2014 Mercedes-Benz C-CLASS SEDAN Owner’s Manual

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan combines classic style with modern luxury. Its elegant design, cutting-edge technology, and smooth performance make it a favorite among choosy drivers. The C-Class Sedan is a perfect example of the brand’s dedication to greatness. It combines classic Mercedes-Benz design cues with new features to make a car that is both comfortable and sporty. The 2014 C-Class Sedan offers an unmatched driving experience that raises the bar for the compact luxury sedan market. It has a variety of engine options, a carefully made interior, and a number of cutting-edge safety and entertainment systems.

Instrument cluster

Displays and controls

1. Fuel gauge
2. Coolant temperature 204
3. Speedometer with segments 205
4. Multifunction display 206
5. Tachometer 205
6. Instrument cluster lighting 204

Driving systems

Cruise control
Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road speed for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden, you must select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in good time. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from overheating and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic conditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can store any road speed above 20 mph (30 km/h). If you fail to adaptyour driving style, cruise control can neither reduce the risk of an accident nor override the laws of physics. Cruise control cannot take into account the road, traffic and weather conditions. Cruise control is only an aid. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time and for staying in your lane.
Do not use cruise control:

• in road and traffic conditions which do not allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g. in heavy traffic or on winding roads
• on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accelerating could cause the drive wheels to lose traction and the vehicle could then skid
• when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or snow
  If there is a change of drivers, advise the new driver of the speed stored.

Cruise control lever 

1. To activate or increase speed
2. To activate or reduce speed
3. To deactivate cruise control
4. To activate at the current speed/last stored speed
   When you activate cruise control, the stored speed is shown in the multifunction display for five seconds. In the multifunction display, the segments between the stored speed and the maximum speed light up.

Storing and maintaining the current speed
You can store the current speed if you are driving faster than 20 mph (30 km/h).

• Accelerate the vehicle to the desired speed.
• Briefly press the cruise control lever up 1 or down 2.
• Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
  Cruise control is activated. The vehicle automatically maintains the stored speed.
  Cruise control may be unable to maintain the stored speed on uphill gradients. The stored speed is resumed when the gradient evens out. Cruise control maintains the stored speed on downhill gradients by automatically applying the brakes.

Storing the current speed or calling up the last stored speed
WARNING If you call up the stored speed and it differs from the current speed, the vehicle accelerates or decelerates. If you do not know the stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate or brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic conditions before calling up the stored speed. If you do not know the stored speed, store the desired speed again.

• Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards you ?.
• Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
  The first time cruise control is activated, it stores the current speed or regulates the speed of the vehicle to the previously stored speed.

DISTRONIC PLUS
Important safety notes
DISTRONIC PLUS regulates the speed and automatically helps you maintain the distance to the vehicle detected in front. DISTRONIC PLUS brakes automatically so that the set speed is not exceeded.
On long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden, you must select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in good time. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from overheating and wearing too quickly.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a slower-moving vehicle in front, your vehicle is braked in order to maintain the preset distance to the vehicle in front.

WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS does not react to:
people or animals
stationary obstacles on the road, e.g. stopped or parked vehicles
oncoming and crossing traffic
As a result, DISTRONIC PLUS may neither give warnings nor intervene in such situations. There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic situation and be ready to brake.

If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is activated, the vehicle brakes automatically in certain situations. To prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in the following or other similar situations:

• when towing the vehicle
• in the car wash

If you fail to adapt your driving style, DISTRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk of accident nor override the laws of physics. DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take into account the road, traffic and weather conditions. DISTRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time and for staying in your lane.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:

• in road and traffic conditions which do not allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g. in heavy traffic or on winding roads
• on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accelerating could cause the drive wheels to lose traction and the vehicle could then skid
• when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or snow
  DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or vehicles driving on a different line.
  In particular, the detection of obstacles can be impaired if:
• dirt on the sensors or anything else covering the sensors
• snow or heavy rain
• interference by other radar sources
• strong radar reflections, for example, in parking garages
  If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehicle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS may unexpectedly accelerate the vehicle to the stored speed.
  This speed may:
• be too high if you are driving in a filter lane or an exit lane
• be so high when driving in the right-hand lane that you overtake vehicles in the left-hand lane
• be so high when driving in the left-hand lane that you overtake vehicles in the right-hand lane

If there is a change of drivers, advise the new driver of the speed stored.
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS operates in the same way as cruise control in the speed range between 20 mph (Canada: 30 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada: 200 km/h). If a vehicle is driving in front of you, it operates in the speed range between 0 mph (0 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada: 200 km/h).
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving on roads with steep gradients.
As DISTRONIC PLUS transmits radar waves, it can resemble the radar detectors of the responsible authorities. You can refer to the relevant chapter in the Operator’s Manual if questions are asked about this.

Battery (vehicle)

Important safety notes
Special tools and expert knowledge are required when working on the battery, e.g. removal and installing. You should therefore have all work involving the battery carried out at a qualified specialist workshop.

WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly on the battery can lead, for example, to a short circuit and thus damage the vehicle electronics. This can lead to function restrictions applying to safety-relevant systems, e.g. the lighting system, ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP® (Electronic Stability Program). The operating safety of your vehicle may be restricted. You could lose control of the vehicle, for example:

braking
in the event of abrupt steering maneuver
and/orwhen the vehicle’s speed is not adapted to the road conditions
There is a risk of an accident.
In the event of a short circuit or a similar incident, contact a qualified specialist workshop immediately. Do not drive any further. You should have all work involving the battery carried out at aqualified specialist workshop.
For further information about ABS and ESP®, see (Y page 65) and (Y page 67).

WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation of sparks, which could ignite the highly explosive gases of a battery. There is a riskof an explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle body to remove any existing electrostatic build-up.

The highly flammable gas mixture forms when charging the battery as well as when jump-starting. Always make sure that neither you nor the battery is electrostatically charged. Abuild-up of electrostatic charge can be caused, for example:

• by wearing clothing made from synthetic fibers
• due to friction between clothing and seats
• if you push or pull the battery across the carpet or other synthetic materials
• if you wipe the battery with a cloth

WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over the battery. Keep children away from batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with water and seek medical attention.

During the charging process, a battery produces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.

• Make sure that the positive terminal of a connected battery does not come into contact with vehicle parts.
• Never place metal objects or tools on a battery.
• It is important that you observe the described order of the battery terminals when connecting and disconnecting a battery.
• When jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are connected.
• It is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnecting the jumper cables.
• Never connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running.

FAQ