spare wheel MERCEDES-BENZ C350 4MATIC 2007 W203 Owner's Manual

Contents
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 301
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 302
Tire ply material ........................... 304
Tire and loading terminology ........ 304
Rotating tires ............................... 307
Winter driving .................................... 308
Winter tires .................................. 308
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 309
Snow chains................................. 309
Maintenance ...................................... 310
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 310
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 312
Resetting the
maintenance service indicator ..... 312
Vehicle care ....................................... 313
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 313
Practical hints.................................. 321
What to do if … ................................... 322
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 322
Lamp in center console................. 331
Vehicle status messages
in the multifunction display........... 333
Where will I find ...? ............................ 356
First aid kit .................................... 356
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 356
Minispare wheel............................ 359
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 360
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 361
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 361
Locking the vehicle ....................... 362
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever ... 363
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 364
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 364
Resetting activated head restraints .... 365
Resetting
activated head restraints .............. 365
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 366
SmartKey ...................................... 366Replacing bulbs .................................. 367
Bulbs............................................. 368
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 370
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 373
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 375
Removing and installing
wiper blades ................................. 375
Flat tire............................................... 377
Preparing the vehicle .................... 377
Mounting the Minispare wheel...... 377
MOExtended system* ................... 382
Battery ............................................... 383
Disconnecting the battery ............ 384
Removing the battery ................... 384
Charging and
reinstalling the battery.................. 385
Reconnecting the battery ............. 385
Jump starting...................................... 386
Towing the vehicle.............................. 388
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 390
Fuses.................................................. 391
Main fuse box
in passenger compartment ........... 392
Fuse box
in engine compartment................. 392
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 394

Contents
Technical data.................................. 395
Parts service ...................................... 396
Warranty coverage ............................. 397
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 397
Identification labels............................ 398
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 400
Engine ................................................ 401
Rims and Tires ................................... 403
Same size tires ............................. 404
Mixed size tires ............................ 405
Minispare wheel ........................... 406
Electrical system................................ 407
Main dimensions and weights............ 408
Main dimensions .......................... 408
Weights ........................................ 408Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 409
Capacities .................................... 409
Engine oils.................................... 412
Engine oil additives ...................... 412
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 412
Brake fluid .................................... 412
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 413
Gasoline additives ........................ 413
Fuel requirements ........................ 414
Flexible Fuel Vehicles
(C 230/C 230 Sport only) ............ 414
Coolants....................................... 416
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 418Index................................................. 419

86 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 327) and
(
page 335).Electronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a
component of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available
traction, especially under slippery road
conditions by applying the brakes to a
spinning wheel.
When you switch off the ESP
®, the
electronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:

when driving with snow chains

in deep snow

in sand or gravel
!Vehicles without 4MATIC:
Because the ESP® operates automatically, the
engine must be turned off (SmartKey in starter
switch position0 or1) when

the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer

the vehicle is being towed with the front axle
raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
For information on vehicles with 4MATIC, see
“Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC)
with the ESP
® ” (page 88).
iThe ESP® will only function properly if you
use wheels of the recommended tire size
(
page 403).
Warning!G
If you are driving too fast, the electronic
traction system cannot reduce the risk of an
accident.
The electronic traction system cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Warning!G
The ESP® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
!Switch on the ESP® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not apply
anymore.

282 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire care and maintenance
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month. For more informa-
tion on checking tire inflation pressure see
“Recommended tire inflation pressure”
(
page 289).Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for wear and damage for the
following:

excessive treadwear (page 283)

cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber

bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks, or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Make sure you also inspect the spare tire
periodically for condition and tire inflation
pressure. Spare tires will age and become
worn over time even if never used, and
thus should be inspected and replaced
when necessary.Life of tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:

Driving style

Tire inflation pressure

Distance driven
Warning!G
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam-
aged tires can cause tire inflation pressure
loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Warning!G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.

284 Operation
Tires and wheels
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of
the tire.Loading the vehicle
A label on your vehicle shows how much
weight it may properly carry.

The Tire and Loading Information
placard can be found on the driver’s
door B-pillar. This placard tells you im-
portant information about the number
of people that can be in the vehicle and
the total weight that can be carried in
the vehicle. It also contains information
on the proper size and recommended
tire inflation pressures for the original
equipment tires on your vehicle.

The certification label found on the
driver’s door B-pillar tells you about the
gross weight capacity of your vehicle,
called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and
cargo. The certification label also tells
you about the front and rear axle
weight capacity, called the Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). The GAWR is
the total allowable weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear).
Never exceed the GVWR or GAWR for
either the front axle or rear axle.
1Driver’s door B-pillar
Following is a discussion on how to work
with the information contained on the plac-
ard with regards to loading your vehicle.
iSpare wheels may be mounted against the
direction of rotation (spinning) even with a unidi-
rectional tire for temporary use only until the reg-
ular drive wheel has been repaired or replaced.
Always observe and follow applicable temporary
use restrictions and speed limitations indicated
on the spare wheel.

