automatic transmission MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC 2008 W204 Owner's Manual

Contents
Driving and parking............................ 126
Starting the engine....................... 126
Driving off .................................... 129
Turn signals.................................. 131
Problems while driving ................. 132
Parking ......................................... 133
Turning off the engine .................. 134
Releasing seat belts ..................... 135
Manual transmission ......................... 136
Shifting into reverse ..................... 137
Automatic transmission* ................... 138
Gear selector lever ....................... 138
Shifting procedure ....................... 139
Gear selector lever positions ....... 140
Driving tips ................................... 142
Gear ranges ................................. 143
Automatic shift program .............. 144
Gear selector lever
one-touch gearshifting................. 145
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 146
Instrument cluster ............................. 147
Multifunction display .................... 147
Adjusting instrument
cluster display illumination........... 148
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 148Tachometer................................... 149
Outside temperature indicator ...... 149
Fuel gauge .................................... 150
Control system ................................... 151
Multifunction display..................... 151
Multifunction steering wheel......... 152
Menus ........................................... 154
Trip menu...................................... 156
Navi* menu ................................... 158
Audio menu................................... 158
TEL menu* .................................... 160
Service menu ................................ 164
Settings menu............................... 165
Audio system...................................... 176
Audio and telephone, operation .... 176
Audio system overview ................. 176
Operating safety ........................... 177
Audio system components............ 177
Menu............................................. 185
Operation ...................................... 188
SYS menu ..................................... 192
Radio operation ............................ 194
Satellite radio*.............................. 200
CD mode ....................................... 208
Audio Aux mode............................ 220
Telephone* ................................... 222“911” emergency call ................... 231
Phone book................................... 233
Call lists ........................................ 236
Making calls.................................. 237
Functions during a single call ....... 240
Driving systems .................................. 241
Cruise control ............................... 241
Hill start assist system................. 246
Air vents ............................................. 247
Opening and closing air vents....... 248
Dual-zone automatic climate control .. 250
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 252
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 253
Setting the temperature ............... 253
Adjusting air distribution .............. 254
Adjusting air volume ..................... 254
Using driver-side settings for all
temperature zones (Canada only) . 254
Front defroster ............................. 255
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
(USA only) ..................................... 256
Rear window defroster.................. 256
Air recirculation mode .................. 257
Air conditioning ............................ 258

27 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Combination gauge with:
Fuel gauge
4Fuel tank reserve
warning lamp
Coolant temperature gauge
ÌCoolant temperature
warning lamp
Indicator/warning lamps:
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
380
112
374
382
378
;
USA only
3
Canada onlyBrake warning
lamp376
2LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp131
ItemPage
3vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP®)
warning lamp
380
4Speedometer
5Multifunction display
6KRight turn signal
indicator lamp131
7Tachometer with:
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale,
USA only380
=SRS indicator lamp382
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp59
8Outside temperature
(manual transmission)
Outside temperature /
additional speedometer
(automatic transmission*)149
149,
169
ItemPage
9Outside temperature
(automatic transmission*)149,
169
aSelected program mode
indicator
(automatic transmission*)140
bGear position/range
indicator
(automatic transmission*)
Additional speedometer
(manual transmission)143
169
cDigital clock151
dInstrument cluster
illumination148

30 At a glance
Center console
Lower partItemPage
1Ashtray291
Cigarette lighter292
2Gearshift lever for manual
transmission138
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission*140
3Cup holder287
4Split storage compartment,
left and right side of the
center armrest284
5Audio controller
COMAND-controller*
(see separate operating
instructions)182
6Program mode selector
switch for automatic
transmission*144

69 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Starter switch positions
Seats
Steering wheel
Mirrors
Memory function* (Canada only)
Fastening the seat belts
Lighting
Windshield wipers
Power windows
Driving and parking
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*Instrument cluster
Control system
Audio system
Driving systems
Air vents
Dual-zone automatic climate con-
trol
3-zone automatic climate control*
(Canada only)
Trunk
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
Loading and storing
Useful features

82 Controls in detail
Starter switch positions
SmartKey
Starter switch
0For removing SmartKey1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary.
If a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 374).
3Starting position
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Starting: Make sure
the gear selector lever is set to P.”
(
page 127).
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised ac-
cess to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp and turn signal indica-
tor lamps unless activated) in the instrument
cluster come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except high beam headlamp indicator
lamp and turn signal indicator lamps if activated)
should go out when the engine is running. This in-
dicates that the respective systems are opera-
tional.
iVehicles with automatic transmission*: The
SmartKey can only be removed from the starter
switch with the gear selector lever in positionP.
iIf the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it can
no longer be turned in the switch. In this case,
the steering is locked. To unlock, remove
SmartKey from starter switch and reinsert.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be sufficient-
ly charged.

Check the battery and charge it if necessary
(
page 446).

Get a jump start (page 451).
To prevent accelerated battery discharge or a
completely discharged battery, always remove
the SmartKey from the starter switch when the
engine is not in operation.

