snow chains MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class SEDAN 2012 W204 Owner's Manual

DoorsAutomatic locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 208
Automatic locking (switch) ............... 78
Central locking/unlocking
(SmartKey) ....................................... 70
Control panel ................................... 34
Display message ............................ 237
Emergency locking ........................... 79
Emergency unlocking .......................79
Important safety notes ....................77
Opening (from inside) ......................78
Drinking and driving ......................... 155
Drinks holder see Cup holder
Drive program
Automatic ...................................... 146
Display ........................................... 143
Manual ........................................... 147
SETUP (on-board computer) ..........210
Drive program selector ..................... 145
Driver's door see Doors
Driver's seat
see Seats
Driving abroad
Mercedes-Benz Service .................283
Symmetrical low beam ..................106
Driving lamps
see Daytime running lamps
Driving on flooded roads .................. 158
Driving safety systems ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) .......59
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 64
BAS (Brake Assist System) ..............59
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS) ............................................... 60
Electronic brake force distribution ...64
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability
Program) .......................................... 61
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction
System) ........................................... 61
Important safety information ...........59
Overview .......................................... 58
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake ............................. 65Driving systems
Active Blind Spot Assist .................187
Active Driving Assistance
package ......................................... 187
Active Lane Keeping Assist ............190
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................182
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 183
Cruise control ................................ 159
Display message ............................ 228
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 161
Dynamic handling package with
sports mode .................................. 171
HOLD function ............................... 172
Lane Keeping Assist ......................185
Lane Tracking package ..................183
Parking Guidance ........................... 178
PARKTRONIC ................................. 175
RACE START (AMG vehicles) ..........174
Rear view camera .......................... 181
Driving tips
Automatic transmission .................144
Brakes ........................................... 156
Break-in period .............................. 136
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 170
Downhill gradient ........................... 156
Drinking and driving .......................155
Driving abroad ............................... 106
Driving in winter ............................. 158
Driving on flooded roads ................158
Driving on wet roads ......................158
Exhaust check ............................... 156
Fuel ................................................ 155
General .......................................... 155
Hydroplaning ................................. 158
Icy road surfaces ........................... 159
Limited braking efficiency on
salted roads ................................... 157
Pedals ............................................ 155
Snow chains .................................. 313
Symmetrical low beam ..................106
Wet road surface ........................... 156
DVD audio (on-board computer) ...... 202
DVD video (on-board computer) ...... 202
Dynamic handling package with
sports mode ....................................... 1718Index

SettingsFactory (on-board computer) .........210
On-board computer .......................206
Setting the air distribution ............... 128
Setting the airflow ............................ 129
SETUP (on-board computer) ............. 210
Side impact air bag ............................. 40
Side marker lamp (display
message) ............................................ 224
Side windows Convenience closing feature ............84
Convenience opening feature ..........84
Important safety information ...........83
Opening/closing .............................. 83
Problem (malfunction) .....................86
Resetting ......................................... 85
Sliding sunroof
Important safety notes ....................86
Opening/closing .............................. 87
Problem (malfunction) .....................89
Resetting ......................................... 87
see Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel
SmartKey
Changing the battery .......................74
Changing the programming .............73
Checking the battery .......................74
Convenience closing feature ............84
Convenience opening feature ..........84
Display message ............................ 238
Door central locking/unlocking .......70
Important safety notes ....................70
Loss ................................................. 76
Mechanical key ................................ 73
Positions (ignition lock) .................137
Problem (malfunction) .....................76
Starting the engine ........................139
Snow chains ...................................... 313
Sockets Points to observe before use .........263
Rear compartment .........................263
Spare wheel
Notes/data .................................... 337
Storage location ............................ 293
see Emergency spare wheel
Specialist workshop ............................ 24
Speed, controlling see Cruise control Speedometer
Digital ............................................ 199
In the Instrument cluster .................29
Segments ...................................... 195
Selecting the unit of
measurement ................................ 206
see Instrument cluster
SPORT handling mode
Activating/deactivating (AMG
vehicles) .......................................... 62
Warning lamp ................................. 244
SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) Display message ............................ 219
Introduction ..................................... 36
Warning lamp ................................. 245
Warning lamp (function) ................... 36
Standing lamps
Changing bulbs .............................. 115
Display message ............................ 224
Switching on/off ........................... 106
Starting (engine) ................................ 138
Station see Radio
Steering (display message) .............. 237
Steering wheel Adjusting (electrically) ...................100
Adjusting (manually) ........................99
Button overview ............................... 31
Buttons (on-board computer) ......... 195
Cleaning ......................................... 288
Important safety notes ....................99
Paddle shifters ............................... 145
Storing settings (memory
function) ........................................ 103
Steering wheel paddle shifters ........ 145
Stopwatch (RACETIMER) ................... 211
Stowage compartments Armrest (under) ............................. 255
Cup holders ................................... 259
Eyeglasses compartment ...............255
Glove box ....................................... 254
Important safety information .........254
Parcel net ...................................... 256
Rear ............................................... 256
Under driver's seat/front-
passenger seat .............................. 25616Index

