engine MERCEDES-BENZ C320 2003 W203 Owner's Manual

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Further, it exemplifies your desire to
own an automobile that will be as easy as
possible to operate and provide years of
service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers, we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:

Please read this manual carefully be-
fore putting it aside. Then return it to
your vehicle where it will be handy for
your reference.


Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.


Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

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 .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting Safety Defects ............... 18
At a glance.......................................... 19
Cockpit ................................................. 20
Instrument cluster ................................ 22
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 24
Center console ..................................... 25
Upper part ...................................... 25
Lower part ...................................... 26
Overhead control panel ........................ 27
Door control panel................................ 28
Getting started................................... 29
Unlocking ............................................. 30
Unlocking with SmartKey................ 30
Adjusting .............................................. 32
Seats .............................................. 32
Steering wheel ................................ 37
Mirrors ............................................ 39
Driving .................................................. 41
Fastening the seat belt ................... 41
Starting the engine ......................... 44
Switching on headlamps ................. 47
Turn signals and high beam ............ 47
Windshield wipers ........................... 48
Problems while driving .................... 49
Parking and locking .............................. 51
Parking brake ................................. 51
Switching off headlamps................. 52
Turning off engine ........................... 53

ContentsOperation......................................... 221
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 222
Driving instructions ............................ 223
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 223
Drinking and driving ..................... 223
Pedals .......................................... 223
Power assistance ......................... 224
Brakes .......................................... 224
Driving off..................................... 225
Parking ......................................... 225
Tires ............................................. 226
Hydroplaning ................................ 227
Tire traction .................................. 227
Tire speed rating .......................... 227
Winter driving instructions ........... 228
Standing water ............................. 229
Passenger compartment .............. 230
Driving abroad .............................. 230
Control and operation of
radio transmitter .......................... 230
Catalytic converter ....................... 231
Emission control........................... 231
Coolant temperature .................... 232At the gas station .............................. 233
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 234
Engine compartment ......................... 235
Hood ............................................ 235
Engine oil ..................................... 236
Transmission fluid level ................ 238
Coolant level ................................ 238
Battery ......................................... 240
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning* system ......... 241
Tires and wheels ................................ 242
Important guidelines .................... 242
Life of tire..................................... 243
Direction of rotation ..................... 243
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 243
Rotating wheels ........................... 244
Winter driving .................................... 245
Winter tires .................................. 245
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 246
Snow chains ................................. 246Maintenance...................................... 247
Clearing the service indicator ...... 247
Service term exceeded ................ 247
Calling up the service indicator .... 248
Resetting the service indicator .... 248
Vehicle care....................................... 249
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 249

Contents
Practical hints................................ 255
What to do if … .................................. 256
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 256
Lamp in center console................ 260
Messages in the display ............... 261
Where will I find ...? ........................... 279
First aid kit ................................... 279
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 279
Spare wheel ................................. 281
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 285
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 285
Locking the vehicle ...................... 286
Changing batteries ....................... 286
Fuel filler flap ............................... 287
Manually unlocking the
transmission selector lever .......... 288
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 289
Sliding/pop-up roof* ................... 289
Replacing bulbs ................................. 290
Bulbs ............................................ 290
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 292
Side marker lamp bulb ................. 294
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 295Replacing wiper blades....................... 296
Removing ...................................... 296
Installing ....................................... 296
Flat tire ............................................... 297
Preparing the vehicle .................... 297
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 297
Battery................................................ 303
Disconnecting the battery............. 304
Removing the battery.................... 304
Charging and reinstalling
the battery .................................... 304
Reconnecting the battery.............. 305
Jump starting ...................................... 306
Towing the vehicle .............................. 308
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 311
Fuses .................................................. 312
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 312
Fuse box in engine
compartment ................................ 312
Auxiliary fuse box in trunk............. 313
Technical data.................................. 315
Spare parts service ............................ 316
Warranty coverage ............................. 317
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 317
Identification labels ............................ 318
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 319
C 230 Kompressor Sport .............. 319
C 240 / C 320 (all models)........... 319
C 32 AMG ..................................... 319
Engine ................................................ 320
Rims and Tires.................................... 322
Same size tires ............................. 323
Mixed size tires ............................. 324
Spare wheel .................................. 325
Electrical system ................................ 326
Main dimensions ................................ 327
Weights .............................................. 328

ContentsFuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 329
Capacities .................................... 329
Engine oils .................................... 332
Engine oil additives ...................... 332
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 332
Brake fluid .................................... 332
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 333
Fuel requirements ........................ 333
Gasoline additives ........................ 334
Flexible Fuel Vehicles ................... 334
Coolants ....................................... 336
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning* system ......... 338
Consumer information ....................... 339
Uniform tire quality grading.......... 339
Technical terms............................... 341Index................................................. 347

13 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that

service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available.


unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts.


gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.Certain Mercedes-Benz models are avail-
able for delivery in Europe under our Euro-
pean Delivery Program. For details, consult
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
write to:


in the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350


in Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
849 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario M4G 2L5

16 IntroductionOperating 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 modification made may
produce an undesired effect on other sys-
tems.
Electronic system malfunctions could seri-
ously impair the operating safety of your ve-
hicle.
Ensure that any repairs or modifications to
electronic components are carried out by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
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.

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Turn signal indicator lamp,
left
47
2
Speedometer
3
Turn signal indicator lamp,
right
47
4
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
259
5
<
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp
61,
259
1
Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
56,
257
6
Multifunction display
with:
111
Trip odometer
109
Main odometer
111
Item
Page
Selector lever position
140,
141
Program mode
142
Outside temperature dis-
play
110
Digital clock
111
7
?
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
259
v
Electronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
75,
256
A
High beam head-
lamp indicator
47,
104
E
Indicator lamp with-
out function
1
1The indicator lamp illuminates briefly when you
turn the key in the starter switch to position2.
DTRIndicator lamp with-
out function
1
Item
Page
8
-
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
73,
257
;
Brake warning
lamp, USA only
45,
51,
258
3
Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
45,
51,
258
9
Tachometer
109
10
Reset knob for:

Resetting trip odome-
ter
109


Resetting individual
settings
120


Instrument cluster illu-
mination
107

38 Getting startedAdjusting
Steering wheel adjustment, electrical*
The stalk is located on the steering column
(lower left).
1Steering column, lengthen or shorten
2Steering column, height
Turn the key in the starter switch to
position1 or2.
or

Open the driver’s door.Steering column, lengthen or shorten

Move stalk forward or backward in the
direction of arrow1 until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Steering column, height

Move stalk up or down in the direction
of arrow2. Make sure that your legs
can move freely and that all the dis-
plays (including malfunction and indi-
cator lamps) on the instrument cluster
are clearly visible.
!Do not drive the vehicle until you have
properly locked the steering column.
If the warning message
STEERING
WHEEL ADJUST - LOCK ! is displayed
while the engine is running, the steer-
ing column is not locked properly
(
page 276).
iWith the memory function*
(page 98), you can store steering
wheel positions together with settings
for the seats and the exterior rear view
mirrors.

44 Getting startedDrivingStarting the engine Manual transmission
Gearshift pattern for manual transmission
Make sure that the gearshift lever is in
Neutral position.

Do not depress accelerator.

Fully depress clutch pedal.
Otherwise the engine cannot be start-
ed due to the integrated safety inter-
lock.

Turn the key in the starter switch to
position3. Release only when the en-
gine is firing regularly (
page 31).
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (page 137).Automatic transmission*
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position with selector lever lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
Make sure that the gear selector lever
is set toP .

Do not depress accelerator.

Turn the key in the starter switch to
position3. Release only when the en-
gine is firing regularly (
page 31).
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as garage) which are not properly ven-
tilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes
are entering the vehicle while driving, have
the cause determined and corrected imme-
diately. If you must drive under these condi-
tions, drive only with at least one window
fully open.