
1 Contents
IntroductionProduct information  .......................... 7
Operator’s manual  ............................. 8
Where to find it  ................................ 13
Reporting Safety Defects  ................ 15Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls  ............... 18
Door control panel  ....................... 20
Overhead control panel  ............... 21
Dashboard  ..................................... 22
Center console  .............................. 24OperationVehicle 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 ................ 33Choosing 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 ..................................................41
Trunk 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  .......... 55Multicontour 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) ............................. 72
Airbags  .............................................. 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
OM_203.book  Seite 1  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 

31 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Central locking system
Radio frequency and infrared remote control
The electronic key has an integrated radio frequency 
and infrared remote control.
Due to the extended operational range of the remote 
control, it could be possible to unintentionally lock or 
unlock the vehicle by pressing the transmit button. If 
one of the transmit buttons is pressed, the battery check 
lamp lights up brief ly – indicating that the batteries are 
in order. See page 357 for checking batteries.
The vehicle doors, trunk and fuel filler flap can be 
centrally locked and unlocked via remote control.
Opening and closing the windows and sliding/pop-up 
roof can only be done with the infrared portion of the 
remote control. Aim transmitter eye at a receiver (6 
or 7), press and hold transmit button Œ or ‹, 
seepage35.
With vehicle centrally locked, the trunk can also be 
opened by using the remote control.
If the electronic key is inserted in starter switch, the 
vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked, and the trunk lid 
cannot be opened with the remote control.1Transmit button
‹ Locking
Œ Unlocking
Š Opening trunk (if not separately locked)
2Lamp for battery check (see page 357 for changing 
batteries if it does not light up briefly)
3PANIC button
4Transmitter eye
5Locking tab for mechanical key
P 80.35-2032-26
24
3
5
1
OM_203.book  Seite 31  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

33 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Locking and unlocking with remote control
Unlocking:
Press transmit button Œ. All turn signal lamps blink 
once to indicate that the vehicle is unlocked.
The remote control can be programmed for two kinds of 
unlocking modes (see below):
Selective unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Œ once to unlock driver’s door 
and fuel filler flap.
Press transmit button Œ twice to unlock all doors, 
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Global unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Œ once to unlock all doors, 
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will 
remain locked, see page 41.
The presently active unlocking mode (selective or 
global) can only be determined by unlocking the vehicle 
with the remote control (see below for changing mode).If within 40 seconds of unlocking with the remote 
control, neither door or trunk is opened, the electronic 
key is not inserted in the starter switch, or the central 
locking switch is not activated, the vehicle will 
automatically lock.
Locking:
Press transmit button ‹ once. All turn signal lamps 
blink three times to indicate that the vehicle is locked. If 
they do not blink three times, a door or trunk is not 
properly closed.
Note:
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked by pressing 
the transmit button, then it may be necessary to change 
the batteries in the electronic key (if ok, battery check 
lamp in electronic key will light briefly when pressing 
transmit button) or to synchronize the remote control, 
see pages 357 and 359.
Choosing global or selective mode on remote control
Press and hold transmit buttons‹ andŒ 
simultaneously for five seconds to reprogram the 
remote control. Battery check lamp will blink two times 
indicating the completed mode change.
OM_203.book  Seite 33  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

37 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Doors
1Opening – pull handle
2Unlocking driver’s door
3Locking driver’s door
Important!
The mechanical key does not operate the central locking 
system or antitheft alarm system.4Individual door from inside:
Push lock button down to lock.
5Front door from inside:
Pull handle to unlock.
When you lock the driver’s door with the mechanical 
key, the door lock button should move down.
Each individual door must be locked with the respective 
door lock button – the driver’s door can only be locked 
when it is closed.
2
1
3
4
5
OM_203.book  Seite 37  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

38 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
If the vehicle has previously been locked from the 
outside, opening a door from the inside will trigger the 
alarm. When opening a front door while the central 
locking system is in the:
•selective unlocking mode, only that individual door 
is unlocked. The remaining doors, the trunk and 
fuel filler flap remain locked.
•global unlocking mode, all doors, the trunk and fuel 
filler flap are unlocked.
Notes:
In case of a malfunction in the central locking system 
the doors can be locked and unlocked individually.
To lock, push down lock buttons or turn mechanical key 
in driver’s door lock to position 3. In addition lock the 
trunk.To unlock, pull inside door handles or turn mechanical 
key in driver’s door lock to position 2.
Rear doors can only be opened from inside by first 
pulling up the door lock button.
When unlocking the driver’s door with the mechanical 
key, the exterior lamps will flash and the alarm will 
sound.
To cancel the alarm, insert the electronic key in the 
starter switch or press buttonŒ or‹ on the 
electronic key.
OM_203.book  Seite 38  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

39 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Central locking switch
1Locking
2Unlocking
The central locking switch is located in the center 
console.
The doors and trunk can only be locked with the central 
locking switch, if both front doors are closed.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the central 
locking switch, while in the selective remote control 
mode, only the door opened from the inside is unlocked.If the vehicle was previously locked with the central 
locking switch, while in the global remote control mode, 
the complete vehicle is unlocked when a door is opened 
from the inside.
Notes:
If the vehicle was previously locked with the remote 
control, the doors and trunk cannot be unlocked with 
the central locking switch.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or unlocked with 
the central locking switch.
If the vehicle has previously been locked from the 
outside, opening a door from the inside will trigger the 
alarm. To cancel the alarm, insert the electronic key in 
the starter switch or press buttonŒ or‹ on the 
electronic key.
P 54.25-2417-26
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the 
electronic key from the starter switch, and lock 
your vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in 
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause 
serious personal injury.
OM_203.book  Seite 39  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

40 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Automatic central locking
Wit h t he autom ati c c entral lockin g s ystem ac ti vate d,  t he 
doors and trunk are locked at vehicle speeds of 
approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or more. The fuel filler 
flap remains unlocked.
The automatic central locking function can be switched 
on or off in the individual setting menu “VEHICLE” – 
“AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK”, see page 131.
Notes:
If doors are unlocked with the central locking switch 
after activating the automatic central locking, and 
neither door is opened, then the doors remain unlocked 
even at vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
If a door is opened from the inside at speeds of 
approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or less with the 
automatic central locking activated, the door will again 
be automatically locked at speeds of approximately 
9 mph (15 km / h) or more.Important!
When towing the vehicle, or with the vehicle on a 
dynamometer test stand, please, note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and the 
electronic key in starter switch position 2, the vehicle 
doors will lock if the left front wheel as well as the right 
rear wheel spin at vehicle speeds of approximately 
9 mph (15 km / h) or more.
Emergency unlocking in case of accident
The doors unlock automatically a short time after an 
accident in which an airbag or emergency tensioning 
retractor deploys (this is intended to aid rescue and 
exit).
OM_203.book  Seite 40  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11