MERCEDES-BENZ C COUPE 2005 CL203 Owner's Guide

30 At a glanceDoor control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
94
2
Memory function* (for
storing seat, exterior rear
view mirror and steering
wheel settings)
107
3
Seat adjustment*
38
4
Switches for opening/clos-
ing door windows
237

31 Getting started
Unlocking
Adjusting
Driving
Parking and locking

32 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will provide you with further
information. The corresponding page refer-
ences are located at the end of each seg-
ment.Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŒUnlock button
3ÂPanic button* (
page 80)

Press unlock buttonΠon the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.

Get in the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 90).
iCanada only:
Only vehicles equipped with an
anti-theft alarm system* have
SmartKeys with integrated panic
button*3.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positions
Starter switch0For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the Smart-
Key is removed from the starter switch.
If necessary, move steering wheel
slightly to allow the locking mechanism
to engage.
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position. All
lamps (except low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, high beam headlamp indi-
cator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 340).
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.

34 Getting startedUnlocking
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. This indicates that the respective
systems are operational. The indicator
and warning lamps (except low beam
headlamp indicator lamp, high beam
headlamp indicator lamp, and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps if activated) should
go out when the engine is running.iVehicles with automatic transmission:
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be
sufficiently charged.

Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 401).


Get a jump start (
page 404).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge and a possible dead battery, al-
ways remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch when the engine is not in
operation.

35 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
Seats
The seats can be adjusted either manually
or electrically, depending on the vehicle’s
equipment.Warning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck.
That could cause serious or fatal injuries.
The seat back and seat belts provide the
best restraint when the wearer is in a nearly
upright position and belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body. Your seat must be
adjusted so that you can correctly fasten
your seat belt (
page 44).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the power seats* can be op-
erated when the respective door is open.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant, or toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child. For additional
information, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 70).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.

36 Getting startedAdjustingManual seat adjustment
1Backrest tilt
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustmentSeat fore and aft adjustment

Lift handle4.

Slide seat to the desired position.

Allow handle4 to reengage.

Check for proper engagement before
driving.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating posi-
tion that still allows you to reach the accel-
erator/brake pedal safely. The position
should be as far rearward as possible,
consistent with ability to properly operate
controls.Seat cushion tilt

Turn handwheel3 forward or back-
ward until your upper legs are lightly
supported.
Seat backrest tilt

Turn handwheel1 forward or back-
ward until your arms are slightly angled
when holding the steering wheel.
Seat height

Pull handle2 up to r ai se s ea t c us hi on.

Push handle2 down to lower seat
cushion.
!W h e n m o v i n g t h e s e a t s , m a k e s u r e t h a t
there are no items in the footwell or
behind the seats. Otherwise you could
damage the seats.

37 Getting started
Adjusting
Head restraint height
1Release button
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.Lowering:

To lower the head restraint, push re-
lease button1 and press down on the
head restraint.Head restraint tilt
Manually adjust the angle of the head re-
straint.

Push or pull on the lower edge of the
head restraint cushion.
For more information, see “Seats”
(
page 100).
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.iAdjust the head restraint in such away
that it is as close to the head as
possible.

38 Getting startedAdjustingPower seat* adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located
in each door.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Backrest tilt
Switch on the ignition (
page 33).
or

Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow4.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach
the accelerator / brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far to the rear
as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.Seat cushion tilt

Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow3 until your upper
legs are lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow5 until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.
Seat height

Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow2.
Head restraint height

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow1.
!W h e n m o v i n g t h e s e a t s , m a k e s u r e t h a t
there are no items in the footwell or
behind the seats. Otherwise you could
damage the seats.iThe memory function* (
page 107)
lets you store the settings for the seat
position together with the setting for
the steering wheel and the exterior rear
view mirrors.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as possi-
ble.

39 Getting started
Adjusting
Head restraint tilt
Manually adjust the angle of the head re-
straint. 
Push or pull on the lower edge of the
head restraint cushion.
For more information, see “Seats”
(
page 100).Folding front seat backrest forward
1Release lever
2Seat belt presenter
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
iIn addition to the front seat backrests,
the front seat cushions can also be
shifted forward to permit easy access
to the rear whenever the seat is located
in the rear half of its adjustment range.
Swivel backrest forward by pulling the
release lever until the seat moves in a
combined forward and upward move-
ment.