3 ContentsPower windows ............................... 183
Sliding/pop-up roof ....................... 186
Interior lighting ............................. 189
Rear window sunshade ................. 191
Sun visors ....................................... 192
Vanity mirrors ................................ 192
Interior ............................................ 193
Storage compartments and
armrests ..................................... 193
Glove box ..................................... 194
Coat hooks ...................................... 198
Cup holder ...................................... 199
Ashtrays ..........................................202
Lighter .............................................204
Parcel net in trunk ........................205
Cargo tie-down hooks ....................206
Parcel net in
front passenger footwell ..........206
Telephone, general ........................207
Garage door opener .......................208
Infrared reflecting windshield .... 212
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters .....................214
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) .................................. 215
Maintenance ...................................215
Tele Aid ............................................ 216
Catalytic converter ........................ 226
Emission control ............................ 227
Starter switch ................................. 228
Starter switch – KEYLESS-GO ..... 230
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 233
Automatic transmission ............... 235
Parking brake ................................ 244
Driving instructions ...................... 245
Drive sensibly – save fuel ........ 245
Drinking and driving ................ 245
Pedals .......................................... 245
Power assistance ........................ 246
Brakes .......................................... 246Driving off ...................................247
Parking ........................................248
Tires .............................................249
Snow chains ................................ 251
Winter driving instructions ......252
Deep water ..................................254
Passenger compartment ...........254
Traveling abroad ........................255
Cruise control .................................256
Distronic (DTR) ..............................259
Brake assist system (BAS) ............275
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ........................................... 276
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ...........................................278
Active body control (ABC) ............282
Level control system ......................283
Parking assist
(Parktronic) ................................286
What you should know
at the gas station ....................... 291
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................294
J_OM_215.book Seite 3 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 2:01 14
4 Contents
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator
lamps in the
instrument cluster ....................296
On-board
diagnostic system .......................296
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................296
Brake warning lamp ..................298
Supplemental
restraint system
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................299
Fuel reserve warning .................299
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp .............................300
Electronic stabilityprogram
(ESP) — warning lamp ............... 301
Distronic (DTR) —
warning lamp .............................. 301
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp ..............................302
Malfunction and indicator
lamp in the center console ......302
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....302Malfunction and
warning messages in the
multifunction display .............. 303
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(engine control unit) ................. 304
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(several systems) ....................... 304
BATTERY /ALTERNATOR ......... 305
ENTRY POSITION ...................... 306
BRAKE ASSIST ........................... 306
BRAKE PAD WEAR .................... 307
BRAKE FLUID ............................ 307
PARKING BRAKE ....................... 308
TRUNK OPEN ............................. 308
ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability program) . 309
COOLANT (coolant level) .......... 310
COOLANT
(coolant temperature) ................ 311
LIGHTING SYSTEM ....................312
LAMP SENSOR ............................ 314
SEAT BELT SYSTEM ................... 314
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION ........ 315
CRUISE CONTROL ...................... 315ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
(ABC) ............................................ 316
TIRE PRESSURE ......................... 318
ENGINE OIL LEVEL ...................320
SEAT BACKREST ........................ 321
KEY ...............................................322
DOOR ...........................................322
HOOD ...........................................323
TELE AID .....................................323
WASHER FLUID .........................326
DISTRONIC (DTR) ......................327
Practical hintsFirst aid kit .....................................330
Fuses ................................................ 331
Shelf below rear window ..............333
Hood .................................................334
Checking engine oil level .............337
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................338
Active body control
(ABC) fluid level ........................338
Coolant level ...................................339
Adding coolant ...........................339
J_OM_215.book Seite 4 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 2:01 14
23 Instruments and controls
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Left front parktronic warning indicator,
seepage288
2Side air outlet, adjustable
3Air volume control for side air outlet
4Exterior lamp switch, see page 159
5Headlamp washer button, see page 163
6Parking brake release, see page 244
7Hood lock release, see page 334
8Parking brake pedal, see page 244
9Easy-entry/exit feature switch, see page 66
Steering wheel adjustment switch, see page 105
10Combination switch, see page 164
11Cruise control switch, see page 256, or
Distronic (DTR) switch, see page 259
12Multifunction steering wheel, see page 120
Driver airbag, see page 92,
Horn (with electronic key in starter switch
position 1 or 2)13Instrument cluster, seepage114
14Voice recognition system switch, see separate
operating instructions
15Starter switch, see page 228
16Right front parktronic warning indicator,
seepage288
17Fixed air outlets
18Center air outlets, adjustable
19Air volume control for left center air outlet
20Air temperature control for center air outlets
21Air volume control for right center air outlet
22Glove box lock, seepage194
23Glove box lid release, see page 194
J_OM_215.book Seite 23 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 2:01 14
118 Instrument cluster
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Speedometer (9)
When the cruise control is activated, the segments on
the speedometer scale between the set speed to the top
of the scale are illuminated. Cruise control, see
page 256.
