
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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6 Contents
Vehicle careCleaning and care 
of the vehicle  .............................366
Power washer ..............................367
Tar stains  .....................................367
Paintwork, painted body 
components  .................................367
Engine cleaning ..........................368
Vehicle washing  .........................368
Ornamental moldings ................369
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses  ......................369
Window cleaning ........................369
Wiper blade  .................................369
Light alloy wheels  ......................370
Instrument cluster  .....................370
Steering wheel and 
gear selector lever  ......................370
Cup holder ...................................370
Seat belts  ..................................... 371
Headliner and 
shelf below rear window  ........... 371
Leather upholstery  ..................... 371Hard plastic trim items ..............371
Plastic and rubber parts  ............371
Technical dataSpare parts service  ........................374
Warranty coverage  .........................374
Identification labels  ...................... 375
Layout of poly-V-belt drive  ............376
Technical data  ................................ 377
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - 
capacities  ................................... 381
Engine oils ...................................... 383
Engine oil additives  ...................... 383
Air conditioner refrigerant  .......... 383
Brake fluid ...................................... 383
Premium unleaded gasoline  ........ 384
Fuel requirements  ........................ 384
Gasoline additives  ......................... 385
Coolants  .......................................... 385
Consumer information  ................. 387
Uniform tire quality grading  ....... 387
IndexIndex  ................................................389
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238 Tele Aid
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Roadside Assistance button 
Located below the center armrest cover is the Roadside 
Assistance button. Pressing and holding the 
button (for longer than 2 seconds) will initiate a call to a 
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance dispatcher. The 
button will flash while the call is in progress. The 
message “ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE – CONNECTING 
CALL” will appear in the multifunction display. When 
the connection is established, the message “ROADSIDE 
ASSISTANCE – CALL CONNECTED” appears in the 
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system will transmit 
data generating the vehicle identification number, 
model, color and location (subject to availability of 
cellular and GPS signals).A voice connection between the Roadside Assistance 
dispatcher and the occupants of the vehicle will be 
established. When a voice connection is established the 
audio system mutes and the message “TELE AID –  
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CALL ACTIVE” appears in the 
multifunction display. The nature of the need for 
assistance can then be described. The Mercedes-Benz 
Roadside assistance dispatcher will either dispatch a 
qualified Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to tow 
your vehicle to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center.
For services such as labor and/or towing charges may 
apply. Refer to the Roadside Assistance manual for more 
information.
These programs are only available in the USA:
•S ign  an d  Drive s erv ices : Ser vi ces  such as  jump start,  
a few gallons of fuel or the replacement of a flat tire 
with the vehicle spare tire are obtainable,
•Remote Vehicle Diagnostics: This function permits 
the Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance dispatcher 
to download malfunction codes and actual vehicle 
data.
Wa r n i n g !
If you feel at any way in jeopardy when in the 
vehicle (e.g. smoke or fire in the vehicle, vehicle in 
a dangerous road location), please do not wait for 
voice contact after you have pressed the emergency 
button. Carefully leave the vehicle and move to a 
safe location. The Response Center will 
automatically contact local emergency officials 
with the vehicle’s approximate location if they 
rec eive a n a utom at ic  “SO S” si gna l a nd  ca nn ot ma ke 
voice contact with the vehicle occupants.
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279 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
The yellow ESP warning lampv in the speedometer 
dial comes on with the electronic key in starter switch 
position 2. It should go out with the engine running.
If the ESP warning message is displayed, a malfunction 
has been detected in the system. Only partial engine 
output will be available.
Have the ESP checked at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
For ESP warning message, see page 292.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the ESP is also switched 
off.
Driving the vehicle with varied size tires will cause the 
wheels to rotate at different speeds, therefore the ESP 
may activate (yellow ESP warning lamp in speedometer 
d ial com es on ). For  t his reas on,  all wheels,  in cludin g t he 
spare wheel, must have the same tire size.When testing the parking brake on a brake test 
dynamometer, the engine must be shut off. Otherwise, 
the ESP will immediately be engaged and will apply the 
rear wheel brakes. 
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the 
ESP is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz recommended 
M+S rated radial-ply tires and / or snow chains.
Synchronizing ESP
If the power supply was interrupted (battery 
disconnected or empty), the ESP warning message may 
be displayed with the engine running.
Turn steering wheel completely to the left and then to 
the right. The ESP warning message should go out.
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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 

330 Tires, Wheels
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Spare wheel
Important!
The spare wheel rim is mounted with a full size tire of 
the same type as on the vehicle, and is fully functional.
For additional information, refer to page 378.
Spare wheel bolts
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for steel rims
Note:
Wheel bolts (2) must be used when mounting steel 
wheel rim.
Wa r n i n g !
Be sure to use the original length wheel bolts when 
remounting the original wheel after it has been 
repaired.
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339 Tires, Wheels
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index 6. Remove plug (4) from end of hose (1) and push hose 
(1) onto valve stem.
7. Hold container upside down (hose down) and 
squeeze entire contents of container into tire.
8. Pull hose (1) off and screw tire valve (2) using valve 
stem tool (3) into the valve stem.
Note:
A spare tire valve is stored with the valve stem tool.
9. Install plug (4) onto end of hose (1).
10. The air pump is located inside the wheel well in the 
trunk. Observe instructions on air pump label. 
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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.
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