ignition MERCEDES-BENZ C300 SPORT 2008 W204 User Guide

97 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.
Interior rear view mirror
Manually adjust the interior rear view
mirror.
For more information, see “Interior rear
view mirror, antiglare position”
(
page 99) and, see “Auto-dimming rear
view mirrors*” (
page 100).
Exterior rear view mirrors1 Driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
3Adjustment button
Switch on the ignition.
Press button1 for the driver’s side
exterior rear view mirror or button2
for passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror.
The indicator lamp in the respective
button1 or2 comes on.
If you do not make adjustments to the
selected exterior rear view mirror with-
in 15 seconds, the indicator lamp goes
out. You will then have to select the de-
sired exterior rear view mirror again be-
fore any adjustments can be made.
Adjustments can only be made with the
indicator lamp for the respective exte-
rior rear view mirror button illuminated.
Push adjustment button3 up, down,
left, or right according to the desired
setting.Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

98 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors*
Folding exterior rear view mirrors in
and out manually
The exterior rear view mirrors can vibrate if
they are not folded out completely.
1Folds the exterior mirrors in and out
Switch on the ignition.
Folding in: Press button1.
Folding out: Press button1 again.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear) or
forcibly pushed rearward (hit from the front), re-
position it by applying firm pressure until it snaps
back into place. The mirror housing is then prop-
erly positioned and you can adjust the mirror in
the usual manner.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exterior
rear view mirrors will be heated automatically.
iCanada only:
The memory function* (
page 102) lets you
store the setting for the exterior rear view mir-
rors together with the setting for the steering
wheel and the seat positions.
!Before driving the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, fold the exterior mirrors in. Oth-
erwise they may get damaged.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear), repo-
sition it manually by applying firm pressure until
it snaps back into place.
If an exterior rear view mirror housing is forcibly
pushed rearward (hit from the front), press
button1 to fold mirrors in, then press
button1 again to fold mirrors out. Do not force
mirrors by hand as this may damage the
adjustment mechanism.
The mirror housing is then properly positioned
and you can adjust the mirror in the usual
manner.


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).

100 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The interior rear view mirror will not react if

reverse gearR is engaged

the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at the
sensors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the rear window
sunshade* is in raised position.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic con-
ditions and could cause an accident.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

101 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position* (Canada only)
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror will be
turned downward to the stored position.
1 Driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
3Adjustment button
Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 104).
Switch on the ignition.
Shift the transmission in reverse gear.
The previously selected exterior rear
view mirror is activated, and the indica-
tor lamp in the respective button1
or2 comes on.
Press button2, to select the front
passenger side exterior rear view mir-
ror.
The indicator lamp in button2 comes
on and the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror will be turned downward to
the stored position.The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position:

10 seconds after you have put the
transmission out of reverse

immediately once your vehicle exceeds
a speed of approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h)

immediately when you press button1
for driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror.

104 Controls in detail
Memory function* (Canada only)
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position*
For easier parking, you can adjust the pas-
senger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage the reverse gear.
For information on activating the parking
position, see “Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position* (Canada only)”
(
page 101).1 Driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
3Adjustment button
4Memory button
Stop the vehicle.
Switch on the ignition.
Press button2.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.
Adjust the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror with button3 so that you
see the rear wheel and the road curb.
Press memory button4.
Within 3 seconds, press one of the ar-
rows of adjustment button3.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.
iIf the mirror does move, repeat the above
steps. After the setting is stored, you can move
the mirror again.

112 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on high beams
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasher
High beam: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to positionB (
page 108).
Push the combination switch in the di-
rection of arrow1.
The high beam indicatorA in the in-
strument cluster comes on
(
page 26).
High beam flasher: Pull the combina-
tion switch briefly in the direction of
arrow2.
Headlamp cleaning system*
The headlamps are automatically cleaned
with a high-pressure water jet when, at the
same time,

the engine is running

the headlamps are switched on

the windshield wipers have wiped the
windshield with washer fluid for the
first time.
The headlamps are cleaned every tenth
time the windshield is washed with washer
fluid.
When you switch off the headlamps or the
ignition, the automatic function is reset
and will start counting the next time from
the beginning.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 330).Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(With Bi-Xenon* headlamps only)
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
improve illumination of the area in the
direction into which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with:

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB or* (
page 108)
or

the daytime running lamp mode acti-
vated (
page 110).
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.
iIf you are driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h) or have the front fog lamps switched
on, the corner-illuminating front fog lamps
function is not available.

117 Controls in detail
Windshield wipers
Windshield wipers
Combination switch
1Switching on windshield wipers
2Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Switch on the ignition.
!If the windshield wipers leave smears on the
windshield after the car has been driven through
an automatic car wash, then wax or other resi-
due is on the windshield. Shortly after washing
the car in an automatic car wash, clean the wind-
shield with windshield washer fluid.
!Do not operate the windshield wipers when
the windshield is dry. Dust that accumulates on
a windshield might scratch the glass and/or
damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on
a dry windshield. If it is necessary to operate the
windshield wipers in dry weather conditions, al-
ways operate the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid.
!If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off immediate-
ly.

For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe
location and,

remove the SmartKey from starter
switch
or

turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and
open the driver’s door (with the driver’s
door open, starter switch is in
position0, same as with SmartKey re-
moved from starter switch)

engage the parking brake
before attempting to remove any blockage.

Remove blockage.

Turn the windshield wipers on again.
If the windshield wipers fail to function at all in
combination switch position U or V,

set the combination switch to the next
higher wiper speed

have the windshield wipers checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

121 Controls in detail
Power windows
Switch on the ignition (page 82).
Opening: Press the desired switch1
to 4 (
page 120) to the resistance
point.
The corresponding window will move
down until you release the switch.
Closing: Pull the desired switch1 to
4 (
page 120) to the resistance
point.
The corresponding window will move
up until you release the switch.
If the window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you are closing the window by pressing and
holding the switch, by pressing and holding
button ‹ on the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*, by pressing and holding
the sensor surface (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*) on an outside door handle,
or by pressing and holding button, on
the climate control panel (Canada only), the
automatic reversal function will not operate.
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.iYou can also open or close the windows us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (
page 123) and “Convenience closing
feature” (
page 124).
iOperating the windows from the rear is not
possible if you activate the override switch
(
page 57).
iWith the SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or removed from the starter switch,
the power windows can be operated:

until you open the driver’s or front passenger
door

for approximately 5 minutes if no door was
openedWarning!G
If you press and hold the switch up when
closing the window, and upward movement
of the window is blocked by some obstruc-
tion including but not limited to arms, hands,
fingers, etc., the automatic reversal will not
operate.


132 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.

The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the en-
gine. Allow engine and coolant to cool
off.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 329).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
Move away from vehicle.
Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the

major assemblies

fuel system

engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner.
iTo signal minor directional changes such as
changing lanes, press combination switch only
to point of resistance and release. The corre-
sponding turn signals will flash three times.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger a
warning message in the multifunction display
(
page 402).