
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
OM_203.book  Seite 6  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

33 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Locking and unlocking with remote control
Unlocking:
Press transmit button Œ. All turn signal lamps blink 
once to indicate that the vehicle is unlocked.
The remote control can be programmed for two kinds of 
unlocking modes (see below):
Selective unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Œ once to unlock driver’s door 
and fuel filler flap.
Press transmit button Œ twice to unlock all doors, 
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Global unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Œ once to unlock all doors, 
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will 
remain locked, see page 41.
The presently active unlocking mode (selective or 
global) can only be determined by unlocking the vehicle 
with the remote control (see below for changing mode).If within 40 seconds of unlocking with the remote 
control, neither door or trunk is opened, the electronic 
key is not inserted in the starter switch, or the central 
locking switch is not activated, the vehicle will 
automatically lock.
Locking:
Press transmit button ‹ once. All turn signal lamps 
blink three times to indicate that the vehicle is locked. If 
they do not blink three times, a door or trunk is not 
properly closed.
Note:
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked by pressing 
the transmit button, then it may be necessary to change 
the batteries in the electronic key (if ok, battery check 
lamp in electronic key will light briefly when pressing 
transmit button) or to synchronize the remote control, 
see pages 357 and 359.
Choosing global or selective mode on remote control
Press and hold transmit buttons‹ andŒ 
simultaneously for five seconds to reprogram the 
remote control. Battery check lamp will blink two times 
indicating the completed mode change.
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99 Instrument cluster
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Knob for instrument cluster illumination, 
seepage100
Reset knob for trip odometer, see page 101 and 
individual settings, see page 121
2Tachometer
3Antilock brake system (ABS) malfunction indicator 
lamp, see page 291
4Brake fluid low or parking brake engaged, 
seepage298
5Speedometer
6Left turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch on page 148
7Electronic stability program (ESP) warning lamp, 
system is adjusting to road conditions, see page 292
8Indicator lamp without function. It illuminates with 
the electronic key in starter switch position 2. It 
should go out when the engine is running.
9CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator lamp, 
seepage286
10High beam headlamp indicator, 
seeexterior lamp switch, page143, and 
combination switch, see page 14811Indicator lamp without function. It illuminates with 
the electronic key in starter switch position 2. It 
should go out when the engine is running.
12Multifunction display, see page 102.
Malfunction and warning messages in the 
multifunction display, see page 293
13Trip odometer, see page 101 and 106
14Main odometer, see page 106
15Display for program mode and gear range 
indicators, see page 254
16Malfunction/warning message memory, 
seepage119
17Outside temperature indicator, see page 101
18Digital clock, see individual settings on page 121
19Right turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch on page 148
20Fasten seat belts, see page 292
21Supplemental restraint system (SRS) malfunction 
indicator lamp, see page 289
22Fuel gauge with reserve and fuel cap placement 
warning lamp, see page 290
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138 Flexible service system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Flexible service system (FSS)
(service indicator)
The FSS permits a flexible service schedule that is 
directly related to the operating conditions of the 
vehicle.
The symbol 9 or ½ appears together with a 
message in the multifunction indicator prior to the next 
suggested service.
Dep end in g on  oper atin g c ond ition s t hr oughout t he year, 
the next service is calculated and displayed in days or 
distance remaining.The message is displayed for approximately 10 seconds 
when turning the electronic key in starter switch to 
position 2, or while driving when reaching the service 
warning threshold.
The symbols and messages indicate the type of service 
to be performed:
9Service A
½Service B
One of the following messages will appear in the display 
(e.g. Service A):
“SERVICE A – IN xx DAYS”
“SERVICE A – IN xx MILES” (Canada: KM)
“SERVICE A – EXCEEDED BY xx DAYS”
“SERVICE A – EXCEEDED BY xx MILES” (Canada: KM)
“SERVICE A – DUE NOW”
The next service due date is displayed either in days or 
in miles, depending on your driving style.
Once the suggested service term has passed, the symbol 
and message appear for approximately 30 seconds and 
a signal sounds every time when turning the electronic 
key in starter switch to position 2.
OM_203.book  Seite 138  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

140 Flexible service system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Following a completed A or B service the Mercedes-Benz 
Center sets the counter mileage to 10 000 miles 
(Canada: 15 000 km).
The counter can also be set by any individual. To do so:
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.
Press button j or k until the FSS indicator 
appears.
Press the reset knob on the instrument cluster, see 
page 98, for approximately 4 seconds.The multifunction display will show the question: 
“DO YOU WANT TO RESET SERVICE INTERVAL? – 
CONFIRM BY PRESSING R”
Press the reset knob on the instrument cluster again for 
approximately 4 seconds to reset the service indicator 
until a signal sounds.
The new service indicator is displayed with the reset 
distance of 10 000 miles (Canada 15 000 km).
If the FSS counter was inadvertently reset, have a 
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
However you choose to set your reference numbers, the 
scheduled services as posted in the Service Booklet 
must be followed to properly care for your vehicle.
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148 Combination switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Combination switch
1Low beam
(exterior lamp switch position B)
2High beam
(exterior lamp switch position B)
3High beam flasher (high beam available 
independent of exterior lamp switch position)
4Turn signals, right
5Turn signals, leftTo signal minor directional changes, such as changing 
lanes on a highway, move combination switch briefly to 
the point of resistance only and release. The turn 
signals blink three times.
To operate the turn signals continuously, move the 
combination switch past the point of resistance (up or 
down). The switch is automatically canceled when the 
steering wheel is turned to a large enough degree.
Turn signal failure
If one of the turn signals fails, the turn signal indicator 
system flashes and sounds at a faster than normal rate.
OM_203.book  Seite 148  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

151 Hazard warning flasher
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Hazard warning flasher switch
The hazard warning flasher can be activated either 
manually via the switch located in the dashboard, or it 
is activated automatically at the time an airbag is 
deployed.To activate hazard warning flasher, press switch once. 
To deactivate, press switch again.
If hazard warning flasher was activated automatically, 
press switch twice to deactivate.
Note:
With the hazard warning flasher activated, the 
combination switch in position for either left or right 
turn, and the electronic key in starter switch position 1 
or 2, only the respective left or right side turn signals 
will operate.
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181 Audio system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index We a t h e r   B a n d
Press the “WB” key. The last weather band station is 
tuned in.
Use buttons  -   to select a different station. If 
the station cannot be received, the next available station 
is selected automatically.
Press button   or  . The next available station is 
tuned in. The message “WB NONE” appears if no station 
can be received.
Station memory
Ten stations each in the AM and FM bands can be stored 
via the alpha-numeric keypad. The   button 
corresponds to location 10. Weatherband (WB) 
channels 1 to 7 are preset at the factory and can be 
retrieved via the alpha-numeric keypad, but cannot be 
changed.Storing stations automatically (Autostore)
Press the “AS” key until the 
word “SEARCH” is displayed. 
The ten strongest stations are 
stored automatically, with 
 having the strongest 
signal.
If less than 10 stations are available within receiving 
range, only those will be stored.
Pressing a station selection button without a stored 
station will not display a frequency for approximately 
2 seconds. Thereafter the station selected last will be 
displayed.
Note:
Autostore memory is in addition to the regular station 
memory. Previously stored stations are not erased.
Briefly press “AS” to leave the Autostore and return to 
manual presets. Press “AS” again to call up Autostore.
7PQ RS
0OPR
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