
5 ContentsWiper blade  .................................305
Light alloy wheels  ......................305
Instrument cluster  .....................306
Steering wheel and 
gear selector lever  ......................306
Cup holder ...................................306
Seat belts  .....................................306
Headliner  .....................................306
Upholstery  ...................................307
Hard plastic trim items  .............307
Plastic and rubber parts ............307
Wind screen   ...............................307
Rubber weatherstrip  .................307
Soft top  .........................................308
Technical dataSpare parts service  ........................ 310
Warranty coverage  ......................... 310
Identification labels  ....................... 311
Layout of poly-V-belt drive  ............312
Technical data  ................................. 313
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. – 
capacities  .................................... 318
Engine oils ...................................... 320
Engine oil additives  ...................... 320
Air conditioner 
refrigerant  ................................. 320
Brake fluid ...................................... 320Premium unleaded 
gasoline  ...................................... 321
Fuel requirements  ......................... 321
Gasoline additives  .........................322
Coolants ...........................................322
Consumer information ..................324
IndexIndex  ................................................326
J_A208.book Seite 5 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

19 Instruments and controls
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index For more detailed descriptions see Index on page 326.
For adjustment of air outlets, refer to automatic climate 
control, see page 120.
1Side air outlet, adjustable
2Air volume control for side air outlet
3Exterior lamp switch, see page 114
4Parking brake release, see page 204
5Parking brake pedal, see page 204
6Hood lock release, see page 254
7Combination switch, see page 117
8Cruise control switch, see page 214
9Multifunction steering wheel, see page 88
Horn (with electronic key in steering lock 
position 1 or 2)
10Instrument cluster, see page 82
11Voice recognition system switch, see separate 
operating instructions
12Steering lock with ignition/starter 
switch, see page 19213Center air outlets, adjustable
14Air volume control for center air outlets
15Left front seat heater switch, see page 56
16Headlamp washer switch, see page 116
17Roll bar switch, see page 53 
Roll bar warning lamp, see page 233
18Hazard warning flasher switch, see page 119
19Central locking switch, see page 35
20Switch for tow-away alarm, see page 44
Indicator lamp for antitheft alarm system, see 
page 43
21Right front seat heater switch, see page 56
22Automatic climate control, see page 120 
Rear window defroster switch, see page 124
23Glove box (illuminated with electronic key in 
steering lock position 1 or 2), see page 151
24Audio system, see page 127
25Storage compartment
26Ashtray with lighter, see page 154
J_A208.book Seite 19 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

46 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The slide switches are located in each door.
We recommend to adjust the power seat in the following 
order:
1Seat, up/down 
Press the switch (up/down direction) until 
comfortable seating position with still sufficient 
headroom is reached.
2Seat, fore/aft 
Press the switch (fore/aft direction) until a 
comfortable seating position is reached that still 
allows you to reach the accelerator/brake pedal safely. The position should be as far rearward as 
possible, consistent with ability to properly operate 
controls.
Note:
Do not move the front passenger seat completely 
forward if objects are stored in the parcel net in the 
front passenger side footwell. Items in the net may 
be damaged.
3Seat cushion tilt 
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until 
your legs are lightly supported.
4Backrest tilt 
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until 
your arms are slightly angled when holding the 
steering wheel.
5Head restraint 
During seat adjustment, the head restraint is 
automatically adjusted based on seat (fore/aft) 
position to support the back of the head 
approximately at ear level. Please check the position 
of the head restraint to assure that it supports the 
back of the head approximately at ear level. The 
head restraint angle can also be adjusted manually.
87
4
52
2
1
3
J_A208.book Seite 46 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

154 Interior equipment
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Ashtray
Center console, front
By touching the bottom of the cover lightly, the ashtray 
opens automatically.Prior to removing the ashtray insert, move the gear 
selector lever to position “N”.
To   r e m ove   a s h t r ay :
Push sliding knob (1) toward the right to eject the 
insert.
To install ashtray:
Install insert into ashtray frame and push down to 
engage.
Wa r n i n g !
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle standing 
still. With the gear selector lever in position “N”, 
turn off the engine and set the parking brake. 
Otherwise the vehicle might move as a result of 
unintended contact with the gear selector lever.
J_A208.book Seite 154 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