Replacing the wiper blades ............118
Switching on/off ........................... 116
Winter driving
Important safety notes ..................312
Slippery road surfaces ...................159
Snow chains .................................. 313
Winter tires
M+S tires ....................................... 312
Wiper blades
Cleaning ......................................... 286
Important safety notes ..................118
Replacing (rear window) ................118
Replacing (windshield) ...................118
Wooden trim (cleaning
instructions) ...................................... 28820Index

Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, the
driving safety systems can neither reduce the
risk of accident nor override the laws of
physics. Driving safety systems are merely
aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed and for braking in
good time. Always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road/weather conditions,
as well as the traffic conditions and maintain
a safe distance to the vehicle in front. Drive
carefully.
i Please note that the driving safety
systems described only work as effectively
as possible when there is adequate contact
between the tires and the road surface. Pay
particular attention to the information
regarding tires, recommended minimum
tire tread depths etc. in the "Wheels and
tires" section ( Y page 310).
In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the
driving safety systems described in this
section work as effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 59).
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
( 8 km/h) upwards, regardless of road-surface
conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces,
even when you only brake gently.
GWARNING
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving systems
such as the BAS or the ESP ®
are also switched
off. Observe indicator and warning lamps that
may come on as well as messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.
If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing the steering
capability and extending the braking distance.
The ! warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Braking
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
XIf ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking
situation is over.XTo make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions, and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
GWARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm, steady
brake pedal pressure instead. Pumping the
brake pedal defeats the purpose of the ABS
and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 59).
BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake pedal
quickly, BAS automatically boosts the braking
force, thus shortening the stopping distance.
XKeep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
Driving safety systems59SafetyZ

Deactivating/activating ESP®
(except
AMG vehicles)GWARNING
ESP ®
should not be deactivated during
normal driving other than in the
circumstances described below. Disabling
the system will reduce vehicle stability in
driving maneuvers.
Do not deactivate ESP ®
when the emergency
or spare wheel is mounted.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
GWARNING
Switch on ESP ®
immediately if one of the
previously stated conditions is no longer met.
Otherwise, ESP ®
cannot stabilize the vehicle
if it begins to lurch or when a wheel spins.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
XTo deactivate: (Y page 204).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.GWARNING
When the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp is lit,
ESP ®
is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp and the
å ESP®
OFF warning lamp remain lit,
ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunction.
When ESP ®
is deactivated or not operational,
vehicle stability in standard driving
maneuvers is reduced.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing
road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP ®
.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
XTo activate: (Y page 204).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(AMG
vehicles)
Activating/deactivating SPORT handling
mode
GWARNING
The SPORT handling mode should not be
switched on during normal driving.
Switching on the SPORT handling mode will
result in the following:
R no restriction to the engine torque
R system supported traction control is
limited
The SPORT handling mode is designed for
driving on closed tracks when the vehicle's
own natural oversteer and understeer
characteristics are desired and requires a
highly skilled and experienced driver able to
handle these critical driving situations.
You could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident.
Please be aware of these limits when you
switch on the SPORT handling mode.
62Driving safety systemsSafety