When the Distronic (DTR) is activated, one or two
segments around the speed stored in memory light up
in the speedometer dial. Distronic (DTR), see page 259.Note:
The speed display is set to read out for
•USA in mph
•Canada in km/h.
The unit for the speed display can be adjusted in the
individual setting menu “INST. CLUSTER” –
“SPEEDOMETER” on page 142.
J_OM_215.book Seite 118 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 2:01 14
213 Contents - Driving
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 214
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 215
Maintenance ................................... 215
Tele Aid ........................................... 216
Catalytic converter ........................226
Emission control ............................227
Starter switch .................................228
Starter switch – KEYLESS-GO ......230
Starting and turning off
the engine ..................................233
Automatic transmission ...............235
Parking brake .................................244Driving instructions ...................... 245
Drive sensibly – save fuel ........ 245
Drinking and driving ................ 245
Pedals .......................................... 245
Power assistance ........................ 246
Brakes .......................................... 246
Driving off ................................... 247
Parking ........................................ 248
Tires ............................................. 249
Snow chains ............................... 251
Winter driving instructions ..... 252
Deep water .................................. 254
Passenger compartment ........... 254
Traveling abroad ........................ 255Cruise control .................................256
Distronic (DTR) ..............................259
Brake assist system (BAS) ............275
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ........................................... 276
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ...........................................278
Active body control (ABC) ............282
Level control system ......................283
Parking assist
(Parktronic) ................................286
What you should know
at the gas station ....................... 291
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................294
J_OM_215.book Seite 213 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 2:01 14
252 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy roads is to
drive sensibly and to avoid abrupt acceleration, braking
and steering maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding, move
selector lever to position “N”. Try to keep the vehicle
under control by corrective steering action.
Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect braking
efficiency. Increased pedal force may become necessary
to produce the normal brake effect. We therefore
recommend depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn roads. This can
bring road salt impaired braking efficiency back to
normal. A prerequisite is, however, that this be done
without endangering other drivers on the road.If the vehicle is parked af ter being driven on salt treated
roads, the braking ef f iciency should be tested as soon as
possible after driving is resumed while observing the
safety rules in the previous paragraph.
Wa r n i n g !
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make sure
that snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around the vehicle with engine running.
O t h e rw i s e , d e a d ly c a r b o n m o n ox i d e ( CO ) ga s e s m ay
enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open a
window slightly on the side of the vehicle not
facing the wind.
J_OM_215.book Seite 252 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 2:01 14
256 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Cruise control
The cruise control allows you to drive in a more relaxed
manner, for example over long distances, as it
automatically maintains the set speed by actively
regulating the throttle setting.
Any given speed above approximately 25 mph
(40 km/h) can be maintained with the cruise control by
operating the lever.
1Accelerate and set:
Lift lever briefly to set speed. Hold lever up to
accelerate.2Decelerate and set:
Depress lever briefly to set speed.
Hold lever down to decelerate.
Normally the vehicle is accelerated to the desired
speed with the accelerator.
Speed is set by briefly pushing the lever to
position 1 or 2. The accelerator can then be
released.
The selected speed is shown for approx. 5 seconds
in the multifunction display, and the corresponding
speedometer segments from the selected speed to
the vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.
The speed can be increased (e.g. for passing) by
using the accelerator. After the accelerator is
released, the previously set speed will be resumed
automatically.
If a set speed is to be increased or decreased
slightly, e.g. to adapt to the traffic flow, hold lever in
position 1 or 2 until the desired speed is reached, or
briefly tip the lever in the appropriate direction for
increases or decreases in 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
increments. When the lever is released, the newly
set speed remains.
1
3
4
2
J_OM_215.book Seite 256 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 2:01 14
257 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 3Canceling
To cancel the cruise control, briefly push lever to
position 3.
When you step on the brake pedal or the vehicle
speed drops below approx. 25 mph (40 km/h), for
example when driving upgrade, the cruise control
will be canceled.
If the illuminated speedometer segments begin to
blink (e.g. when aquaplaning or when moving the
gear selector lever to position “N” while driving), the
cruise control is automatically switched off.
If the cruise control cancels by itself and remains
inoperative until the engine is restarted, have the
system checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.4Resume
If the lever is briefly pushed to position 4 when
driving at a speed exceeding approx. 25 mph
(40 km/h), the vehicle resumes the speed which
was set prior to the cancellation of the cruise
control.
The selected speed is shown for approx. 5 seconds
in the multifunction display, and the corresponding
speedometer segments from the selected speed to
the vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.
The last memorized speed is canceled when the
electronic key in the starter switch is turned to
position 1 or 0.
Important!
Moving gear selector lever to position “N” switches the
cruise control off.
J_OM_215.book Seite 257 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 2:01 14