tow MERCEDES-BENZ C300 2008 W204 Owner's Manual

Contents
Flat tire .............................................. 440
Preparing the vehicle.................... 440
Mounting the Minispare wheel ..... 441
Battery ............................................... 446
Disconnecting the battery ............ 448
Removing the battery ................... 449
Charging and reinstalling
the battery.................................... 449
Reconnecting the battery ............. 450
Jump starting ..................................... 451
Towing the vehicle ............................. 453
Installing towing eye bolt.............. 455
Fuses ................................................. 456
Fuse box
in passenger compartment .......... 457
Fuse box
in engine compartment ................ 457
Fuse box
in the trunk................................... 458
Technical data................................. 459
Parts service ...................................... 460
Warranty coverage............................. 461
Loss of Service and
Warranty Information Booklet ...... 461
Identification labels ........................... 462
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 464
C 300/C 350 ............................... 464
Engine................................................ 465
Rims and tires.................................... 467
Same size tires ............................. 468
Mixed size tires ............................ 469
Minispare wheel ........................... 471
Electrical system ............................... 473
Main dimensions and weights............ 474
Main dimensions .......................... 474
Weights ........................................ 475
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 476
Capacities .................................... 476
Engine oils.................................... 480
Engine oil additives ...................... 480
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 480
Brake fluid .................................... 480
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 481
Gasoline additives ........................ 481Fuel requirements ........................ 482
Flexible Fuel Vehicles (USA only) . 482
Coolants ...................................... 484
Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system* .. 486
Index................................................. 487

15 Introduction
Operating safety
Operating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:

the safety precautions in this manual

the “Technical data” section in this
manual

traffic rules and regulations

motor vehicle laws and safety stan-
dards
Warning!G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are in-
terconnected, any modifications made may
produce an undesired effect on other sys-
tems. Electronic malfunctions could seri-
ously impair the operating safety of your
vehicle.
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for repairs or modifications to electronic
components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore nev-
er turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!G
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires/wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,
may cause serious damage and impair the
operating safety of your vehicle. If you feel a
sudden significant vibration or ride distur-
bance, or you suspect that damage to your
vehicle has occurred, you should turn on
your hazard warning flashers, carefully slow
down, and drive with caution to an area
which is a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and
tires/wheels for possible damage. If the ve-
hicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or other qualified maintenance or repair fa-
cility for further inspection or repairs.
Warning!G
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended
to make you and others aware of various
risks. You should not remove any of these
warning labels unless explicitly instructed to
do so by information on the label itself. Re-
moval of any of these labels may cause you
and others to be unaware of certain risks
which may result in an accident and/or per-
sonal injury.

21 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Trunk

Unlocking

Opening and closing

Minispare wheel

Vehicle tool kit
269
269
441
420
2Rear lamps431
3Rear window, defrosting265
4Fuel filler flap
Refueling
Gasoline322
322
481
5Doors

Locking and unlocking

Opening and closing

Unlocking/locking in an
emergency
70
70
424
6Exterior rear view mirror

Adjusting97
ItemPage

Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors*

Power folding exterior rear
view mirrors*

Parking position*
(Canada only)
97
100
98
101
7Tires and wheels

Checking tire inflation
pressure

Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS), (USA only)

Run Flat Indicator (Canada
only)

General information

Minispare wheel

Flat tire
331
341
344
342
331
422
440
8Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt453
455
ItemPage
9Headlamp cleaning system*112
aFront lamps431
bHood, opening
Engine oil
Coolant
Battery325
327
329
446
cWindshield wipers
Wiper blades, replacing
Wiper blades, cleaning117
438
368
dWindshield
Front window, defrosting
Cleaning with wiper fluid
Cleaning
264
119
368
eRoofs

