
15 Introduction
For the USA only:
The following text is published as required of manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations,
Part 575 pursuant to the “National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.Reporting Safety Defects
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or 
death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA) in addition to notifying Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety 
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA 
cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer, or Mercedes-Benz USA, 
LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 
or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also 
obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.
OM_203.book  Seite 15  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

54 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should check 
and adjust if necessary the seat height, seat position 
fore and aft, and backrest angle to insure adequate 
control, reach and comfort. The head restraint should 
also be adjusted for proper height. See also airbag 
section on page 73 for proper seat positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure 
ad eq uate  con tr ol, r each,  operation  and  com fort. B ot h the  
inside and outside rear view mirrors should be adjusted 
for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be 
seated in a properly secured restraint system that 
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213.
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view 
mirror adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts 
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger 
side front airbag when it is properly installed. 
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it 
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal 
injury can result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in back seats 
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child 
restraint system, which is properly secured with 
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the 
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint.
OM_203.book  Seite 54  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

63 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats, 
emergency tensioning retractors for all outboard seat 
belts, dual front airbags, door mounted side impact 
airbags, and head protective window curtain airbags. 
Their protective functions are designed to complement 
one another.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require 
seat belt use. 
All states and provinces require use of child restraints 
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213.
All child restraints systems are designed to be secured 
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a 
lap-shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly 
recommend their use.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger 
side front airbag when it is properly installed. 
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it 
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal 
injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in back seats 
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child 
restraint system, which is properly secured with 
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the 
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint.
OM_203.book  Seite 63  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

83 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Infant and child restraint systems
We recommend all infants and children be properly 
restrained at all times while the vehicle is in motion. All 
lap-shoulder belts except the driver seat belt have 
special seat belt retractors for secure fastening of child 
restraints.
To activate, pull shoulder belt out completely and let it 
retract. During the seat belt retraction a ratcheting 
sound can be heard to indicate that the special seat belt 
retractor is activated. The belt is now locked.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and let seat belt 
retract completely. The seat belt can again be used in 
the usual manner.
Note:
For child seats with mounting fittings for tether 
anchorages refer to page 85 (installation of infant and 
child restraint systems).Important!
The use of infant or child restraints is required by law in 
all 50 states and all Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated in an 
appropriate infant or child restraint system properly 
secured by a lap-shoulder belt, and that complies with 
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and 
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. 
A statement by the child restraint manufacturer of 
compliance with this standard can be found on the 
instruction label on the restraint and in the instruction 
manual provided with the restraint.
When using any infant or child restraint system, be sure 
to carefully read and follow all manufacturer’s 
instructions for installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels affixed to inside 
of vehicle and to infant or child restraints.
Wa r n i n g !
Never release the seat belt buckle while vehicle is 
in motion, since the special seat belt retractor will 
be deactivated.
OM_203.book  Seite 83  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

97 Memory function
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should check 
and adjust if necessary the seat height, seat position 
fore and aft, and backrest angle to insure adequate 
control, reach and comfort. The head restraint should 
also be adjusted for proper height. See also airbag 
section for proper seat positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure 
ad eq uate  con tr ol, r each,  operation  and  com fort. B ot h the  
inside and outside rear view mirrors should be adjusted 
for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be 
seated in a properly secured restraint system that 
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213.
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view 
mirror adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts 
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger 
side front airbag when it is properly installed. 
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it 
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal 
injury can result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in back seats 
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child 
restraint system, which is properly secured with 
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the 
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint.
OM_203.book  Seite 97  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

143 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Exterior lamp switch
MOff
UAutomatic headlamp mode, see below.
CParking lamps (also side marker lamps, taillamps, 
licence plate lamps, instrument panel lamps) 
Canada only: When the engine is running, the low 
beam is additionally switched on.
BParking lamps plus low beam or high beam 
headlamps (combination switch pushed forward).ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two stops)
‡Front fog lamps (pull out one stop) with parking 
lamps and/or low beam headlamps on. Green 
indicator in lamp switch comes on.
†Rear fog lamp (pull out to second detent) in 
addition to the front fog lamps. Yellow indicator in 
lamp switch comes on.
Note:
With the electronic key removed and the driver’s door 
open, a warning sounds if the vehicle’s exterior lamps 
(except standing lamps) are not switched off.
Fog lamps will operate with the parking lamps and / or 
the low beam headlamps on. Fog lamps should only be 
used in conjunction with low beam headlamps. Consult 
your State or Province Motor Vehicle Regulations 
regarding allowable lamp operation.
Fog lamps are automatically switched off when the 
exterior lamp switch is turned to positionM orU.
OM_203.book  Seite 143  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

228 Garage door opener
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
3. Using both hands, simultaneously push the hand-
held transmitter button and the desired integrated 
remote control button. Do not release the buttons 
until completing step 4.
4. The indicator lamp on the integrated remote control 
will flash, first slowly and then rapidly. When the 
indicator lamp flashes rapidly, both buttons may be 
released (the rapid flashing lamp indicates 
successful programming of the new frequency 
signal). To program the remaining two buttons, 
follow steps 1 through 4.
Note: 
If, after repeated attempts, you do not successfully 
program the integrated remote control device to learn 
the signal of the hand-held transmitter, the garage door 
opener could be equipped with the “rolling code 
feature”.Rolling code programming:
To train a garage door opener (or other rolling code 
devices) with the rolling code feature, follow these 
instructions after completing the “Programming” 
portion of this text. (A second person may make the 
following training procedures quicker and easier.)
1. Locate training button on the garage door opener 
motor head unit. Exact location and color of the 
button may vary by garage door opener brand. If 
there is difficulty locating the transmitting button, 
reference to garage door opener operator’s manual. 
2. Press “training” button on the garage door opener 
motor head unit (which activated the “training 
light”).
Note:
Following step 2, there are 30 seconds to initiate 
step 3.
OM_203.book  Seite 228  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

362 Replacing wiper blade insert
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Replacing wiper blade inserts
For safety reasons, remove electronic key from steering 
lock before replacing the wiper blades, otherwise the 
motor can suddenly turn on and cause injury.
Notes:
Do not open engine hood with wiper arm folded forward.
Do not allow the wiper arm to contact the windshield 
glass without a wiper blade inserted. The glass may be 
scratched or broken.
Make certain that the wiper blades are properly 
installed. Improperly installed wiper blades may cause 
windshield damage.
Removal:
Fold wiper arm forward. Press safety tab down (1), push 
wiper blade downward (2) and remove.
OM_203.book  Seite 362  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11