manual transmission MERCEDES-BENZ C280 2006 W203 Owner's Guide

289 Operation
Driving instructions
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to positionN or in
case of manual transmission declutch.
Try to keep the vehicle under control by
corrective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking
efficiency should be tested as soon as
possible after driving is resumed.
For more information, see “Winter driving”
(
page 336).
iFor information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains”
(page 337).
Warning!
G
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 control loss.
Warning!
G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Warning!
G
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe
and from around the vehicle with the engine
running. Otherwise, deadly carbon monox-
ide (CO) gases may enter vehicle interior re-
sulting in unconsciousness and death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the
vehicle not facing the wind.Warning!
G
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.

392 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyManually unlocking the transmission gear selector lever
In case of power failure, the transmission
gear selector lever can be manually un-
locked, e.g. to tow the vehicle.
Slide out the swiveling cup holder
(page 259).
1Tool

Insert a tool1 (e.g. flat blade screw
driver) into the opening.

Perform the following two steps
simultaneously:
Press tool1 forward in the
direction of the arrow.

Move gear selector lever from
positionP.

Remove tool1 from the opening.iThe gear selector lever is locked again
when moving it to positionP.

406 Practical hintsFlat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.

Turn on the hazard warning flasher
(page 124).

Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead
position.

Set the parking brake (
page 58).

Move the gear selector lever toP
(manual transmission: to first or
reverse gear).

Turn off the engine (
page 59).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Mounting the Minispare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(page 406).

Take the wheel wrench, the wheel
bolts, and the jack out of the trunk
(page 383).

Take the Minispare wheel out of the
trunk (
page 386).
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The Minispare wheel is for temporary use
only. When driving with Minispare wheel
mounted, ensure proper tire inflation
pressure and do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the Minispare
wheel replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one Minispare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
iOpen doors only when conditions are
safe to do so.

416 Practical hintsJump startingThe battery is located in the engine
compartment on the right hand side. The
terminals for jump starting are located in
front of the battery.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Apply parking brake.

Shift gear selector lever to positionP
(manual transmission: to Neutral).

Open the hood (
page 297).

Flip up cover positive under hood
terminal2 in front of the filter box
(page 412).1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive under hood terminal in front of
discharged battery
3Negative under hood terminal in front
of discharged battery
4Negative terminal of charged battery

Connect positive terminal1 of the
charged battery with positive under
hood terminal2 in front of the filter
box with the jumper cables. Clamp ca-
ble to charged battery1 first.

Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.

Connect negative terminal4 of the
charged battery with negative under
hood terminal3 in front of the filter
box with the jumper cables. Clamp ca-
ble to charged battery4 first.

Start the engine of the disabled
vehicle.
You can now again turn on the electrical
consumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.

Remove the jumper cables first from
negative terminals3 and4 and then
from positive terminals2 and1.
You can now turn on the lights.

Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 302).
!Never invert the terminal connections!
!Vehicles with automatic transmission
and/or 4MATIC:
Do not tow-start the vehicle.

417 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the
vehicle may be towed with all wheels on
the ground or front wheels raised (except
vehicles with 4MATIC) only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with the SmartKey in the starter
switch turned to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm*
(page 95) and deactivate the auto-
matic central locking (
page 152).
!Vehicles with automatic transmission
and/or 4MATIC:
Do not tow-start the vehicle.!Vehicles with 4MATIC:
Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing
so could damage the transfer case,
which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground.
Observe instructions for towing the
vehicle with all wheels on the ground.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised (not permissible for vehicles
with 4MATIC), the engine must be shut
off (SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or1). Otherwise the ESP
®
will immediately be engaged and will
apply the rear wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the gear selector lever
must be in positionN (manual trans-
mission: gears disengaged) and the
SmartKey must be in starter switch
position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground or the front axle raised,
the vehicle may be towed only for
distances up to 30 miles (50 km) and
at a speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).

419 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the
following:
With the automatic central locking
activated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, the vehicle doors
lock if the left front wheel as well as the
right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm*
(page 95).
To prevent the vehicle doors from
locking, deactivate the automatic
central locking (
page 152).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed
towing eye bolt. Never attach tow
cable, tow rope or tow rod to vehicle
chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iIf the battery is disconnected or
discharged

the SmartKey will not turn in the
starter switch. For more informa-
tion, see “Battery” (
page 412)
and “Jump starting” (page 415).


the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP. For informa-
tion on manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever
see (
page 392).

