headlamp MERCEDES-BENZ C COUPE 2005 CL203 Owner's Guide

168 Controls in detailGood visibilityAuto-dimming rear view mirrors*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror.
The rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gear is engaged


the interior lighting is turned on.
Warning!
G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, when transporting cargo
which covers the rear window.
Glare can endanger you and others.Warning!
G
In the case of an accident liquid electrolyte
may escape from the mirror housing if the
mirror glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not
allow the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can be
completely removed only while in the
liquid state by applying plenty of water.Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the
passenger-side exterior rear view mirror.
The mirror surface is convex (outwardly
curved surface for a wider field of view).
Objects in mirror are closer than they
appear. Check your inside rear view mirror
or glance over your shoulder before chang-
ing lanes.

290 OperationAt the gas stationCheck regularly and before a long trip
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid (fuse box cover removed)
3Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*Brake fluid
Remove fuse box cover before checking
brake fluid (
page 410).
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (page 292).
Opening hood, see (
page 291).Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality). For more information on
coolant, see “Coolant level” (
page 296)
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For infor-
mation on replacing light bulbs, see “Re-
placing bulbs” (
page 384).
Exterior lamp switch, see (
page 110).
Tire inflation pressure
For information on tire inflation pressure,
see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
(
page 311).
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*
For more information on filling up the
washer reservoir, see “Windshield washer
system and headlamp cleaning system*”
(page 299).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks immediately. Noti-
fy an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately. Do not add brake fluid as
this will not solve the problem. For
more information, see “Practical Hints”
(page 341).

292 OperationEngine compartment
Closing the hood
Let the hood drop from a height of
approximately 1 ft (30 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.

Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when

the vehicle is new


the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
Warning!
G
If you see flames or smoke coming from the
engine compartment, or if the coolant tem-
perature display indicates that the engine is
overheated, do not open the hood. Move
away from vehicle and do not open the hood
until the engine has cooled. If necessary,
call the fire department.Warning!
G
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage
it is dangerous to touch any components
(ignition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnos-
tic socket) of the ignition system

with the engine running


while starting the engine


if ignition is “on” and the engine is
turned manually
Warning!
G
Be careful that you do not close the hood on
anyone.
iDo not use any special lubricant addi-
tives, as these may damage the drive
assemblies. Using special additives not
approved by Mercedes-Benz may
cause damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
More information on this subject is
available at any Mercedes-Benz
Center.


299 Operation
Engine compartment
Windshield washer system and headlamp cleaning system*
Fluid for the windshield washer system and
the headlamp cleaning system* is supplied
from the windshield washer reservoir. It
has a capacity of:

3.2 US qt. (3 l) in vehicles without
headlamp cleaning system*.


6.4 US qt. (6 l) in vehicles with head-
lamp cleaning system*.
During all seasons, add MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “S” to water. Premix
the windshield washer fluid in a suitable
container.

Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate and water (or
commercially available premixed wind-
shield washer solvent / antifreeze, de-
pending on ambient temperatures).Always use washer solvent/antifreeze
where temperatures may fall below
freezing point. Failure to do so could
result in damage to the washer
system/reservoir.
For more information, see “Windshield
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system” (
page 435).1Washer fluid reservoir cap
Warning!
G
Washer solvent / antifreeze is highly flam-
mable. Do not spill washer
solvent / antifreeze on hot engine parts, be-
cause it may ignite and burn. You could be
seriously burned.
!Only use washer fluid which is suitable
for plastic lenses. Improper washer
fluid can damage the plastic lenses of
the headlamps.

328 OperationWinter drivingBefore the onset of winter, have your
vehicle winterized at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
This service includes:

Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.


Addition of cleaning concentrate to the
water of the windshield and headlamp
cleaning system. Add MB Concentrate
“S” to a premixed windshield washer
solvent / antifreeze which is formulated
for temperatures below freezing point
(page 435).


Battery test. Battery capacity drops
with decreasing ambient temperature.
A well charged battery helps to ensure
that the engine can be started, even at
low ambient temperatures.


Tire change. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends M+S rated radial-ply tires with a
minimum tread depth of approximately 1/6 in (4 mm) on all four wheels for the
winter season.
Winter tires
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) and whenever wintry
road conditions prevail. Use of winter tires
is the only way to achieve the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS and ESP in winter
operation.
For safe handling, make sure that all
mounted winter tires are of the same make
and have the same tread design.Always observe the speed rating of the
winter tires installed on your vehicle. If the
maximum speed for which your tires are
rated is below the speed rating of your
vehicle, you must place a notice to this
effect where it will be seen by the driver.
Such notices are available at your tire deal-
er or any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.Warning!
G
Winter tires with a tread depth under
1/6 in
(4 mm) must be replaced. They are no long-
er suitable for winter operation.
Warning!
G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

335 Operation
Vehicle care
Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from the intrusion of
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as MB Anticor-
rosion Wax, should be applied to the en-
gine compartment after every engine
cleaning. Before applying, all control link-
age bushings and joints should be lubricat-
ed. The poly-V-belt and all pulleys should
be protected from any wax.Vehicle washing
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight. Use only a mild car wash
detergent, such as Mercedes-Benz ap-
proved Car Shampoo.
Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a dif-
fused jet of water. Direct only a very weak
spray towards the ventilation intake. Use
plenty of water and rinse the sponge and
chamois frequently.
Rinse with clear water and thoroughly dry
with a chamois. Do not allow cleaning
agents to dry on the finish.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in ex-
terior rear view mirrors prior to running the
vehicle through an automatic car wash to
prevent damage to the mirrors.
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the underbody, do not
forget to clean the inner sides of the
wheels.Ornamental moldings
For regular cleaning and care of very dirty
chrome-plated parts, use a chrome clean-
er.
Headlamps, tail lamps, side markers,
turn signal lenses
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo,
with plenty of water.
To prevent scratches, never apply strong
force and use only a soft, non-scratchy
cloth when cleaning the lenses. Do not
attempt to wipe dirty lenses with a dry
cloth or sponge.

348 Practical hintsWhat to do if …On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may
appear in the display. High priority
messages appear in red color.For your convenience the messages are
divided into two sections:


Text messages (
page 349)


Symbol messages (
page 357)
iSwitching on the ignition causes all
instrument cluster lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless
activated) as well as the multifunction
display to come on. Make sure the
lamps and multifunction display are in
working order before starting your
journey.

367 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
High beam left
The left high beam lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
High beam right
The right high beam lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
License plate lamp,
left
The left license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
License plate lamp,
right
The right license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Light sensor
Drive to workshop
The lamp sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automatically.

In the control system, set lamp
operation to manual (
page 133).

Switch on headlamps using the
exterior lamp switch (
page 51).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

368 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Low beam left
The left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.
Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Low beam right
The right low beam lamp is
malfunctioning.
Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Parking lamp
left front

The left parking lamps are
malfunctioning. A substitute bulb is being
used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Parking lamp

right front

The right parking lamps are
malfunctioning. A substitute bulb is being
used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Rear fog lamp
Substitute bulb on
The rear fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

369 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Switch off lights.
This display appears if the driver’s door is
opened and no SmartKey is in the starter
switch.

Switch off the headlamps.
Taillamp left
Substitute bulb on

The left tail lamp is malfunctioning.
A substitute bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Taillamp right
Substitute bulb on

The right tail lamp is malfunctioning.
A substitute bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal
left front
The left front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal
right front
The right front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.