instrument cluster MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC 2008 W204 Owner's Manual

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 .................................. 11
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle
outside the USA or Canada ............ 12
Where to find it .................................... 13
Symbols ............................................... 14
Operating safety .................................. 15
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 15
Problems with your vehicle .................. 16
Reporting safety defects...................... 17
Reporting safety defects ................ 17
Vehicle data recording ......................... 18
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 18At a glance.......................................... 19
Exterior view ......................................... 20
Storage compartments ......................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 28
Center console ..................................... 29
Upper part ...................................... 29
Lower part ...................................... 30
Overhead control panel ........................ 31
Driver’s door control panel
and seat adjustment/memory*............ 32Safety and Security........................... 33
Occupant safety ................................... 34
Air bags .......................................... 36
Occupant Classification System ..... 41
Seat belts ....................................... 46
Active head restraints ..................... 50
Children in the vehicle .................... 51
Blocking of
rear door window operation............ 57
Panic alarm .......................................... 58
Driving safety systems ......................... 59
ABS ................................................. 59
Adaptive Brake ............................... 60
BAS ................................................. 60
EBP ................................................. 61
ESP
®............................................... 62
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP
®..... 65
Anti-theft systems ................................ 66
Immobilizer ..................................... 66
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 66
Canceling the alarm ........................ 67

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

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 322
Refueling ...................................... 322
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 324
Engine compartment ......................... 325
Hood ............................................ 325
Engine oil ..................................... 327
Transmission fluid level ................ 328
Coolant level ................................ 329
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 330
Tires and wheels ................................ 331
Important guidelines .................... 331
Tire care and maintenance........... 332
Direction of rotation ..................... 334
Loading the vehicle ...................... 334
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 339
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 341
Tire labeling.................................. 348
Load identification ....................... 352
DOT,
Tire Identification Number (TIN) ... 352
Maximum tire load ....................... 353
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 354Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 354
Tire ply material ............................ 356
Tire and loading terminology......... 356
Rotating tires ................................ 359
Winter driving ..................................... 360
Winter tires ................................... 360
Snow chains.................................. 361
Maintenance....................................... 362
Maintenance
service indicator message ............ 362
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 363
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 363
Vehicle care........................................ 364
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 364
Practical hints.................................. 373
What to do if …? ................................. 374
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 374
Air bag off indicator lamp ............. 385
Vehicle status messages in
the multifunction display .............. 387
Where will I find ...? ............................ 420
First aid kit.................................... 420
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, Minispare wheel ..... 420
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 424
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 424
Locking the vehicle ....................... 425
Fuel filler flap ................................ 426
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever ... 426
Resetting activated head restraints.... 427
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 428
Replacing bulbs .................................. 430
Bulbs............................................. 431
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 432
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 436
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 438
Removing wiper blades ................. 439
Installing wiper blades .................. 439

19 At a glance
Exterior view
Storage compartments
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Driver’s door control panel and seat
adjustment/memory*

25 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Lever for cruise control242
2Instrument cluster26
3Multifunction steering wheel152
4Horn
5Overhead control panel31
6Glove box284
7Glove box lock284
8Center console29
9Starter switch
KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button
(Canada only)82
83
ItemPage
aSteering wheel release handle
(manual)94
bSteering wheel adjustment
stalk (electrical)*
(Canada only) 93
cCombination switch

High beam

Corner-illuminating
lamps*

Windshield wipers

Turn signals
112
112
117
131
ItemPage
dHood lock release326
eParking brake pedal130
fParking brake release130
gExterior lamp switch108
hDoor control panel and seat
adjustment/memory*32

26 At a glance
Instrument cluster

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

34 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In this section you will learn the most
important facts about the restraint
systems of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are

Seat belts

Child restraints

Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CH
ildren (LATCH)
Additional protection potential provide

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

Air bags

Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)

Emergency Tensioning Device
(ETD) for seat belts

Seat belt force limiter

Active head restraintsAir bag system components with

Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp

Front passenger seat with Occupant
C
lassification System (OCS)
Although independent systems, their pro-
tective functions work in conjunction with
each other.The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates early detection of malfunctions.
The =indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (page 26) comes on when the
ignition is switched on and goes out no lat-
er than a few seconds after the engine has
been started.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness when the =indicator lamp is
not lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the =indicator lamp:

fails to go out after approximately
4 seconds after the engine was started

does not come on at all

comes on after the engine was started
or while driving
iFor information on infants and children trav-
eling with you in the vehicle and restraint sys-
tems for infants and children, see “Children in
the vehicle” (
page 51).

59 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
This section contains information about
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (Antilock Brake System)

Adaptive Brake

BAS (Brake Assist System)

EBP (Electronic Brake Proportioning)

ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)

4MATIC (Four Wheel Electronic Trac-
tion System)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.The ABS is functional above a speed of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) indepen-
dent of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 26) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the pul-
sation.
Warning!G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns

Wet and slippery road surfaces

Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
iIn winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, BAS, EBP, ESP® and 4MATIC is
only achieved with winter tires (
page 360), or
snow chains as required.
Warning!G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.


64 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
When you switch off the ESP®

the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle

the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip

the electronic traction system will still
apply the brakes to a spinning wheel

the ESP® continues to operate when
you are braking

you cannot activate the cruise control

the cruise control switches off if
currently activated1ESP
® off/on
With the engine running, press ESP®
switch1 until the ESP® warning
lampv in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ESP
® is switched off.Switching on the ESP
®
Press ESP® switch1.
The ESP
® warning lampv in the in-
strument cluster goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode with the ESP
® switched on.
Warning!G
Switch on the ESP® immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply any-
more. Otherwise the ESP
® will not stabilize
the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a
wheel is spinning.
iWhen the ESP® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP® warn-
ing lampv in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the ve-
hicle.
Warning!G
When the ESP® warning lampv is illumi-
nated continuously, the ESP® is switched off
or is not operational due to a malfunction.
Vehicle stability in standard driving maneu-
vers reduces.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP
®.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an ex-
tended period with the ESP® switched off. This
may cause serious damage to the drivetrain
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Lim-
ited Warranty.