MERCEDES-BENZ C280 2007 W203 Owner's Manual

Sommer\ Corporate\ Media AG
Operator’s Manual
C-Class Sedan
Order No. 6515 0183 13 Part No. 203 584 34 71 USA Edition A, 2007C-Class Sedan
2035843471

C 230
C 230 Sport
C 280
C 280 4MATIC
C 350
C 350 4MATIC
C 350 Sport

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 .......... 19At 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................................ 30Getting started................................... 31
Unlocking ............................................. 32
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 32
Starter switch positions .................. 32
Adjusting .............................................. 34
Seats .............................................. 34
Steering wheel ................................ 38
Mirrors ............................................ 41
Driving .................................................. 43
Fastening the seat belt ................... 43
Starting the engine ......................... 46
Parking brake ................................. 48
Driving ............................................ 48
Switching on headlamps ................. 50
Turn signals .................................... 50
Windshield wipers ........................... 51
Problems while driving.................... 53
Parking and locking .............................. 54
Parking brake ................................. 54
Switching off headlamps................. 55
Turning off engine ........................... 55
Releasing seat belts........................ 56
Locking ........................................... 56

Contents
Safety and Security........................... 57
Occupant safety................................... 58
Air bags .......................................... 59
Occupant Classification System ..... 64
Seat belts ....................................... 69
Active head restraint ...................... 73
Children in the vehicle .................... 74
Blocking of
rear door window operation ........... 80
Panic alarm* ........................................ 81
Activating ....................................... 81
Deactivating ................................... 81
Driving safety systems ......................... 82
ABS ................................................ 82
BAS ................................................ 84
ESP
®............................................... 85
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP
®..... 88
Anti-theft systems................................ 89
Immobilizer..................................... 89
Anti-theft alarm system* ................ 89
Controls in detail............................... 91
Locking and unlocking ......................... 92
SmartKey ....................................... 92
Checking the batteries ................... 95
Loss of SmartKey
or mechanical key .......................... 95
Opening the doors from the inside . 96
Opening the trunk .......................... 96
Closing the trunk............................ 97
Trunk emergency release ............... 98
Valet locking .................................. 99
Automatic central locking .............. 99
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 100
Seats ................................................. 101
Front seat active head restraints . 101
Rear seat head restraints ............. 101
Lumbar support............................ 105
Multicontour seats*
(Canada only) ............................... 105
Seat heating* ............................... 106
Memory function* ............................. 107
Storing positions into memory ..... 108
Recalling positions from memory . 108Lighting ............................................. 109
Exterior lamp switch .................... 109
Combination switch ..................... 113
Corner-illuminating front
fog lamps* (C 230 (Canada only),
C 280, C 350 and models
with 4MATIC: with
Bi-Xenon* headlamps)................. 113
Hazard warning flasher ................ 115
Interior lighting ............................ 116
Door entry lamps ......................... 117
Trunk lamp ................................... 117
Instrument cluster ............................. 118
Adjusting
instrument cluster illumination .... 118
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 119
Resetting trip odometer ............... 119
Tachometer.................................. 120
Outside temperature indicator ..... 120
Control system .................................. 121
Multifunction display.................... 121
Multifunction steering wheel........ 122
Menus .......................................... 124
Standard display menu ................ 126
AUDIO menu ................................ 127
NAV* menu .................................. 129

Contents
Vehicle status
message memory menu ............... 130
Settings menu .............................. 131
Trip computer menu..................... 144
TEL menu* ................................... 146
Manual transmission ......................... 149
Shifting into reverse ..................... 150
Automatic transmission* ................... 151
Gear selector lever ....................... 151
Shifting procedure ....................... 152
Gear selector lever positions ....... 153
Driving tips ................................... 155
Gear ranges ................................. 156
Automatic shift program .............. 157
One-touch gearshifting................. 158
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 159
Good visibility .................................... 160
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 160
Rear view mirrors ......................... 160
Sun visors .................................... 161
Rear window sunshade* .............. 162
Rear window defroster ................. 163Climate control ................................... 164
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 167
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 167
Setting the temperature................ 168
Adjusting air
distribution and volume ................ 168
Adjusting air volume ..................... 169
Front defroster.............................. 169
Air recirculation mode .................. 170
Air conditioning............................. 172
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 173
Automatic climate control .................. 174
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 177
Operating the automatic
climate control system
in automatic mode ........................ 177
Setting the temperature................ 178
Adjusting air distribution............... 178
Adjusting air volume ..................... 179
Front defroster.............................. 179
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 180
Air recirculation mode .................. 181Charcoal filter ............................... 183
Air conditioning ............................ 184
Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only)................................ 185
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 186
Audio system...................................... 187
Audio and telephone, operation .... 187
Operating safety ........................... 187
Operating and display elements ... 188
Button and soft key operation ...... 190
Operation...................................... 190
Radio operation ............................ 194
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 197
CD mode....................................... 201
GSM network phones ................... 208
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 214
Emergency calls “911” ................. 219
Power windows .................................. 221
Opening and closing
the windows ................................. 221
Synchronizing power windows ...... 222
Summer opening feature .............. 223
Convenience closing feature......... 223

