Control system
The control system is activated as soon as the SmartKey in the starter switch is turned to position 1. The control system enables you to
- call up information about your vehicle
- change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control system to find out when your vehicle is next due for service, to set the language for messages in the instrument cluster display, and much more.
The displays for the audio systems (radio, CD player) will appear in English, regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
A driver's attention to the road and traffic conditions must always be his/her primary focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, selecting features through the multifunction steering wheel should only be done by the driver when traffic and road conditions permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph (approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) every second.
The control system relays information to the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
① Trip odometer ② Main odometer ③ Current program mode (automatic transmission*) ④ Current gear selector lever position/gear range (automatic transmission*) ⑤ Digital clock ⑥ Status indicator (outside temperature/digital speedometer)
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Control system
Multifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display and the settings in the control system are controlled by the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.
① Multifunction display
Operating the control system
② Selecting the submenu or setting the volume: Press button
- up/to increase
- down/to decrease
③ Telephone*: Press button to take a call to end a call
④ Menu systems: Press button for next menu for previous menu
⑤ Moving within a menu: Press button for next display for previous display
Pressing any of the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel will alter what is shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunction display is arranged in menus, each containing a number of functions or submenus.
The individual functions are then found within the relevant menu (radio or CD operations under AUDIO, for example). These functions serve to call up relevant information or to customize the settings for your vehicle.
C 230 Sport and C 350 Sport: Steering wheel in these vehicles will vary from steering wheel shown. However, multifunction steering wheel symbols and feature description apply to Sport models as well.
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Control system
It is helpful to think of the menus, and the functions within each menu, as being arranged in a circular pattern.
- If you press button [icon] or [icon] repeatedly, you will pass through each menu one after the other.
- If you press button [icon] or [icon] repeatedly, you will pass through each function display, one after the other, in the current menu.
In the Settings menu, instead of functions you will find a number of submenus for calling up and changing settings. For instructions on using these submenus, see "Submenus in the Settings menu" (▷ page 141).
The number of menus available in the system depends on which optional equipment is installed in your vehicle.
i The headings used in the menus table are designed to facilitate navigation within the system and are not necessarily identical to those shown in the control system displays.
The first function displayed in each menu will automatically show you which part of the system you are in.
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Control system
Menus
This is what you will see when you scroll through the menus. The table on the next page provides an overview of the individual menus.
P54.32-3416-31
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Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
| Menu ① Standard display (▷ page 135) | Menu ② AUDIO (▷ page 136) | Menu ③ NAV* (▷ page 138) | Menu ④ Vehicle status message memory (▷ page 138) | Menu ⑤ Settings (▷ page 140) | Menu ⑥ Trip computer (▷ page 155) | Menu ⑦ Telephone* (▷ page 157) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commands/submenus | Run Flat Indicator* (Canada only)Digital speedometer or outside temperatureCall up maintenance service display | Select radio stationSelect satellite radio station* (USA only)Operate CD player* | Show route guidance instructions, current direction traveled | Call up vehicle malfunction, warning and system status messages stored in memory¹ | Reset to factory settingsInstrument cluster submenuTime/Date submenuLighting submenuVehicle submenuConvenience submenu | Fuel consumption statistics after startFuel consumption statistics since the last resetCall up range | Load phone bookSearch for name in phone book |
¹ The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
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Control system
Standard display menu
In the standard display, the main odometer and the trip odometer are shown in the multifunction display.
① Trip odometer ② Main odometer
If another display is shown instead of the standard display:
- Press button or repeatedly until you see the standard display.
- Press button or to select the functions in the standard display menu.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer or outside temperature
- Press button or repeatedly until you see the digital speedometer.
The current vehicle speed is shown in the multifunction display.
① Digital speedometer
Select either the display of the digital speedometer or the outside temperature indicator (> page 144).
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Control system
AUDIO menu
The functions in the AUDIO menu operate the audio equipment which you currently have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned on, the message Audio off appears in the multifunction display.
The following functions are available:
| Function | Page |
|---|---|
| Select radio station | 136 |
| Select satellite radio station* (USA only) | 137 |
| Operate CD player* | 137 |
Select radio station
-
Turn on the radio (▷ page 202).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instructions. -
Press button □□ or □□ repeatedly until the currently tuned station appears in the multifunction display.
① Waveband setting
② Station frequency
- Press button □□ or □□ repeatedly until the desired station is found.
You can only store new stations using the corresponding feature on the radio (▷ page 210).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instructions.
You can also operate the radio in the usual manner.
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Control system
Select satellite radio station* (USA only)
The satellite radio is treated as a radio application.
- Select satellite radio with the corresponding soft key (SAT) in the radio menu.
① SAT mode and preset number ② Channel name or number
- Press button or repeatedly until the desired channel is found.
For more information on satellite radio operation, see “Introduction to satellite radio* (USA only)” (▷ page 211).
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to separate operating instructions.
Operate the CD player*
-
Turn on the radio and select the CD player or the CD Changer (▷ page 216). Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to separate operating instructions.
-
Press button or repeatedly until the settings for the CD currently being played appear in the multifunction display.