Power tilt/sliding sunroof

Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
273
276

49 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
intensity for a maximum of 60 seconds
or until the driver’s and the front
passenger’s seat belt are fastened.
If you and/or your front passenger
release the seat belt during driving, the
seat belt telltale< starts flashing
and a warning chime sounds as
described before.
If the driver’s or the front passenger’s
seat belt remains unfastened after
60 seconds, the warning chime stops
sounding, the seat belt telltale<
stops flashing but continues to be
illuminated.
After a vehicle standstill, the warning
chime reactivates and the seat belt
telltale< flashes again when the
vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph
(25 km/h).
The seat belt telltale< will only go out
if both the driver’s and the front passen-
ger’s seat belt (with the front passenger
seat occupied) are fastened, or the vehicle
is standing still and a front door is opened.For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 380).
Emergency tensioning device (ETD),
seat belt force limiter
The seat belts are equipped with Emergen-
cy Tensioning Devices (ETDs) and seat belt
force limiters.
The ETD is designed to activate in the
following cases:

in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed-
ing the system deployment threshold

in certain vehicle rollovers

if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly,
see=indicator lamp (
page 382)In an impact, the ETDs remove slack from
the seat belts in such a way that the seat
belts fit more snugly against the body. Seat
belt force limiters, when activated, are em-
ployed to help reduce the peak force exert-
ed by the seat belts on occupants during a
crash.
iThe ETDs for the front seats will only acti-
vate if the front seat belt is fastened (latch plate
properly inserted into buckle).
The ETDs for the rear seats will activate with or
without the respective seat belt fastened.
iETDs do not correct an incorrect seat posi-
tion or incorrectly worn seat belts.
ETDs do not pull occupants back toward the
backrest.
Warning!G
A pyrotechnic Emergency Tensioning Device
(ETD) that was activated must be replaced.
When disposing of the pyrotechnic Emer-
gency Tensioning Device (ETD), our safety
instructions must be followed. These are
available at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

63 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
section (
page 380) and (page 387).Electronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a compo-
nent of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available trac-
tion, especially under slippery road condi-
tions by applying the brakes to a spinning
wheel.
When you switch off the ESP
®, the elec-
tronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch
off the ESP® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:

when driving with snow chains

in deep snow

in sand or gravel
!Vehicles without 4MATIC:
Because the ESP® operates automatically, the
engine and ignition must be shut off (SmartKey
in starter switch position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO
(Canada only) start/stop button* in position0
or1) when

the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer

the vehicle is being towed with the front axle
raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.
For information on vehicles with 4MATIC, see
“Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC)
with the ESP
®” (e page 65).
Warning!G
If you are driving too fast, the electronic
traction system cannot reduce the risk of an
accident.
The electronic traction system cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Warning!G
The ESP® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.

65 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Four wheel electronic traction system
(4MATIC) with the ESP®
Models with all-wheel-drive only.
The 4MATIC improves vehicle’s ability to
use available traction, e.g. during winter
operation in mountains under snowy
conditions, by applying power to all four
wheels.
Warning!G
If you see the ESP® warning lampv
flashing in the instrument cluster, proceed
as follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible

While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor

Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
!Do not tow with one axle raised.
Otherwise the transfer case can be damaged,
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
!Performance testing must only be conduct-
ed on a two-axle dynamometer.
Otherwise the transfer case can be damaged,
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut off (SmartKey in starter
switch position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO (Canada
only) start/stop button* in position0 or1) when
the parking brake is being tested on a brake test
dynamometer.
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the front or rear axle
brake system.
Operational tests with the engine running can
only be conducted on a two-axle dynamometer.
iAt highly demanding operating conditions,
the electronic traction system may temporarily
switch off to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes. The message
Currently Un-
available See Operator’s Manual
will
then appear in the multifunction display while
the ESP
® warning lampv is flashing. The
ESP® is still functioning normally.

