2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C320 Page 22

124 Flexible service system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Coolant temperature gauge
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1
or 2.
Call up the trip odometer and main odometer by
pressing button è or ÿ on the multifunction
steering wheel. See page 96.
Press button j or k until the coolant
temperature gauge appears.During severe operating conditions and stop-and-go city
traffic, the coolant temperature may rise close to 120
°C.
The engine should not be operated with the coolant
temperature above 120
°C. Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Note:
Excessive coolant temperatures trigger a warning in the
multifunction display. See page 282.
P54.30-3605-26
Wa r n i n g !
• Driving when your engine is badly overheated
can cause some fluids which may have leaked
into the engine compartment to catch fire. You
could be seriously burned.• Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine if
you see or hear steam coming from it.Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and do
not stand near the vehicle until it cools down.

126 Flexible service system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The service indicator disappears automatically after
30 seconds or if the knob for instrument cluster
illumination, see page 88, in the instrument cluster is
pressed.
Calling up service indicator manually:
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1.
Call up the trip odometer and main odometer by
pressing button è or ÿ on the multifunction
steering wheel until the display appears. See page 96.
Press button j or k until the FSS indicator
appears.
The next or previous system is displayed by pressing
button è or ÿ.
Important!
The FSS indicator is not an engine oil level indicator.
See page 128 for engine oil level indicator.Note:
When disconnecting vehicle battery for one or more
days at a time, such days will not be counted. Any such
days not counted by the FSS can be added by your
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The interval between services is determined by the type
of driving for which the vehicle is used. For example,
driving at extreme speeds, and cold starts combined
wi t h short di stan ce d r ivi ng in which the e ngin e d oes not
reach operating normal temperature, reduce the interval
between services.

127 Flexible service system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Following a completed A or B service the Mercedes-Benz
Center sets the counter mileage to 10 000 miles
(Canada: 15 000 km) and 365 days.
The counter can also be set by any individual. To do so:
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1.
To call up the trip odometer and main odometer, press
button è or ÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel until the display appears. See page 96.
Press button j or k until the FSS indicator
appears.
Press the reset knob on the instrument cluster, see
page 88, for approximately 2 seconds.The multifunction display will show the question:
“DO YOU WANT TO RESET SERVICE INTERVAL? –
CONFIRM BY PRESSING R”
Press the reset knob on the instrument cluster again to
reset the service indicator.
The new service indicator is displayed with the reset
distance of 10 000 miles (Canada 15 000 km).
If the FSS counter was inadvertently reset, have a
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
However you choose to set your reference numbers, the
scheduled services as posted in the Service Booklet
must be followed to properly care for your vehicle.

128 Engine oil level indicator
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Engine oil level indicator
To check the engine oil level, park vehicle on level
ground, with engine at normal operational temperature.
Check oil level approximately 5 minutes after stopping
the engine, allowing for the oil to return to the oil pan.
The message “PERF. SERV. ON TIME” (perform service
[engine oil level check] on time) will be displayed if the
required waiting period has not been observed after
stopping the engine:
•with engine at operational temperature
approximately 5 minutes.•with engine not at operational temperature up to
approximately 30 minutes.
The engine oil level check can be repeated after a short
time.
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 2.
To call up the trip odometer and main odometer, press
button è or ÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel until the display appears. See page 96.
Press button j or k on the multifunction
steering wheel repeatedly until the “MEASUREMENT
CORRECT – ONLY IF VEH. LEVEL” engine oil level
indicator appears. This indicator is only a reminder.
Measurement can be cancelled by pressing button j
or k if the vehicle is not parked on level ground. An
incorrect reading will be recorded if you do not cancel
the measurement. Move the vehicle to level ground and
measure again.
The electronic key in starter switch is not in position 2 if
the “ENGINE OIL LEVEL – SWITCH ON IGNITION”
message appears.
The “ENGINE OIL LEVEL – MEASURING NOW”
message is displayed after approximately 3 seconds.
P54.30-3607-26

