
2 Contents
Instrument cluster  ........................... 98
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ............... 102
Trip and main odometer
and sub menu  ............................ 106
Audio systems  ................................ 108
Radio  ............................................ 108
CD player  ..................................... 109
Cassette player  ............................110
Telephone  .........................................111
Navigation system ...........................116
Trip computer  ..................................117
Malfunction/warning 
message memory  .......................119
Individual settings ......................... 121
Setting the audio volume .............. 136
Coolant temperature gauge  .......... 137
Flexible service system 
(FSS) ............................................ 138
Engine oil level indicator .............. 141
Engine oil consumption  ................ 142
Exterior lamp switch  ..................... 143
Headlamp mode  ............................. 144Night security illumination  ......... 146
Locator lighting .......................... 147
Headlamp cleaning system  .......... 147
Combination switch  ...................... 148
Hazard warning flasher 
switch  .......................................... 151
Climate control  ...............................152
Automatic climate control .............160
Front center console storage 
compartment ventilation  .......... 171
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air outlets  ............... 172
Operation Audio and telephone  .. 173
Operating safety  ............................ 173
Operating and display elements  .. 174
Button and soft key operation  ...... 176
Operation  ......................................... 176
Switching on and off  ...................... 176
Adjusting the volume  ................... 177
Audio functions  ............................. 177
Bass  ................................................. 177
Treble  .............................................. 177
Balance ............................................ 178
Centering all audio functions ...... 178Audio system 
tone level selection  ................... 179
Radio mode  ..................................... 179
Selecting radio mode ..................... 179
Selecting the band  ......................... 179
Manual tuning ................................ 180
Seek tuning ..................................... 180
Scan tuning ..................................... 180
Weather Band  ................................. 181
Station memory .............................. 181
Storing stations automatically 
(Autostore)  ................................. 181
Storing stations  .............................. 182
Retrieving a station 
from memory  ............................. 182
Direct frequency input
AM and FM only  ....................... 182
Cassette mode  ................................ 182
Playing cassettes ............................ 182
Cassette eject .................................. 183
Track selection  ............................... 184
Track search
forwards/backwards ................. 184
Fast forward/reverse  ..................... 184
OM_203.book  Seite 2  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

24 Instruments and controls
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Center console1Left front seat heater switch, see page 58
2Rear window sunshade switch (optional), see 
page 205 
3ESP (electronic stability program) control switch, 
see page 278
4Hazard warning flasher switch, see page 151
5Central locking switch, see page 39
6Rear seat head restraints switch, see page 60
7Antitheft alarm system, see page 46 
Switch for tow-away protection, see page 47
8Right front seat heater switch, see page 58
9AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp, see page 292
10COMAND system (optional), see separate 
operating instructions, or
audio system, see page 173
11Climate control (C 240), see page 152
Automatic climate control (C 320) see page 160
Rear window defroster, see page 170
P 68.10-2501-27
OM_203.book  Seite 24  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

26 Contents - Operation
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 28
Start lock-out  .................................... 30
General notes on the 
central locking system  ............... 30
Central locking system  ................... 31
Radio frequency and 
infrared remote control  ............... 31
Locking and unlocking ................ 33
Choosing global or selective 
mode on remote control  .............. 33
Opening the trunk  ....................... 34
Opening and closing windows 
and sliding / pop-up roof 
from outside  .................................. 35
Panic button  .................................. 36
Mechanical keys  ........................... 36
Doors .................................................. 37
Central locking switch  .................... 39
Automatic central locking  .............. 40
Emergency unlocking 
in case of accident  ...................... 40
Trunk  ................................................. 41Trunk lid emergency release  ........ 43
Trunk lid emergency release  ........ 44
Trunk lid release switch  ................ 45
Trunk lamp ....................................... 45
Antitheft alarm system ................... 46
Tow-away alarm  ............................... 47
Easy-entry/exit feature  .................. 48
Front seat adjustment ..................... 49
Removal and installation of 
front seat head restraints  .......... 55
Multicontour seat  ............................ 57
Heated seats  ..................................... 58
Rear seat head restraints  ............... 60
Seat belts and integrated 
restraint system  .......................... 63
Seat belts  .......................................... 63
Seat belt nonusage 
warning system  .......................... 64
BabySmart
TM airbag 
deactivation system  ................... 70
Supplemental Restraint 
System (SRS)  ................................ 71
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR)  ............................ 72Airbags  .............................................. 73
Safety guidelines for the seat 
belt, emergency tensioning 
retractor and airbag .................... 81
Infant and child 
restraint systems ......................... 83
Steering wheel adjustment 
(manual)  ....................................... 88
Steering wheel adjustment 
(electrical)  .................................... 89
Rear view mirrors  ............................ 90
Instrument cluster  ........................... 98
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ............... 102
Trip and main odometer
and sub menu  ............................ 106
Audio systems  ................................ 108
Radio  ............................................ 108
CD player  ..................................... 109
Cassette player  ............................110
Telephone  ......................................... 111
Navigation system ...........................116
Trip computer  ..................................117
OM_203.book  Seite 26  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

