Page 156 of 406
153 Climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Display and controls
2Air volume control for left center air outlet
3Center air outlet, left, adjustable
4Thumbwheel for adding outside air at air outlets for
center, left and right sides, as well as dashboard top
center and rear passenger compartment
5Center air outlet, right, adjustable6Air volume control for right center air outlet
7Air volume control and air outlet on dashboard top
center
8Air volume control for side air outlet
9Side air outlet, adjustable
10Side defroster outlet, fixed
OM_203.book Seite 153 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 11:57 11
Page 159 of 406

156 Climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Basic setting – automatic mode
In the automatic mode the climate control cools or heats
the interior depending on outside temperature and the
selected interior temperature. With the automatic mode
switched off, the air volume and distribution can still be
set manually.
Press U button. Air volume and distribution are
controlled automatically.
We recommend to set the left and right temperature
to 72
°F (22
°C). Please make changes from this setting to
suit your personal requirements.
Heating mode:
To lower headroom temperature, use thumbwheel
(4, page 152).
Air conditioning mode:
Open air outlets at dashboard top center (7, page 152)
for an even air distribution.Special settings (use only for short duration)
Air distribution and air volume, manual
Press U button. The indicator lamp in the button will
go out.
Select any of the six air volume speeds and the air
distribution.
Air distribution, manual:
The air distribution for the right and left side operate
together.
hAir from the center, side, dashboard top center
and rear passenger compartment air outlets.
jAir from the windshield, side defroster and rear
passenger compartment air outlets.
kAir from the center, side, footwell, rear footwell
and rear passenger compartment air outlets.
To return to automatic mode:
Press the U button. The indicator lamp in the button
illuminates.
OM_203.book Seite 156 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 11:57 11
Page 160 of 406

157 Climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Defrosting
Press the P button. The indicator lamp in the button
illuminates.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected. Press
buttonO, the indicator lamp in the button will go
out.
Close center air outlets.
Turn wheels (8, page 152) up to open left and right side
air outlets (9, page 152). Adjust side air outlets upward.
Pressing the switch again returns the system to the
previous setting.Windows fogged up on the inside
Switch off the economy mode, if selected. Press
buttonS. The indicator lamp in the button will go
out.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected. Press
buttonO. The indicator lamp in the button will go
out.
Set blower to the maximum blower speed.
Press the P button. The indicator lamp in the button
illuminates.
Increase temperature setting.
Open the side air outlets (9, page 152) and direct them
onto the side windows.
Windshield fogged up on the outside
Switch on the windshield wiper.
Close air outlet at dashboard top center (7, page 152).
Switch to manual mode.
Turn air distribution control switch to positionh
ork.
OM_203.book Seite 157 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 11:57 11
Page 164 of 406
161 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Display and controls
2Air volume control for left center air outlet
3Center air outlet, left, adjustable
4Thumbwheel for adding outside air at air outlets for
center, left and right sides, as well as dashboard top
center and rear passenger compartment
5Center air outlet, right, adjustable6Air volume control for right center air outlet
7Air volume control and air outlet on dashboard top
center
8Air volume control for side air outlet
9Side air outlet, adjustable
10Side defroster outlet, fixed
OM_203.book Seite 161 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 11:57 11
Page 167 of 406

164 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Notes:
Do not obstruct the air f low by placing objects on the air
flow-through exhaust slots below the rear window.
Also keep the air intake grill in front of the windshield
free of snow and debris.
The storage compartment between the front seats can be
ventilated. See page 171 for notes on ventilating the
storage space under the armrest in the center console.
The air conditioner switches itself off for its own
protection if refrigerant is lost. No cooling will then take
place. Economy mode S can n ot be s witched of f. Have
the air conditioner checked by a Mercedes-Benz Center
should this happen.
If the vehicle interior has been heated by direct sunlight
and is very hot, ventilate the interior (open door or
windows for a short period) before driving off.
Dust filter
Nearly all dust particles and pollen are filtered out
before outside air enters the passenger compartment
through the air distribution system.Basic setting – automatic mode
In the automatic mode the automatic climate control
cools or heats the interior depending on the direction
and strength of the sunlight, outside temperature and
the selected interior temperature of the vehicle. With
the automatic mode switched off, the air volume and
distribution can still be set manually.
Briefly press left or right U button. The h, j
and k symbols will no longer be visible.
The economy mode and air recirculation functions will
be switched off. The automatic blower will be activated
at the same time.
We recommend to set the temperature switches on the
left and right to 72
°F (22
°C). Please make changes from
this setting to suit your personal requirements.
Heating mode:
To lower headroom temperature, use thumbwheel
(4, page 160).
Air conditioning mode:
Open air outlets at dashboard top center (7, page 160)
for an even air distribution.
OM_203.book Seite 164 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 11:57 11
Page 168 of 406

165 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Special settings (use only for short duration)
Air distribution, manual
Press left or right U button. The button pops out, the
h, j andk symbols are visible. Turn the
button to select the air distribution desired.
hAir from the center, side, dashboard top center
and rear passenger compartment air outlets.
jAir from the windshield, side defroster and rear
passenger compartment air outlets.
kAir from the center, side, footwell, rear footwell
and rear passenger compartment air outlets.
To return to automatic mode:
Press left or right U button. The h, j
andk symbols will no longer be visible.Air volume, manual
Seven blower speeds are available.
Press rightQ or leftM side of air volume control
switch until the requested blower speed is attained.
The display “AUTO” disappears and the automatic mode
is switched off. The selected blower speed is shown in
the display.
To return to automatic mode:
Press left or right U button until it clicks in. The
h, j andk symbols will no longer be visible.
OM_203.book Seite 165 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 11:57 11
Page 169 of 406

166 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Defrosting
Press the P button. The indicator lamp in the button
illuminates.
Maximum heated and automatically controlled amount
of air is directed to the defroster and windshield air
outlets.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected: Press
buttonO. The indicator lamp in the button will go
out.
The fan is set to a higher speed and the warm air is
directed to the defroster and windshield air outlets.
Pressing the P button again returns the system to
the previous setting.Windows fogged up on the inside
Switch off the economy mode, if selected:
Press buttonS. The indicator lamp in the button will
go out.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected:
Press buttonO. The indicator lamp in the button will
go out.
Set blower to the maximum blower speed.
Increase temperature setting.
Open the side air outlets and direct them onto the side
windows.
Windshield fogged up on the outside
Switch on the windshield wiper.
Close air outlet at dashboard top center (7, page 160).
Switch to manual mode.
Turn air distribution control switch to positionh
ork.
OM_203.book Seite 166 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 11:57 11
Page 174 of 406
171 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Front center console storage compartment
ventilation
The front center console compartment has its own air
outlet.
To open: Raise lever (1).
To close: Lower lever (1).The air volume is dependent on the setting of:
•air distribution control,
•air volume control,
•air outlets in the dashboard.
The air temperature is about the same as that of the
dashboard air outlets. It cannot be regulated separately.
Notes:
The compartment can get very warm due to its confined
space. When storing heat sensitive objects in the
compartment, close the air outlet while heating the
passenger compartment.
Do not allow articles to obstruct the air outlet in the
storage compartment.
OM_203.book Seite 171 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 11:57 11