① Current CD (for CD changer*) ② Current track
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Control system
▷▷▷ Press button or repeatedly until the desired track is selected.
To select a CD from the magazine, press a number on the audio system or the COMAND* system key pad located in the center dashboard.
NAV* menu
The NAV menu contains the functions needed to operate your navigation system.
▶ Press button or repeatedly until the message NAV appears in the multifunction display.
- If COMAND* is switched off, the message NAV off appears in the multifunction display.
- With COMAND* switched on but route guidance not activated, the direction of travel and, if available, the name of the street currently traveled on appear in the multifunction display.
- With COMAND* switched on and route guidance activated, the direction of travel and maneuver instructions appear in the multifunction display.
Please refer to the COMAND* manual for instructions on how to activate the route guidance system*.
Vehicle status message memory menu
Use the vehicle status message memory menu to scan malfunction and warning messages that may be stored in the system. Such messages appear in the multifunction display and are based on conditions or system status the vehicle's system has recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu only appears if there are any messages stored.
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Control system
Warning!
Malfunction and warning messages are only indicated for certain systems and are intentionally not very detailed. The malfunction and warning messages are simply a reminder with respect to the operation of certain systems and do not replace the owner's and/or driver's responsibility to maintain the vehicle's operating safety by having all required maintenance and safety checks performed on the vehicle and by bringing the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to address the malfunction and warning messages ( page 358).
- Press button or repeatedly until the vehicle status message memory appears in the multifunction display.
If the vehicle status message memory menu does not appear, then there are no messages stored.
V ehicle status messages have been recorded
If conditions have occurred causing status messages to be recorded, the number of messages appears in the multifunction display:
① Number of messages
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Control system
▶ Press button or .
The stored messages will now be displayed in the order in which they have occurred. For malfunction and warning messages, see “Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display” (▷ page 358).
Should the vehicle’s system record any conditions while driving, the number of messages will reappear in the multifunction display when the SmartKey in the starter switch is turned to position 0 or removed from the starter switch.
The vehicle status message memory will be cleared when you turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 1 or 2. You will then only see high-priority messages in the multifunction display (▷ page 358).
Settings menu
In the Settings menu there are two functions:
- The function Reset to factory settings, with which you can reset all the settings to the original factory settings.
- A collection of submenus with which you can make individual settings for your vehicle.
▶ Press button or repeatedly until the Settings menu appears in the multifunction display.
Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all submenus to the factory settings.
▶ Press the reset button in the instrument cluster (▷ page 127) for approximately 3 seconds.
The request to press the reset button once more to confirm appears in the multifunction display.
▶ Press the reset button once more.
The functions of all the submenus will reset to factory settings.
Control system
i The settings you have changed will not be reset unless you confirm the action by pressing the reset button a second time. After approximately 5 seconds, the Settings menu reappears in the multifunction display.
For safety reasons, the following function are not reset while driving:
- the Hdlamp mode function in the Lighting submenu
Submenus in the Settings menu
▶ Press button [up arrow icon].
The collection of the submenus appears in the multifunction display.
▶ Press button [minus icon].
The selection marker moves to the next submenu.
The submenus are arranged by hierarchy. Scroll down with button [minus icon], scroll up with button [plus icon].
With the selection marker on the desired submenu, use the button [up arrow icon] to access the individual functions within that submenu. Once within the submenu, you can use the button [up arrow icon] to move to the next function or the button [down arrow icon] to move to the previous function within that submenu.
The settings themselves are made with button [plus icon] or [minus icon].
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Control system
The table below shows what settings can be changed within the various menus. Detailed instructions on making individual settings can be found on the following pages.
| Instrument cluster | Time/Date | Lighting | Vehicle | Convenience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select speedometer display mode | Time synchronization with head unit* | Set daytime running lamp mode (USA only) | Set automatic lock-ing | Activate easy-entry/exit feature |
| Select language | Set time (hours) | Set locator lighting | Set parking position for exterior rear view mirror | |
| Select display (speed display or outside temperature) for status indicator | Set time (minutes) | Set night security illumination | ||
| Select automatic time change (Daylight Saving Time (DST) summer/Standard time winter) | Set interior lighting de-layed shut-off | |||
| Set date (month) | ||||
| Set date (day) | ||||
| Set date (year) |
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Control system
Instrument cluster submenu
Access the Instr.Cl. submenu via the Settings menu. Use the Instr.Cl. submenu to change the instrument cluster display settings.
The following functions are available:
Select speedometer display mode
- Move the selection marker with button + or − to the Instr.Cl. submenu.
- Press button ◁ or ▷ repeatedly until the message Disp.Unit Speed/odo appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current setting.
- Press button + or − to set speedometer unit to Km or Miles.
Select language
- Move the selection marker with button + or − to the Instr.Cl. submenu.
- Press button ◁ or ▷ repeatedly until the message Language appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current setting.
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Control system
▷▷▷ Press button [ + ] or [ - ] to select the language to be used for the multifunction display messages.
