ESP MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS SALOON 2011 Owners Manual

Securing the vehicle on slight downhill gradients
(example: Saloon)
X
On downhill gradients: place chocks or
othe rsuitable items in fron tofthe wheels
of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle G
WARNING
The jack is intended only for lifting the vehicle
briefly for wheel changes.
The vehicle must be placed on stands if you
intend to work under it.
Make sure that the jack is placed on a firm,
non-slip, level surface. Do not use wooden
blocks or similar objects as a jack underlay.
The vehicle could otherwise slip off the jack
and seriously injure you.
Do not start the engine at any time while the
wheel is being changed.
Do not lie under the vehicle when it is being
supported by the jack. If you do not raise the
vehicle as described, it could slip off the jack
(e.g. if the engine is started or a door or the
boot lid/tailgate is opened or closed) and
seriously injure you. G
WARNING
If you fail to position the jack correctly, the
vehicle may:
R slip off the jack
R injure you or others
R be damaged.
Therefore, make sure that the jack is posi-
tioned correctly in the respective jacking points. Before positioning the jack, remove
any dirt that may have collected in the jacking
points. Please note that you must position the
jack in the opening of the jacking point.
X
Using wheel wrench :, loosen the bolts on
the wheel you wish to change by about one
full turn. Do not unscrew the bolts com-
pletely.
The jacking points are located just behind the
front wheel arches and just in front of the rear
wheel arches (arrows). Jacking points (example: Saloon)
X
Position jack =at jacking point ;. Flat tyre
343Breakdown assistance Z

X
Make sure that the base of the jack is posi-
tioned directly under the jacking point.
X Turn crank ?clockwise until jack =sits
completely on jacking point ;and the
base of the jack lies evenly on the ground.
X Turn crank ?until the tyre is raised a max-
imum of 3 cm from the ground.
Removing awheel X
Unscrew the wheel bolts.
! Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.
The threads of the wheel bolts and wheel
hubs could otherwise be damaged when
the bolts are tightened.
X Remove the wheel.
Fitting anew wheel G
WARNING
Replace damaged or corroded wheel bolts.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts. This could
cause the bolts to loose ninthe wheel hub. G
WARNING
If a wheel hub thread is damaged, you must
not drive the vehicle any further. Consult a
qualified specialist workshop which has the
necessary specialist knowledge and tools to
carry out the work required. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre or Service 24h for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety or
on safety-related systems must be carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
Only use wheel bolts that have been designed
for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety rea-
sons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use wheel bolts which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the
respective wheel. Other wheel bolts could
work loose or damage the brake system.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts completely
while the vehicle is still jacked up. The vehicle
could topple off the jack.
X Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces. X
Slide the emergency spare wheel/spare
wheel onto the wheel hub and push it on.
X Tighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
Lowering the vehicle X
Turn the crank of the jack anti-clockwise
until the vehicle is once again standing
firmly on the ground.
X Place the jack to one side. 344
Flat tyreBreakdown assistance

Do not continue to drive in run-flat mode if:
R
you hear banging noises.
R the vehicle starts to shake.
R you see smoke and smell rubber.
R ESP ®
is intervening constantly.
R there are tears in the sidewalls of the tyre.
After driving in run-flat mode, you must have
the wheel(s) checked for damage at a quali-
fied specialis tworkshop which has the nec-
essary specialist knowledge and tools to carry
out the work required. The faulty tyre must be
replaced in every case.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety or
on safety-related systems must be carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop.
i When replacing one or all tyres, make
sure that you only use tyres marked
MOExtended and of the specified size for
the vehicle.
i Vehicles with MOExtended tyres are not
equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory.
It is therefore recommended that you addi-
tionally equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT kit
if you fit tyres that do not feature run-flat
properties, e.g. winter tyres. A TIREFIT kit
can be obtained from a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Battery
Important safety notes
In order for the battery to achieve the maxi-
mum possible service life, it must always be
sufficiently charged.
Have the battery charge checked more fre-
quently if you use the vehicle mainly for short
trips or if you leave it standing idle for a
lengthy period.
Only replace a battery with a battery that has
been recommended by Mercedes-Benz. Consult a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre if
you wish to leave your vehicle parked up for
a long period of time. G
WARNING
Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries. Risk of explosion
Fire, naked flames and
smoking are prohibited
when handling the battery.
Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with the skin,
eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective
clothing, in particular
gloves, an apron and a face
mask.
Immediately rinse acid
splashes off with clean
water. Consult a doctor if
necessary.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Owner's Man-
ual.
H
Environmental note Batteries contain pollutants.
It is against the law to dis-
pose of them with the house-
hold rubbish. They must be
collected separately and 346
BatteryBreakdown assistance

