2005 Mercedes C-Class Owner's Manual - Page 269

Operation Driving instructions ! When driving down long and steep grades, relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a lower gear to use the engine's braking power. This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and reduces brake pad wear. After hard braking, it is advisable to drive on for some time, rather than immediately parking, so that the air stream will cool down the brakes faster. Driving off Apply the brakes to test them briefly after driving off. Perform this procedure only when the road is clear of other traffic. Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not place full load on the engine until the operating temperature has been reached. When starting off on a slippery surface, do not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended period with the ESP switched off. Doing so may cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Warning! G ! Simultaneously depressing the accelerator pedal and applying the brake reduces engine performance and causes premature brake and drivetrain wear. Parking Do not park this vehicle in areas where combustible materials such as grass, hay or leaves can come into contact with the hot exhaust system, as these materials could be ignited and cause a vehicle fire. To reduce the risk of personal injury as a result of vehicle movement, before turning off the engine and leaving the vehicle always: Keep right foot on brake pedal. Firmly depress parking brake pedal. Move the gear selector lever to position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear). Slowly release brake pedal. When parked on an incline, turn front wheels towards the road curb. Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 0 and remove the SmartKey from the starter switch. Take the SmartKey with you and lock vehicle when leaving. ! Set the parking brake whenever parking or leaving the vehicle. In addition, move gear selector lever to position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear). When parking on hills, always turn front wheels towards the road curb. 267