
1 Contents
IntroductionProduct information  .......................... 7
Operator’s manual  ............................. 8
Where to find it  ................................ 13
Reporting Safety Defects  ................ 15Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls  ............... 18
Center console  .............................. 20
Overhead control panel  ............... 21OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 24
Start lock-out  .................................... 26
General notes on the 
central locking system  ............... 26
Central locking system  ................... 27
Radio frequency and infrared 
remote control  .............................. 27
Opening and closing 
windows from outside  ................. 31Panic button  ................................. 32
Mechanical keys  .......................... 32
Doors  ................................................. 33
Central locking switch .................... 35
Automatic central locking  .......... 36
Emergency unlocking in 
case of accident  .......................... 36
Trunk ................................................. 37
Trunk lamp ....................................... 39
Trunk lid release switch  ................ 40
Trunk lid emergency release  ......... 41
Trunk lid emergency release  ........ 42
Antitheft alarm system ................... 43
Tow-away alarm  ............................... 44
Power seats, front  ............................ 45
Front head restraints  ...................51
Roll bar and head 
restraints, rear  ............................ 52
Backrest  ............................................ 54
Multicontour seat  ............................ 55
Heated seats  ..................................... 56
Seat belts and integrated 
restraint system  .......................... 58Seat belts ........................................... 58
Seat belt nonusage 
warning system  ............................ 59
BabySmart
TM airbag 
deactivation system  .................... 64
Self-test BabySmart
TM without 
special child seat installed  ......... 65
Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS)  ................................ 65
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR) ............................. 66
Airbags  .............................................. 67
Safety guidelines for the 
seat belt, emergency tensioning 
retractor and airbag  ..................... 73
Infant and child 
restraint systems  .......................... 75
Adjusting telescoping 
steering column  .......................... 77
Inside rear view mirror  .................. 78
Antiglare night position  .............. 78
Exterior rear view mirrors  ............. 79
Instrument cluster  ........................... 82
Indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ...................... 84
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21 Instruments and controls
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Overhead control panel1Tele Aid (emergency call system), see page 182
2Interior lighting, see page 149
3Hands-free microphone for Tele Aid, telephone and 
voice recognition system.
4Rear view mirror, see page 78
5Garage door opener, see page 158
4
5
3
2
1
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22 Contents – Operation
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 24
Start lock-out  .................................... 26
General notes on the 
central locking system  ............... 26
Central locking system  ................... 27
Radio frequency and infrared 
remote control  .............................. 27
Opening and closing 
windows from outside  ................. 31
Panic button  .................................. 32
Mechanical keys  ........................... 32
Doors .................................................. 33
Central locking switch  .................... 35
Automatic central locking  .......... 36
Emergency unlocking in 
case of accident  ........................... 36
Trunk  ................................................. 37
Trunk lamp  ....................................... 39
Trunk lid release switch  ................. 40
Trunk lid emergency release  ......... 41
Trunk lid emergency release  ......... 42Antitheft alarm system ................... 43
Tow-away alarm  ............................... 44
Power seats, front  ............................ 45
Front head restraints  ...................51
Roll bar and head 
restraints, rear  ............................ 52
Backrest  ............................................ 54
Multicontour seat  ............................ 55
Heated seats  ..................................... 56
Seat belts and integrated 
restraint system  .......................... 58
Seat belts  .......................................... 58
Seat belt nonusage 
warning system  ............................ 59
BabySmart
TM airbag 
deactivation system  ................... 64
Self-test BabySmart
TM without 
special child seat installed  ......... 65
Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS)  ............................... 65
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR)  ............................ 66Airbags  .............................................. 67
Safety guidelines for the 
seat belt, emergency tensioning 
retractor and airbag  ..................... 73
Infant and child 
restraint systems  .......................... 75
Adjusting telescoping 
steering column  .......................... 77
Inside rear view mirror  .................. 78
Antiglare night position  .............. 78
Exterior rear view mirrors  ............. 79
Instrument cluster  ........................... 82
Indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ...................... 84
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ................. 88
Trip and main odometer 
and sub menu  .............................. 92
Audio systems  .................................. 93
Radio  .............................................. 93
CD player  ....................................... 94
Cassette player  ............................. 95
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47 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
Your vehicle is equipped with power head restraints, do 
not try to raise or lower them manually.
Only minor personal adjustments, as described below, 
should then be required.
For steering wheel adjustment, see page 77;
inside rear view mirror, see page 78;
exterior rear view mirrors, see page 79.Caution!
Do not remove head restraints except when mounting 
seat covers. For removal see page 51. Whenever 
restraints have been removed be sure to reinstall them 
before driving.
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48 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Memory storing and recalling
6Memory button
7Position buttonsStoring
Three sets of seat/head restraint positions may be 
programmed into memory.
Together with the driver’s seat position you can store 
the exterior rear view mirror positions.
After the seat/head restraint and exterior rear view 
mirrors are positioned, push memory button (6), 
release, and within 3 seconds push position button “1”. 
A second and third set of positions for the same seat/
head restraint and exterior rear view mirrors can be 
programmed into memory by pushing first memory 
button (6) and then “2”, respectively “3”.
Note:
See page 79 for instructions on adjustment of mirrors.
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49 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Recalling
To recall a seat/head restraint and exterior rear view 
mirror position, push and hold position button “1”, “2” 
or “3” until seat/head restraint and exterior rear view 
mirror movement has stopped. The seat/head restraint 
and exterior rear view mirror movement stops when the 
position 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 the backrest to an upright position.Synchronizing power seats and head restraints
If the power supply was interrupted (battery 
disconnected or empty), the power seats and head 
restraints are no longer adjusted automatically.
To resynchronize the adjustment feature, turn 
electronic key in steering lock to position 2, move the 
seat completely forward and the head restraint fully 
down, and hold respective buttons for approx. 
2seconds.
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50 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should adjust 
the seat height for proper vision as well as fore/aft 
placement and backrest angle to insure adequate 
control, reach, operation, and comfort. The head 
restraint should also be adjusted for proper height. See 
also airbag section on page 67 for proper seat 
positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure 
adequate control, reach, operation, and comfort.
Both 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.
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78 Rear view mirrors
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Inside rear view mirror
Manually adjust the inside mirror.
Use your inside mirror to determine the size and 
distance of objects seen in the passenger side convex 
mirror.
Antiglare night position
With the electronic key in steering lock position 2, the 
mirror reflection brightness responds to changes in 
light sensitivity.
With gear selector lever in position “R”, or with the 
interior lamp switched on, the mirror brightness does 
not respond to changes in light sensitivity.Note:
The automatic antiglare function does not react, if 
incoming light is not aimed directly at sensors in the 
inside rear view mirror. 
The automatic antiglare function will not react for 
example, if the wind screen is installed.
Wa r n i n g !
In the case of an accident liquid electrolyte may 
escape the mirror housing when the mirror glass 
breaks.Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not allow the 
liquid to come into contact with eyes, skin, 
clothing, or respiratory system. In cases it does, 
immediately flush affected area with water, and 
seek medical help if necessary.
J_A208.book Seite 78 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09