recycled in an environmen-
tally responsible manner.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre, or to a special col-
lection point for old batter-
ies.
G
WARNING
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which have
been tested and approved for yourv ehicle by
Mercedes-Benz .These batteries provide
increased impact protection to prevent vehi-
cle occupants from suffering acid burns
should the battery be damaged in the event
of an accident.
To prevent acid burns, observe the following
safety notes when handling batteries:
R do not lean over the battery.
R do not place any metal objects on a battery.
Otherwise, you could cause a short circuit
and the battery's gas mixture could ignite.
R make sure that you do not create an elec-
trostatic charge, e.g. by wearing synthetic
clothing or as a result of friction on fabrics.
Therefore, you should not pull or slide the
battery over carpets or other synthetic
materials.
R never touch the battery first. To discharge
a possible electrostatic charge, step out of
the vehicle first and touch the bodywork.
R do not wipe the battery using a cloth. The
battery may explode as a result of electro-
static charge or due to flying sparks.
! Switch off the engine and remove the key
before disconnecting the terminal clamps
from the battery. On vehicles with KEY-
LESS-GO, make sure that the ignition is
switched off. Check that all the indicator
lamps in the instrumentc luster are off.You may otherwise destroy electronic compo-
nents, such as the alternator.
i When you park the vehicle, remove the
key if you do not require any electrical con-
sumers. The vehicle will then use very little
energy, thus conserving battery power.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you do not
carry out work on batteries yourself, e.g.
removing or charging. Have this work per-
formed at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g.
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Installation location of the battery
Your vehicle is equipped with a battery in the
engine compartment. It is fitted in front of the
front bulkhead on the right-hand side of the
vehicle when viewed in the direction of travel.
AMG vehicles: the battery is in the boot/
luggage compartment in the spare wheel well
on the right-hand side under the boot/lug-
gage compartment floor.
X Apply the parking brake firmly and, on vehi-
cles with automatic transmission, shift the
transmission to position P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers (e.g.
radio, blower, etc.).
X Turn the key to position 0(Ypage 153) in
the ignition lock and remove it, or, on vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO, make sure that the
ignition has been switched off
(Y page 153). All indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster must be off.
X Battery in the engine compartment:
open the bonnet (Y page 322). Battery
347Breakdown assistance Z

X
Press the mark on cover :inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
X Take cover :off the opening.
X Screw the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Attach cover :to the bumper and press
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit. Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Only possible on vehicles without
4MATIC.
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is importan tthat you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 351).
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 121).
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0 and remove the key from the ignition
lock.
X When leaving the vehicle, take the key or
the KEYLESS-GO key with you. Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 351). G
WARNING
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will then need much more effort to brake and steer the vehi-
cle. Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 121).
i When towing with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination
switch as usual to signal achange of direc-
tion. In this case, only the turn signals for
the desired direction flash. When the com-
bination switch is reset, the hazard warning
lamps start flashing again.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal.
X Engage neutral.
or
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake. Transporting the vehicle
The towing eyes or trailer tow hitch can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or trans-
porter if you wish to transport it.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
shift to neutral.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Move the selector lever to N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
shift to first gear or reverse gear. Towing and tow-starting
353Breakdown assistance Z

X
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
move the selector lever to P.
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0and remove the key from the ignition
lock.
X Secure the vehicle.
! Only lash the vehicle dow nby the wheels
or wheel rims, no tby parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could be damaged. Notes for 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC mus tnot be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise,
the transmission may be damaged.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it trans-
ported on a transporter or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical
system
If the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position P. To
shift the automatic transmission to position
N, you must provide power to the vehicle's
electrical system in the same way as when
jump-starting (Y page 350).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
When tow-starting, it is important that you
observe the safety instructions (Y page 351)
and the legal requirements in each respective
country.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. The transmission
may otherwise be damaged. Before tow-starting the following conditions
must be fulfilled:
R
the battery is connected.
R the engine has cooled down.
R the catalytic converters have cooled down.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 121).
X Fit the towing eye (Y page 352).
X Secure the rigid towing bar or the towing
rope.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Depress the clutch pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift to neutral.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Tow-start the vehicle.
X Engage second gear.
X Release the clutch pedal slowly; do not
operate the accelerator pedal while doing
so.
The engine is started.
X Depress the clutch pedal and shift to neu-
tral.
X Stop at a suitable place.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Remove the rigid towing bar or towing rope.
X Remove the towing eye (Y page 353).
X Switch off the hazard warning lamps. Electrical fuses
Important safety notes
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down
faulty circuits. If afuse blows, all the compo-
nents on the circuit and their functions stop
operating. G
WARNING
Only use fuses that have been approved for
Mercedes-Ben zvehicles and which have the
correct fuse rating for the systems con- 354
Electrical fusesBreakdown assistance

