
49 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Front seat adjustment 
To operate the front power seat adjustment switches, 
turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1 
or 2 (with respective front door open, the power seats 
can also be operated with the electronic key removed or 
in starter switch position 0).
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving. 
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause the 
driver to lose control of the vehicle.Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat back 
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position 
can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat 
belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt 
would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That 
could cause serious or fatal injuries. The seat back 
and seat belts provide the best restraint when the 
wearer is in an upright position and belts are 
properly positioned on the body.Never place hands under seat or near any moving 
parts while a seat is being adjusted.
When leaving the vehicle always remove the 
electronic key from the starter switch, and lock 
your vehicle. The power seats can also be operated with the 
driver’s or front passenger door open. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with access 
to an  unl ocked vehic l e. Uns upervi s ed us e of  vehi cl e 
equipment may cause serious personal injury.
OM_203.book  Seite 49  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

55 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Removal and installation of front seat head 
restraints
Power seat
Caution!
Do not remove head restraints except when mounting 
seat covers. Whenever restraints have been removed be 
sure to reinstall them before driving.Note:
Tilt the backrest rearward for easier removal and 
installation of the head restraints.
To   r e m ove :
Press switch (1) upwards and hold until the head 
restraint is fully extended. Pull head restraint out.
To   i n st a l l :
Press switch (1) upwards and hold for about 5 seconds. 
Press the head restraint down until it engages.
Adjust head restraint to the desired position.
Wa r n i n g !
For your protection, drive only with properly 
positioned head restraints.Adjust head restraint to support the back of the 
head approximately at ear level.Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head 
restraints. Head restraints are intended to help 
reduce injuries during an accident.
OM_203.book  Seite 55  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

56 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Manual seat
To remove: 
Pull head restraint to its highest position. Push 
button (1) and pull out head restraint completely. 
To install: 
Insert head restraint and push it down to the stop. Push 
button (1) and adjust head restraint to the desired 
position.
Wa r n i n g !
For your protection, drive only with properly 
positioned head restraints.Adjust head restraint to support the back of the 
head approximately at ear level.Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head 
restraints. Head restraints are intended to help 
reduce injuries during an accident.
OM_203.book  Seite 56  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

62 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Head restraint heightRaising:
Pull up on head restraint.
Lowering:
Push button (2) and push down on head restraint.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head 
approximately at ear level. The head restraint 
inclination can also be adjusted manually.
Note:
The center rear seat head restraint cannot be adjusted 
or removed.
OM_203.book  Seite 62  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

70 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system
Special BabySmart
TM compatible child seats, designed 
for use with the Mercedes-Benz system and available at 
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are required for 
use with the BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system. 
With the special child seat properly installed, the 
passenger front airbag will not deploy.
The ü indicator lamp located in the center console 
will be illuminated, except with electronic key removed 
or in starter switch position 0. The system does not 
deactivate the door mounted side impact airbag.
Self-test BabySmart
TM without special child seat 
installed
After turning electronic key in starter switch to 
position 1 or 2, the ü indicator lamp located in the 
center console comes on for approximately 6 seconds 
and then extinguishes.
If the indicator lamp should not come on or is 
continuously lit, the system is not functioning. You must 
see an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center before seating 
any child on the front passenger seat. See page 292 for 
notes on the ü indicator lamp.
BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
Wa r n i n g !
The BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system will 
ONLY work with a special child seat designed to 
operate with it. It will not work with child seats 
which are not BabySmart
TM compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion and 
child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces the 
effectiveness of the deactivation system. The 
bottom of the child seat must make full contact 
with the passenger seat cushion. An incorrectly 
mounted child seat could cause injuries to the 
child in case of an accident instead of protecting 
the child.Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for 
installation of special child seats.The passenger front airbag will not deploy only if 
the ü indicator lamp remains illuminated.Please be sure to check the indicator every time 
you use the special system child seat. Should the 
light go out while the restraint is installed, please 
check installation. If the light remains out, do not 
use the BabySmart
TM restraint to transport children 
on the front passenger seat until the system has 
been repaired.
OM_203.book  Seite 70  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

72 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR)
The seat belts for the front and rear outer seats are 
equipped with emergency tensioning retractors. These 
tensioning retractors are located in each belt’s inertia 
reel and become operationally ready with the electronic 
key in starter switch position 1 or 2.
The emergency tensioning retractors are designed to 
activate only when the seat belts are fastened during 
frontal impacts exceeding the first threshold of the SRS 
and in rear impacts exceeding a preset severity level.They remove slack from the belts in such a way that the 
seat belts fit more snugly against the body restricting its 
forward movement as much as possible.
In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts, roll-
overs, certain side impacts, or other accidents without 
sufficient frontal or rear impact forces, the emergency 
tensioning retractors will not be activated. The driver 
and passengers will then be protected by the fastened 
seat belts and inertia reel in the usual manner.
Note:
The front passenger ETR activates only if the front 
passenger seat is occupied.
Heavy objects on the front passenger seat can appear to 
the “SRS” to indicate the presence of an occupant in 
that seat which causes the passenger front airbag to 
deploy and the ETR to activate in a crash exceeding the 
appropriate threshold.
OM_203.book  Seite 72  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

84 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
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 
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.
Infants and small children should never share a 
seat belt with another occupant. During an 
accident, they could be crushed between the 
occupant and seat belt.Children too big for child restraint systems must 
ride in back seats using regular seat belts. Position 
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or 
neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve 
proper belt positioning for children from 41 lbs. to 
the point where a lap / shoulder belt fits properly 
without one.When the child restraint is not in use, remove it 
from the vehicle or secure it with the seat belt to 
prevent the child restraint from becoming a 
projectile in the event of an accident.Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle; 
even if the children are secured in a child restraint 
system. Unsupervised children in a child restraint 
system may use vehicle equipment and may cause 
serious personal injury.
OM_203.book  Seite 84  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

155 Climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Climate control
The system is always at operational readiness, except 
when manually switched off.
The climate control only operates with the engine 
running.
The temperature selector should be left at the desired 
temperature setting. The temperature selected is 
reached as quickly as possible.
The system will not heat or cool any quicker by setting a 
higher or lower temperature.
The desired interior temperature can be selected 
separately for the left and right side of the passenger 
compartment. Adjust the temperature settings in small 
increments.
The climate control removes considerable moisture from 
the air during operation in the cooling mode. It is 
normal for water to drip on the ground through ducts in 
the underbody.
The air conditioning will not engage (no cooling) if the 
economy mode S is selected, see page 159. Notes:
Do not obstruct the air flow by placing objects on the air 
flow-through exhaust slots below the rear window.
Also keep the air intake grill in front of the windshield 
free of snow and debris.
The storage compartment between the front seats can be 
ventilated. See page 171 for notes on ventilating the 
storage space under the armrest in the center console.
The air conditioner switches itself off for its own 
protection if refrigerant is lost. No cooling will then take 
pl ac e. Ec on omy  mod e S cann ot be  switched  of f . Have 
the air conditioner checked by a Mercedes-Benz Center 
should this happen.
If the vehicle interior has been heated by direct sunlight 
and is very hot, ventilate the interior (open door or 
windows for a short period) before driving off.
Dust filter
Nearly all dust particles and pollen are filtered out 
before outside air enters the passenger compartment 
through the air distribution system.
OM_203.book  Seite 155  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11