towing MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS SALOON 2011 Owner's Guide

You can obtain further information about
installing the trailer electrics fro
maqualified
specialist workshop, e.g. aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
X To switch the connected power supply
on or off: turn the key in the ignition lock
to position 2or 0respectively. Bulb failure indicator for LED lamps
i If LED lamps are fitted in the trailer, an
error message may appear in the multi-
function display even if there is no fault. The
reason for the error message may be that
the curren thas falle nbelow the minimum
of 50 milliamperes (mA).
To ensure reliable operation of the bulb failure
indicator, each LED chain in the trailer lighting
must be guaranteed a minimum current of
50 mA. Trailer with 7-pin connector
General information If your trailer has a 7-pin connector, you can
connect it to the 13-pin socket on the ball
coupling using an adapter or, if necessary, an
adapter cable. Both of these can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Fitting the adapter X
Open the socket cover.
X Insert the connector with lug :into
groove ;on the socket and turn the con-
nector clockwise to the stop.
X Let the cover engage.
X If you are using an adapter cable, secure
the cable to the trailer with cable ties.
! Make sure that there is sufficien tcable
play so that the cable canno tbecome
detached when cornering. 220
Towing
atrailerDriving an d parking

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
Blind Spot Assist
currently unavail‐
able See Owner's
Manual orActive
Blind Spot Assist
currently unavail‐
able See Owner's
Manual Blind Spot Assis
torActive Blind Spot Assist is temporarily inop-
erative .Possible causes:
R you have established the electrical connection between the
trailer and your vehicle.
R the sensors are dirty.
R function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the radar sensor system is outside the operating temperature
range.
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio sta-
tions or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
The yellow 9indicator lamps also light up in the exterior mir-
rors.
X When towing a trailer, confirm the display message with a.
If you are driving without a trailer and the display message does
not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Clean the sensors (Y page 330).
X Restart the engine.
If the system detects that the sensors are fully operational, the
display message disappears.
Blind Spot Assist or Active Blind Spot Assist is operational again. Blind Spot Assist
inopera‐
tive orActive Blind
Spot Assist inoper‐
ative Blind Spot Assist or Active Blind Spot Assist is faulty.
The yellow
9indicator lamps also light up in the exterior mir-
rors.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Parking Guidance
inoperative Parking Guidance is malfunctioning (Y
page 199).
X Restart the engine.
If the display message continues to be displayed:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 276
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Useful information
............................302
Loading guidelines ............................302
Stowage areas .................................. 302
Features ............................................. 314 301Stowing and features

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment
available to your vehicle at the time of pub-
lication of the Owner's Manual. Country-
specific deviations are possible. Please
note that your vehicle may not be equipped
with all features described. This also
applies to safety-relevan tsystems and
functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops (Y page 28).Loading guidelines
G
WARNING
Secure and position the load as described in
the loading guidelines.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could
be injured by the load being throw naround in
the event of sharp braking, a sudden change
in direction or an accident.
You will find further informatio ninthe "Secur-
ing a load" section.
Even if you follow all the loading guidelines,
the load will increase the risk of injury in the
event of an accident. G
WARNING
Keep the boot lid/tailgate closed while the
vehicle is in operation. Otherwise, exhaust
fumes could enter the vehicle interior and poi-
son you.
The handling characteristics of a laden vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of the
load within the vehicle. For this reason, you
should observe the following notes when
transporting a load:
R when transporting a load, never exceed the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight or the permissible axle loads for the vehicle
(including occupants).
R position heavy loads as far forwards as pos-
sible and as low down in the boot/luggage
compartmenta s possible.
R the load must not protrude above the upper
edge of the seat backrests.
R always place the load against the rear or
front seat backrests. Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
R always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R secure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistant lashing material. Pad sharp
edges for protection.
i Load restraints are available at any quali-
fied specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre. Stowage areas
Stowage compartments
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The stowage compartments must be closed
when items are stored in them. Luggage nets
are not designed to secure heavy items of
luggage.
You or other vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
Sharp-edged and fragile objects must not be
placed in the luggage net.
Do not place hard objects in the map pockets.
Objects must not protrude from the map
pockets. 302
Stowage areasStowing and features

Front stowage compartments
Glove compartment
i
The glove compartmen tcan be cooled
(Y page 148). X
To open: pull handle :and open glove
compartment flap ;.
X To close: fold glove compartmen tflap ;
upwards until it engages.
The glove compartmen tcan only be locked
and unlocked using the emergency key ele-
ment. X
To lock: insert the emergency key element
into the lock and turn it 90° clockwise to
position 2.
X To unlock: insert the emergency key ele-
ment into the lock and turn it 90° anti-
clockwise to position 1.
Spectacles compartment
There is a compartmen tto stow spectacles in
the roof lining on the driver's side. X
To open: pull down spectacles compart-
ment :by the handle.
Stowage compartment in the centre con-
sole X
To open: slide cover :back.
Stowage compartment/telephone com-
partment under the armrest
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment, a
USB port and an AUX-IN jack or a Media
Interface are installed in the stowage com-
partment. A Media Interface is a universal
interface for portable audio equipment, e.g.
for an iPod ®
or MP3 player( see the sepa-
rate Audio or COMAND operating instruc-
tions). Stowage areas
303Stowing and features Z

