
4 Contents
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters  .....................232
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  .................................233
Maintenance  ...................................233
Tele Aid  ...........................................234
Catalytic converter  ........................244
Emission control  ............................245
Starter switch  .................................246
Starting and turning off
the engine  ..................................248
Manual transmission  ....................249
Automatic transmission  ............... 251
Parking brake  .................................260
Driving instructions  ...................... 261
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel ........ 261
Drinking and driving ................. 261
Pedals  ........................................... 261
Power assistance  ........................262
Brakes  ..........................................262
Driving off  ...................................263
Parking  ........................................264Tires  ............................................. 265
Snow chains  ............................... 267
Winter driving 
instructions  ................................ 268
Deep water  .................................. 270
Passenger compartment  ............271
Traveling abroad  .........................271
Cruise control  ................................ 272
Brake assist system (BAS) ............ 275
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ...........................................276
Electronic stability program
(ESP)  ........................................... 278
What you should know 
at the gas station  ...................... 282
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ...................... 284
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator lamps 
in the instrument cluster  ........ 286
On-board diagnostic system  ........ 286
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp  ............................ 286Brake warning lamp  ..................288
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) indicator lamp  ....289
Fuel reserve warning .................290
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp ............................. 291
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp  ...............292
Seat belt nonusage 
warning lamp  ............................292
Malfunction and 
indicator lamp in 
the center console .....................292
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....292
Malfunction and 
warning messages in the 
multifunction display  ...............293
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE  ................295
BATTERY  / ALTERNATOR ........296
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM  ....297
BRAKE ASSIST  ...........................297
BRAKE PAD WEAR  ....................298
BRAKE FLUID .............................298
PARKING BRAKE  .......................299
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5 ContentsSEAT BELT SYSTEM ...................299
ELEC. STABIL. PROG. 
(Electronic stability program)  ..300
COOLANT 
(coolant level)  ............................. 301
COOLANT
(coolant temperature)  ................302
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ...................303
LIGHTING SYSTEM  ....................304
LAMP SENSOR  ...........................306
DOOR ............................................306
TRUNK OPEN  .............................307
HOOD  ...........................................307
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION  .......308
TELE AID  .....................................308
WASHER FLUID ..........................309
RESTRAINT SYSTEM  ................. 310
KEY ............................................... 310
FUEL RESERVE  .......................... 311
UNDERVOLTAGE  ........................ 311
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST.  ........... 312
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  ...................................... 314
Stowing things in the vehicle ....... 314
Fuses  ................................................ 315
Hood  ................................................. 318
Adding engine oil  .......................... 321
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ................................... 322
Coolant level ................................... 322
Adding coolant  ........................... 323
Windshield and 
headlamp washer system  ........ 323
Spare wheel, vehicle tools,
storage compartment  ............... 325
TIREFIT, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment 
(C 32 AMG only)  ....................... 326
Vehicle jack  .................................... 327
Wheels  ............................................ 328
Tire replacement  ....................... 328
Rotating wheels  ......................... 329Spare wheel  ....................................330
Spare wheel bolts  .......................330
Changing wheels  ........................... 331
TIREFIT  ...........................................337
Tire inflation pressure  .................. 341
Battery  .............................................342
Jump starting  ..................................344
Towing the vehicle .........................347
Transmission selector lever, 
manually unlocking  ...................350
Exterior lamps  ................................ 351
Replacing bulbs  .......................... 351
Standby bulb function ...................356
Changing batteries in the 
electronic main key  ..................357
Synchronizing
remote control  ............................359
Emergency engine shut-down  .....359
Fuel filler flap, manual release  ...360
Replacing wiper blade insert  .......362
Roof rack  .........................................363
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25 Instruments and controls
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 12Ashtray, see page 213
13Automatic transmission, see page 251
or Manual transmission, see page 24914Storage compartment, see page 209
15Armrest, see page 209
Storage compartment, see page 215
OM_203.book  Seite 25  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

231 Contents - Driving
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters  .....................232
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  .................................233
Maintenance  ...................................233
Tele Aid  ...........................................234
Catalytic converter  ........................244
Emission control  ............................245
Starter switch  .................................246
Starting and turning off
the engine  ..................................248
Manual transmission  ....................249
Automatic transmission  ............... 251
Parking brake  .................................260Driving instructions ...................... 261
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel  ....... 261
Drinking and driving  ................ 261
Pedals  .......................................... 261
Power assistance ........................ 262
Brakes .......................................... 262
Driving off ................................... 263
Parking  ........................................ 264
Tires  ............................................. 265
Snow chains  ............................... 267
Winter driving 
instructions  ................................ 268
Deep water  .................................. 270
Passenger compartment  ............271
Traveling abroad  .........................271Cruise control  .................................272
Brake assist system (BAS)  ............275
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ........................................... 276
Electronic stability program
(ESP)  ...........................................278
What you should know 
at the gas station  .......................282
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ......................284
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246 Starter switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Starter switch
0The electronic key can be withdrawn in this position 
only. The steering is locked when the electronic key 
is removed from the starter switch. If necessary, 
move steering wheel slightly to allow the locking 
mechanism to engage.
