Mercedes-Benz C 220 1996 User manual

What You Should Know
at the Gas Station
See last page
MERCEDES-BENZ
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
1-800-FOR MERCEDES (in the U.S.A.)
1-800-38 -0100 (in Canada)
P98-0002-B12A
rive Sensibly - Save Fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operat
ing conditions.
To save fuel you should:
• keep tires at the recommended
inflation pressures,
• remove unnecessary loads,
• remove roof rack when not in use,
• allow engine to warm up under low
load use,
• avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration,
• have all maintenance work per
formed at regular intervals by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz
dealer.
Fuel consumption is also increased
by driving in cold weather, in
stop-and-go traffic, on short trips
and in hilly country.

Mercedes-Benz
Owner’s Manual
1996
C 220
C 280
C 36 AMG

Kindly observe the following in your own best interests:
We recommend using Mercedes-Benz original parts as
well as conversion parts and accessories e plicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have subjected these parts to a special test in which
their reliability, safety and their special suitability for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles have been determined.
We are unable to make an assessment for other products
and therefore cannot be held responsible for them, even if in
individual cases an official approval or authorization by
governmental or approval agencies should e ist.
Mercedes-Benz original parts as well as conversion parts
and accessories approved by us are available at your
Mercedes-Benz service station where you will receive
comprehensive information, also on permissible technical
modifications, and where proper installation will be
performed.
Printed in Germany
We reserve the right to modify the technical details of the vehicle as given in the data
and illustrations of this Owner’s Manual. Reprinting, translation and copying, even
of excerpts, is not permitted without our prior authorization in writing.
Press tiime08/15/95
VP/S 15K

Our company and staff congratulate you on the
purchase of your new Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demonstration of your
trust in our company name. Further, it e emplifies 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 efforts of many
skilled engineers and craftsmen. To ensure your
pleasure of ownership, we ask you to make a small
investment of your time:
• Please read this manual carefully before putting it
aside.
• Please abide by the recommendations contained in
this manual. They are designed to acquaint you with
the operation of your Mercedes-Benz.
We e tend our best wishes for many miles of safe,
pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
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Introdu tion
This Owner’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 instructions and
warnings contained in this manual. Ignoring them
could result in damage to the vehicle or personal
injury to you or others. Vehicle damage caused by
failure 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 authorized
Mercedes-Benz dealer will be glad to demonstrate
the proper procedures.
Owner’s Servi e and Warranty Poli y
The Owner’s Service and Warranty Policy Booklet
contains detailed information about the warranties
covering your Mercedes-Benz, including:
• New Car Limited Warranty,
• Emission System Warranty,
• Emission Performance Warranty,
• California Emission Control System Warranty
(California only),
• State Warranty Enforcement Laws
(Lemon Laws).
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Important Noti e for California Retail Buyers of
Mer edes-Benz Automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to a
replacement of your vehicle or a refund of the
purchase price, if Mercedes-Benz of North America,
Inc. or its authorized dealer fails to conform the
vehicle to its express warranties after a reasonable
number of repair attempts during the period of one
year or 12 000 miles from original delivery of the
vehicle. A reasonable number of repair attempts is
presumed for a retail buyer (1) if the vehicle is out
of service by reason of repair of substantial non
conformities for a cumulative total of more than
30 calendar days or (2) the same substantial non
conformity has been subject to repair four or more
times and you have at least on e dire tly notified
us in writing of the need to repair the non- on
formity and have given us an opportunity to per
form the repair ourselves. Notifi ations should
be sent to the nearest Mer edes-Benz Regional
Offi e listed in the Owner’s Servi e and Warran
ty Information Booklet.
Maintenan e
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the
necessary maintenance work which should be
performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with you
when you take the vehicle to your authorized
Mercedes-Benz dealer for service. The service
advisor will record each service in the booklet for
you.

Roadside Assistan e
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Program
provides factory trained technical help in the event
of a breakdown. Calls to the toll-free Roadside
Assistance number:
1 -800-FOR-MERCEDES (in the U.S.A.)
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz Customer
Assistance Representatives 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
For additional information refer to the Mercedes-
Benz Roadside Assistance Program brochure in
your glove box.
Change of Address or Ownership
If you change your address, be sure to send in the
“Change of Address Notice” found in the Owner’s
Service and Warranty Policy Booklet, or simply call
the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center (in
the U.S.A. only) at 1-800-FOR-MERCE ES. It is in
your own interest that we can contact you should
the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all owner’s
literature with the vehicle to make it available to the
next owner.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to send in
the “Notice of Purchase of Used Car” found in the
Owner’s Service and Warranty Policy Booklet, or
call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the U.S.A. only) at 1-800-FOR-
MERCE ES.
Operating Your Vehi le Outside the U.S.A. or
Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign
countries, please be aware that:
• service facilities or replacement parts may not
be readily available,
• unleaded gasoline for vehicles with catalytic
converters may not be available; the use of
leaded fuels will damage the catalysts,
• gasoline may have a considerably lower octane
rating, and improper fuel can cause engine
damage.
Certain Mercedes-Benz models are available for
delivery in Europe under our European elivery
Program. For details, consult your authorized
Mercedes-Benz dealer or write to:
Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.
European elivery epartment
One Mercedes rive
Montvale, NJ 07645
In Canada write to:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European elivery epartment
849 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario M4G 2L5
5

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, information,
illustrations and descriptions in this Owner’s Manual might
differ from your vehicle.
Optional equipment is also described in this manual,
including operating instructions 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 Owner’s Manual, your authorized
Mercedes-Benz dealer will be glad to inform you of
correct care and operating procedures.
The Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Booklet are
important documents and should be kept with the
vehicle.
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Instruments and Controls
Starting the Engine
Driving Instru tions
Operation
Driving
Pra ti al Hints
Te hni al Data
Fuels, Coolants, Lubri ants et .
Consumer Information
I
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Index
Literature

The First 1000 Miles
(1500 km) Che k Regularly and
Before a Long Trip Radio Transmitters
Warning!
Never operate radio transmit
ters equipped with a built-in or
atta hed antenna (i.e. without
the telephone onne ted to an
external antenna) from inside
the vehi le while the engine is
running. Doing so ould lead
to a malfun tion of the vehi
le’s ele troni system, possi
bly resulting in an a ident
and personal injury.
The more cautiously you treat your
vehicle during the break-in period,
the more satisfied you will be with
its performance later on. There
fore, drive your vehicle during the
first 1000 miles (1500 km) at
moderate vehicle and engine
speeds.
uring this period, avoid heavy
loads (full throttle driving) and
excessive engine speeds.
Avoid accelerating by kickdown. It
is not recommended to brake the
vehicle by manually shifting to a
lower gear. We recommend to
select positions “3” or “2” only at
moderate speeds (for hill driving).
After 1000 miles (1500 km)
speeds may be gradually in
creased to the permissible
maximum.
See Index
Maintenan e
We strongly recommend that you
have your vehicle serviced by your
authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer,
in accordance with the Mainte
nance Booklet.
Failure to have the vehicle
maintained in accordance with the
Maintenance Booklet may result in
vehicle damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Radio transmitters, such as a port
able telephone or a citizens band
unit, should only be used inside
the vehicle if they are connected
to an antenna that is installed on
the outside of the vehicle.
Refer to the radio transmitter
operation instructions regarding
use of an external antenna.
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