X
To open: press left-hand button ;or right-
hand button :.
The stowage compartment opens.
Stowage compartment under the front
seats G
WARNING
Only load the stowage compartment with the
maximu mpermissible load of 1.5 kg. Other-
wise, the transported load could, for example,
be thrown out of the stowage compartment if
you change direction suddenly or brake
sharply and could injure you or others.
i On vehicles with a fire extinguisher
instead of a stowage compartment, the fire
extinguisher is installed under the driver's
seat. X
To open: pull handle :up and fold
cover ;forwards. Rear stowage compartments Stowage compartment in the rear com-
partment
X
To open: fold down seat armrest ;.
X Fold cover :of the armrest upwards. Luggage nets
G
WARNING
Only place lightweight objects in the luggage
net. Do not use it to transport heavy, sharp-
edged or fragile objects. The luggage net can-
not secure the objects sufficiently in the event
of an accident.
Luggage nets are located in the front-
passenger footwell, on the rear of the driver's
and front-passenger seat backrests and on
the left-hand side in the boot (Saloon) or on
the left and right-hand side of the luggage
compartment (Estate). Through-loading facility in the rear
bench seat
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle or in the boot unless they are secured.
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak- 304
Stowage areasStowing and features

ing, a sudden change in direction or an acci-
dent. G
WARNING
Always drive with the boot lid closed. Exhaust
fumes could otherwise enter the vehicle inte-
rior.
The left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr-
ests can be folded down separately to
increase the boot capacity.
Folding the seat backrest forwards !
Before you fold down the rear seat back-
rest, remove the side head restraints for
the integrated child seat; see the "Side
head restraints for integrated child seat"
section. The side head restraints could oth-
erwise be damaged.
X Move the driver's or front-passenge rseat
forward if necessary.
X Open the boot.
X Pull right-hand or left-hand rear seat back-
rest release handle :.
The corresponding rear seat backrest is
released.
X Fully insert the rear seat backrest head
restraints. X
Fold rear seat backrest ;forwards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
Folding back the seat backrest X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat
backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged.
X Fold rear seat backrest :back until it
engages. G
WARNING
Make sure that the rear seat backrest is cor-
rectly engaged. Otherwise, vehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident Stowage areas
305Stowing and features
Z

If the rear seat backrest is not engaged, this
will be shown in the multifunction display in
the instrument cluster.
i You should always engage the rear seat
backrests if you do not need the through-
loading feature. This will prevent unauthor-
ised access to the boot from the vehicle
interior.
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary
(Y page 107).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. Enlarging the luggage compartment
(Estate)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle or in the luggage compartment unless
they are secured.
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak-
ing, a sudden change in direction or an acci-
dent.
When using the enlarged luggage compart-
ment, always clip in the safety net.
When transporting objects in the luggage
compartment, the combined luggage cover
and net (luggage compartment cover and
safety net) must be attached to the rear seat
backrest. G
WARNING
Always drive with the tailgate closed. Exhaust
fumes could otherwise enter the vehicle inte-
rior.
! Before you fold down the rear seat back-
rest, remove the side head restraints for
the integrated child seat; see the "Side
head restraints for integrated child seat" section. The side head restraints could oth-
erwise be damaged.
The left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr-
ests can be folded forward sseparately to
increase the luggage compartment capacity.
Folding the rear seat backrest forward If the combined luggage cover and net is fit-
ted with the luggage compartment cover and
safety net, both rear seat backrests can be
folded forwards only if you first fold the right-
hand rear seat backrest forwards. Otherwise,
only the right-hand backrest can be folded
forwards individually.
X
Fully insert the backrest head restraints
(Y page 107).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
X Pull left-hand or right-hand release han-
dle ;of the seat backrest forwards.
Corresponding seat backrest :is
released.
X Fold seat backrest :forwards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. 306
Stowage areasStowing and features

Folding the rear seat backrest back
X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat
backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged.
X Fold seat backrest :bac kuntil it engages.
Red lock status indicator ;is no longer
visible. G
WARNING
Make sure that the seat backrest is correctly
engaged .The red lock verification indicators
on the left and right sides should no longer be
visible. If they are visible, the backrests are
not locked in position.
Occupants could otherwise be injured in the
event of an accident, e.g. by objects being
thrown forwards through the vehicle interior
from the luggage compartment.
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary
(Y page 107).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. Securing
aload
Lashing eyelets G
WARNING
Distribute the load on the lashing eyelets
evenly. Otherwise, vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if you:
R
brake sharply
R change directio nsuddenly
R are involved in an accident
Please observe the loading guidelines.
Observe the following notes on securing
loads:
R secure the load using the lashing eyelets.
R do no tuse elastic straps or nets to secure
a load, as these are only intended as an
anti-slip protection for light loads.
R do not route lashing materials across sharp
edges or corners.
R pad sharp edges for protection.
There are four lashing eyelets in the boot or
luggage compartment. Saloon with through-loading feature in the rear
bench seat
:
Lashing eyelets Estate without EASY-PACK load-securing kit
:
Lashing eyelets Stowage areas
307Stowing and features Z

Estate with EASY-PACK load-securing kit
:
Lashing eyelets
; Mounting elements
= Lashing eyelets
X Estate with EASY-PACK load-securing
kit: insert mounting elements ;and slide
to the desired positio n(Ypage 310).
Bag hooks in the boot/luggage com-
partment Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Only hang light loads on the bag holders. Do
not use them to transport heavy, sharp-edged
or fragile objects. When braking sharply,
changing direction quickly or in the event of
an accident, the bag hooks will not secure the
items sufficiently. This could result in injury to
yourself or others.
! The bag hook can bear a maximum load
of 5 kg. Do not use it to secure a load. Saloon :
Bag hook
Estate X
To open: press bag hook :(arrow).
Bag hook :slides out.
X To close: press bag hook :until it
engages. Luggage compartment cover (Estate)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The luggage compartment cover is not a
restraint system. Secure the load under the
luggage compartment cover by suitable
means. Make sure that the luggage compart-
ment cover is engaged securely. If luggage is
not sufficiently secured, it can be thrown over
the backrest into the passenger compart-
ment, for instance during heavy braking, sud-
den changes of direction or in the event of an 308
Stowage areasStowing and features