
1 Contents
IntroductionProduct information  .......................... 7
Operator’s manual  ............................. 8
Where to find it  ................................ 13
Reporting Safety Defects  ................ 15Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls  ............... 18
Door control panel  ....................... 20
Overhead control panel  ............... 21
Dashboard  ..................................... 22
Center console  .............................. 24OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 28
Start lock-out  .................................... 30
General notes on the 
central locking system  ............... 30
Central locking system  ................... 31
Radio frequency and 
infrared remote control  ............... 31
Locking and unlocking ................ 33Choosing global or selective 
mode on remote control  ............. 33
Opening the trunk  ....................... 34
Opening and closing windows 
and sliding / pop-up roof 
from outside  ................................. 35
Panic button  ................................. 36
Mechanical keys  .......................... 36
Doors  ................................................. 37
Central locking switch .................... 39
Automatic central locking .............. 40
Emergency unlocking 
in case of accident  ...................... 40
Trunk ..................................................41
Trunk lid emergency release  ........ 43
Trunk lid emergency release  ........ 44
Trunk lid release switch  ................ 45
Trunk lamp ....................................... 45
Antitheft alarm system ................... 46
Tow-away alarm  ............................... 47
Easy-entry/exit feature  .................. 48
Front seat adjustment ..................... 49
Removal and installation of 
front seat head restraints  .......... 55Multicontour seat  ............................ 57
Heated seats  ..................................... 58
Rear seat head restraints ................ 60
Seat belts and integrated 
restraint system  .......................... 63
Seat belts ........................................... 63
Seat belt nonusage 
warning system  ........................... 64
BabySmart
TM airbag 
deactivation system  .................... 70
Supplemental Restraint 
System (SRS)  ............................... 71
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR) ............................. 72
Airbags  .............................................. 73
Safety guidelines for the seat 
belt, emergency tensioning 
retractor and airbag .................... 81
Infant and child 
restraint systems ......................... 83
Steering wheel adjustment 
(manual)  ....................................... 88
Steering wheel adjustment 
(electrical)  .................................... 89
Rear view mirrors  ............................ 90
OM_203.book  Seite 1  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

20 Instruments and controls
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Door control panel1Door handle, pull to open, see page 37
2Memory function (for storing seat, steering wheel 
and exterior rear view mirror settings), see page 95
3Front seat adjustment switch, see page 49
4Steering wheel adjustment switch, see page 89
5Power window switch, see page 197
6Switch for rear door window override, see page 197 
and 199
7Trunk lid release switch, see page 45
OM_203.book  Seite 20  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

26 Contents - Operation
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 28
Start lock-out  .................................... 30
General notes on the 
central locking system  ............... 30
Central locking system  ................... 31
Radio frequency and 
infrared remote control  ............... 31
Locking and unlocking ................ 33
Choosing global or selective 
mode on remote control  .............. 33
Opening the trunk  ....................... 34
Opening and closing windows 
and sliding / pop-up roof 
from outside  .................................. 35
Panic button  .................................. 36
Mechanical keys  ........................... 36
Doors .................................................. 37
Central locking switch  .................... 39
Automatic central locking  .............. 40
Emergency unlocking 
in case of accident  ...................... 40
Trunk  ................................................. 41Trunk lid emergency release  ........ 43
Trunk lid emergency release  ........ 44
Trunk lid release switch  ................ 45
Trunk lamp ....................................... 45
Antitheft alarm system ................... 46
Tow-away alarm  ............................... 47
Easy-entry/exit feature  .................. 48
Front seat adjustment ..................... 49
Removal and installation of 
front seat head restraints  .......... 55
Multicontour seat  ............................ 57
Heated seats  ..................................... 58
Rear seat head restraints  ............... 60
Seat belts and integrated 
restraint system  .......................... 63
Seat belts  .......................................... 63
Seat belt nonusage 
warning system  .......................... 64
BabySmart
TM airbag 
deactivation system  ................... 70
Supplemental Restraint 
System (SRS)  ................................ 71
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR)  ............................ 72Airbags  .............................................. 73
Safety guidelines for the seat 
belt, emergency tensioning 
retractor and airbag .................... 81
Infant and child 
restraint systems ......................... 83
Steering wheel adjustment 
(manual)  ....................................... 88
Steering wheel adjustment 
(electrical)  .................................... 89
Rear view mirrors  ............................ 90
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
OM_203.book  Seite 26  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

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 

50 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Power seat
The switches are located in each front door.
We recommend to adjust the power seat in the following 
order:
1Seat, up / down
Press the switch (up / down direction) until 
comfortable seating position with still sufficient 
headroom is reached.2Seat adjustment, fore / aft
Press the switch (fore / aft direction) until a 
comfortable seating position is reached that still 
allows you to reach the accelerator / brake pedal 
safely. The position should be as far rearward as 
possible, consistent with ability to properly operate 
controls.
3Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until 
your legs are lightly supported. 
4Backrest tilt
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until 
your arms are slightly angled when holding the 
steering wheel.
5Head restraint
The height of the head restraint is adjusted 
automatically with the seat so that the back of the 
head is supported approximately at ear level. Adjust 
the head restraint using the switch to support the 
back of your head approximately at ear level.
For exterior rear view mirrors, see page 91;
inside rear view mirror, see page 90;
steering wheel adjustment, see page 89.
OM_203.book  Seite 50  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

52 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Manual seat
(Standard equipment on model C 240)We recommend to adjust the seat in the following order:
1Fore/aft adjustment
Lift handle (1), slide seat to desired position and 
allow handle to reengage. Check for proper 
engagement before driving.
2Seat cushion tilt
Turn handwheel (2) forward or backward.
3Seat height adjustment
Press the switch (3) in the direction of the arrow 
until your legs are lightly supported.
4Backrest tilt
Press the switch (4) in the direction of the arrow 
until your arms are slightly angled when holding 
the steering wheel.
OM_203.book  Seite 52  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 

57 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Multicontour seat (optional)
We recommend to adjust the multicontour seat in the 
following order:
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Side bolster adjustmentSome models may be equipped with driver’s 
multicontour seat. These seats have movable seat 
cushions and inflatable air cushions built into the 
backrest to provide additional lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion movement and amount of backrest 
cushion height and curvature can be continuously 
varied with regulators (1, 2 and 3) after turning the 
electronic key in starter switch to position 2.
The side bolsters of the backrest can be adjusted with 
rocker switch (4):
•press to the left – 
increase side support,
•press to the right – 
decrease side support.
If the engine is turned off, the last cushion setting is 
retained in memory, and automatically adjusts the 
cushion to this setting when the engine is restarted.
OM_203.book  Seite 57  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11