
96 Memory function
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Storing positions into memory:
With the electronic key in starter switch position 1 or 2 
or with the relevant door open and the electronic key 
inserted in the starter switch.
Adjust the seat to the desired position.
Driver’s seat:
You can also adjust the steering wheel and the exterior 
rear view mirrors electrically for the driver’s seat. See 
page 91 for exterior rear view mirror adjustment and 
page 89 for steering wheel adjustment.
Turn button (2) to selected memory position.
Push memory button (1), release and push the position 
button (2) within 3 seconds.Recalling positions from memory:
To recall a seat / steering wheel / exterior rear view 
mirror position, turn button (2) to selected memory 
position and press to recall.
The seat / steering wheel / exterior rear view mirror 
movement stops when the button is released.
Caution!
Do not operate the power seats using the memory 
button if the backrest is in an excessively reclined 
position. Doing so could cause damage to front or rear 
seats.
First move backrest to an upright position.
OM_203.book  Seite 96  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

137 Coolant temperature gauge
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Coolant temperature gauge
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. See page 106.
Press button j or k until the coolant 
temperature gauge appears.During severe operating conditions and stop-and-go city 
traffic, the coolant temperature may rise close to 120
°C.
The engine should not be operated with the coolant 
temperature above 120
°C. Doing so may cause serious 
engine damage which is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Note:
Excessive coolant temperatures trigger a warning in the 
multifunction display. See page 302.
Wa r n i n g !
• Driving when your engine is badly overheated 
can cause some fluids which may have leaked 
into the engine compartment to catch fire. You 
could be seriously burned.• Steam from an overheated engine can cause 
serious burns and can occur just by opening 
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine if 
you see or hear steam coming from it.Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and do 
not stand near the vehicle until it cools down.
OM_203.book  Seite 137  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

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
OM_203.book  Seite 141  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

184 Audio system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Track selection
Press the track selection 
“TRK” key. The current track 
will be displayed as “SIDE 1” 
or “SIDE 2”. The track will be 
changed automatically at the 
end of the tape.
Track search forward/backward
Press the   button. 
“ S E E K F W D ”  w i l l b e  s h ow n  o n  
the display and the track 
search will run the tape 
for ward  to t he start of  t he n ex t 
track.
Press the   button. 
“SEEK RWD” will be shown 
on the display and the track 
search will run the tape 
backward to the start of the 
track currently playing. Track search can be interrupted 
by pressing the same button again.Note:
The beginning of a track can only be located if there is a 
break of at least 4 seconds between tracks.
Fa st   fo rwa rd/ r eve rse
Press the   button. 
“FORWARD” will appear on 
the display and fast forward 
will start.
Press the   button. 
“REWIND” will appear on the 
display and fast reverse will 
start.
Fast forward/reverse is stopped by pressing the same 
button again, or it will stop automatically at the 
beginning or the end of the tape. The track will 
automatically change at the end or beginning of the tape 
and play will begin.
OM_203.book  Seite 184  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

198 Interior equipment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Express opening and closing
Press or pull switch past resistance point and release – 
window opens or closes completely.
To interrupt procedure, briefly press or pull switch. 
If the upward movement of the window is blocked 
during the closing procedure, the window will stop 
during the last few inches before closure and open 
slightly.
When pulling and holding the switch to close the 
window, and upward movement of the window is 
blocked during the last few inches before closure, it will 
stop but not
 open slightly.
The windows can also be opened and closed using:
•the summer opening / convenience feature, see 
page 35.
•the button O in the control panel of the climate 
control, see page 158 or of the automatic climate 
control, see page 167.
•the button e in the control panel of the 
automatic climate control, see page 168.
Wa r n i n g !
When closing the windows, be sure that there is no 
danger of anyone being harmed by the closing 
procedure.In case of obstruction, the automatic reversal will 
not operate if a door window is being closed by 
pulling the switch to its resistance point and 
holding it there, or when using the electronic key.The closing procedure of door windows can be 
immediately reversed by either pressing or pulling 
the switch, or pressing buttonŒ on the 
electronic key and holding it.When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
electronic key from starter switch, and lock your 
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment can cause 
serious personal injury.
OM_203.book  Seite 198  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

