low beam MERCEDES-BENZ C320 2004 W203 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 .................................. 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 the SmartKey ......... 30
Adjusting .............................................. 32
Seats .............................................. 32
Steering wheel ................................ 36
Mirrors ............................................ 38
Driving .................................................. 40
Fastening the seat belt ................... 40
Starting the engine ......................... 43
Switching on headlamps ................. 46
Turn signals and high beam ............ 47
Windshield wipers ........................... 47
Problems while driving.................... 49
Parking and locking .............................. 50
Parking brake ................................. 50
Switching off headlamps................. 51
Turning off engine ........................... 52

46 Getting startedDrivingAfter a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.
For more information on driving, see “Driv-
ing instructions” (
page 239).
Switching on headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn switch toB.
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 102).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.!Place the gear selector lever in
positionR only when the vehicle is
stopped in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.
Warning!
G
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector le-
ver out ofP orN if the engine speed is high-
er than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accel-
erate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

102 Controls in detailLighting
LightingFor notes on how to switch on the head-
lamps and use the turn signals, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 46).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.MOff
UAutomatic headlamp mode
CParking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only:
When engine is running, the low
beam is also switched on.
BLow beam plus parking lamps or
high beam headlamps (combination
switch pushed forward).
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country where the vehicle is regis-
tered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

103 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch. For exterior lamp
switch, see (
page 102).
Automatic headlamp mode
The parking lamps, low beam headlamps
and license plate lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light.

Turn the exterior lamp switch toU.
iIf you remove the SmartKey and open
the driver’s door while the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on, then

a warning sounds


$appears in the multifunction
display


the message
TURN OFF LIGHTS!

appears in the multifunction display
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright
ambient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch toB when driving or when traffic
and / or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill. Switching fromU
toB will briefly switch off the head-
lamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient
lighting conditions may result in an acci-
dent.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle's lights at all
times.

104 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low beam
headlamps are automatically switched on.
In low ambient light conditions the parking
lamps will also switch on.Canada only
When you shift from a driving position to
positionN orP, the low beam switches off
(with a three-minute delay).
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.
USA only
The high beam headlamps can also be
activated when driving with the daytime
running lamp mode activated and exterior
lamp switch in positionM.
To activate the daytime running lamp
mode, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 129).Locator lighting and night security
illumination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the control system
section under “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 130) and “Setting night security
illumination” (
page 131).
Switching on fog lamps
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated, the low beam headlamps will
not switch off automatically.iThe front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
cannot be switched on manually with
exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To activate the fog lamps, turn exterior
lamp switch to positionB and pull
the exterior lamp switch to first or
second stop (
page 102).
iSee notes on the exterior lamp switch
(page 102).
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from positionU toB with
the vehicle at a standstill. Switching
fromU toB will briefly switch off the
headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident.

105 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on front fog lamps
Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The green indicator lamp‡ beside
the lamp switch comes on.
Switching on rear fog lamp

Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The yellow indicator lamp† beside
the lamp switch comes on.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding allow-
able lamp operation.iThe front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
cannot be switched on manually with
exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To activate the fog lamps, turn exterior
lamp switch to positionB and pull
the exterior lamp switch to first or
second stop (
page 102).

130 Controls in detailControl system
With daytime running lamp mode
selected and the exterior lamp switch
at position0, the following lamps will
come on automatically when the
engine is turned on:

Parking lamps and low beam
headlamps


License plate lamps (in low ambient
light conditions)Setting locator lighting
During darkness, the following lamps will
come on when the exterior lamp switch is
in positionU, the locator lighting
feature is activated, and the vehicle is
unlocked by SmartKey:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Front fog lamps
To activate locator lighting:

Make sure the function
LOCATOR
LIGHTING
is set.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened. It switches off
automatically after a period of approxi-
mately 40 seconds.

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the LIGHTING
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the
display:
LOCATOR LIGHTING
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to select the
desired setting.
The locator lighting will be switched on
or off.
iIf you turn the exterior lamp switch to
another position, the corresponding
lamp(s) will switch on.
For safety reasons, resetting the LIGHTING
submenu to factory settings
(
page 124) while driving will not
reset the daytime running lamp mode.
In the display you will then see the
message:
LIGHTING – CANNOT BE
TOTALLY RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS
WHILE DRIVING
!.


295 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
LIGHTS
TURN OFF LIGHTS!
This display appears if the driver’s door is
opened and no SmartKey in the starter
switch.

Insert SmartKey in the starter switch.

Switch off the headlights.
LOW BEAM, L
CHECK LIGHT!
The left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
LOW BEAM, R
CHECK LIGHT!
The right low beam lamp is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
REVERSE LIGHT, L
CHECK LIGHT!

The left backup lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
REVERSE LIGHT, R
CHECK LIGHT!

The right backup lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
MARKER LIGHT, FL
CHECK LIGHTS!

BACK-UP LIGHT ON!

The left parking lamps are
malfunctioning. A backup bulb is being
used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
MARKER LIGHT, FR
CHECK LIGHTS!

BACK-UP LIGHT ON!

The right parking lamps are
malfunctioning. A backup bulb is being
used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
TAIL LIGHT, L
CHECK LIGHTS!

BACK-UP LIGHT ON!

The left tail lamp is malfunctioning.
A backup bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

310 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs
Replacing bulbsSafe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp
assemblies are in good working order at all
times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. See your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp
adjustment.
Bulbs Front lamps
iBackup bulbs will be brought into use
when the following lamps malfunction:

Standing lamps


Tail lamps


Rear fog lamp
Lamp
Type
1
Additional turn signal
lamps
LED
2
Turn signal lamp
Halogen
Turn signal lamp
Bi-Xenon*
1156 A
2357 A
3
Halogen headlamps:
Low beam
Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
Low and high beam
H7 (55 W)
D2S-35 W
4
Halogen headlamps:
High beam
Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
High beam flasher
H7 (55 W)
H7 (55 W)
Parking and standing
lamps
W5W
5
Fog lamp
HB4/9006
(55 W)
6
Side marker lamp
W5W

312 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsReplacing bulbs for front lamps
Halogen headlamps
1Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
2Headlamp cover for high beam head-
lamp, parking and standing lamp
3Headlamp cover for low beam head-
lamp4Low beam headlamp bulb
5High beam headlamp bulb
6Bulb socket for parking and standing
lamp bulb
Low and high beam bulb

Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 252).

Press the clamp and remove headlamp
cover2 or3.

Pull electrical connector off.

Unclip the retainer springs and take out
the bulb.

Insert the new bulb so that the base
locates in the recess on the holder.

Clip the retainer springs and plug the
connector onto the bulb.

Align headlamp cover2 or3 and
click into place.
Front turn signal lamp bulb

Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 252).

Twist bulb socket1 counterclockwise
and pull out.

Push bulb into socket, turn counter-
clockwise and remove.

Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
twist clockwise.

Reinsert bulb socket in lamp and twist
clockwise.