Flexible fuel vehicles MERCEDES-BENZ C240 2005 W203 Owner's Manual

ContentsTechnical data.................................. 373
Parts service ...................................... 374
Warranty coverage ............................. 375
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 375
Identification labels............................ 376
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 377
C 230 Kompressor (all models) .... 377
C 240 (all models)/
C 320 (all models)/
C 55 AMG..................................... 377
Engine ................................................ 378
Rims and Tires ................................... 380
Same size tires ............................. 381
Mixed size tires ............................ 382
Minispare wheel ........................... 383
Collapsible tire
(C 55 AMG only) ........................... 383
Electrical system................................ 384
Main dimensions................................ 385
Weights .............................................. 386Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 387
Capacities .................................... 387
Engine oils.................................... 390
Engine oil additives ...................... 390
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 390
Brake fluid .................................... 390
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 391
Fuel requirements ........................ 391
Gasoline additives ........................ 392
Flexible Fuel Vehicles ................... 392
Coolants....................................... 394
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 396
Consumer information ....................... 397
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 397
Technical terms............................... 399Index................................................. 405

275 Operation
At the gas station
At the gas station
RefuelingThe fuel filler flap is located on the
right-hand side of the vehicle towards the
rear. Locking/unlocking the vehicle with
the SmartKey automatically locks/unlocks
the fuel filler flap.
1To open the fuel filler flap
2To insert the fuel filler cap
3Tire pressure table

Turn the engine off by turning the
SmartKey to position0.

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Warning!
G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
injury. Whenever you are around gasoline,
avoid inhaling fumes and skin contact,
extinguish all smoking materials. Never
allow sparks, flame or smoking materials
near gasoline!
Warning!
G
Flexible Fuel Vehicles only (identified by a
label reading Premium gasoline or E85
only! on fuel filler flap):
Ethanol fuel (E85) and its vapors are highly
flammable, poisonous and burn easily. Etha-
nol fuel can cause serious injuries if ignited
or if you come into contact with it or inhale
fumes of it. Avoid inhalation of Ethanol
fumes and skin contact with Ethanol. Extin-
guish all open flames before fueling. Never
smoke or create sparks close to Ethanol.


276 OperationAt the gas station
Open the fuel filler flap by pushing at
the point indicated by arrow1.
The fuel filler flap springs open.

Turn fuel cap counterclockwise and
hold on to it until possible pressure is
released.

Take off cap and set it in direction of
arrow2 in the recess on the fuel filler
flap.
To prevent fuel vapors from escaping
into open air, fully insert filler nozzle
unit.

Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle
unit cuts out – do not top up or
overfill.

Replace fuel cap by turning it
clockwise.
You will hear when fuel cap is
tightened.

Close fuel filler flap.Warning!
G
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create
pressure in the system which could cause a
gas discharge. This could cause the gas to
spray back out when removing the fuel
pump nozzle, which could cause personal
injury.
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating
of 91 (average of 96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can
normally be found on the fuel pump.
More information on gasoline can be
found in the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet.
Flexible Fuel Vehicles are identified by
a label reading Premium gasoline or
E85 only! on fuel filler flap.
For more information, see “Flexible
Fuel Vehicles” (
page 392).
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel
cap open can cause theú malfunc-
tion indicator lamp (USA only) or
the± malfunction indicator lamp
(Canada only) to illuminate.
For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 304) and (
page 305).


391 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel:

The octane number (posted at the
p um p) m us t be 91 mi n. It i s an a vera ge
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number:
(R+M)/2. This is also known as the
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as Ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not
exceed 10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of Methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of Ethanol and Methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains 10%
Ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline, can
be used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gaso-
line must be used. If premium unleaded
is not available and low octane fuel is
used, follow these precautions:

Have the fuel tank only partially
filled with unleaded regular and fill
up with premium unleaded as soon
as possible.


Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.


Do not exceed an engine speed of
3 000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded
with a light load such as two
persons and no luggage.


Do not exceed
2/3 of maximum
accelerator pedal position if the
vehicle is fully loaded or operating
in mountainous terrain.
iFlexible Fuel Vehicles (identified by a
label reading Premium gasoline or
E85 only! are designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline or Ethanol
fuel (E85) or any mixture of these two.
For more information, see “Flexible
Fuel Vehicles” (
page 392).