129 Engine oil level indicator
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index One of the following messages will subseq uently appear
on the indicator:
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – O.K.”
No oil needs to be added.
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – ADD 1.0 QUART”
(Canada: 1.0 L)
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – ADD 1.5 QUART”
(Canada: 1.5 L)
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – ADD 2.0 QUART”
(Canada: 2.0 L)
See “Checking engine oil level”, on page 300 for
instructions on adding engine oil.
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – REDUCE OIL LEVEL”
Do not overfill the engine.
Excessive oil must be siphoned or drained off. It could
cause damage to the engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.The “PERF. SERV. ON TIME” message will be displayed
if a proper oil level check cannot be performed. The
engine oil level check can be repeated after a short
while.
Perform the engine oil level check with the dipstick, if it
cannot be completed via the multifunction display.
See “Checking engine oil level”, on page 300.
In this case we recommend that you have the system
checked at a Mercedes-Benz Center.
Notes:
See malfunction and warning messages on page 274
and page 283 if an engine oil level indicator appears on
the multifunction display when the engine is running.
The engine oil level cannot be checked while the engine
is running. The “ENGINE OIL LEVEL – NOT WHEN
ENGINE ON” message will appear.
Engine oil consumption
Engine oil consumption checks should only be made
after the break-in period. During the break-in period,
higher oil consumption may be noticed and is normal.
Frequent driving at high engine speeds results in
increased consumption.

131 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Headlamp mode (HEADLAMPS)
(USA only)
The headlamps can be switched on and off manually or
automatically, or switched to daytime running lamp
mode.
Manual operation:
The low beam headlamps, parking lamps and license
plate lamps can be switched on and of f wit h t he exterior
lamp switch. For exterior lamp switch, see page 130.Autom ati c operation:
With electronic key in starter switch in position 1 turn
exterior lamp switch to positionU.
The parking lamps switch on and off automatically
depending on the brightness of the ambient light.
With the engine running and exterior lamp switch in
positionU:
The low beam headlamps, parking lamps and license
plate lamps are switched on and off automatically
depending on the brightness of the ambient light.
The low beam headlamps, parking lamps and license
plate lamps can still be switched on and off manually
using the exterior lamp switch.
Note:
The headlamps will not be automatically switched on
under foggy conditions.
Wa r n i n g !
The driver is responsible for the operation of the
vehicle’s lights at all times. The automatic
headlamp feature is only an aid to the driver.
Switch on the vehicle lights by hand when driving
or traffic conditions require you to do so.

132 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Daytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to positionM.
When the engine is running, the low beam headlamps
(includes parking lamps and license plate lamps) are
automatically switched on.
Canada only:
When shifting from a driving position to position “N”
or “P”, the low beam switches off (3 minutes delay).
For nighttime driving the exterior lamp switch should
be turned to position B to permit activation of the
high beam headlamps.
USA only:
The high beam headlamps can also be activated when
driving with the daytime running lamp mode activated
and exterior lamp switch in positionM.
See page 130 for notes on the exterior lamp switch.
To activate the daytime running lamp mode, see
“Individual settings” – “LIGHTING” on page 117.Night security illumination
When turning off the engine, the exterior lamps switch
on for added illumination, if they were previously
switched on (except in daytime running mode). After
the last door has been closed the lamp-on time period
commences.
The lamp-on time period for night security illumination
can be set at several different timed levels from 0 (off) to
60 seconds, see “Individual settings” - “LIGHTING” on
page 117.
Notes:
Within 10 minutes after closing the last door the night
security illumination can be reactivated by opening a
door.
See “Individual settings” – “LIGHTING” on page 117 for
instructions on how to activate the function.
Deactivating night security illumination temporarily:
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 0
then to position 2 and back to position 0 again before
getting out of the vehicle. The night security
illumination will not be activated when the door is
opened.

133 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Locator lighting
After unlocking the vehicle with the electronic main key
during darkness, the fog lamps, parking lamps,
taillamps and license plate lamps switch on for
approximately 40 seconds.
The exterior lamps will be switched off when opening
the driver’s door.
See “Individual settings” – “LIGHTING” on page 117 for
instructions on how to activate the function. Headlamp cleaning system
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1.
The headlamps will be cleaned with a high-pressure
water jet when you press the headlamp washer
button (1).
See page 302 for instructions on filling up the
windshield/headlamp washer reservoir.