2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C230) Kompressor Owners Manual

C 230 Kompressor Sport C 240 C 240 4MATIC C 320 C 320 4MATIC C 320 Sport C 32 AMG

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. Furthermore, 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, 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 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

Contents Safety and Security ........................... 53 Occupant safety ................................... 54 Airbags ........................................... 55 Seat belts ....................................... 60 Children in the vehicle .................... 63 Blocking of rear door window operation ........................................ 70 Panic alarm* ........................................ 71 Activating ....................................... 71 Deactivating ................................... 71 Driving safety systems ......................... 72 ABS ................................................ 72 BAS ................................................ 73 ESP................................................. 74 Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC) with the ESP ....... 77 Anti-theft systems................................ 78 Immobilizer..................................... 78 Anti-theft alarm system* ................ 78 Tow-away alarm* ........................... 79 Controls in detail ............................... 81 Locking and unlocking ......................... 82 SmartKey ....................................... 82 Opening the doors from the inside ....................................... 85 Opening the trunk .......................... 86 Closing the trunk............................ 87 Trunk lid emergency release .......... 88 Separately locking the trunk .......... 89 Separately unlocking the trunk ...... 90 Automatic central locking .............. 90 Locking and unlocking from the inside ....................................... 91 Seats ................................................... 92 Easy-entry/exit feature* ................ 92 Removing and installing front seat head restraints ............................... 93 Rear seat head restraints ............... 94 Multicontour seat* ......................... 97 Heated seats* ................................ 98 Memory function* ............................... 99 Storing positions into memory ..... 100 Recalling positions from memory . 100 Storing exterior rear view mirror parking position ........................... 101 Lighting ............................................. 102 Exterior lamp switch .................... 102 Combination switch ..................... 105 Hazard warning flasher ................ 106 Interior lighting ............................ 107 Door entry lamps ......................... 108 Trunk lamp ................................... 108 Instrument cluster ............................. 109 Instrument cluster illumination .... 109 Coolant temperature display........ 110 Trip odometer .............................. 111 Tachometer .................................. 111 Outside temperature indicator ..... 111 Control system .................................. 113 Multifunction display.................... 113 Multifunction steering wheel ........ 114 Menus .......................................... 116 Standard display menu ................ 118 AUDIO menu ................................ 118 NAVI* menu ................................. 121 Malfunction memory menu .......... 122 Settings menu .............................. 123 Trip computer menu..................... 136 TEL menu* ................................... 138

Contents Manual transmission ......................... 141 Shifting into reverse ..................... 141 Automatic transmission* ................... 142 One-touch gearshifting................. 143 Gear ranges ................................. 144 Gear selector lever position ......... 145 Program mode selector switch..... 146 Accelerator position ..................... 147 Emergency operation (Limp Home Mode) ...................... 147 Good visibility .................................... 148 Windshield wipers ........................ 148 Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 148 Rear view mirrors ......................... 149 Sun visors .................................... 151 Rear window sunshade* .............. 152 Rear window defroster ................. 153 Climate control .................................. 154 Setting the temperature ............... 156 Adjusting air distribution and volume ......................................... 157 Defrosting .................................... 158 Air recirculation mode.................. 158 Deactivating the climate control system ......................................... 159 Air conditioning ............................ 160 Ventilated storage compartment .. 160 Rear passenger compartment adjustable air vents....................... 161 Automatic climate control* ................ 162 Setting the temperature................ 165 Adjusting air distribution............... 166 Adjusting air volume ..................... 166 Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 167 Defrosting ..................................... 167 Air recirculation mode .................. 167 Charcoal filter ............................... 169 Air conditioning............................. 170 Residual heat and ventilation ........ 171 Rear passenger compartment adjustable air vents....................... 172 Audio system...................................... 173 Audio and telephone, operation .... 173 Operating safety ........................... 173 Operating and display elements.... 174 Button and soft key operation....... 176 Operation ...................................... 176 Radio operation ............................ 179 Satellite radio (SAT)* (USA only)... 182 Cassette operation ....................... 186 CD changer* operation ................. 189 Telephone* operation ................... 193 Power windows .................................. 200 Opening and closing the windows ................................. 200 Synchronizing power windows ...... 202 Sliding/pop-up roof*.......................... 203 Opening and closing the sliding/pop-up roof ................ 203 Synchronizing the sliding/pop-up roof ................ 205 Driving systems .................................. 206 Cruise control ............................... 206 Loading .............................................. 209 Roof rack* .................................... 209 Ski sack* ...................................... 209 Split rear bench seat* .................. 212 Loading instructions ..................... 214 Useful features ................................... 216 Interior storage spaces ................. 216 Ashtrays........................................ 220 Cigarette lighter ............................ 221 Telephone* ................................... 222 Tele Aid* ....................................... 223 Garage door opener ...................... 231