In vehicles with automatic transmission, the 
electronic key can be removed only with the selector 
lever in position “P”. After removing the electronic key or with the electronic key in starter switch 
position 0 or 1 the selector lever is locked in 
position “P”.
1Most electrical consumers can be operated. For 
detailed information see respective subjects.
2Driving position.
Gear selector lever is unlocked.
To move the selector lever out of position “P” firmly 
depress the service brake pedal. 
3Starting position.
See page 248 for instructions on starting and turning off 
the engine.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the 
electronic key from the starter switch, and lock the 
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.
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248 Starting and turning off the enginge
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Starting and turning off the engine
Before starting
Ensure that parking brake is engaged and that selector 
lever is in position “P” or “N” (gearshift lever in 
neutral). Turn electronic key in starter switch to 
position 2.
Starting
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Do n ot de pr ess  accelerato r. B rie f ly  turn  electron ic  key i n 
starter switch clockwise to the stop and release. The 
starter will engage until the engine is running.
If engine will not run, and the starting procedure stops, 
turn electronic key completely to the left and repeat 
starting the engine.
After several unsuccessful attempts, have the system 
checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.Vehicles with manual transmission:
Do not depress accelerator. Fully depress clutch pedal, 
otherwise the engine cannot be started due to the 
integrated safety interlock.
Turn electronic key in starter switch clockwise to the 
stop. Release only when the engine is firing regularly.
Important!
Due to the installed starter non-repeat feature, the 
electronic key must be turned completely to the left 
before attempting to start the engine again.
In areas where temperatures frequently drop below -4
°F 
(-20
°C) we recommend that an engine block heater be 
installed. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will 
advise you on this subject, see page 269.
Turning off
Turn the electronic key in the starter switch to 
position 0 to turn off the engine.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
The electronic key can only be removed with the 
selector lever in position “P”.
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251 Automatic transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Automatic transmissionThe automatic transmission selects individual gears 
automatically, dependent upon
•Selector lever position
•Program mode selector
•Accelerator position
•Vehicle speed
The gear shifting process is continuously adapted, 
dependent on the driving style, the driving situation 
and the road characteristics.
Important!
When parking the vehicle or before working on the 
vehicle with the engine running, firmly depress the 
parking brake pedal and shift the selector lever into “P”.
P 27.00-2070-27
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252 Automatic transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Driving
The selector lever is automatically locked while in 
position “P”. To move the selector lever out of 
position “P”, the service brake pedal must be firmly 
depressed before the shift lock will release. 
Shift selector lever to the desired position only when the 
engine is idling normally and the service brake is 
applied. Do not release the brake until ready to drive. 
The vehicle may otherwise start creeping when the 
selector lever is in drive or reverse position.Important!
After selecting any driving position from “N” or “P”, 
wait a moment to allow the gear to fully engage before 
accelerating, especially when the engine is cold.
Accelerator position
Partial throttle = early upshifting = normal acceleration
Full throttle = later upshifting = rapid acceleration
Kickdown (depressing the accelerator beyond full 
throttle) = downshifting to a lower gear = maximum 
ac celeration . On ce t he d es ire d s peed  is  attain ed , eas e up 
on the accelerator — the transmission shifts up again.
Wa r n i n g !
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of “P” 
or “N” if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. 
If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the 
vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in 
reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and 
hit someone or something. Only shift into gear 
when the engine is idling normally and when your 
right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
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