Page 225 of 320

hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts.
GWarning!
When operating the rear window sunshade
make sure there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the extending or retracting
procedure.
The extending or retracting procedure can be
immediately halted by briefly pressing rear
window sunshade switch. To reverse direction
of movement, press rear window sunshade
switch again.
! Make sure that the roller sunblind can
move freely. Otherwise, the roller sunblind
or other objects could be damaged.
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
XTo extend or retract: briefly press
button :.
The roller sunblind fully extends or fully
retracts.
Ashtray
Ashtray in the cockpit
iThere is a stowage space under the
ashtray.
! The stowage space under the ashtray is
not heat resistant. Before placing lit
cigarettes in the ashtray, make sure that
the ashtray is properly engaged. Otherwise,
the stowage space could be damaged.
XTo open: slide cover : forwards until it
engages.
XTo remove the insert: hold insert = by
the ribbing at the sides and lift it up and
out ;.
XTo refit the insert: press insert = into the
holder until it engages.
XTo close: press cover : briefly at the
front.
The cover moves back.
Ashtray in the rear compartment
XTo open: pull cover ; out by its top edge.XTo remove the insert: press release
button = and lift the insert up and out.
XTo re-insert the insert: replace insert :
from above.
XPress insert : into the holder until it
engages.
Features223Loading, stowing and featuresBA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 223Z
Page 226 of 320

Cigarette lighterGWarning
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could:
Rinjure themselves on parts of the vehicle
Rbe seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
Rinjure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts.
GWarning
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the lighter; they are extremely hot. Hold the
knob only.
Make sure any children traveling with you do
not injure themselves or start a fire with the
hot cigarette lighter.
Center console, front
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
XSlide cover : forwards until it engages.XPress in cigarette lighter ;.
Cigarette lighter ; will pop out
automatically when the heating element is
red-hot.
12 V sockets
Points to observe before use
! If you are using all sockets in the vehicle,
make sure that you do not exceed the
maximum current draw of 55 A. Otherwise,
you will overload the fuses.
The socket can be used for accessories with
a maximum power consumption of 180 W,
e.g. lamps or chargers for mobile phones.
If you use the socket for long periods when
the engine is switched off, the battery may
discharge.
Dashboard socket
The socket is installed in vehicles with audio
equipment or COMAND.
224FeaturesLoading, stowing and features
BA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 224
Page 227 of 320

XOpen the glove box (Y page 216).XLift up the cover of socket :.
An additional socket is installed in the center
console on vehicles without an ashtray with
cigarette lighter.
XTo open: slide cover : forwards until it
engages.
XLift up the cover of socket ;.XTo close: press cover : briefly at the
front.
The cover moves back.
Socket in the rear compartment
A socket is installed in the center console in
the rear compartment in vehicles with an
ashtray and a cigarette lighter.
XPull cover ; out by its top edge.XLift up the cover of socket :.
115 V socket
GWarning!
The 115V AC socket operates at high voltage.
Use the 115V AC socket in the vehicle with
the same caution and prudence that you
exercise when using power outlets at home.
Keep any fluids away from the 115V AC
socket. Do not clean the socket with fluids or
tapered objects. Keep the 115V AC socket
cover in the closed position, when not in use.
Otherwise, you could suffer an electric shock
and be seriously or even fatally injured.
GWarning!
A device that you connect must have a
suitable plug that complies with U.S.
standards. Never pull on the cable to unplug
a plug from the 115V AC socket. Do not use
a damaged connection cable. The 115V AC
socket may not be connected to another
115V AC power source. Do not use converters
to a grounding plug with the 115V AC socket.
This could cause serious personal injury to
you and/or others.
GWarning!
If the 115V AC socket is damaged or torn out
of the trim, do not use or touch the 115V AC
socket. Using a 115V AC socket that is
damaged or torn out of the trim could cause
serious personal injury to you and/or others.
Features225Loading, stowing and featuresBA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 225Z
Page 228 of 320

The 115 V AC power socket : provides an
alternating voltage of 115 V, so that small
electronic devices can be connected. These
devices, such as games consoles, chargers
and laptops, should not consume more than
a maximum of 150 W altogether.
Requirements for operation of these devices:
R 12 V power sockets in the footwell of the
second row of seats and in the stowage
compartment must be functioning
correctly ( Y page 224).
R the plug of the electronic device is plugged
into the 115 V power socket :.
R the on-board voltage is within a permissible
voltage range.
R the maximum wattage of the device to be
connected must not exceed 150 W.
XOpen flap =.XInsert the plug of the electrical device into
the 115 V power socket :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up.
If indicator lamp ; does not light up, please
read the chapter on malfunctions.
XTo turn off: disconnect the plug from the
115 V power socket :.
Ensure that you do not pull on the cord.XClose flap =.Possible causes of malfunction:
R the on-board voltage of the vehicle is not
within the permissible voltage range.
R the temperature of the DC/AC converter is
momentarily too high.
R some small electronic devices have a
constant nominal power of less than
150 W, but a very high inrush current.
These devices will not work. If you connect
such a device, the 115 V power socket :
will not supply it with power.
If indicator lamp ; still does not light up,
consult a specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
mbrace 25
Important safety notes
! A license agreement must exist in order
to activate the mbrace service. Make sure
that your system is activated and ready for
use, and press the ï MB info call button
to register. If you cannot carry out any of
the steps mentioned, the system may not
be activated.
If you have any questions concerning
activation, please contact one of the
following service hotlines:
R USA: Response Center under
866-990-9007
R Canada: Customer Service under
1-888-923-8367
Shortly after successfully registering with the
mbrace service, a user ID and password will
be sent to you by post. You can use this
password to log in to the mbrace section
under "Owners Online" at http://
www.mbusa.com 26
.
The mbrace system is available if:
R it has been activated and is operational.
Activation requires an available cellular
25 The system is called TELEAID in Canada.
26 USA only.226FeaturesLoading, stowing and features
BA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 226
Page 229 of 320

