
2 Contents
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
Malfunction/warning 
message memory  .......................119
Individual settings ......................... 121
Setting the audio volume .............. 136
Coolant temperature gauge  .......... 137
Flexible service system 
(FSS) ............................................ 138
Engine oil level indicator .............. 141
Engine oil consumption  ................ 142
Exterior lamp switch  ..................... 143
Headlamp mode  ............................. 144Night security illumination  ......... 146
Locator lighting .......................... 147
Headlamp cleaning system  .......... 147
Combination switch  ...................... 148
Hazard warning flasher 
switch  .......................................... 151
Climate control  ...............................152
Automatic climate control .............160
Front center console storage 
compartment ventilation  .......... 171
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air outlets  ............... 172
Operation Audio and telephone  .. 173
Operating safety  ............................ 173
Operating and display elements  .. 174
Button and soft key operation  ...... 176
Operation  ......................................... 176
Switching on and off  ...................... 176
Adjusting the volume  ................... 177
Audio functions  ............................. 177
Bass  ................................................. 177
Treble  .............................................. 177
Balance ............................................ 178
Centering all audio functions ...... 178Audio system 
tone level selection  ................... 179
Radio mode  ..................................... 179
Selecting radio mode ..................... 179
Selecting the band  ......................... 179
Manual tuning ................................ 180
Seek tuning ..................................... 180
Scan tuning ..................................... 180
Weather Band  ................................. 181
Station memory .............................. 181
Storing stations automatically 
(Autostore)  ................................. 181
Storing stations  .............................. 182
Retrieving a station 
from memory  ............................. 182
Direct frequency input
AM and FM only  ....................... 182
Cassette mode  ................................ 182
Playing cassettes ............................ 182
Cassette eject .................................. 183
Track selection  ............................... 184
Track search
forwards/backwards ................. 184
Fast forward/reverse  ..................... 184
OM_203.book  Seite 2  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

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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27 Contents - Operation
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Malfunction/warning 
message memory  .......................119
Individual settings ......................... 121
Setting the audio volume .............. 136
Coolant temperature gauge  .......... 137
Flexible service system 
(FSS) ............................................ 138
Engine oil level indicator .............. 141
Engine oil consumption  ................ 142
Exterior lamp switch  ..................... 143
Headlamp mode  ............................. 144
Night security illumination  ......... 146
Locator lighting  .......................... 147
Headlamp cleaning system  .......... 147
Combination switch  ...................... 148
Hazard warning flasher 
switch .......................................... 151Climate control  ...............................152
Automatic climate control .............160
Front center console storage 
compartment ventilation  .......... 171
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air outlets  ............... 172
Operation Audio and telephone  .. 173
Operating safety  ............................ 173
Operating and display elements  .. 174
Button and soft key operation  ...... 176
Component malfunctions ..............195
Power windows  ...............................197
Sliding/pop-up roof  ....................... 200
Interior lighting  ............................. 203
Rear window sunshade  ................ 205
Sun visors  ....................................... 206
Vanity mirrors  ............................... 206Interior  ............................................207
Storage compartments
and armrests  ..............................207
Glove box  .....................................208
Cup holder  ...................................... 211
Ashtrays  .......................................... 213
Lighter  ............................................. 215
Parcel net in 
front passenger footwell  .......... 216
Ski sack  ........................................... 216
Enlarged cargo area ....................... 221
Split folding rear seat bench ........ 221
Loading instructions 
(vehicle with 
enlarged cargo area)  .................223
Cellular telephone  .........................224
Telephone, general  ........................225
Garage door opener  .......................226
OM_203.book  Seite 27  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.
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107 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Trip odometer and main odometer
See page 101 for instructions on resetting the trip 
odometer.
2Coolant temperature gauge, see page 137
3Vehicle speed if “SPEED DISP.” is selected in the 
individual setting menu “INSTRUMENT 
CLUSTER” – “SELECT DISPLAY”, refer to page 124
Outside temperature if “OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE” 
is selected in the individual setting menu 
“INSTRUMENT CLUSTER” – “SELECT DISPLAY”, 
see page 124
4FSS (Flexible service system), see page 138
5Engine oil level indicator, see page 141Press è or ÿ button repeatedly until the trip 
odometer and main odometer display (1) appears.
