MERCEDES-BENZ C WAGON 2005 S203 Owner's Manual

Sommer\ Corporate\ Media
AG
Operator’s Manual
C-Class Wagon
Operator’s Manual C-Class Wagon

Order No. 6515 0136 13 Part No. 203 584 61 82 USA Edition A 2005
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2035846182

C240
C 240 4MATIC

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your
desire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers, we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:


Please read this manual carefully, then
return it to your vehicle where it will be
handy for your reference.


Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.


Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting Safety Defects ............... 18
Vehicle data recording......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower Part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29
Door control panel................................ 30
Getting started................................... 31
Unlocking ............................................. 32
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 32
Starter switch positions .................. 33
Adjusting .............................................. 35
Seats .............................................. 35
Steering wheel ................................ 39
Mirrors ............................................ 41
Driving .................................................. 43
Fastening the seat belt ................... 43
Starting the engine ......................... 46
Switching on headlamps ................. 49
Turn signals .................................... 50
Windshield wipers ........................... 50
Rear window wiper ......................... 53
Problems while driving.................... 54
Parking and locking .............................. 55
Parking brake ................................. 55
Switching off headlamps................. 56
Turning off engine ........................... 57

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 59
Occupant safety................................... 60
Air bags .......................................... 61
Seat belts ....................................... 66
Children in the vehicle .................... 69
Blocking of rear door window
operation ........................................ 77
Panic alarm* ........................................ 78
Activating ....................................... 78
Deactivating ................................... 78
Driving safety systems ......................... 79
ABS ................................................ 79
BAS ................................................ 80
ESP ................................................. 81
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP ....... 84
Anti-theft systems................................ 85
Immobilizer..................................... 85
Anti-theft alarm system* ................ 85
Tow-away alarm* ........................... 87
Controls in detail............................... 89
Locking and unlocking ......................... 90
SmartKey ....................................... 90
Opening the doors from
the inside ....................................... 93
Opening the tailgate ....................... 94
Closing the tailgate ........................ 94
Automatic central locking .............. 95
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ....................................... 96
Seats ................................................... 97
Easy-entry/exit feature* ................ 97
Removing and installing front
seat head restraints ....................... 99
Rear seat head restraints ............. 100
Multicontour seats* ..................... 103
Seat heating* ............................... 104
Memory function* ............................. 105
Storing positions into memory ..... 106
Recalling positions from memory . 106
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 107Lighting ............................................. 108
Exterior lamp switch .................... 108
Combination switch ..................... 112
Hazard warning flasher ................ 113
Interior lighting ............................ 114
Door entry lamps ......................... 115
Instrument cluster ............................. 116
Instrument cluster illumination .... 116
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 117
Trip odometer .............................. 117
Tachometer .................................. 118
Outside temperature indicator ..... 118
Control system .................................. 119
Multifunction display.................... 119
Multifunction steering wheel........ 120
Menus .......................................... 122
Standard display menu ................ 124
AUDIO menu ................................ 125
NAV* menu .................................. 128
Vehicle status message memory
menu............................................ 128
Settings menu .............................. 130
Trip computer menu..................... 146
TEL menu* ................................... 148

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 152
One-touch gearshifting................. 154
Gear ranges ................................. 155
Gear selector lever position ......... 156
Automatic shift program .............. 158
Driving tips ................................... 159
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 160
Good visibility .................................... 161
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 161
Rear view mirrors ......................... 161
Sun visors .................................... 164
Rear window defroster ................. 165
Climate control .................................. 166
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 169
Setting the temperature ............... 169
Adjusting air distribution and
volume ......................................... 170
Defrosting .................................... 171
Air recirculation mode.................. 171
Air conditioning ............................ 173
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents...................... 174Audio system ...................................... 175
Audio and telephone, operation .... 175
Operating safety ........................... 175
Operating and display elements.... 176
Button and soft key operation....... 178
Operation ...................................... 178
Radio operation ............................ 183
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 188
CD mode ....................................... 193
GSM network phones ................... 200
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 206
Emergency calls “911”.................. 213
Power windows .................................. 215
Opening and closing the
windows........................................ 215
Synchronizing power windows ...... 218
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*................. 219
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof ........................ 219
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof ........................ 222
Driving systems .................................. 223
Cruise control ............................... 223Loading .............................................. 226
Roof rack* .................................... 226
Parcel net in cargo
compartment ................................ 226
Storage compartment under
cargo compartment floor .............. 227
Retractable luggage cover and
partition net .................................. 228
Split rear bench seat .................... 230
Loading instructions ..................... 232
Cargo tie-down rings..................... 233
Useful features ................................... 234
Storage compartments ................. 234
Ashtrays........................................ 238
Cigarette lighter ............................ 239
Electrical outlet............................. 240
Telephone* ................................... 241
Tele Aid* ....................................... 242
Garage door opener* .................... 249

