If you do not have access to CINEMA 4D software, your only option would be to use some of the 3rd party conversion utilities, such as PolyTrans|CAD+DCC to convert your 3ds Max graphics (for example .max files) to C4D format. Both of these formats are proprietary, so your options in this case for max to c4d conversion are somewhat limited.
Importing 3D Studio Max (.max) files to CINEMA 4D
MAX format can only be read by 3d Studio Max itself. It's a parametric file format that needs the functionality of the application to be useable at all. To get animations from max to CINEMA 4D try to use FBX file format instead. Find FBX converter. It converts 3DS, Collada, DXF, OBJ files to FBX. FBX models can be imported into Cinema 4D without problems.