Do not switch on the SPORT handling when a
spare wheel is mounted.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
It may be best to activate SPORT handling
mode in the following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravelGWARNING
Switch off the SPORT handling mode and
switch on the ESP ®
immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not apply
anymore. Otherwise the SPORT handling
mode will only stabilize the vehicle to a limited
extent when it is starting to skid or a wheel is
spinning.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a
limited degree.
R the engine's torque is restricted only to a
limited degree and the drive wheels can
spin. The spinning of the wheels results in
a cutting action, which provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly.
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one
or more wheels start to spin, the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. ESP ®
only stabilizes the vehicle to a
limited degree.
XTo activate: briefly press button :.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
The SPORT handling mode message
appears in the multifunction display.XTo deactivate: briefly press button :.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
Activating/deactivating ESP ®
GWARNING
The ESP
®
should not be switched off during
normal driving.
Disabling of the system will result in the
following:
R no restriction to engine torque
R loss of system-supported traction control
"ESP ®
OFF" is designed for driving on closed
tracks when the vehicle's natural oversteer
and understeer characteristics are desired
and requires a highly skilled and experienced
driver able to handle these critical driving
situations.
You could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident.
Please be aware of these limits when you
switch off the ESP ®
.
Do not switch off the ESP ®
when a spare
wheel is mounted.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
GWARNING
Switch on ESP ®
immediately if one of the
previously stated conditions is no longer met.
Otherwise, ESP ®
cannot stabilize the vehicle
if it begins to lurch or when a wheel spins.
Driving safety systems63SafetyZ

To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind.
At the onset of winter, have your vehicle
winterproofed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 312).
Driving with summer tires
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 312).
Slippery road surfaces
GWARNING
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
GWARNING
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise
control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to position N.
i
For more information on driving with
snow chains, see ( Y page 313).
GWARNING
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1 , 2 or 3 in good time. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
GWARNING
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle's speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic,
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in wheel
spin and loss of control.
R Deactivate the cruise control when driving
in fog.
The "Resume" function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
Driving systems159Driving and parkingZ

The multifunction display shows the RACE
START active message.
RACE START is deactivated when a speed of
approximately 30 mph (Canada: 50 km/h) is
reached. Drive program S+ is activated.
SPORT handling mode remains activated.
RACE START is deactivated immediately if
you release the accelerator pedal during
RACE START or if any of the activation
conditions are no longer fulfilled. The
multifunction display shows the RACE START
not possible See Operator's Manual
message.
i If RACE START is used repeatedly within
a short period of time, it is only available
again after the vehicle has been driven a
certain distance.
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are
permanently driven. Together with ESP ®
, it
improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficient grip.
GWARNING
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
R While driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4MATIC cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground
or be fully raised. Observe the instructions
for towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires ( M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes
i PARKTRONIC is only available in Canada.
GWARNING
The PARKTRONIC is a supplemental system.
It is not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always remains with the driver.
GWARNING
Make sure no persons or animals are in or
near the area in which you are parking/
maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be
injured.
PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It indicates visually and
audibly the distance between your vehicle
and an object.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when
you:
R switch on the ignition
R shift the transmission to position D, R or N
R release the parking brake
PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above
11 mph (18 km/h). It is reactivated at lower
speeds.
PARKTRONIC monitors the area around your
vehicle using six sensors in the front bumper
and four sensors in the rear bumper.
Driving systems175Driving and parkingZ

