2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 Steering

74 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Your vehicle was originally equipped with airbags
which are designed to activate in certain impacts
exceeding a preset threshold to reduce the potential
and severity of injury. It is important to your safety
and that of your passenger that you replace deployed
airbags and repair any malfunctioning airbags to
ensure the vehicle will continue to provide crash
protection for occupants.
Wa r n i n g !
Airbags are designed to reduce the potential of
injury in certain frontal (front airbags) impacts, or
side (side impact and head protection window
curtain airbags) impacts which may cause
significant injuries, however, no system available
today can totally eliminate injuries and fatalities.The activation of the “SRS” temporarily releases a
small amount of dust from the airbags. This dust,
however, is neither injurious to your health, nor
does i t indi cate a fire in th e vehi cle. Th e du st migh t
cause some temporary breathing difficulty for
people with asthma or other breathing trouble. To
avoid this, you may wish to get out of the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any breathing
difficulty but cannot get out of the vehicle after the
airbag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or door.
Wa r n i n g !
To reduce the risk of injury when the front airbags
inflate, it is very important for the driver and front
passenger to always be in a properly seated
position and to wear their seat belts.For maximum protection in the event of a collision
always be in normal seated position with your back
against the backrest. Fasten your seat belt and
ensure that it is properly positioned on your body.Since the airbag inflates with considerable speed
and force, a proper seating and hands on steering
wheel position will help to keep you at a safe
distance from the airbag. Occupants who are
unbelted, out of position or too close to the airbag
can be seriously injured by an airbag as it inflates
with great force in the blink of an eye:

75 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
• Sit properly belted in an upright position with
your back against the backrest.• Adjust the driver’s seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper operation of
vehicle controls. The distance from the center
of the driver’s breastbone to the center of the
airbag cover on the steering wheel must be at
least ten i nch es (25 cm ) or m ore. You shou ld be
able to accomplish this by a combination of
adjustments to the seat and steering wheel. If
you have any problems, please see your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• Do not lean wit h your h ead or chest close to th e
steering wheel or dashboard.• Keep hands on the outside of steering wheel
rim. Placing hands and arms inside the rim
can increase the risk and potential severity of
hand / arm injury when driver front airbag
inflates.• Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard when
the seat is occupied.
• Occupants, especially children, should never
lean their heads in the area of the door where
the side airbag inflates. This could result in
serious injuries or death should the airbag be
triggered. Always sit upright, properly use the
seatbelts and appropriate size infant or child
restraint system• Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-
Benz authorized Baby Smart
TM compatible
child seat, which operates with the
BabySmart
TM system installed in the vehicle to
deactivate the passenger front airbag when it
is properly installed. Otherwise they will be
struck by th e airbag w hen it inf lates i n a crash.
If this happens, serious or fatal injury can
result.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
severe injuries to you or other occupants.

77 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care IndexWhen you sell the vehicle we strongly urge you to give
notice to the subsequent owner that it is equipped with
an “SRS” by a lerting him to th e applicabl e section in t he
Operator’s Manual.
• Airbags and “ETR’s” are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An airbag or
emergency tensioning retractor (ETR) that was
activated must be replaced.• No modifications of any kind may be made to
any components or wiring of the “SRS”. This
includes changing or removing any component
or part of the “SRS”, the installation of
additional trim material, badges etc. over the
steering wheel hub, front passenger airbag
cover, door trim panels, or door frame trims,
and installation of additional electrical /
electronic equipment on or near “SRS”
components and wiring. Keep area between
airbags and occupants free of objects (e.g.
packages, purses, umbrellas, etc.).• Do not use handles above doors for placing
such items as coat hangers etc..• An airbag system component within the
steering wheel gets hot after the airbag has
inflated. Do not touch.
• Improper work on the system, including
incorrect installation and removal, can lead to
possible injury through an unintended
activation of the “SRS”.• In addition, through improper work there is
the risk of rendering the “SRS” inoperative or
causing unintended deployment. Work on the
“SRS” must therefore only be performed by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the airbag unit or
emergency tensioning retractor, our safety
instructions must be followed. These
instructions are available at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.• Given the considerable deployment speed and
the textile structure of the airbags, there is the
possibility of abrasions or other injuries
resulting from airbag deployment.