Tyre tread
G
WARNING
Bear in mind that:
R tyre grip decreases rapidly on we troads
when the tread depth is less than 3mm.
Thus, you should replace tyres that have
insufficient tread.
R winter tyres should be replaced when the
tread depth is 4mmorless as they no lon-
ger provide adequate grip.
R the tread on a tyre may not wear evenly.
Thus, you should regularly check the tread
depth and the condition of the tread across
the entire width of all tyres. If necessary,
turn the fron twheels to full lock in order to
inspect the tyre tread more easily.
Otherwise, you could lose control of the vehi-
cle and cause an accident due to the reduced
grip of the tyres on the road. Notes on selecting, fitting and replac-
ing tyres
R Only fit tyres and wheels of the same type
and make.
R Only fit tyres of the correct size onto the
wheels.
R After fittingn ew tyres, run them in at mod-
erate speeds for the first 100 km, as they
only reach their full performance after this
distance.
R Do not drive with tyres which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces
the traction on wet roads (aquaplaning).
R Replace the tyres after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear. This also applies to
the emergency spare wheel/spare wheel. MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics)
MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat char-
acteristics) allow you to continue driving the vehicle even when one or more tyres lose all
air pressure.
MOExtended tyres may only be used in con-
junction with the tyre pressure loss warning
system or with the tyre pressure monitor and
on wheels specifically tested by Mercedes-
Benz.
i Vehicles with MOExtended tyres are not
equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory.
It is therefore recommended that you addi-
tionally equip your vehicle with the TIREFIT
kit if you fit tyres that do not feature run-
flat properties, e.g. winter tyres. A TIREFIT
kit can be obtained from a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Notes on driving with MOExtended tyres in
the event of a flat tyre can be found in the
"Breakdown assistance" section
(Y page 345). Winter operation
Points to remember
At the onset of winter, have your vehicle win-
terproofed at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 365). Driving with summer tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, summer tyres
lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power; change the tyres on your vehi-
cle to M+S tyres. Using summer tyres at very
cold temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tyres permanently.
Mercedes-Benzc annot accept responsibility
for this type of damage. Winter operation
359Wheels and tyres Z

M+S tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, use winter tyres
or all-seaso ntyres .Both types of tyre are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tyres bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide the best possible grip in wintry road con-
ditions. Only these tyres will allow driving
safety systems such as ABS and ESP ®
to
function optimally in winter. These tyres have
been developed specifically for driving in
snow.
Use M+S tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics. G
WARNING
M+S tyres with a tread depth of less than
4mmm ust be replaced. They are no longer
suitable for winter use and can no longer pro-
vide sufficient grip .This could cause you to
lose control of your vehicle and cause an acci-
dent.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tyres you have
fitted.
If you fit M+S tyres that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than that of the vehi-
cle, affix an appropriate warning sign in the
driver's field of vision. This can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent SPEEDTRONIC so that it
does not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the M+S tyres(Y page 183).
When you have fitted M+S tyres:
X Check the tyre pressures (Y page 361).
X Restart the tyre pressure loss warning sys-
tem (Y page 362).
X Restart the tyre pressure monitor
(Y page 365). G
WARNING
If you fit the spare wheel when driving with M
+S tyres, bear in mind that driving stability will
be impaired due to unstable cornering char-
acteristics caused by the different tyres. You
should therefore adapt your driving style and
drive carefully.
Have the spare wheel replaced at the nearest
qualified specialist workshop which has the
necessary specialist knowledge and tools to
carry out the work required. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre for this purpose. In particular,
work relevant to safety or on safety-related
systems must be carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or that are of a corre-
sponding standard of quality.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R it is not permissible to attach snow chains
to all wheel-tyre combinations; see the
information under "Wheel/tyre combina-
tions" in the "Wheels and tyres" section.
R snow chains must not be fitted to emer-
gency spare wheels, e.g. a "Minispare"
emergency spare wheel.
R only fit snow chains in pairs and to the rear
wheels, even on vehicles with 4MATIC.
Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you wish
to fit snow chains to steel wheels, make
sure that you remove the respective
wheels' hubcaps first .The hubcaps may
otherwise be damaged.
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h. 360
Winter operationWheels and tyres