392 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Gasoline additives
A major concern among engine
manufacturers is carbon build-up caused
by gasoline. Mercedes-Benz recommends
only the use of quality gasoline containing
additives that prevent the build up of
carbon deposits.
After an extended period of using fuels
without such additives, carbon deposits
can build up especially on the intake valves
and in the combustion area, leading to
engine performance problems such as:

Warm-up hesitation


Unstable idle


Knocking/pinging


Misfire


Power lossIn areas where carbon deposits may be
encountered due to lack of availability of
gasolines which contain these additives,
Mercedes-Benz recommends the use of
additives approved by us for use on
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Refer to Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet for a
listing of approved product(s). Follow
directions on product label.
Do not blend any specific fuel additives
with fuel. This only results in unnecessary
cost and may be harmful to engine
operation.
Damage or malfunction resulting from
poor fuel quality or from blending
additional fuel additives other than those
tested and approved by us for use on
Mercedes-Benz vehicles listed in the
Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet are not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Flexible Fuel Vehicles
Flexible Fuel Vehicles are identified by a
label reading Premium gasoline or E85
only! on fuel filler flap.
These vehicles are designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline or Ethanol
fuel (E85), or on any mixture of these two.
Ethanol fuel (E85) is a mixture of
approximately 85% Ethanol and 15%
unleaded gasoline.Warning!
G
Ethanol fuel (E85) and its fumes are highly
flammable, poisonous and burn easily. Etha-
nol fuel can cause serious injuries if ignited
or if you come into contact with it or inhale
fumes of it. Avoid inhalation of Ethanol
fumes and skin contact with Ethanol. Extin-
guish all open flames before fueling. Never
smoke or create sparks close to Ethanol.

415 Index
F
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 135
Fastening the seat belts 43
Filler neck
C 230 Kompressor
(all models) 282
C 240 (all models), C 320 (all models),
C 55 AMG 282
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 233
First aid kit 329
Flat tire 353
Collapsible tire (C 55 AMG only) 334
Lowering the vehicle 359
Minispare wheel
(except C 55 AMG) 333
Mounting the spare wheel 353
Preparing the vehicle 353
Flexible fuel vehicles 392
At the gas station 275
Switching fuels 393
Flexible Service System see FSSFog lamp, rear
Message in display 325
Replacing bulb 345
Switching on 113
Fog lamps, front
Messages in display 323
Replacing bulbs 345
Switching on 112
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with ESP 82
4MATIC 82
Front air bags 63
Front fog lamps
Indicator lamp 109
Switching on 112
Front lamps
Bi-Xenon* type 349
Halogen-type 347
Messages in display 323–326
Replacing bulbs 345, 347
Switching on 109
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp 27, 63, 70, 308Front seat head restraints
Installing, manual seat 100
Installing, power seat* 101
Manual seat 100
Power seat* 100
Removing, manual seat 100
Removing, power seat* 100
Front seats
Heating* 105
FSS (Flexible Service System)
(Canada vehicles) 292, 400
Fuel 276
Additives 392
Cruising range 393
E85 (Ethanol fuel) 393
Fuel reserve warning lamp 307
Gasoline additives 392
Premium unleaded
gasoline 276, 388, 391
Requirements 391, 392
Switching (Flexible Fuel Vehicle) 393
Technical data 387, 388
Fuel additives 392

431 Index
Technical data
Air conditioning refrigerant 390
Brake fluid 390
Coolant 387, 388
Coolants 394
Electrical system 384
Engine 378
Engine oil additives 390
Engine oils 390
Flexible fuel vehicles 392
Fuel requirements 391
Fuels 387, 388
Gasoline additives 392
Lubricants 387
Main dimensions 385
Premium unleaded gasoline 391
Rims and tires 380
Weights 386
Windshield washer 389
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning* system 389, 396Tele Aid* 248
Emergency calls 250
Hands-free microphone 29
Information 253
Initiating an emergency
call manually 251
Message in display 328
Remote door unlock 255
Roadside Assistance 252
SOS button 251
Stolen Vehicle Recovery
services 256
System self-check 249
Tele Aid System 249, 403
Upgrade scenario 254
Telematics* 403
Telephone* 26, 247
Answering a call 151
Dialing a number from
the phone book 152
Ending a call 152
Hands-free microphone 29Loading phone book 152
Message in display 328
Operation 150, 208
Redialing 153
Temperature
Display mode 135
Grades of tires 398
Setting interior temperature 177
Setting units in display 135
Tires 288
Tie-down rings* (Trunk) 240
Tightening torque
(Wheel bolts) 359, 403
Tilt
Head restraint, manual seat 37
Head restraint, power seat* 39
Tilt/sliding sunroof*
Closing 227, 341
Closing with SmartKey 229
Messages in display 328
Opening 227, 341
Opening with SmartKey 229
Stopping 229
Synchronizing 230