81 Steering wheel adjustment
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Steering wheel adjustment
Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 1 or 2
(with the driver’s or front passenger’s door open, the
steering wheel can also be operated with the electronic
key removed or in steering lock position 0).
To lengthen or shorten the steering column, push switch
forward or backward.
To raise or lower steering wheel, push switch up or
down.Note:
The steering wheel position can be stored in memory
together with the seat / head restraint / exterior rear
view mirror positions, see page 49.
P46.00-2010-26
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving could
cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

82 Rear view mirrors
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Rear view mirrors
Inside rear view mirror
Manually adjust the mirror.
Use your inside mirror to determine the size and
distance of objects seen in the passenger-side convex
mirror.
Antiglare night position
With the electronic key in steering lock position 2, the
mirror reflection brightness responds to changes in
light sensitivity.
With gear selector lever in position “R”, or with the
interior lamp switched on, the mirror brightness does
not respond to changes in light sensitivity.Note:
The automatic antiglare function does not react, if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sensors in the
mirror.
Wa r n i n g !
In the case of an accident liquid electrolyte may
escape the mirror housing when the mirror glass
breaks.Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not allow the
liquid come into contact with eyes, skin, clothing,
or respiratory system. In cases it does, imm edi ately
flush affected area with water, and seek medical
help if necessary.

83 Rear view mirrors
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Exterior rear view mirrors
The switch is located on the center console.Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 1 or 2.
First select the mirror to be adjusted – press button:
%Left mirror
&Right mirror
To adjust, toggle the switch forward, backward or to
either side.
With the electronic key in steering lock position 2, the
driver’s side mirror reflection brightness responds to
changes in light sensitivity.
With gear selector lever in position “R”, or with the
interior lamp switched on, the driver’s side mirror
brightness does not respond to changes in light
sensitivity.
Wa r n i n g !
Exercise care when using the passenger-side
mirror. The passenger-side exterior mirror is
convex (outwardly curved surface for a wider field
of view). Objects in mirror are closer than they
appear. Check your inside rear view mirror or
glance over your shoulder before changing lanes.

84 Rear view mirrors
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Note:
The exterior mirrors have electrically heated glass. The
heater switches on automatically, depending on outside
temperature.
If an exterior mirror housing is forcibly pivoted from its
normal position, it must be repositioned by applying
firm pressure until it snaps into place.Important!
Electrolyte drops coming into contact with the vehicle
paint finish can only be completely removed while in
their liquid state, by applying plenty of water.
Storing mirror positions in memory
The exterior rear view mirror positions are stored in
memory with the seat / head restraint / steering column
position and can be recalled when necessary, see
page 50.
Wa r n i n g !
In the case of an accident liquid electrolyte may
escape the mirror housing when the mirror glass
breaks.Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not allow the
liquid come into contact with eyes, skin, clothing,
or respiratory system. In c ases it does, i mmedi ately
flush affected area with water, and seek medical
help if necessary.

85 Rear view mirrors
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Parking position
The passenger-side exterior mirror can be adjusted and
programmed to assist the driver during parking
maneuvers (e.g. to observe the curb or other objects
close to the vehicle).
With electronic key in steering lock position 2, and the
exterior rear view mirror switch in the passenger-side
position, the passenger-side mirror will be turned
downward when placing the gear selector lever in “R”
Reverse.
The mirror position can now be adjusted as desired.
At speeds above approximately 6 mph (10 km / h), upon
shifting gear selector lever from “R” Reverse, or upon
pressing the driver’s side mirror button, the passenger-
side mirror will return to its previous position.One passenger-side mirror position can be stored in
memory. To do so:
1. Turn electronic key to steering lock position 2.
The vehicle must be stationary.
2. Select passenger-side mirror and adjust the mirror
to view the curb.
3. Press green memory button located in switch cluster
for driver seat, see page 49.
4. Within 3 seconds pull the mirror toggle switch
rearward. The mirror should not move.
Repeat the memory procedure if the mirror moves.
5. Select driver side mirror. The passenger-side mirror
will return to its previous position.