27 Contents - Operation
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Malfunction/warning 
message memory  .......................119
Individual settings ......................... 121
Setting the audio volume .............. 136
Coolant temperature gauge  .......... 137
Flexible service system 
(FSS) ............................................ 138
Engine oil level indicator .............. 141
Engine oil consumption  ................ 142
Exterior lamp switch  ..................... 143
Headlamp mode  ............................. 144
Night security illumination  ......... 146
Locator lighting  .......................... 147
Headlamp cleaning system  .......... 147
Combination switch  ...................... 148
Hazard warning flasher 
switch .......................................... 151Climate control  ...............................152
Automatic climate control .............160
Front center console storage 
compartment ventilation  .......... 171
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air outlets  ............... 172
Operation Audio and telephone  .. 173
Operating safety  ............................ 173
Operating and display elements  .. 174
Button and soft key operation  ...... 176
Component malfunctions ..............195
Power windows  ...............................197
Sliding/pop-up roof  ....................... 200
Interior lighting  ............................. 203
Rear window sunshade  ................ 205
Sun visors  ....................................... 206
Vanity mirrors  ............................... 206Interior  ............................................207
Storage compartments
and armrests  ..............................207
Glove box  .....................................208
Cup holder  ...................................... 211
Ashtrays  .......................................... 213
Lighter  ............................................. 215
Parcel net in 
front passenger footwell  .......... 216
Ski sack  ........................................... 216
Enlarged cargo area ....................... 221
Split folding rear seat bench ........ 221
Loading instructions 
(vehicle with 
enlarged cargo area)  .................223
Cellular telephone  .........................224
Telephone, general  ........................225
Garage door opener  .......................226
OM_203.book  Seite 27  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

103 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Depending on your vehicle’s equipment, you may use 
the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel to call 
up, control and set the following systems in the 
multifunction display:
1Trip odometer and main odometer, see page 101 and 
page 106
Flexible service system (FSS), see page 138
Vehicle speed, see page 106
Coolant temperature gauge, see page 137
Engine oil level indicator, see page 141
2Audio systems, see page 108
Radio, see page 108
CD player, see page 109
Cassette player, see page 1103Navigation system, see page 116
4Malfunction message memory, see page 119
5Individual settings, see page 121
6Trip computer, see page 117
After start
After reset
Fuel tank content
7Telephone, see page 111
Press the è or ÿ button repeatedly until the 
required system is displayed.
The display advances by one system each time the 
button is pressed.
You may call up additional displays within some of these 
categories by pressing the j or k button.
OM_203.book  Seite 103  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

104 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Note:
The displays in the multifunction display can be set to 
German, English, French, Italian or Spanish language. 
See the individual setting menu “INSTRUMENT 
CLUSTER” – “TEXT” on page 121 for instructions on 
changing the language setting.
The displays for the audio systems (radio, CD player, 
cassette player) will appear in English, regardless of the 
language selected.
Wa r n i n g !
A driver’s attention to the road must always be his /
her primary focus when driving. For your safety and the safety of others, selecting 
features through the multifunction steering wheel 
should only be done by the driver when traffic and 
road conditions permit it to be done safely. 
Programming individual settings in the system can 
only be made while the vehicle is at standstill.
OM_203.book  Seite 104  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

108 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Audio systems
Radio1Audio system is switched off.
2The radio is switched on.
3Wave band setting and memory location number, 
where appropriate.
4Station name setting or station frequency.
5This only appears when “MEMORY” rather than 
“STATION SEARCH” has been selected in the 
individual setting menu “VEHICLE” – “PRESS 
BUTTON IN AUDIO MODE”. See page 131.
The radio must be switched on.
Press the è or ÿ button repeatedly until 
display (2) appears.
Press button j or k repeatedly until the required 
station or frequency is displayed.
Use the j of k button to select a stored station or 
station frequency. This depends on the selection made 
in the individual setting menu “VEHICLE” – “PRESS 
BUTTON IN AUDIO MODE”. See individual settings, 
page 131.
Pressing the è or ÿ button displays the next or 
previous system.
P 54.30-3634-27
OM_203.book  Seite 108  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

109 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index CD player1Radio system is switched off.
2The CD player is switched on.
3The number of the CD currently playing is displayed 
if you are using a CD changer.
4Track number.
“TITLE” appears on vehicles with COMAND system.
“TRACK” appears on vehicles with audio system.
The radio must be switched on.
The CD player must be switched on.
Press the è or ÿ button repeatedly until 
display (2) appears.
Press the j or k button repeatedly until the 
required track number (4) is displayed.
Pressing the è or ÿ button displays the next or 
previous system.
Note:
To select a CD from the magazine, press a number on 
the audio system or the (optional) COMAND system key 
pad located in the center dashboard.
P 54.30-3635-27
OM_203.book  Seite 109  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11