display MERCEDES-BENZ C55AMG 2006 W203 Owner's Manual

Contents
Safety and Security........................... 59
Occupant safety................................... 60
Air bags .......................................... 61
Seat belts ....................................... 67
Active head restraint ...................... 71
Children in the vehicle .................... 72
Blocking of rear door window
operation ........................................ 80
Panic alarm* ........................................ 81
Activating ....................................... 81
Deactivating ................................... 81
Driving safety systems ......................... 82
ABS ................................................ 82
BAS ................................................ 84
ESP
®............................................... 84
Anti-theft systems................................ 88
Immobilizer..................................... 88
Anti-theft alarm system* ................ 88
Tow-away alarm* ........................... 90
Controls in detail............................... 93
Locking and unlocking ......................... 94
SmartKey ....................................... 94
Opening the doors from
the inside ....................................... 99
Opening the trunk .......................... 99
Closing the trunk.......................... 101
Trunk emergency release ............. 102
Valet locking ................................ 103
Automatic central locking ............ 103
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ..................................... 104
Seats ................................................. 106
Front seat active head restraints . 106
Rear seat head restraints ............. 106
Lumbar support*.......................... 109
Seat heating ................................. 110
Memory function ............................... 111
Storing positions into memory ..... 112
Recalling positions from memory . 112
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 113Lighting ............................................. 114
Exterior lamp switch .................... 114
Combination switch ..................... 118
Hazard warning flasher ................ 119
Interior lighting ............................ 120
Door entry lamps ......................... 121
Trunk lamp ................................... 121
Instrument cluster ............................. 122
Instrument cluster illumination .... 122
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 123
Trip odometer .............................. 123
Tachometer .................................. 124
Outside temperature indicator ..... 124
Control system .................................. 125
Multifunction display.................... 125
Multifunction steering wheel........ 126
Menus .......................................... 128
Standard display menu ................ 130
AUDIO menu ................................ 131
NAV* menu .................................. 134
Vehicle status message memory
menu............................................ 134
Settings menu .............................. 135
Trip computer menu..................... 150
TEL menu* ................................... 152

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 155
Gear selector lever position ......... 157
Driving tips ................................... 158
Gear ranges ................................. 160
Automatic shift program .............. 161
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 162
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting ................. 163
Manual shift program ................... 165
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 168
Good visibility .................................... 169
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 169
Rear view mirrors ......................... 169
Sun visors .................................... 171
Rear window sunshade* .............. 172
Rear window defroster ................. 173
Climate control .................................. 174
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 177
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 177
Setting the temperature ............... 178
Adjusting air distribution and
volume ......................................... 178Adjusting air volume ..................... 179
Front defroster.............................. 179
Air recirculation mode .................. 180
Air conditioning............................. 182
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 183
Automatic climate control*
(Canada only) ..................................... 184
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 187
Operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic mode 187
Setting the temperature................ 188
Adjusting air distribution............... 189
Adjusting air volume ..................... 190
Front defroster.............................. 190
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 191
Air recirculation mode .................. 191
Charcoal filter ............................... 193
Air conditioning............................. 194
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 195
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 196Audio system...................................... 197
Audio and telephone, operation .... 197
Operating safety ........................... 197
Operating and display elements ... 198
Button and soft key operation ...... 200
Operation...................................... 200
Radio operation ............................ 205
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 209
CD mode....................................... 214
GSM network phones ................... 223
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 229
Emergency calls “911” ................. 235
Power windows .................................. 238
Opening and closing the windows 238
Synchronizing power windows ...... 240
Summer opening feature .............. 241
Convenience closing feature......... 241
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 242
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 242
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 244
Driving systems .................................. 245
Cruise control ............................... 245

Contents
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 329
Tire ply material ........................... 331
Tire and loading terminology ........ 331
Rotating tires ............................... 335
Winter driving .................................... 336
Winter tires .................................. 336
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 337
Snow chains................................. 337
Maintenance...................................... 338
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 338
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 339
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 340
Vehicle care ....................................... 341
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 341
Practical hints.................................. 349
What to do if … ................................... 350
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 350
Lamp in center console................. 357
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 358
Where will I find ...? ............................ 380
First aid kit.................................... 380
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 380
Spare wheel .................................. 383
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 385
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 386
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 386
Locking the vehicle ....................... 387
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever ... 388
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 389
Power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 389
Resetting activated head restraints .... 391
Resetting activated head
restraints ...................................... 391
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 392
SmartKey ...................................... 393Replacing bulbs .................................. 394
Bulbs............................................. 395
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 397
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 400
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 402
Removing and installing wiper
blades ........................................... 402
Flat tire............................................... 404
Preparing the vehicle .................... 404
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 404
Battery ............................................... 411
Disconnecting the battery ............ 412
Removing the battery ................... 412
Charging and reinstalling the
battery .......................................... 413
Reconnecting the battery ............. 413
Jump starting...................................... 415
Towing the vehicle.............................. 417
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 419
Fuses.................................................. 420
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 420
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 421
Fuse box in engine compartment . 421
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 422

15 Introduction
Symbols
Symbols
Trademarks:

ESP® is a registered trademark of
DaimlerChrysler.