164 Soft top
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Lowering Soft Top 
1. Engage parking brake.
2. Close luggage cover and trunk lid.
For notes on the luggage cover, see page 250.
3. Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2.
4. Press lock button (1) and fold down locking 
handle (2).
5 . Turn lock in g han dle 9 0
° c lockwis e to unlock t he soft 
top.Important!
Push soft top frame approx. 8 inches (20 cm) upward by 
the locking handle. Failing to do so will result in 
damage to the soft top folding mechanism that is not 
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Turn locking handle counterclockwise to the stop and 
fold up until it locks in place.
•The indicator lamp in the soft top switch lights up.
•The side windows lower.
P77.30-2070-26
12
P77.30-2080-26
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166 Soft top
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Note: 
For safety reasons, the soft top cannot be lowered while 
driving.
Raising Soft Top 
1. Engage parking brake. 
2. Close luggage cover and trunk lid. 
For notes on the luggage cover, see page 250.
3. Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2. 4. Press symbol side of soft top switch and hold: 
•The indicator lamp in the soft top switch lights 
up. 
Notes: 
If indicator lamp blinks slowly, a malfunction 
has occurred in the system. 
If indicator lamp blinks rapidly, the trunk lid 
and/or the luggage cover may be open, and need 
to be closed.
•The side windows lower. 
•The roll bar lowers (when in the upper position). 
•The soft top compartment cover unlocks and 
opens. 
•The soft top is raised from its storage 
compartment to the closing position. 
•The soft top storage compartment closes and the 
rear window section of the soft top lowers – a 
signal sounds.
Wa r n i n g !  
To prevent possible accidents, drive the vehicle 
only with the soft top either completely closed and 
locked, or fully lowered into its storage 
compartment. 
J_A208.book Seite 166 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

192 Steering lock
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Steering lock
0The electronic key can be withdrawn in this position 
only. The steering is locked when the electronic key 
is removed from the steering lock. If necessary, 
move steering wheel slightly to allow the locking 
mechanism to engage. The electronic key can only 
be removed with the selector lever in position “P”. 
After removing the electronic key or with the 
electronic key in steering lock position 0, the 
selector lever is locked in position “P”.1Steering is unlocked.
(If necessary, move steering wheel slightly to allow 
the electronic key to be turned clockwise to 
position 1.) Most electrical consumers can be 
operated. For detailed information see respective 
subjects.
2Driving position.
Gear selector lever is unlocked. 
To move the selector lever out of position “P”, firmly 
depress the service brake pedal.
3Starting position.
See page 194 for starting and turning off the engine.
P82.00-2073-26
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the 
electronic key from the steering lock, and lock the 
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause 
serious personal injury.
J_A208.book Seite 192 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

197 Automatic transmission
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Stopping
For brief stops, e.g. at traffic lights, leave the 
transmission in gear and hold vehicle with the service 
brake.
For longer stops with the engine idling, shift into “N” 
or “P” and hold the vehicle with the service brake.
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill gradient, do not 
hold it with the accelerator, use the brake. This avoids 
unnecessary transmission heat build up.
Maneuvering
To maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when pulling into a 
parking space, control the vehicle speed by gradually 
releasing the brakes. Accelerate gently and never 
abruptly step on the accelerator.
To rock a vehicle out of soft ground (mud or snow), 
alternately shift from forward to reverse, while applying 
slight partial throttle.Rocking a vehicle free in this manner may cause the 
ABS or traction system malfunction indicator lamp to 
come on. Turn off and restart the engine to clear the 
malfunction indication.
Wa r n i n g !
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector lever 
not fully engaged in position “P” is dangerous. 
Also, when parked on an incline, position “P” alone 
may not prevent your vehicle from moving, 
possibly hitting people or objects.Always set the parking brake in addition to shifting 
to position “P”, see page 204 for parking brake. When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel 
against curb.Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
electronic key from the steering lock, and lock the 
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Children could move the gear selector lever from 
position “P”, which could result in an accident or 
serious personal injury.
J_A208.book Seite 197 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09