Contents Operation ......................................... 237 The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 238 Driving instructions ............................ 239 Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 239 Drinking and driving ..................... 239 Pedals .......................................... 239 Power assistance ......................... 239 Brakes .......................................... 240 Driving off ..................................... 241 Parking ......................................... 241 Tires ............................................. 242 Hydroplaning ................................ 242 Tire traction .................................. 243 Tire speed rating .......................... 243 Winter driving instructions ........... 244 Standing water ............................. 245 Passenger compartment .............. 246 Driving abroad .............................. 246 Control and operation of radio transmitters.................................. 246 Catalytic converter ....................... 247 Emission control ........................... 247 Coolant temperature .................... 248 At the gas station .............................. 249 Refueling ...................................... 249 Check regularly and before a long trip ..................................... 251 Engine compartment ......................... 252 Hood ............................................ 252 Engine oil ..................................... 253 Transmission fluid level ................ 256 Coolant level ................................ 257 Battery ......................................... 258 Windshield washer system and headlamp cleaning system* ......... 259 Tires and wheels ................................ 260 Important guidelines .................... 260 Life of tire..................................... 261 Direction of rotation ..................... 261 Checking tire inflation pressure ... 261 Rotating wheels ........................... 262 Winter driving .................................... 263 Winter tires .................................. 263 Block heater (Canada only) .......... 264 Snow chains................................. 264 Maintenance...................................... 265 Clearing the service indicator ...... 265 Service term exceeded ................ 265 Calling up the service indicator .... 266 Resetting the service indicator .... 266 Vehicle care....................................... 267 Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 267

Contents Practical hints ................................ 273 What to do if … .................................. 274 Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 274 Lamp in center console................ 279 Messages in the display ............... 280 Where will I find ...? ........................... 300 First aid kit ................................... 300 Vehicle tool kit ............................. 300 Minispare wheel ........................... 302 Unlocking/locking in an emergency.. 305 Unlocking the vehicle ................... 305 Locking the vehicle ...................... 306 Changing batteries in the SmartKey ............................... 307 Fuel filler flap ............................... 308 Manually unlocking the transmission gear selector lever .. 308 Opening/closing in an emergency..... 309 Sliding/pop-up roof* ................... 309 Replacing bulbs .................................. 310 Bulbs ............................................. 310 Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 312 Side marker lamp bulb .................. 314 Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 315 Replacing wiper blades....................... 316 Removing wiper blades ................. 316 Installing wiper blades .................. 316 Flat tire ............................................... 317 Preparing the vehicle .................... 317 Mounting the Minispare wheel ...... 317 Battery................................................ 323 Disconnecting the battery............. 324 Removing the battery.................... 324 Charging and reinstalling the battery .................................... 324 Reconnecting the battery.............. 325 Jump starting...................................... 326 Towing the vehicle.............................. 328 Installing towing eye bolt .............. 331 Fuses.................................................. 332 Fuse box in passenger compartment ............... 332 Fuse box in engine compartment . 333 Auxiliary fuse box in trunk ............ 334

Contents Technical data.................................. 335 Spare parts service ............................ 336 Warranty coverage ............................. 337 Loss of Service and Warranty Information Booklet ...................... 337 Identification labels............................ 338 Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 339 C 230 Kompressor Sport.............. 339 C 240/C 320 (all models) ............ 339 C 32 AMG..................................... 339 Engine ................................................ 340 Rims and Tires ................................... 342 Same size tires ............................. 343 Mixed size tires ............................ 344 Minispare wheel ........................... 345 Electrical system................................ 346 Main dimensions ................................ 347 Weights .............................................. 348 Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 349 Capacities .................................... 349 Engine oils.................................... 352 Engine oil additives ...................... 352 Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 352 Brake fluid .................................... 352 Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 353 Fuel requirements ........................ 353 Gasoline additives ........................ 354 Flexible Fuel Vehicles ................... 354 Coolants....................................... 356 Windshield washer and headlamp cleaning* system ......................... 358 Consumer information ....................... 359 Uniform tire quality grading ......... 359 Technical terms............................... 361 Index................................................. 367

9 Product information  Introduction Product information Please observe the following in your own best interest: We recommend using genuine Mercedes-Benz parts as well as conversion parts and accessories explicitly approved by us for your vehicle model. We have tested these parts to determine their reliability, safety and special suitability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. We are unable to make an assessment for other products and therefore cannot be held responsible for them, even if in indi- vidual cases an official approval or authori- zation by governmental or other agencies should exist. Use of such parts and acces- sories could adversely affect the safety, performance or reliability of your vehicle. Please do not use them. Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts as well as conversion parts and accessories approved by us are available at your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center where you will receive comprehensive informa- tion, also on permissible technical modifi- cations, and where proper installation will be performed.

10 Introduction Operator’s Manual  Operator’s Manual This Operator’s Manual contains a great deal of useful information. We urge you to read it carefully and familiarize yourself with the vehicle before driving. For your own safety and longer service life of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the in- structions and warnings contained in this manual. Ignoring them could result in dam- age to the vehicle or personal injury to you or others. Vehicle damage caused by fail- ure to follow instructions is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Your vehicle may have some or all of the equipment described in this manual. Therefore, you may find explanations for optional equipment not installed in your vehicle. If you have any questions about the operation of any equipment, your au- thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to demonstrate the proper proce- dures. We continuously strive to improve our product, and ask for your understanding that we reserve the right to make changes in design and equipment. Therefore, infor- mation, illustrations and descriptions in this Operator’s Manual might differ from your vehicle. Optional equipment is also described in this manual, including operating instruc- tions wherever necessary. Since they are special-order items, the descriptions and illustrations herein may vary slightly from the actual equipment of your vehicle. If there are any equipment details that are not shown or described in this Operator’s Manual, your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to inform you of correct care and operating procedures. The Operator’s Manual and Service Book- let are important documents and should be kept with the vehicle. Service and warranty information The Service and Warranty Information Booklet contains detailed information about the warranties covering your Mercedes-Benz, including:  New Car Limited Warranty  Emission System Warranty  Emission Performance Warranty  California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont Emission Control System Warranty (California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont only)  State Warranty Enforcement Laws (Lemon Laws)