light MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE 2005 User Guide

57
Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
M
(page 51).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 110).
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in position P
(manual transmission: first or reverse gear)
is dangerous. Also, when parked on an
incline, position P (manual transmission:
first or reverse gear) alone may not prevent
your vehicle from moving, possibly hitting
people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to position P (manual transmission:
first or reverse gear).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could release the parking brake and/or
move the gear selector lever from position P
(manual transmission: into neutral), either of
which could result in an accident and/or se-
rious injury.

65
Safety and Security
Occupant safety
When you sell your vehicle we strongly
urge you to give notice to the subsequent
owner that it is equipped with an SRS by
alerting them to the applicable section in
the Operator’s Manual.
Front air bags
1 Driver’s air bag
2 Passenger front air bag
Driver and front passenger air bags are
deployed:


in the event of certain frontal impacts


if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold


independently of the side impact air
bags


In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended air
bag deployment. Work on the SRS must
therefore only be performed by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.


For your protection and the protection
of others, when scrapping the air bag
unit or emergency tensioning device,
our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These instructions are available
from your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.


Given the considerable deployment
speed, required inflation volume, and
the textile structure of the air bags,
there is the possibility of abrasions or
other more significant injuries resulting
from air bag deployment.
iThe front air bags in this vehicle have
been designed to inflate in two stages.
This allows the air bag to have different
rates of inflation that are based on the
rate of relevant vehicle deceleration as
assessed by the air bag control unit.
On the front passenger side, the front
air bag deployment is additionally influ-
enced by the passenger’s weight cate-
gory as identified by the Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(page 73).
The lighter the front passenger side
occupant, the higher the vehicle decel-
eration rate required for the second
stage inflation of the air bag.

77
Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Self-test Occupant Classification
System
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position
1 or 2, the
56 indicator lamp 1 located in
the center console illuminates. If an adult
occupant is properly sitting on the front
passenger seat and the system senses the
occupant as being an adult, the
56 indicator lamp will illuminate
and go out after approximately six sec-
onds.
If the seat is not occupied and the system
senses the front passenger seat as being
empty, the 56indicator lamp will
illuminate and not go out. For more information, see “Lamp in center
console” (
page 345).Installation of infant and child restraint
systems
This vehicle is equipped with tether an-
chorages for a top tether strap at each of
the rear seating positions.
1 Anchorage rings

Release rear seat backrest
(page 251).

Fold rear seat backrest slightly for-
ward.

Guide tether strap between head
restraint and top of the seat back.
Warning!
G
If the 56 indicator lamp should not
illuminate, the system is not functioning.
You must see an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center before seating any child on the front
passenger seat.Warning!
G
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the Occupant Classifi-
cation System. The bottom of the child seat
must make full contact with the passenger
seat cushion. An incorrectly mounted child
seat could cause injuries to the child in case
of an accident, instead of increasing protec-
tion for the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of child seats.


81
Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
 Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)


BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)


ESP (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions. On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even to light brake pressure.
The
- indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 24) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.

Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the pul-
sation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of ac-
cidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns


Wet and slippery road surfaces


Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS and ESP cannot reduce this
risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
iIn winter operation, the maximum ef-
fectiveness of the ABS and ESP is only
achieved with winter tires (M + S tires),
or snow chains as required.Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.

89
Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster Control system
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Automatic climate control* Audio system
Power windows
Panorama roof with power tilt/sliding panel*
Driving systemsLoading
Useful features

110 Controls in detailLightingFor more information on how to switch on
the headlamps and use the turn signals,
see “Switching on headlamps” (
page 51)
and “Turn signals”(
page 52).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switchM Off
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 144)
U Automatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 144) C
Parking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only: When engine is run-
ning, the low beam is also switched
on.
B Low beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the combi-
nation switch pushed forward) and
parking lamps.
ˆ Standing lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚ Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
‡ Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
† Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country where the vehicle is regis-
tered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

111
Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light:


Low beam headlamps


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps

Turn exterior lamp switch to
position
U.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position 1, only the parking lamps will
switch on and off automatically.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.
iWith the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch and the driver’s door
open, while the parking lamps or low
beam headlamps are switched on,

a warning sounds


$ appears in the multifunction
display


the message
Switch off lights.

appears in the multifunction display
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set to U,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright am-
bient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others, acti-
vate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch to B when driving or when traffic
and / or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from position U to B with the
vehicle at a standstill. Switching from U
to B will briefly switch off the head-
lamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient
lighting conditions may result in an acci-
dent.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle's lights at all
times.

112 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU .
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly.

Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to position B to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps. Canada only
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to position
N or P,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a three-minute time delay.
When the engine is running, and you


turn the exterior lamp switch to
position C, the parking lamps
switch on additionally.


turn the exterior lamp switch to
position B, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 110). USA only
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime run-
ning lamp mode using the control system,
see “Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)” (
page 144).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to position C
or B , the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 110).
Locator lighting and night security
illumination
The locator lighting and night security illu-
mination are described in the control sys-
tem section, see “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 145) and “Headlamps delayed
shut off” (
page 146).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the exterior lamp switch
in position M, the high beam head-
lamps cannot be switched on.

113
Controls in detail
Lighting
Fog lamps
Front fog lamps

Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 110).

Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps are switched on
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps are switched off.
The green indicator lamp ‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out. Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)

Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 113).

Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The rear fog lamps are switched on.
The yellow indicator lamp
† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp † in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position U to B with
the vehicle at a standstill. Switching from
U to B will briefly switch off the head-
lamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient
lighting conditions may result in an acci-
dent.iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding permis-
sible lamp operation.
iThe fog lamps cannot be switched on
with exterior lamp switch in
position U. For switching the fog
lamps, turn exterior lamp switch to
position B first.

114 Controls in detailLightingCombination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2 High beam flasher High beam

Turn exterior lamp switch to
position
B orU (
page 110).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow 1 to switch on the high
beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lamp A in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow 2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lamp A in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow 2.
Cornering fog lamps*
The cornering fog lamps improve illumina-
tion of the road into which you are turning.
Cornering fog lamps will operate with the
engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
position B (
page 110)
or


the exterior lamp switch in
position U (
page 110)
or


the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 112)
iCornering fog lamps will only come on
in low ambient lighting conditions.
The cornering fog lamps function is not
available at a vehicle speed above
25 mph (40 km/h).