Contents
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 224
Opening and closing
the power tilt/sliding sunroof ...... 224
Synchronizing
the power tilt/sliding sunroof ...... 226
Driving systems ................................. 227
Cruise control............................... 227
Loading .............................................. 230
Roof rack* .................................... 230
Ski sack* (Canada only) ............... 230
Split rear bench seat* .................. 233
Loading instructions ..................... 235
Cargo tie-down rings* .................. 236
Useful features .................................. 237
Storage compartments................. 237
Cup holders .................................. 239
Ashtrays ....................................... 241
Cigarette lighter ........................... 242
Power outlet ................................. 243
Telephone*................................... 244
Tele Aid* ...................................... 247
Garage door opener* ................... 253
Operation......................................... 259
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)......... 260
Driving instructions............................ 261
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 261
Drinking and driving ..................... 261
Pedals .......................................... 261
Power assistance ......................... 262
Brakes .......................................... 262
Driving off .................................... 263
Parking ......................................... 264
Tires ............................................. 264
Hydroplaning ................................ 265
Tire traction.................................. 265
Tire speed rating .......................... 266
Winter driving instructions ........... 267
Standing water ............................. 268
Passenger compartment .............. 268
Driving abroad.............................. 268
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 268
Catalytic converter ....................... 269
Emission control .......................... 270
Coolant temperature .................... 270At the gas station .............................. 271
Refueling ...................................... 271
Check regularly
and before a long trip................... 273
Engine compartment ......................... 274
Hood ............................................ 274
Engine oil ..................................... 276
Transmission fluid level................ 277
Coolant level ................................ 278
Battery ......................................... 279
Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system* .. 280
Tires and wheels................................ 281
Important guidelines .................... 281
Tire care and maintenance........... 282
Direction of rotation..................... 284
Loading the vehicle ...................... 284
Recommended
tire inflation pressure ................... 289
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 290
MOExtended system* .................. 294
Tire labeling ................................. 295
Load identification ....................... 299
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 299
Maximum tire load ....................... 301

Contents
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 301
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 302
Tire ply material ........................... 304
Tire and loading terminology ........ 304
Rotating tires ............................... 307
Winter driving .................................... 308
Winter tires .................................. 308
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 309
Snow chains................................. 309
Maintenance ...................................... 310
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 310
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 312
Resetting the
maintenance service indicator ..... 312
Vehicle care ....................................... 313
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 313
Practical hints.................................. 321
What to do if … ................................... 322
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 322
Lamp in center console................. 331
Vehicle status messages
in the multifunction display........... 333
Where will I find ...? ............................ 356
First aid kit .................................... 356
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 356
Minispare wheel............................ 359
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 360
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 361
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 361
Locking the vehicle ....................... 362
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever ... 363
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 364
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 364
Resetting activated head restraints .... 365
Resetting
activated head restraints .............. 365
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 366
SmartKey ...................................... 366Replacing bulbs .................................. 367
Bulbs............................................. 368
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 370
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 373
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 375
Removing and installing
wiper blades ................................. 375
Flat tire............................................... 377
Preparing the vehicle .................... 377
Mounting the Minispare wheel...... 377
MOExtended system* ................... 382
Battery ............................................... 383
Disconnecting the battery ............ 384
Removing the battery ................... 384
Charging and
reinstalling the battery.................. 385
Reconnecting the battery ............. 385
Jump starting...................................... 386
Towing the vehicle.............................. 388
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 390
Fuses.................................................. 391
Main fuse box
in passenger compartment ........... 392
Fuse box
in engine compartment................. 392
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 394

Contents
Technical data.................................. 395
Parts service ...................................... 396
Warranty coverage ............................. 397
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 397
Identification labels............................ 398
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 400
Engine ................................................ 401
Rims and Tires ................................... 403
Same size tires ............................. 404
Mixed size tires ............................ 405
Minispare wheel ........................... 406
Electrical system................................ 407
Main dimensions and weights............ 408
Main dimensions .......................... 408
Weights ........................................ 408Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 409
Capacities .................................... 409
Engine oils.................................... 412
Engine oil additives ...................... 412
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 412
Brake fluid .................................... 412
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 413
Gasoline additives ........................ 413
Fuel requirements ........................ 414
Flexible Fuel Vehicles
(C 230/C 230 Sport only) ............ 414
Coolants....................................... 416
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 418Index................................................. 419

9
Product information

Introduction
Product information
Please observe the following in your own
best interest:
We recommend using Genuine
Mercedes-Benz parts as well as conversion
parts and accessories explicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine
their reliability, safety and special
suitability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for
other products and therefore cannot be
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety,
performance or reliability of your vehicle.
Please do not use them.Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories
approved by us are available at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center where
you will receive comprehensive informa-
tion, also on permissible technical modifi-
cations, and where proper installation will
be performed.