phone network, a valid SIM card and a
service subscription to a surveillance
service provider.
R the battery is sufficiently charged.
R the corresponding cellular phone network
is available for transmitting data to the
customer center.
i Determining the location of the vehicle on
a map is only possible if there is sufficient
GPS reception and the vehicle position can
be forwarded to the customer center.
The mbrace system
The mbrace system provides three different
services:
R automatic and manual emergency call
R Roadside Assistance call
R MB info call
To control the volume during an mbrace call,
proceed as follows:
XPress the W or X button on the
multifunction steering wheel.
or
XUse the volume controller of the audio
system.
You can find information and a description of
all available features under "Owners Online"
at http://www.mbusa.com 27
System self-test
After you have switched on the ignition, the
system carries out a self-diagnosis.
GWarning
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if any or all of the following
conditions occur:
R The indicator lamp in the SOS button does
not come on during the system self-test.
R The indicator lamp in Roadside Assistance
button F does not come on during the
system self-test.
R The indicator lamp in Information button
ï does not come on during the system
self-test.
R The indicator lamp in the SOS button,
Roadside Assistance button F, or
Information button ï remains
illuminated constantly in red after the
system self-test.
R The message Tele Aid Inoperative or
Tele Aid Not Activated appears in the
multifunction display after the system self-
test.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined above,
the system may not operate as expected. In
case of an emergency, help will have to be
summoned by other means.
Have the system checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or contact
the following service hotlines:
R USA: Response Center under the number
866-990-9007
R Canada: Customer Service under
1-888-923-8367.
Emergency call
Important safety notes
! A license agreement must exist in order
to activate the mbrace service. Make sure
that your system is activated and ready for
use, and press the ï MB info call button
to register. If you cannot carry out any of
the steps mentioned, the system may not
be activated.
27 USA only.Features227Loading, stowing and featuresBA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 227Z
Page 230 of 320

If you have any questions concerning
activation, please contact one of the
following service hotlines:
R USA: Response Center under
866-990-9007
R Canada: Customer Service under
1-888-923-8367
An emergency call is dialed automatically if
an air bag or Emergency Tensioning Device is
triggered.
i An automatically dialed mbrace
emergency call cannot be canceled.
An emergency call can also be dialed
manually.
Once the emergency call is in progress, the
indicator lamp in the SOS button flashes. The
Connecting Call message appears in the
multifunction display.
COMAND is muted.
Once a connection has been established, the
Call Connected message appears in the
multifunction display.
All important information on the emergency
is compiled, for example:
R current location of the vehicle (as
determined by the GPS system)
R vehicle model
R vehicle color
R vehicle identification number
A voice connection between the Response
Center and the occupants of the vehicle will
be established automatically soon after the
emergency call has been initiated. If the
vehicle occupants are responsive, the
Response Center attempts to get more
information on the emergency.
i If no vehicle occupant answers, an
ambulance is immediately sent to the
vehicle.GWarning
If the indicator lamp in the SOS button is
flashing continuously and there was no voice
connection to the Response Center
established, then the mbrace system could
not initiate an emergency call (e.g. the
relevant cellular phone network is not
available).
The message Call Failed appears in the
multifunction display for approximately
10 seconds.
Should this occur, assistance must be
summoned by other means.
Making an emergency callXTo initiate an emergency call
manually: press cover : briefly to open.XPress SOS button ; briefly.
The indicator lamp in SOS button ;
flashes until the emergency call is ended.XWait for the voice connection with the
Response Center.XAfter the emergency call is ended, close
cover :.GWarning
If you feel at any way in jeopardy when in the
vehicle (e.g. smoke or fire in the vehicle,
vehicle in a dangerous road location), please
do not wait for voice contact after you have
pressed the SOS button. Carefully leave the
vehicle and move to a safe location. The
Response Center will automatically contact
local emergency officials with the vehicle's
approximate location if they receive an
automatic SOS signal and cannot make voice
contact with the vehicle occupants.
228FeaturesLoading, stowing and features
BA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 228