201 Interior equipment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Opening or closing the sliding / pop-up roof 
automatically
Move the switch past resistance point in the direction 
required and release.
The sliding / pop-up roof opens or closes completely.
Stopping the sliding / pop-up roof: 
Move the switch in any direction.
If the movement of the sliding / pop-up roof is blocked 
during the closing procedure, the roof will stop and 
reopen slightly.With the roof closed or tilted open, a screen can be slid 
into the roof opening to guard against sun rays. When 
sliding the roof open, the screen will also retract.
The sliding / pop-up roof can also be opened and closed 
using:
•the summer opening / convenience feature, see 
page 35.
•the button O in the control panel of the climate 
control, see page 158 or of the automatic climate 
control, see page 167.
•the button  ein the control panel of the 
automatic climate control, see page 168.
Notes:
To avoid damaging the seals, do not transport any 
objects with sharp edges which can stick out of the 
sliding / pop-up roof.
The sliding/pop-up roof can be opened or closed 
manually should an electrical malfunction occur, see 
page 360.
Wa r n i n g !
When closing the sliding / pop-up roof, be sure that 
there is no danger of anyone being harmed by the 
closing procedure.When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
electronic key from starter switch, and lock your 
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment can cause 
serious personal injury.
OM_203.book  Seite 201  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

229 Garage door opener
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 3. Firmly press and release the programmed 
integrated remote control transmit button. Press 
and release same button a second time to complete 
the training process. (Some garage door openers 
may required you to do this procedure a third time 
to complete the training.)
4. Confirm the garage door operation by pressing the 
programmed button on the integrated remote 
control transmitter. 
Canadian programming:
During programming, your hand-held transmitter may 
automatically stop transmitting. Continue to press and 
hold the integrated remote control transmitter button 
(note steps 2 through 4 in the “Programming” portion) 
while you press and re-press (“cycle”) your hand-held 
transmitter every two seconds until the frequency 
signal has been learned. The indicator lamp will flash 
slowly and then rapidly after several seconds upon 
successful training.Operation of remote control:
1. Turn electronic key in starter switch to position 1 
or 2.
2. Select and press the appropriate button to activate 
the remote control device. The integrated remote 
control transmitter continues to send the signal as 
long as the button is pressed – up to 20 seconds.
Erasing the remote control memory:
1. Turn electronic key in starter switch to position 1 
or 2.
2. Simultaneously holding down the left and right side 
buttons for approximately 20 seconds, or until the 
control lamp blink rapidly, will erase the codes of all 
three channels.
OM_203.book  Seite 229  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

247 Starter switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
If the electronic key is left in the starter switch 
position 0 for a extended period of time, it can no longer 
be  turn ed  in  t he lock . In  t his  cas e, rem ove electron ic  key 
from starter switch and reinsert.
Caution!
To prevent accelerated battery discharge and a possible 
dead battery, always remove the electronic key from the 
starter switch. Do not leave the electronic key in starter 
switch position 0.Notes:
A warning sounds when the driver’s door is opened 
with the electronic key is in starter switch position 1 
or 0.
If the electronic key cannot be turned in the starter 
switch, the vehicle battery may not be sufficiently 
charged. See battery on page 342 or jump starting on 
page 344.
With the engine at idle speed, the charging rate of the 
alternator (output) is limited.
It is therefore recommended that you turn off 
unnecessary electrical consumers while driving in stop-
and-go traffic. This precaution helps to avoid draining of 
the battery.
Unnecessary strain on the battery and charging system 
may be minimized by turning off the following power 
consumers, for example:
Heated seats, rear window defroster. In addition, the 
automatic climate air volume control should be set to 
the lowest position.
OM_203.book  Seite 247  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11