steering wheel adjustment MERCEDES-BENZ C300 SPORT 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
Controls in detail............................... 69
Locking and unlocking ......................... 70
SmartKey ....................................... 70
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) ................................. 73
Checking batteries in the SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) ................................. 78
Loss of the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) .. 79
Opening doors from the inside ....... 79
Automatic central locking .............. 80
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 81
Starter switch positions ....................... 82
SmartKey ....................................... 82
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) ................................. 83
Seats.................................................... 85
Seat adjustment ............................. 85
Lumbar support .............................. 91
Seat heating* ................................. 91Steering wheel ..................................... 93
Steering wheel adjustment,
manual ........................................... 93
Steering wheel adjustment,
electrical* (Canada only)................ 94
Easy-entry/exit feature*
(Canada only) ................................. 95
Mirrors ................................................. 97
Interior rear view mirror ................. 97
Exterior rear view mirrors............... 97
Power folding
exterior rear view mirrors* ............. 98
Interior rear view mirror,
antiglare position ........................... 99
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors* . 100
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position* (Canada only)... 101
Memory function* (Canada only) ....... 102
Storing positions into memory* ... 103
Recalling positions from memory* 103
Storing exterior rear
view mirror parking position*....... 104
Fastening the seat belts .................... 105
Proper use of seat belts ............... 106
Seat belt height adjustment ......... 107Lighting ............................................. 108
Exterior lamp switch .................... 108
Switching on high beams ............. 112
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 112
Corner-illuminating front
fog lamps* (With Bi-Xenon*
headlamps only)........................... 112
Hazard warning flasher ................ 114
Interior lighting ............................ 114
Door entry lamps ......................... 116
Trunk lamp ................................... 116
Windshield wipers ............................. 117
Switching on/off
windshield wipers ........................ 118
Single wipe .................................. 118
Intermittent wiping ...................... 118
Wiping with
windshield washer fluid................ 119
Power windows ................................. 120
Opening and closing
power windows ............................ 120
Summer opening feature ............. 123
Convenience closing feature ........ 124

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

32 At a glance
Driver’s door control panel and seat adjustment/memory*
ItemPage
1Inside door handle79
2Central unlocking switch81
3Seat adjustment (at side of
the respective front seat)
Seat adjustment*
(Canada only)85
85
4Memory function* for storing
seat, exterior mirror, and
steering wheel settings
(Canada only)102
5Exterior rear view mirrors
adjustment97
6Switches for opening/ closing
side windows120
7Rear door window override
switch57
8Remote trunk opening switch269
9Central locking switch81

36 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Air bags
Warning!G
Air bags are designed to reduce the poten-
tial of injury and fatality in certain frontal im-
pacts (front air bags), side impacts (front
side impact air bags, rear side impact air
bags* and window curtain air bags) or roll-
overs (window curtain air bags). However,
no system available today can totally elimi-
nate injuries and fatalities.
The deployment of the air bags temporarily
releases a small amount of dust from the air
bags. This dust, however, is neither injurious
to your health, nor does it indicate a fire in
the vehicle. The dust might cause some tem-
porary breathing difficulty for people with
asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid
this, you may wish to get out of the vehicle
as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any
breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
Warning!G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
air bags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and front passenger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear their
respective seat belt.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and make sure it is properly
positioned on your body.
Since the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the air bag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the air bag can be seriously
injured or killed by an air bag as it inflates
with great force in the blink of an eye:

Sit properly belted in a nearly upright
position with your back against the seat
backrest.

Adjust the driver’s seat as far as possi-
ble rearward, still permitting proper op-
eration of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the air bag cover
on the steering wheel must be at least
10 inches (25 cm) or more. You should
be able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Do not lean your head or chest close to
the steering wheel or dashboard.

Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver’s front air bag inflates.

Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.

85 Controls in detail
Seats
Seats
Seat adjustment
Warning!G
All seat, head restraint adjustments, as well
as fastening of seat belts, must be done be-
fore the vehicle is put into motion.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide un-
der the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the seat belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or fatal injuries. The seat backrest and
seat belts provide the best restraint when
the wearer is in a position that is as upright
as possible and seat belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt.
Observe the following points:

Adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.

Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The po-
sition should be as far back as possible
with the driver still able to properly oper-
ate controls.

Adjust the head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports
the back of the head at eye level.

Never place hands under the seat or
near any moving parts while a seat is be-
ing adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the vehicle, the power seats can be
operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.

86 Controls in detail
Seats
For additional information about children
in the vehicle, see “Children in the vehicle”
(
page 51).Power seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switch is located on
the entry side of each front seat base.
The seat adjustment switch for Canada ve-
hicles with memory function* are located
on the front doors.
1Seat cushion tilt
2Seat height
3Seat fore and aft
4Seat backrest tilt
Vehicles without memory function*:
Adjust the head restraint height manu-
ally (
page 87).
Driver’s door (Canada only)
1Seat cushion tilt
2Seat height
3Seat fore and aft
4Seat backrest tilt
5Head restraint height (
page 87)
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
iAfter unlocking the vehicle or turning off the
engine, the seat adjustment can be operated for
up to approximately 3 minutes with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) in
starter switch position0 or removed from the
starter switch.
Vehicles with memory function* (Canada only):
The memory function* is operational at any time.
Seat and steering wheel adjustment is always
possible.

87 Controls in detail
Seats
If it is not possible to adjust the seat with
the seat adjustment switch:
Insert the SmartKey or the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button*
(Canada only) into the starter switch.
or
With SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) in starter switch
position0. Turn the SmartKey in
starter switch to position1 or press
the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button*
(Canada only) once.
or
Open the driver’s or front passenger
door.
Seat cushion tilt: Press the switch up
or down in the direction of
arrow1until your upper legs are
lightly supported.
Seat height: Press the switch up or
down in the direction of arrow2.
Seat fore and aft: Press the switch for-
ward or backward in the direction of
arrow3.
Seat backrest tilt: Press the switch
forward or backward in the direction of
arrow4.Adjusting front seat head restraints
You cannot remove the active head re-
straint on the driver’s and front passen-
ger’s seat.
For removal contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraints” (
page 50).
iCanada only:
The memory function* (
page 102) lets you
store the settings for the seat positions together
with the settings for the steering wheel and the
exterior rear view mirrors.
!When moving the seat, make sure there are
no items in the footwell or behind the seats. Oth-
erwise you could damage the seats.
Warning!G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible and the center
of the head restraint supports the back of
the head at eye level. This will reduce the po-
tential for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.

93 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Steering wheel
Make sure

you can reach the steering wheel with
your arms slightly bent at the elbows

you can move your legs freely

all displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument
cluster are clearly visible
Steering wheel adjustment, manualThe handle for steering wheel adjustment
is located below the steering column.
1Steering wheel adjustment release
handle
2Steering wheel up/down
3Steering wheel in/out
To unlock the steering wheel, pull
handle1 down to its stop limit.
The steering wheel is unlocked
Move steering wheel to the desired
position.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing, or driving without the steering wheel
adjustment feature locked could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the vehicle, the electrical steering wheel ad-
justment feature can be operated. There-
fore, do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. A child’s unsupervised access to a vehi-
cle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Only adjust the steering wheel with the
vehicle at a standstill with the parking brake
engaged and make sure the steering wheel
is securely locked in place before driving off.
Driving without the steering wheel locked
may cause unexpected steering wheel
movement which could result in the driver
losing control of the vehicle. Make sure the
steering wheel is securely locked by trying
to move it up and down, and in and out be-
fore driving off.