440 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.CapacitiesVehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore only use
products tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Please refer to the Factory Approved
Service Products pamphlet, or inquire at
your Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filter
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
Approved engine oils
Automatic transmission
C230 (all models)
C280
C350
C3504MATIC
C3504MATIC
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
8.3 US qt (7.8 l)
8.3 US qt (7.8 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
Manual transmission
C230 (all models)
C350
1.3 US qt (1.2 l)
1.6 US qt (1.5 l)
MB Manual Transmission Oil
Rear axle
C230 (all models)
C280 (all models)
C350
C350Sport
C3504MATIC
1.0 US qt (1.0 l)
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
1.0 US qt (1.0 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Front axle
C2804MATIC
C3504MATIC
0.5USqt (0.46l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Transfer case
C2804MATIC
C3504MATIC
approx. 0.62 US qt
(0.59 l)
MB Transfer case fluid

453 Technical terms
PSI
(P
ounds per s
quare i
nch) (
page 333)
Recommended tire inflation pressure
(
page 333)
Restraint systems
Seat belts, child restraints, lower
anchors and tethers for children
(LATCH). As independent systems,
their protective functions complement
one another.
Rim
(page 333)
RON
(Research O
ctane N
umber)
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line’s ability to resist undesired deto-
nation (knocking). The average of both
the ->MON (Motor Octane Number)
and RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Shift lock
When the vehicle is parked, this lock
prevents the transmission gear
selector lever from being moved out of
positionP without SmartKey turned
and brake pedal depressed.
Sidewall
(
page 333)
SRS
(Supplemental R
estraint S
ystem)
Air bags, air bag control unit (with
crash sensor), emergency tensioning
device. Though independent systems,
they are closely interfaced to provide
effective occupant protection.Tele Aid* System
(T
elematic A
larm I
dentification on
D
emand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response: automatic and
manual emergency, roadside assis-
tance and information. Tele Aid is
initially activated by completing a
subscriber agreement and placing an
acquaintance call.
The Tele Aid system is operational
provided that the vehicle’s battery is
charged, properly connected, not
damaged and cellular and GPS
coverage is available.

456 Index
Operating and display elements 200
Operating audio system 202
Operating safety 199
Radio operation 207
Telephone* operation 225
Auto-dimming mirror* 171
Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating
(Control system) 152
Automatic climate control*
(Canada only) 186
Control panel 187
Defrosting, front 191
Rear window defroster 175
Automatic headlamp mode 119
Automatic locking when driving 107
Automatic shift program
Program mode selector switch
(Automatic transmission*) 167
Automatic time change (Standard time,
Daylight Saving time) 147Automatic transmission* 162
Accelerator position 165
Automatic shift program 167
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 169
Fluid level (ATF) 300
Gear ranges 166
Gear selector lever 162
Gear shifting malfunctions 169
Kickdown 165
Manual shifting 168
One-touch gearshifting 168
Program mode selector switch 167
Starting engine 49
B
Backrest
Driver’s multicontour seat*
(Canada only) 113
Rear seat, folding 254
Seat, manual 36
Seat, power* 38Backup lamps
Messages in display 377
Replacing bulbs 399
Bar 331
BAS 88, 449
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 396
Checking battery condition 101
Battery, Vehicle 302, 412
Charging 414
Disconnecting and connecting 413
Jump starting 415
Removing and installing 413
Bead 331
Bi-Xenon* headlamps see headlamps
Block heater (Canada only) 337
Bolts, Spare wheel 388
Brake Assist System see BAS
Brake fluid 442
Checking 295
Message in display 370

461 Index
Fuel 294, 443
Additives 443
Capacities, Fuel tank 441
Filling the tank 294
Fuel filler flap and cap, Multifunction
display messages 352, 353, 376
Fuel gauge 25
Fuel reserve warning lamp 354
Requirements, Octane rating 444
Technical data 441, 443
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 155
Since last reset 156
Fuel filler flap 294
Opening in an emergency 391
Fuel reserve warning lamp 25
Fuel tank
Capacity 441
Filler flap 294
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Capacities 440Fuses 421
Aids for changing fuses 421
Fuse box (main) in passenger
compartment 422
Fuse box in engine compartment 422
Fuse box in trunk 423
Fuse chart 421
Fuse extractor 421, 423
Replacing 421
Spare fuses 421
G
Garage door opener* 273
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 331
Gear range 450
Automatic transmission* 166
Limiting 166
Shifting into optimal 169
Gear selector lever 48, 49, 161, 162
Cleaning 347
Lock 49
Position indicator 163
Position, Automatic
transmission* 130, 162, 164
Unlocking in an emergency 392Global locking/unlocking see Key
Global Positioning System see GPS
Glove box 257
Good visibility 170
GPS 451
Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight see GVW
GVW 332
GVWR 332
H
Halogen headlamp see Headlamps
Hands-free microphone 29
Hard plastic trim items, cleaning 347
Hazard warning flasher 124
Head restraints 37, 109
Active head restraint 73, 394
Front seat,
Removing and installing 109
Manual seat, Adjusting 37
Power seat*, Adjusting 39
Rear seat, Folding back 110
Rear seat, Removing and
installing 111
Resetting activated head
restraints 394