2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Owner's Manual

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Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should adjust
the seat height for proper vision as well as fore/aft
placement and backrest angle to insure adequate
control, reach, operation, and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for proper height. See
also airbag section on page 94 for proper seat
positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure
adequate control, reach, operation, and comfort.
Both the inside and outside rear view mirrors should be
adjusted for adequate rearward vision.Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be
seated in a properly secured restraint system that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Stand ard 213.
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view
mirror adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.

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Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger-
side front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
Infants and small children must ride in back seats
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child
restraint system, which is properly secured with
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is
not properly secured in the child restraint.

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Removal and installation of front seat head
restraints
Caution!
Do not remove head restraints except when mounting
seat covers. Whenever restraints have been removed be
sure to reinstall them before driving.Note:
Tilt the backrest rearward for easier removal and
installation of the head restraints.
To remove:
Press switch (1) upwards and hold until the head
restraint is fully extended. Pull head restraint out.
To i n st a l l :
Press switch (1) upwards and hold for about 5 seconds.
Press the head restraint down until it engages.
Adjust head restraint to the desired position.
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Wa r n i n g !
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.Adjust head restraint to support the back of the
head approximately at ear level.Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head
restraints. Head restraints are intended to help
reduce injuries during an accident.

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The thumbwheels are located on the sides of the front
seats and rear seats.
The seats have an inf latable air cushion built into the
backrest to provide additional lumbar support.
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 2.
The inflation pressure of the air cushion can be
continuously varied between position “0” (no pressure)
and position “5” (maximum pressure) by changing the
pressure regulator (1) setting.Multicontour backrest (optional)
Front seats:
The switch clusters are located on the side and near the
front of the front seats.
1Lumbar region
2Center section
3Backrest side cushions
4Massage function (PULSE)
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Rear seats:
The switch clusters are located on the sides of the seat.
Some models may be equipped with multicontour seats.
These seats have inflatable air cushions built into the
backrests to provide additional lumbar and side support.
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 2 to
operate.We recommend that you make the basic settings in the
follow ing orde r:
1Lu mb a r region
2Center section
(front seats only)
Switches 1 and 2:
Press top of switch and hold; the individual air
cushions will be inflated one after the other. Release
the switch in the desired position.
Press bottom of switch and hold; the individual air
cushions will be deflated one after the other.
Release the switch in the desired position.
3Backrest side cushions
The lateral support increases or decreases as you
press the button to the right or left. Adjust the side
cushions to provide good lateral support.
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The multicontour backrest is equipped with a
massage function to help prevent fatigue during
longer journeys.
The PULSE function inflates and deflates the air
cushions in the backrest rhythmically.
An indicator lamp on the switch lights up when the
PULSE function is switched on. The PULSE function
switches off automatically after approximately
5minutes.
Note:
If the top cushion is inflated, only the middle air
cushion is inflated and deflated.Seat heater
The seat heaters can be switched on with the electronic
key in starter switch positions 1 or 2.
The buttons are located on each door.
Note:
When in operation, the seat heater consumes a large
amount of electrical power. It is not advisable to use the
seat heater longer than necessary.
The seat heaters may automatically switch off if too
many power consumers are switched on at the same
time or if the battery charge is low. In this case, one or
both indicator lamps will blink.
The seat heaters switch back on again automatically as
soon as sufficient voltage is available.
If the blinking of the indicator lamps is distracting to
you, the seat heaters can be switched off.

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Vehicles without seat ventilation function:
Normal heating mode.
Press button (1):
One indicator lamp in the switch lights up.
The seat heater will be automatically switched off after
approximately 30 minutes.
Rapid heating mode.
Press button (2):
Both indicator lamps in t he switch light up.
The system switches over to normal heating mode
automatically after approximately 5 minutes.
Turning off the heater.
Press button (1) or (2) again:
The indicator lamps go out. The seat heater is switched
off.
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Te ch n ica l
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care IndexVehicles with seat ventilation function:
Rapid heating mode
Press button (3) once.
Both indicator lamps above the button light up.
The system switches over to normal heating mode
automatically after approximately 5 minutes.
Normal heating mode
Press button (3) twice:
One indicator lamp above the button lights up.
The seat heater will be automatically switched off after
approximately 30 minutes.
Turning off the heater.
Press the button again:
The indicator lamps go out. The seat heater is switched
off.
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