i
You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
(Y page 75) when pulling away with snow
chains fitted. This way you can allow the
wheels to spin in a controlled manner, ach-
ieving an increased driving force (cutting
action). Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure specifications
You will find a table of tyre pressures for var-
ious operating conditions on the inside of
your vehicle's fuel filler flap.
Operation with emergency spare wheel:
the applicable value for the emergency spare
wheel is stated on the spare wheel and in the
technical data section.
Operation with a trailer: the applicable
value for the rear tyres is the maximum tyre
pressure value stated on the table inside the
fuel filler flap.
The table inside the fuel filler flap may state
tyre pressures for differen tload conditions.
These are defined in the table as different
numbers of passengers and amounts of lug-
gage. The actual number of seats may vary –
for more information, please refer to the vehi-
cle's registration documents.
If no other data is stated, the tyre pressures
specified on the fuel filler flap apply for all
tyres approved for this vehicle. If a tyre size precedes a tyre pressure, the tyre
pressure information following is only valid
for that tyre size. G
WARNING
Tyre pressure that is either too high or too low
has a negative effect on the vehicle's driving
safety, which could lead you to cause an acci-
dent. Therefore, you should regularly check
the pressure of all the tyres, particularly prior
to long trips, and correc tthe pressure as nec-
essary.
To test tyre pressure, use a suitable pressure
gauge. The outer appearance of a tyre does
not permit any reliable conclusion about the
tyre pressure. On vehicles fitted with the elec-
tronic tyre pressure monitor, the tyre pres-
sure can be checked using the on-board com-
puter. G
WARNING
Do not fit anything else to the tyre valve other
than the standard valve cap. In particular, ret-
rofitted tyre pressure monitors which are
screwed on to the valve may overload it and
cause it to fail. Due to their design, the valve
is kept open continuously,w hich may lead to
air loss. G
WARNING
Should the tyre pressure drop repeatedly:
R check the tyre for foreign bodies.
R check whether the wheel is losing air or the
valve is leaking.
R make sure that only a valve cap approved
by Mercedes-Benz is fitted on the tyre
valve.
Tyre pressures that are too low have a nega-
tive effect on vehicle safety, which could lead
you to cause an accident.
If possible, only correct tyre pressures when
the tyres are cold.
The tyres are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked with the tyres
out of direct sunlight for at least three
hours and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than 1.6 km Tyre pressure
361Wheels and tyres Z

Depending on the ambient temperature, the
speed you are driving at and the load on the
tyres, the tyre temperature and thus the tyre
pressure may change by approximately
10 kPa (0.1 bar/1.5 psi) per 10 †. Take this
into account when checking the pressure of
warm tyres and only correct it if it is too low
for the current operating conditions.
Driving with tyre pressure tha
tis too high or
too low can:
R shorten the service life of the tyres
R cause increased tyre damage
R have a negative effect on handling charac-
teristics and thus the driving safety (e.g. by
causing aquaplaning)
i The tyre pressure values given for low
loads are minimum values which offer you
good ride comfort characteristics.
However, you can also use the values given
for higher loads. These are permissible and
will not adversely affect the running of the
vehicle. H
Environmental note
Check the tyre pressure regularly, at least
every 14 days.
You will find information on tyre pressures for
the vehicle's factory-mounted tyres on the
plates described here. Tyre pressure loss warning system
Important safety notes While the vehicle is in motion, the tyre pres-
sure loss warning system monitors the set
tyre pressure using the rotational speed of
the wheels. This enables the system to detect
significant pressure loss in a tyre. If the speed
of rotation of a wheel changes as a result of
a loss of pressure, a corresponding warning
message will appearint
he multifunction dis-
play. G
WARNING
The tyre pressure loss warning system does
not warn you of an incorrectly set tyre pres-
sure. The table on the inside of the fuel filler
flap will help you decide whether the tyre
pressures should be corrected.
The tyre pressure loss warning system does
not replace the need to regularly check your
vehicle's tyre pressures, since an even loss of
pressure on several tyres at the same time
cannot be detected by the tyre pressure loss
warning system.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tyre is penetrated by a foreign object.
In the event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring
the vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Do
not make any sudden steering movements
when doing so.
The function of the tyre pressure loss warning
system is limited or delayed if:
R snow chains are fitted to your vehicle's
tyres.
R road conditions are wintry.
R you are driving on sand or gravel.
R you adopt a very sporty driving style (cor-
nering at high speeds or driving with high
rates of acceleration).
R you are towing a very heavy or large trailer.
R you are driving with a heavy load (in the
vehicle or on the roof).
Restarting the tyre pressure loss warn-
ing system Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system
if you have:
R
changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
X Before restarting, consult the table of tyre
pressures on the inside of the fuel filler flap
to ensure that the tyre pressure in all four 362
Tyre pressureWheels and tyres