ContentsOperation......................................... 255
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 256
Driving instructions ............................ 257
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 257
Drinking and driving ..................... 257
Pedals .......................................... 257
Power assistance ......................... 257
Brakes .......................................... 258
Driving off..................................... 259
Parking ......................................... 259
Tires ............................................. 260
Hydroplaning ................................ 260
Tire traction .................................. 261
Tire speed rating .......................... 261
Winter driving instructions ........... 262
Standing water ............................. 263
Passenger compartment .............. 263
Driving abroad .............................. 263
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 264
Catalytic converter ....................... 264
Emission control........................... 265
Coolant temperature .................... 266At the gas station .............................. 267
Refueling ...................................... 267
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 269
Engine compartment ......................... 270
Hood ............................................ 270
Engine oil ..................................... 272
Transmission fluid level ................ 274
Coolant level ................................ 275
Battery ......................................... 276
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 277
Tires and wheels ................................ 278
Important guidelines .................... 278
Life of tire..................................... 279
Direction of rotation ..................... 279
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 279
Rotating tires ............................... 281Winter driving .................................... 282
Winter tires .................................. 282
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 283
Snow chains................................. 283
Maintenance...................................... 284
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 285
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 285
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 285
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 286
Vehicle care....................................... 287
Cleaning and care of the
vehicle ......................................... 287

Contents
Practical hints................................. 293
What to do if … .................................. 294
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 294
Lamp in center console................ 300
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 301
Where will I find ...? ........................... 321
First aid kit ................................... 321
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 321
Minispare wheel ........................... 324
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 326
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 326
Locking the vehicle ...................... 327
Fuel filler flap ............................... 328
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever .. 328
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 329
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* .......... 329Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 330
SmartKey ...................................... 331
Replacing bulbs .................................. 332
Bulbs ............................................. 332
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 335
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 339
Replacing wiper blades....................... 341
Removing wiper blades ................. 341
Installing wiper blades .................. 341
Flat tire ............................................... 342
Preparing the vehicle .................... 342
Mounting the Minispare wheel...... 342
Battery................................................ 347
Disconnecting the battery............. 348
Removing the battery.................... 348
Charging and reinstalling
the battery .................................... 348
Reconnecting the battery.............. 349Jump starting...................................... 350
Towing the vehicle.............................. 352
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 355
Fuses.................................................. 356
Aids for changing fuses ................ 357
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 357
Fuse box in engine
compartment ................................ 358
Fuse box in cargo
compartment ................................ 359

ContentsTechnical data.................................. 361
Parts service ...................................... 362
Warranty coverage ............................. 363
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 363
Identification labels............................ 364
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 365
C 240 (all models) ........................ 365
Engine ................................................ 366
Rims and Tires ................................... 367
Same size tires ............................. 368
Minispare wheel ........................... 369
Electrical system................................ 370
Main Dimensions ............................... 371
Weights .............................................. 372Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 373
Capacities .................................... 373
Engine oils.................................... 375
Engine oil additives ...................... 375
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 375
Brake fluid .................................... 375
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 376
Fuel requirements ........................ 376
Gasoline additives ........................ 377
Flexible Fuel Vehicles ................... 377
Coolants....................................... 379
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 381
Consumer information ....................... 382
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 382
Technical terms............................... 385Index................................................. 391