HomeLink® is a registered trademark
of Prince, a Johnson Controls
Company.

BabySmartTM is a trademark of
Siemens Automotive Corp.

SIRIUS and related marks are trade-
marks of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.
The following symbols are found in this
Operator’s Manual:
* Optional equipment is identified
with an asterisk. Since standard
equipment varies between models,
the descriptions and illustrations in
this manual may differ slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehi-
cle.
This symbol points to instructions for
you to follow.
A number of these symbols appearing
in succession indicates a multiple-step
procedure.
 Page This symbol tells you where to
look for further information on a
topic.
This continuation symbol marks
an interrupted procedure which
will be continued on the next
page.
-> In the glossary of technical
terms, this symbol is used to
indicate cross-references to
term definitions.
DisplayWords appearing in the multi-
function display and audio dis-
play are printed in the type
shown here.
Warning!G
Warning notices draw your attention to haz-
ards that may endanger your health or life,
or the health or life of others.
!
Highlights hazards that may result in
damage to your vehicle.
i
Helpful hints or further information you
may find useful.

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Speedometer with:
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP®)
warning lamp
84,
354
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only46, 54,
351
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only46, 54,
351
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp48,
114
2LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp49
3Multifunction display
with:125

Trip odometer123

Main odometer125

Gear selector lever
position45,
125,
157
ItemPage

Program mode161

Status indicator (outside
temperature/digital
speedometer124,
139

Digital clock125
4KRight turn signal
indicator lamp49
5Tachometer with:124
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp82,
350
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only352,
353
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only352,
353
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp60,
356
ItemPage
355
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp49,
118
6Fuel gauge with:
Fuel reserve warning lamp354
4The arrow indicates
that the fuel filler cap
is on the rear
right-hand side.
7Coolant temperature gauge123
8Button for:122

Resetting trip odometer123

Resetting all settings135

Instrument cluster
illumination122

26 At a glance
Multifunction steering wheel
ItemPage
1Multifunction display125
Operating control system126
2Telephone*:
Press button
sto take a call
to dial a call
tto end a call
to reject an incoming
call
3Selecting the submenu or
setting the volume:
Press button
æup/to increase
çdown/to decrease
ItemPage
4Menu systems:
Press button
èfor next menu
ÿfor previous menu
5Moving within a menu:
Press button
jfor next display
kfor previous display

38 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheel Steering wheel adjustment, electrical
The lever for the electrical steering wheel
adjustment is located on the lower left of
the steering column.
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Switch on the ignition (page 33).
or
Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out
Move the lever in direction of
arrows1 until a comfortable steering
wheel position is reached with your
arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down
Move the lever in direction of
arrows2.
Make sure your legs can move freely
and that all the displays (including mal-
function and indicator lamps) on the in-
strument cluster are clearly visible.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving. Adjusting the steering wheel while
driving, 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 from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the electrical steering wheel
adjustment feature* can be operated when
the driver’s door is open. Therefore, do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
i
The memory function (page 111) lets
you store the settings for the power
seat, the steering wheel adjustment
and the exterior rear view mirrors.

47 Getting started
Driving
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal
Release parking brake by pulling on
handle1.
The warning lamp; (USA only)
or3 (Canada only) in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Driving
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.
!
If you hear a warning signal and the
message
Release parking brake ap-
pears in the multifunction display when
driving off, you have forgotten to re-
lease the parking brake.
!
Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.
i
Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto-
matic central locking system engages
and the locking knobs drop down.
For more information, see “Automatic
central locking” (
page 103).
!
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.

57 Getting started
Parking and locking
Exit the vehicle and close all doors.
After exiting the vehicle, press the lock
button‹ on the SmartKey
(
page 32).

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.

An acoustic signal sounds three
times (if equipped and feature acti-
vated).
For more information, see “Factory
setting” (
page 96).

The locking knobs in the doors
move down.

The anti-theft alarm system* is
armed.For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 94).i
With the SmartKey removed and the
driver’s door open, a warning sounds if
the vehicle’s exterior lamps are not
switched off.
The message
Switch off lights ap-
pears in the multifunction display.

115 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1, only the parking lamps will
switch on and off automatically.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.
i
With the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch and the driver’s door
open, a warning sounds if the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on.
The message
Switch off lights.
appears in the multifunction display
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 in a safe location.
Switching fromU toB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
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.