
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
OM_203.book  Seite 5  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

261 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent, depends on driving 
habits and operating conditions. 
To save fuel you should:
•keep tires at the recommended inflation pressures,
•remove unnecessary loads,
•remove roof rack when not in use,
•allow engine to warm up under low load use,
•avoid frequent acceleration and deceleration,
•have all maintenance work performed at regular 
intervals by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by driving in cold 
weat her, i n stop -and -go  traf f ic,  on  short trip s an d i n hilly  
country.Drinking and driving
Ped al s
Wa r n i n g !
Drinking or taking drugs and driving can be a very 
dangerous combination. Even a small amount of 
alcohol or drugs can affect your reflexes, 
perceptions and judgement.The possibility of a serious or even fatal accident is 
sharply increased when you drink or take drugs 
and drive.Please don’t drink or take drugs and drive or allow 
anyone to drive after drinking or taking drugs.Wa r n i n g !
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times. Objects 
stored in this area may impair pedal movement.
OM_203.book  Seite 261  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

313 Contents - Practical hints
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
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 ................325TIREFIT, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment 
(C 32 AMG only)  ....................... 326
Vehicle jack  .................................... 327
Wheels  ............................................ 328
Tire replacement  ....................... 328
Rotating wheels  ......................... 329
Spare wheel .................................... 330
Spare wheel bolts  ...................... 330
Changing wheels  ........................... 331
TIREFIT  ........................................... 337
Tire inflation pressure  ................. 341
Battery ............................................. 342
Jump starting  ................................. 344Towing 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
OM_203.book  Seite 313  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

329 Tires, Wheels
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index It is imperative that the wheel mounting bolts be 
fastened to a tightening torque of 80 ft.lb. (110 Nm) 
whenever wheels are mounted.
For rim and tire specifications, refer to “Technical Data”.Rotating wheels
The wheels can be rotated according to the degree of 
tire wear while retaining the same direction of travel.
Rotating, however, should be carried out as 
recommended by the tire manufacturer, before the 
characteristic tire wear pattern (shoulder wear on front 
wheels and tread center wear on rear wheels) becomes 
visible, as otherwise the driving properties deteriorate.
Notes:
Thoroughly clean the inner side of the wheels any time 
you rotate the wheels or wash the vehicle underside.
The use of retread tires is not recommended. Retread 
tires may adversely affect the handling characteristics 
and safety of the vehicle.
Dented or bent rims can cause tire pressure loss and 
damage to the tire beads. For this reason, check rims for 
damage at regular intervals. The rim flanges must be 
checked for wear before a tire is mounted. Remove 
burrs, if any.
Check and ensure proper tire inflation pressure after 
rotating the wheels. For tire inflation pressure see 
inside of fuel filler flap and also page 282.
Wa r n i n g !
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the tire tread 
is badly worn, or if the tires have sustained 
damage, replace them.When replacing rims, use only genuine 
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the 
particular rim type. Failure to do so can result in 
the bolts loosening and possibly an accident.
OM_203.book  Seite 329  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

341 Tires, Wheels
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Notes:
If TIREFIT is liquid, clean water and a damp cloth will 
remove the material from the vehicle or tire and wheel 
components. Once TIREFIT sealing material had dried, 
it can easily be peeled off and properly discarded.
Replace TIREFIT every 3 years.Tire inflation pressure
A table (see fuel filler flap) lists the tire inflation 
pressures specified for Mercedes-Benz recommended 
tires as well as for the varying operating conditions.
Important!
Tire pressure changes by approximately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) 
per 18
°F (10
°C) of air temperature change. Keep this in 
mind when checking tire pressure inside a garage – 
especially in the winter.
Example:
If garage temperature = approximately +68
°F (+20
°C) 
and ambient temperature = approximately +32
°F (0
°C) 
then the adjusted air pressure = specified air pressure 
+3 psi (+0.2 bar).
Tire pressures listed for light loads are minimum values 
offering high driving comfort. Increased inflation 
pressures for heavy loads produce favorable handling 
characteristics with lighter loads and are perfectly 
permissible. The ride of the vehicle, however, will 
become somewhat harder.
Tire temperature and pressure increase with the vehicle 
speed. Tire pressure should therefore only be checked 
and corrected on cold tires. Correct tire pressure in 
Wa r n i n g !
Do not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph (80 km / h). 
A TIREFIT repair is not designed to operate at 
higher speeds.Vehicle handling characteristics may change.After driving vehicle for an initial 10 minutes, 
check tire pressure. If tire pressure has fallen 
below 20 psi (1.3 bar) do not continue to drive the 
vehicle.If tire pressure is at least 20 psi (1.3 bar), inflate 
tire to correct pressure (see label on fuel filler 
flap), and drive vehicle to nearest tire repair 
facility to have tire repaired or replaced.Recommended duration of use: 300 miles (500 km) 
at 50 mph (80 km / h) with the recommended tire 
pressure.
OM_203.book  Seite 341  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