Available languages:
- German (Deutsch)
- English (English)
- French (francais)
- Italian (italiano)
- Spanish (Español)
- Dutch (Nederlands)
- Danish (Dansk)
- Swedish (Svenska)
- Portuguese (Português)
- Turkish (Türkçe)
Select display (digital speedometer or outside temperature) for status indicator
▶ Move the selection marker with button [ + ] or [ - ] to the Instr.Cl. submenu.
▶ Press button [ ⬍ ] or [ ⬎ ] repeatedly until the message Status line display appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current setting.
▶ Press button [ + ] or [ - ] to select the desired setting.
The selected display is then shown continuously in the lower display.
The other display now appears in the menu of the standard display:
- Digital speedometer or
- Outside temperature
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Control system
Time/Date submenu
Access the Time/Date submenu via the Settings menu. Use the Time/Date submenu to change the instrument cluster display settings.
The following functions are available:
| Function | Page |
|---|---|
| Time synchronization with head unit* | 145 |
| Set time (hours) | 145 |
| Set time (minutes) | 146 |
| Select automatic time change (Daylight Saving Time (DST) summer/Standard time winter) | 147 |
| Set date (month) | 147 |
| Set date (day) | 148 |
| Set date (year) | 148 |
Time synchronization with head unit*
This function can only be seen on vehicles with COMAND* and navigation module*.
- Move the selection marker with button + or – to the Time/Date submenu.
- Press button ↑ or ↓ repeatedly until the message Time synchro. w/Head Unit appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current setting.
- Press button + or – to select the desired setting.
Set the time (hours)
This function can be seen in vehicles with audio system, or in vehicles with COMAND* if the time synchronization with head unit* feature was set to Off.
i
Vehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the time, refer to the separate COMAND operating instructions.
- Move the selection marker with button + or – to the Time/Date submenu.
- Press button ↑ or ↓ repeatedly until the message Time Hours appears in the multifunction display.
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Control system
The selection marker is on the hour setting.
\blacktriangleright Press button \boxed+ or \boxed- to set the hour.
Set the time (minutes)
This function can be seen in vehicles with audio system, or in vehicles with COMAND* if the time synchronization with head unit* feature was set to Off.
Vehicles with COMAND*: For information on setting the time, refer to the separate COMAND operating instructions.
Move the selection marker with button \boxed+ or \boxed- to the Time/Date submenu.
Press button \boxedup arrow or \boxeddown arrow repeatedly until the message Time Minutes appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the minute setting.
\blacktriangleright Press button \boxed+ or \boxed- to set the minutes.
Control system
Select automatic time change (Daylight Saving Time (DST) summer/Standard time winter)
This function can be seen in vehicles with audio system, or in vehicles with COMAND* if the time synchronization with head unit* feature was set to Off.
► Move the selection marker with button [icon] or [icon] to the Time/Date submenu.
► Press button [icon] or [icon] repeatedly until the message Change-over Summer / Winter time appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current setting.
► Press button [icon] or [icon] to select if the changeover between summer and winter time should be automatic or manual.
Set the date (month)
This function can be seen in vehicles with audio system, or in vehicles with COMAND* if the time synchronization with head unit* feature was set to Off.
i Vehicles with COMAND*: For information on setting the date, refer to the separate COMAND operating instructions.
► Move the selection marker with button [icon] or [icon] to the Time/Date submenu.
► Press button [icon] or [icon] repeatedly until the message Date Set MM appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the month setting.
► Press button [icon] or [icon] to set the month.
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Control system
Set the date (day)
This function can be seen in vehicles with audio system, or in vehicles with COMAND* if the time synchronization with head unit* feature was set to Off.
ℹ️ Vehicles with COMAND*: For information on setting the date, refer to the separate COMAND operating instructions.
- Move the selection marker with button
+or-to the Time/Date submenu. - Press button
⌂or⌵repeatedly until the message Date Set day appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the day setting.
- Press button
+or-to set the day.
Set the date (year)
This function can be seen in vehicles with audio system, or in vehicles with COMAND* if the time synchronization with head unit* feature was set to Off.
ℹ️ Vehicles with COMAND*: For information on setting the date, refer to the separate COMAND operating instructions.
- Move the selection marker with button
+or-to the Time/Date submenu. - Press button
⌂or⌵repeatedly until the message Date Set YY appears in the multifunction display.
148
The selection marker is on the year setting.
▶ Press button [icon: plus] or [icon: minus] to set the year.
Lighting submenu
Access the Lighting submenu via the Settings menu. Use the Lighting submenu to change the lamp and lighting settings on your vehicle.
The following functions are available:
FunctionPage Set daytime running lamp mode (USA only)149 Set locator lighting150 Set night security illumination151 Set interior lighting delayed shut-off152
Controls in detail
Control system
Set daytime running lamp mode (USA only)
This function is not available in countries where the daytime running lamp mode is mandatory and therefore in a constant mode.
▶ Move the selection marker with button [icon: plus] or [icon: minus] to the Lighting submenu.
▶ Press button [icon: up arrow] or [icon: down arrow] repeatedly until the message HdTamp mode appears in the multifunction display. ▷▷
149