292 Operation
Tires and wheels
The Run Flat Indicator* may function in a
restricted manner or with a delay if:

snow chains are mounted to the
vehicle

winter road conditions prevail in
presence of ice and snow

you are driving on a loose surface (e.g.
sand or gravel)

you are driving in a very sporty manner
(involving rapid acceleration or high
speeds in curves)
Warning!G
When the multifunction display shows the
message
Tire pressure Check tires,
one or more of your tires is significantly un-
der-inflated. You should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper tire inflation pressure as
indicated on the vehicle’s tire information
placard. Driving on a significantly under-in-
flated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability. Each tire, including the
spare, should be checked monthly when
cold and set to the recommended tire infla-
tion pressure as specified in the vehicle
placard and owner’s manual.
iThe recommended tire inflation pressures
for your vehicle can be found on the tire placard
located on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 289). The tire inflation pressures are
not listed in the owner’s manual.
Warning!G
The Run Flat Indicator* does not provide a
warning for wrongly selected tire inflation
pressures. Always adjust tire inflation pres-
sure according to the placard on the driver’s
door B-pillar or fuel filler flap.
The Run Flat Indicator* does not replace
regular checks of the tire inflation pressures
since a gradual pressure loss in more than
one tires cannot be detected by the Run Flat
Indicator*.
The Run Flat Indicator* is not able to issue a
warning due to a sudden dramatic loss of
tire inflation pressure (e.g. tire blowout
caused by a foreign object). In this case
bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully apply-
ing the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering
maneuvers.

296 Operation
Tires and wheels
General:
Depending on the design standards used,
the tire size molded into the sidewall may
have no letter or a letter preceding the tire
size designation.
No letter preceding the size designation
(as illustrated above): Passenger car tire
based on European design standards.
Letter “P” preceding the size designation:
Passenger car tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “LT” preceding the size designation:
Light Truck tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “T” preceding the size designation:
Temporary spare tires which are high
pressure compact spares designed for
temporary emergency use only. Tire width
The tire width1 (
page 295) indicates
the nominal tire width in mm.
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio2 (
page 295) is the
dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width and is
expressed in percentage. The aspect ratio
is arrived at by dividing section height by
section width.
Tire code
The tire code3 (
page 295) indicates
the tire construction type. The “R” stands
for radial tire type. Letter “D” means diag-
onal or bias ply construction; letter “B”
means belted-bias ply construction.
At the tire manufacturer’s option, any tire
with a speed capability above 149 mph
(240 km/h) can include a “ZR” in the size
designation (for example: 245/40 ZR 18).
For additional information, see “Tire speed
rating” (
page 297).Rim diameter
The rim diameter4 (
page 295) is the
diameter of the bead seat, not the
diameter of the rim edge. Rim diameter is
indicated in inches (in).
Tire load rating
The tire load rating5 (
page 295) is a
numerical code associated with the
maximum load a tire can support.
For example, a load rating of 91 corre-
sponds to a maximum load of 1 356 lbs
(615 kg) the tire is designed to support.
See also “Maximum tire load”
(
page 301) where the maximum load as-
sociated with the load index is indicated in
kilograms and lbs.

305 Operation
Tires and wheels
DOT (Department of Transportation)
A tire branding symbol which denotes the
tire meets requirements of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
GAWR (G
ross Axle Weight Rating)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible
axle weight. The gross vehicle weight on
each axle must never exceed the GAWR for
the front and rear axle indicated on the
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
GVW (G
ross Vehicle Weight)
The GVW comprises the weight of the
vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel,
installed accessories, passengers and
cargo and, if applicable, trailer tongue
load. The GVW must never exceed the
GVWR indicated on the certification label
located on the driver’s door B-pillar.GVWR (G
ross Vehicle Weight Rating)
This is the maximum permissible vehicle
weight of the fully loaded vehicle (weight of
the vehicle including all options, passen-
gers, fuel, and cargo and, if applicable,
trailer tongue load). It is indicated on
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
Kilopascal (kPa)
The metric unit for air pressure. There are
6.9 kPa to 1 psi; another metric unit for air
pressure is bars. There are
100 kilopascals (kPa) to 1 bar.
Maximum load rating
The maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The sum of curb weight, accessory weight,
total load weight, and production options
weight.Maximum tire inflation pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the tire
under normal driving conditions.
Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants the vehicle is
designed to seat, multiplied by
68 kilograms (150 lbs).
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle
at their designated seating positions.
Production options weight
The combined weight of those installed
regular production options weighing over
5 lbs (2.3 kilograms) in excess of those
standard items which they replace, not
previously considered in curb weight or
accessory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim.

309 Operation
Winter driving
Block heater (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block
heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not higher
than 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.
Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:

Using snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations
(
page 403).

Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer's
mounting instructions.

Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to advise you on this subject.

Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.

Do not use snow chains on the spare
wheel (
page 406).
Warning!G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.!Some tire sizes do not leave adequate clear-
ance for snow chains. To help avoid serious dam-
age to your vehicle or tires, make sure that the
use of snow chains is permissible as specified in
the "Technical data" section of this Operator’s
Manual, see “Rims and Tires” (
page 403).
!If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body or axle
components. The tires or the vehicle could be
damaged as a result.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you may
wish to deactivate the ESP® (page 86) before
setting the vehicle in motion. This will improve
the vehicle‘s traction.

356 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located in the trunk on
the left side secured by a hook and loop
fastener.
1First aid kit
2Hook and loop fastener
Unfasten hook and loop fastener2.
Remove first aid kit1.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit is located in the storage
compartment underneath the trunk floor.
The following is included:

Towing eye bolt

Wheel wrench

Alignment bolt

Vehicle jack

Spare fuses

Collapsible wheel chock

A pair of gloves Removing the vehicle tool kit
Lift up trunk floor cover and engage
trunk floor handle in upper edge of
trunk.
1Retaining screw
2Storage well casing
Loosen retaining screw1 by turning it
counterclockwise.
Remove storage well casing2.
iCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.