80 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Front doors
Pull on door handle2 on the respec-
tive front door to open door.
If door was locked, locking knob1 will
move up.
Rear doors
Pull up locking knob1 on the respec-
tive rear door to unlock door.
Pull on door handle2 on the respec-
tive rear door to open door.
Automatic central locking
The doors and the trunk automatically lock
when the ignition is switched on and the
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of ap-
proximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more. The
locking knobs in the doors move down.
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
You could therefore lock yourself out when
the vehicle is pushed or towed, or it is on a
test stand.Automatic central locking
activating/deactivating
You can deactivate the automatic locking
using the control system (
page 173).
1Central unlocking switch
2Central locking switch
Activating: Press and hold central
locking switch2 until you hear a
chime.
Deactivating: Press and hold central
unlocking switch1 until you hear a
chime.

99 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Folding exterior rear view mirrors in
and out automatically
When the corresponding function in the
control system is activated (
page 175):

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold in as soon as the vehicle is
locked from the outside.

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold out as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front pas-
senger door are subsequently opened.Resetting the automatic exterior rear
view mirror fold in function
You need to reset the automatic exterior
rear view mirror fold in function whenever
the battery was disconnected or dis-
charged.
Switch on the ignition.
Briefly press button1.Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position
1Lever
Tilt the mirror to the antiglare position
by moving lever 1 towards the wind-
shield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.
iThe mirrors do not fold out automatically if
they were previously folded in manually with
button1.
iIf you are driving at more than approximately
9 mph (15 km/h), you will not be able to fold the
exterior mirrors in.
iYou need to manually fold in the mirrors
once, so that the automatic fold in function will
work, see “Setting fold-in function* for exterior
rear view mirrors” (
page 175).

123 Controls in detail
Power windows
Summer opening feature
If the weather is warm, you can ventilate
the vehicle before driving off by simulta-
neously:

opening the side windows

opening the tilt/sliding sunroof or pan-
orama roof with power tilt/sliding pan-
el* and roller sunblinds
Aim transmitter eye of the SmartKey
towards the sensor in the driver’s out-
side door handle. The SmartKey must
be in close proximity to the driver’s
door handle.
Press button Πto unlock the
vehicle.
Vehicles with tilt/sliding sunroof
Press and hold button Πuntil the
side windows and tilt/sliding sunroof
have reached the desired position.
Release button Πto interrupt pro-
cedure.Vehicles with panorama roof*
If roller sunblinds are retracted:
Press and hold button Œ. The side
windows and roller sunblinds begin to
open/extend after approximately
1 second.
With the side windows and roller blinds
fully opened/extended, press and hold
button
Πagain. The tilt/sliding pan-
el tilts and opens.
If roller sunblinds are extended:
Press and hold button Œ. The side
windows move down and the tilt/slid-
ing panel tilts and opens after approxi-
mately 1 second.
Release button Πto interrupt proce-
dure.
iThe “Summer opening” function can only be
activated via the remote control of the SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.

124 Controls in detail
Power windows
Convenience closing feature
When you lock the vehicle, you can close
the side windows and tilt/sliding sunroof
or panorama roof with tilt/sliding panel*
simultaneously.
Afterward, you can close the roller sun-
blinds* of the panorama tilt/sliding sun-
roof*.Vehicles with SmartKey
Aim transmitter eye of the SmartKey
towards the sensor in the driver’s out-
side door handle. The SmartKey must
be in close proximity to the driver’s
door handle.
Press button ‹ to lock the vehicle.
Vehicles with tilt/sliding sunroof
Press and hold button ‹ until the
side windows and the tilt/sliding sun-
roof are completely closed.
Release button ‹ to interrupt pro-
cedure.
iThe function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.
Warning!G
When closing the windows and the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof or panorama roof with tilt/slid-
ing panel*, make sure there is no danger of
anyone being harmed by the closing proce-
dure.
If potential danger exists, proceed as fol-
lows:

Release button ‹ to stop the closing
procedure. To open, press and hold but-
ton Œ. To continue the closing after
making sure that there is no danger of
anyone being harmed by the closing pro-
cedure, press and hold button‹.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only):

Release the sensor surface on the out-
side door handle (
page 125) to stop
the closing procedure.

Immediately pull on the same outside
door handle and hold firmly. The side
windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof or
panorama roof with tilt/sliding panel*
will open for as long as the outside door
handle is held but the door is not
opened.