110 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
In Canada the daytime running lamp mode
is mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
In the USA the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated by default. Activate the day-
time running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 171).
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM or*.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly:

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lampsCanada only
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
When the engine is running and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
with the vehicle at a standstill the low
beam headlamps will switch off with a de-
lay of 3-minutes.
When the engine is running, and you

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the low beam head-
lamps, the tail and parking lamps, the
license plate lamp and the side marker
lamps switch on.

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime run-
ning lamp mode.The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 108).
USA only
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to position C
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 108).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the engine running, the low beam head-
lamps cannot be switched off manually.
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
positionM or *, you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving you should turn the exterior
lamp switch to positionB to permit activa-
tion of the high beam headlamps.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the exterior lamp switch in
position M, you cannot switch on the high
beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving you should turn the exterior
lamp switch to positionB or * to permit
activation of the high beam headlamps.

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Switch on the left or right turn signal
(
page 108), depending on whether
you are turning left or right.
The respective corner-illuminating
front fog lamp comes on and illumi-
nates the area in the direction into
which you are turning.
or
Turn steering wheel in desired
direction.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp
on the side of your steering direction
comes on.Switching off the corner-illuminating
lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating lamps if they were acti-
vated by switching on the left or right turn
signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and corner-illu-
minating lamp can be switched off by
returning the combination switch to its
original position.
iIf you have switched on the turn signal for
one side but turn the steering wheel in the
opposite direction, the corner-illuminating front
fog lamp comes on for the side indicated by the
turn signal.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp remains lit
for a maximum of 3 minutes. Afterward, it goes
out even if the turn signal is still switched on.
iThe corner-illuminating lamps temporarily
come on both sides of the vehicle if you turn the
steering wheel in one direction and then in the
other direction shortly thereafter.
iThe corner-illuminating lamps will come on
automatically depending on the steering angle,
even if you did not switch on either turn signal. If
the corner-illuminating lamps came on automat-
ically, they will also go out automatically depend-
ing on the steering angle.
iWhen you shift the transmission in reverse
gear, the corner-illuminating lamp opposite to
your steering direction comes on.
The turn signal has no influence on the
corner-illuminating lamp on the outside of the
curve.
iThe corner-illuminating lamp may remain lit
for a short time. The corner-illuminating lamp
comes on for no more than 20 seconds with the
vehicle standing still. It is then switched off even
if the turn signal is still switched on or you have
turned the steering wheel to full lock.

119 Controls in detail
Windshield wipers
Turn the combination switch to posi-
tion U or V.
Intermittent wiping starts with selected
wiping interval.
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are automatically controlled by
the rain sensor.
Intermittent wiping interval is depen-
dent on wetness of windshield.Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press the combination switch in the di-
rection of arrow2 (
page 117) past
the resistance point.
The windshield wiper operates with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 330).
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when the
vehicle is at a standstill and a front door is
opened. This protects persons getting into or out
of the vehicle from being sprayed.
Intermittent wiping will be continued when

all doors are closed
and

the clutch pedal is depressed (vehicles with
manual transmission
or

the gear selector lever is positionD orR (ve-
hicles with automatic transmission*)
or

the wiper setting is changed using the com-
bination switch
iTo prevent smears on the windshield or
noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe with wind-
shield washer fluid every now and then even
when it is raining.
iVehicles with headlamp cleaning system*:
The headlamp cleaning system* will clean the
headlamps automatically after the first and every
tenth time windshield washer fluid is used while
the engine is running (
page 112).

127 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Starting: Depress brake pedal.
Make sure the gearshift lever is in
neutral position (no gear selected).
Fully depress clutch pedal.
Otherwise the engine cannot be
started due to the integrated safety
interlock.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 and hold until the engine
starts.
For information on turning off the engine,
see “Turning off the engine” (
page 134).Automatic transmission*
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information on how to operate
the gear selector lever, see “Automatic
transmission*” (
page 127).SmartKey
Starting: Make sure the gear selector
lever is set toP.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 and hold until the engine
starts.
For information on turning off the engine
with the SmartKey, see “Turning off the en-
gine” (
page 134).
iYou can also use the “touch-start” function.
Turn the SmartKey to position 3 and release it
again immediately. The engine then starts
automatically.
iYou can also start the engine with the auto-
matic transmission set to N.

130 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal
Release the parking brake by pulling on
release handle1.
The indicator lamp; (USA only)
or3 (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.Manual transmission
Fully depress the clutch pedal.
Move gearshift lever to first gear to
drive forward, or to reverse gear to
drive in reverse.
Release the brake pedal.
Simultaneously slowly release the
clutch pedal and carefully depress the
accelerator pedal.
!If you hear a warning signal, the red indica-
tor lamp 0 (USA only) or ! (Canada only)
in the instrument cluster flashes and the mes-
sage
Release Parking Brake appears in the
multifunction display when driving off, you have
forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.
iAt vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h), the automatic central locking system
engages and the locking knobs in the doors drop
down.
The automatic door lock feature can be deacti-
vated (
page 173).
You can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
!Do not run a cold engine at high engine
speeds as this may shorten its service life.
!In order to avoid damage to the transmis-
sion, place the gearshift lever to reverse gear
only when the vehicle is stopped.
!Shift gear in a timely manner and do not ex-
ceed the maximum permissible engine speed for
each gear.
Do not allow the wheels to spin as this could
damage the drive train.