
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 

34 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Opening the trunk
The trunk lid will swing open automatically. You should 
always make sure there is sufficient clearance.
A minimum height clearance of 5.75 ft. (1.75 m) is 
required to open the trunk lid.
Press transmit buttonŠ until trunk lid is open.Important!
Do not place remote control in trunk since trunk is 
locked when the lid is closed if the vehicle is centrally 
locked.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will 
remain locked, see page 41.
OM_203.book  Seite 34  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 

91 Rear view mirrors
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Exterior rear view mirrors
The buttons are located above the exterior lamp switch. 
The memory button (4) is located on the driver’s door.Exterior rear view mirror adjustment
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1 
or 2.
Push button to select mirror to be adjusted:
Driver’s side – Push button (1).
Passenger side – Push button (2).
Push the adjustment button (3) up, down, left or right 
according to the setting desired.
Notes:
The exterior rear view 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.
Storing exterior rear view mirror positions
(only vehicles with memory function)
The exterior rear view mirror positions are stored in 
memory with the seat / steering wheel adjustment and 
can be recalled when necessary. See page 95 for notes 
on the memory function.
Wa r n i n g !
Exercise care when using the passenger side 
exterior mirror. The mirror surface 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.
0
PAuto
OM_203.book  Seite 91  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

95 Memory function
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Memory function
(model C 320 only, optional on model C 240)
The memory and stored position buttons are located on 
the doors.
1Memory button, used to store selected positions 
which can be retrieved by pressing
2Stored position button
Turn to position “1”, “2”, or “3”Together with the driver’s seat position you can store 
the positions for steering wheel and exterior rear view 
mirrors.
For the front passenger seat you can store the seat 
position.
Three stored positions for the driver’s seat are available 
for each of the two electronic keys.
This is only possible if you select “ON” in the menu 
“SETTINGS KEY-DEPENDENT”. Refer to individual 
setting menu “CONVENIENCE” – “SETTINGS KEY-
DEPENDENT”, see page 134.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not activate the memory function while driving. 
Activating the memory function while driving 
could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
OM_203.book  Seite 95  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 

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