Press the j or k button repeatedly until the 
required display (2, 3, 4, 5, 1) appears.
Pressing the è or ÿ button displays the next or 
previous system.
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139 Flexible service system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index The service indicator disappears automatically after 
30 seconds or if the knob for instrument cluster 
illumination, see page 98, in the instrument cluster is 
pressed.
Calling up service indicator manually:
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1 
or 2.
Call up the trip odometer and main odometer by 
pressing button è or ÿ on the multifunction 
steering wheel until the display appears. See page 106.
Press button j or k until the FSS indicator 
appears.
The next or previous system is displayed by pressing 
button è or ÿ.
Important!
The FSS indicator is not an engine oil level indicator. 
See page 141 for engine oil level indicator.Note:
When disconnecting vehicle battery for one or more 
days at a time, such days will not be counted. Any such 
days not counted by the FSS can be added by your 
Mercedes-Benz Center. 
The interval between services is determined by the type 
of driving for which the vehicle is used. For example, 
driving at extreme speeds, and cold starts combined 
wi t h short di stan ce d r ivi ng in  which the e ngin e d oes  not 
reach operating normal temperature, reduce the interval 
between services.
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141 Engine oil level indicator
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Engine oil level indicator
To check the engine oil level, park vehicle on level 
ground, with engine at normal operational temperature.
Check oil level approximately 5 minutes after stopping 
the engine, allowing for the oil to return to the oil pan.
The message “OBSERVE WAITING PERIOD” will be 
displayed if the required waiting period has not been 
observed after stopping the engine:
•with engine at operational temperature 
approximately 5 minutes.•with engine not at operational temperature up to 
approximately 30 minutes.
The engine oil level check can be repeated after a short 
time.
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 2.
To call up the trip odometer and main odometer, press 
button è or ÿ on the multifunction steering 
wheel until the display appears. See page 106. 
With the multifunction display showing the trip 
odometer and main odometer, press button j or 
k on the multifunction steering wheel repeatedly 
until the “MEASUREMENT CORRECT ONLY IF VEH. 
LEVEL” engine oil level indicator appears. This indicator 
is only a reminder. Measurement can be cancelled by 
pressing button j or k if the vehicle is not 
parked on level ground. An incorrect reading will be 
recorded if you do not cancel the measurement. Move 
the vehicle to level ground and measure again.
The electronic key in starter switch is not in position 2 if 
the “ENGINE OIL LEVEL – SWITCH ON IGNITION!” 
message appears.
The “ENGINE OIL LEVEL – MEASURING NOW!” 
message is displayed after approximately 3 seconds.
P 54.30-4461-26
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142 Engine oil level indicator
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
One of the following messages will subseq uently appear 
on the indicator:
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – O.K.”
No oil needs to be added.
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – ADD 1.0 QUART”
(Canada: 1.0 L)
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – ADD 1.5 QUART”
(Canada: 1.5 L)
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – ADD 2.0 QUART”
(Canada: 2.0 L)
See “Adding engine oil level”, on page 321 for 
instructions on adding engine oil.
“ENGINE OIL LEVEL – REDUCE OIL LEVEL”
Do not overfill the engine.
Excessive oil must be siphoned or drained off. It could 
cause damage to the engine and catalytic converter not 
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.The “MEASURING NOT POSSIBLE” message will be 
displayed if a proper oil level check cannot be 
performed. The engine oil level check can be repeated 
after a short while.
Notes:
See malfunction and warning messages on page 293 
and page 303 if an engine oil level indicator appears on 
the multifunction display when the engine is running.
The engine oil level cannot be checked while the engine 
is running. The “ENGINE OIL LEVEL – NOT WHEN 
ENGINE ON” message will appear.
Engine oil consumption
Engine oil consumption checks should only be made 
after the break-in period. During the break-in period, 
higher oil consumption may be noticed and is normal. 
Frequent driving at high engine speeds results in 
increased consumption.
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