342 Battery
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
warm tires only if pressure has dropped below the 
pressure listed in the table and the respective operating 
conditions are taken into consideration.
An underinflated tire due to a slow leak (e.g. due to a 
nail in the tire) may cause damage such as tread 
separation, bulging etc. Regular tire pressure checks 
(including the spare tire) at intervals of no more than 
14 days are therefore essential.
If a tire constantly loses air, it should be inspected for 
damage.
The spare tire should be checked periodically for 
condition and inflation. Spare tire will age and become 
worn over time even if never used, and thus should be 
inspected and replaced when necessary.Battery
Important!
Battery replacement information:
The maintenance-free battery is located in the engine 
compartment on the right hand side.
The service life of the battery is dependent on its 
condition of charge. The battery should always be kept 
sufficiently charged, in order to last an optimum length 
of time.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires can 
result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they 
are more likely to become punctured or damaged 
by road debris, potholes etc. Follow recommended 
inflation pressures.Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified 
vehicle capacity weight as indicated by the label on 
the driver’s door latch post). Overloading the tires 
can overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to follow these instructions can result in 
severe injury or death.Never lean over batteries while connecting, you 
might get injured.Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not allow 
this fluid to come in contact with eyes, skin or 
clot hin g. In  cas e i t d oes , i mm ed ia tely  f lus h a f fected  
area with water and seek medical help if necessary.A battery will also produce hydrogen gas, which is 
flammable and explosive. Keep flames or sparks 
away from battery, avoid improper connection of 
jumper cables, smoking etc.
OM_203.book  Seite 342  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

394 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
MMaintenance  ...................................................................233
Malfunction/warning message memory .....................119
Manual seat  ............................................................... 52, 56
Manual transmission  ....................................................249
Mechanical key  ......................................................... 28, 36
Memory function  ............................................................. 95
Mirror, exterior,
parking position, front passenger side  ................... 92
Multicontour seat  ............................................................ 57
Multifunction display  .................................................... 102
Coolant temperature ................................................. 106
Engine oil level indicator  ......................................... 106
FSS  .............................................................................. 106
Individual settings .................................................... 121
Tire inflation pressure monitor  .............................. 106
Trip and main odometer  .......................................... 106
Vehicle speed ............................................................. 106
Multifunction steering wheel  ...................................... 102
NNavigation system  .......................................................... 116
Night security illumination  .......................................... 146OOn-board diagnostic system  ........................................ 286
Overhead control panel  ................................................... 21PPanic button  ......................................................................36
Parcel net in front passenger footwell  ........................ 216
Parking brake  ................................................................ 260
Power windows  ............................................................... 197
Blocking of rear door window operation  ............... 199
Express opening and closing  .................................. 198
Opening and closing  ...................................................35
Synchronizing power windows  ............................... 199
Problems with your vehicle ............................................ 14
Product information  .......................................................... 7
OM_203.book  Seite 394  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

396 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Starter switch  .................................................................246
Starting and turning off the engine  ............................248
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST. -
malfunction and warning messages  ...................... 312
Steering lock
See starter switch ......................................................246
Steering wheel
Easy-entry/exit feature  .............................................. 48
Steering wheel adjustment
electrical  ....................................................................... 89
manual  .......................................................................... 88
Storage compartments and armrests  .......................... 207
Storing mirror positions  ................................................. 91
Storing seat positions ...................................................... 51
Stowing things in the vehicle  ...................................... 314
Sun visors  .......................................................................206
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)  ......................... 71
TTechnical data  ................................................................ 377
Tele Aid  ........................................................................... 234
Emergency calls  ........................................................ 235
Information  ................................................................ 239
Initiating an emergency call  ...................................237Roadside Assistance  ................................................ 238
Telephone  .........................................................................111
Incoming call  ............................................................. 115
Redialing  .................................................................... 113
Telephone book  ..........................................................111
Telephone, general ........................................................ 225
Telephones and two-way radios  .................................. 232
Telescoping steering column -
malfunction and warning messages  ...................... 312
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)  ............................... 233
Tire inflation pressure  .................................................. 341
TIREFIT  ...................................................................326, 337
Sealing tire with TIREFIT ........................................ 338
Tool kit  ............................................................................ 325
Tool kit (C 32 AMG only)  ............................................. 326
Tow-away alarm  ................................................................47
Towing the vehicle  ........................................................ 347
Transmission selector lever,
manually unlocking  ................................................. 350
Trip computer  ................................................................. 117
Trunk  ................................................................................. 41
Opening  ........................................................................ 34
Release switch  ............................................................. 45
Trunk lamp  ....................................................................... 45
OM_203.book  Seite 396  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11