cause an accident and injure yourself and
others.
Safety always remains your responsibility and
you must continue paying careful attention to
your immediate surroundings when parking
and maneuvering.GWARNING
Objects located above the height range of
Parking Guidance will not be detected when
the parking space is measured. These objects
are not taken into account when the parking
procedure is calculated, e.g. overhanging
loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods
vehicles. Under some circumstances, Parking
Guidance might therefore issue steering
instructions too soon. This may lead to a
collision. For this reason, you should avoid
using Parking Guidance in such situations.
GWARNING
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the maneuvering range. Otherwise, they
could be injured.
! Pay particular attention to low objects or
objects with flat surfaces, such as trailer
drawbars, posts, cross beams and curbs.
These types of objects cannot be detected
by Parking Guidance and may damage the
vehicle.
When PARKTRONIC is deactivated, Parking
Guidance is also unavailable.
Use Parking Guidance for parking spaces:
R that are parallel to the direction of travel
R that are on straight roads, not bends
R that are on the same level as the road, i.e.
not on the pavement, for example. Parking
Guidance may not detect flat curbs
Parking tips:
R on narrow roads, drive past the parking
space as close as possible.
R parking spaces that are littered, overgrown
or partially occupied by trailer drawbars
might be identified incorrectly or not at all.
R snowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
R pay attention to the PARKTRONIC
( Y page 177) warning messages during the
parking procedure.
R when transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you must not use Parking
Guidance.
R never use Parking Guidance with snow
chains or an emergency spare wheel
mounted.
R make sure that the tire pressures are
always correct. This has a direct effect on
the steering instructions.
R the way your vehicle is positioned in the
parking space after parking is dependent
on various factors. These include the
position and shape of the vehicles parked
in front and behind it and the conditions of
the location. In some cases, Parking
Guidance may guide you too far or not far
enough into a parking space. In some
cases, it may also lead you across or onto
the curb. If necessary, cancel the parking
procedure with Parking Guidance.
! If unavoidable, you should drive over
obstacles such as curbs slowly and not at
a sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tires.
Detecting a parking space:Detected parking space on the left;Parking symbol=Detected parking space on the right
Parking Guidance is automatically activated
when you drive forwards. The system is
operational at speeds of up to approximately
22 mph (35 km/h). While in operation, the
Driving systems179Driving and parkingZ

GWARNING
If you use your spare wheel when M+S tires
are mounted on the other wheels, be aware
that the difference in tire characteristics
impairs cornering ability and reduces driving
stability. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare wheel replaced by a normal
wheel with an M+S tire at the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use snow chains
which have been specially approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a
corresponding standard of quality.
! There is not enough space for snow
chains on some wheel sizes. Observe the
information under "Tires and wheels" in the
"Technical Data" section to avoid damage
to the vehicle or the wheels.
R Only use snow chains when driving on
roads completely covered by snow. Do not
exceed the maximum permissible speed of
30 mph (50 km/h). Remove the snow
chains as soon as possible when you are no
longer driving on snow-covered roads.
R Local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Applicable regulations must
be observed if you wish to mount snow
chains.
R Snow chains must not be mounted on
emergency spare wheels.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please
bear the following points in mind:
R you may not attach snow chains to all
wheel-tire combinations; see the
information under "Wheel and tire
combinations" in the "Wheels and tires"
section.
R mount snow chains only in pairs and only
to the rear wheels. Observe the
manufacturer's installation instructions.
! If snow chains are mounted on the front
wheels, the snow chains could grind
against the bodywork or components of the
chassis. This could result in damage to the
vehicle or the tires.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you wish
to mount snow chains on steel wheels,
make sure that you remove the respective
wheels' hubcaps first. The hubcaps may
otherwise be damaged.
i You may wish to deactivate
ESP ®
(Y page 61) when pulling away with
snow chains mounted. This way you can
allow the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving an increased driving
force (cutting action).
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
GWARNING
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort,
wear unevenly, increase stopping distance,
and result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver's door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also result
in handling or steering problems, or brake
failure.
The recommended tire pressures for the tires
mounted at the factory can be found on the
labels described here.
Tire pressure313Wheels and tiresZ