steering MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE 2005 Owner's Manual

82 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsEmergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 340).
BAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing the braking distance. Apply
continuous full braking pressure until the
emergency braking situation is over. The
ABS will prevent the wheels from locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 354).
Warning!
G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency be-
yond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction. The
ABS cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, following another vehicle too closely,
or hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
Warning!
G
If the BAS malfunctioning, the brake system
is still functioning normally, but without the
additional brake boost available that BAS
would normally provide in an emergency
braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking
distance may increase.
Warning!
G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that af-
forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes
and tires or the traction afforded. The BAS
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents. The capabili-
ties of a BAS equipped vehicle must never
be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user’s
safety or the safety of others.

100 Controls in detailSeatsFor information on seat adjustment, see
“Seats” (
page 35).
Easy-entry/exit feature*
This feature allows for easier entry into and
exit from the vehicle.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be
activated or deactivated in the Convenience
submenu of the control
system (
page 148). When exiting the vehicle, with the
easy-entry/exit feature activated and
depending on your selection, the steering
wheel tilts upwards and/or the driver’s
seat moves a few inches to the rear when
you:


remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch,
or


open the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch position
0
or 1.
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel and driver’s seat when the easy-en-
try/exit feature is activated.
To cancel seat/steering wheel movement,
do one of the following:

Press seat adjustment switch*
(page 38).


Move steering column stalk*
(page 41).


Press the memory position switch*
(page 108).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

101
Controls in detailSeats
When entering the vehicle, with the
easy-entry/exit feature activated, the
steering wheel or, depending on your
selection, the steering wheel and driver’s
seat will return to their last set position or
a factory-set maximum forward position
when you:

close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on


insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch with the driver’s door closed.
iIf the current position for the steering
wheel is in the uppermost tilt position,
the steering wheel will no longer be
able to move upward when the
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
If the current seat position falls into a
factory-set position range and the sys-
tem recognizes the current seat posi-
tion to be rearward enough for easy
entry and exit, the driver’s seat will not
move to the rear when the easy-entry/
exit feature is activated.
iFor safety reasons, the driver’s seat will
not return to its last set position with
the easy-entry/exit feature activated if
the system recognizes the last set posi-
tion as an extreme forward position. In-
stead, the driver’s seat will remain at or
move to a factory-set maximum for-
ward position. To again fully return the
driver’s seat to your last set position or
to memory position, adjust the seat to
the desired position or press and hold
the respective memory position but-
ton* (
page 108).

107
Controls in detail
Memory function*
 Memory function*
You can store up to three different settings
per SmartKey.
The following settings are saved for each
stored position:

Driver’s seat, backrest and head
restraint position


Steering wheel position


Exterior rear view mirror positions
These key-dependent memory settings
can be deactivated if desired. For informa-
tion on key-dependent memory settings,
see “Setting key-dependency”
(
page 149). The following settings are not
key-dependent. They are stored when
using the buttons on the passenger door:


Front passenger seat, backrest and
head restraint position.
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the driv-
er should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to en-
sure adequate control, reach and com-
fort. The head restraint should also be
adjusted for proper height. See also the
section on air bags (
page 61) for
proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the interior and
exterior rear view mirrors should be ad-
justed for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

108 Controls in detailMemory function*The memory button and memory position
switch are located on the door.1 Memory button
2 Memory position switch
Switch on the ignition (
page 33).
or

Open the respective door and insert
the SmartKey in the starter switch.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seats, steering wheel and
exterior rear view mirrors to the
desired position (
page 35).

Turn memory position switch 2 to
selected memory position.

Press memory button 1.

Release memory button 1 and press
memory position switch 2 within
three seconds.
All settings are stored at the selected
position.
Recalling positions from memory
Turn memory position switch 2 to
selected memory position.

Press and hold memory position
switch 2 until the seat, steering wheel
and exterior rear view mirrors have
completely moved to the stored
positions.!Do not operate the power seats using
the memory button if the seat backrest
is in an excessively reclined position.
Doing so could cause damage to front
or rear seats.iReleasing the memory position switch
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions immediately.

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.

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).

115
Controls in detail
Lighting
Driving forward
Switching on cornering fog lamps
Depending on whether you are turning
left or right, switch on the left or right
turn signal (
page 52).
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the road into which you
are turning. Switching off cornering fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
cornering fog lamps if they were activated
by switching on the left or right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and cornering
fog lamp can be switched off by returning
the combination switch to its original posi-
tion. Driving rearward
Switching on cornering fog lamps

Place the gear selector lever (manual
transmission: gearshift lever) in
position
R.
The inverse front fog lamp comes on
automatically depending on the
steering direction and steering angle.
Switching off cornering fog lamps

Place the gear selector lever (manual
transmission: gearshift lever) out of
position R.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
iThe cornering fog lamps will come on
automatically depending on the steer-
ing angle, even if you did not switch on
either turn signal. If the cornering fog
lamps came on automatically, they will
also go out automatically depending on
the steering angle.

121
Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer and main odometer in the
multifunction display (
page 123).

If it is not displayed, press button
è
or ÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel until the trip odometer appears
(page 124).

Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 119) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(page 24) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious
engine damage that is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

123
Controls in detail
Control system
 Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position 1. The control system
enables you to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to set the language
for messages in the instrument cluster
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1 Trip odometer
2 Main odometer
3 Current program mode (automatic
transmission*)
4 Current gear selector lever
position/gear range (automatic trans-
mission*)
5 Digital clock
6 Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
iThe displays for the audio systems
(radio and CD player) will appear in
English, regardless of the language
selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.