
29 Central locking system
Technical
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  o nce  to un lock  dr iver’s  d oor 
and fuel filler flap.
Press transmit button Œ twice to unlock both doors, 
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Global unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Œ  once to unlock both doors, 
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will 
remain locked, see page 37.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 nor trunk is opened, the electronic 
key is not inserted in the steering lock, 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 288 and 290.
J_A208.book Seite 29 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

30 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Choosing global or selective mode on remote control
Press and hold transmit buttons ‹ and Œ 
simultaneously for approx. 6 seconds to reprogram the 
remote control. Battery check lamp will blink two times 
indicating the completed mode change.
Opening the trunk
Press transmit buttonŠ until trunk lid is released.
A minimum height clearance of 5.9 ft. (1.8 m) is 
required to open the trunk lid.Important!
Do not place remote control in trunk since trunk is 
locked when the lid is closed if the vehicle is centrally 
locked.
Note:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will 
remain locked, see page 37.
J_A208.book Seite 30 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

73 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care IndexSafety guidelines for the seat belt, 
emergency tensioning retractor and airbag
Wa r n i n g !
Accident research shows that the safest place for 
children in an automobile is in the rear seat. 
Should you choose to place a child 12 years old or 
under in the front passenger seat of your vehicle, 
you must properly use a BabySmart
TM child 
restraint which will turn off the passenger side 
front airbag. BabySmart
TM will not, however, turn 
off the passenger’s side impact airbag. 
It should be noted however that there is a 
possibility for a side airbag related injury if 
occupants, especially children, are not properly 
seated or restrained when next to a side airbag 
which needs to deploy rapidly in a side impact in 
order to do its job.To help avoid the possibility of injury, please follow 
these guidelines: (1) occupants, especially 
children, should never place their bodies or lean 
their heads in the area of the door where the side 
airbag inflates. This could result in serious 
injuries or death should the side airbag be 
activated; (2) always sit upright, properly use the 
seat belts and use an appropriately sized infant or 
child restraint system for all children 12 years old 
or under; and (3) always wear seat belts properly.
Wa r n i n g !
• Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly 
stressed in an accident must be replaced and 
their anchoring points must also be checked. 
Use only belts installed or supplied by an 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• Do not pass belts over sharp edges.• Do not make any modification that could 
change the effectiveness of the belts.• Airbags and ETR’s are designed to function on 
a one-time-only basis. An airbag or emergency 
tensioning retractor (ETR) that was activated 
must be replaced.
J_A208.book Seite 73 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

115 Exterior lamp switch
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
With the electronic key removed and the driver’s door 
open, a warning sounds and the message “SWITCH OFF 
LIGHTS” in the multifunction indicator appears if the 
vehicle’s exterior lamps (except standing lamps) are not 
switched off.
Fog lamps will operate with the parking lamps and/or 
the low beam headlamps on. Fog lamps should only be 
used in conjunction with low beam headlamps. Consult 
your State or Province Motor Vehicle Regulations 
regarding allowable lamp operation.
Fog lamps are automatically switched off when the 
exterior lamp switch is turned to position D.Daytime running lamps (Canada only)
When the engine is running and the selector lever is in 
a driving position, the low beam headlamps (includes 
parking lamps, side marker lamps, taillamps and 
license plate lamps) are automatically switched on.
When shifting from a driving position to position “N” 
or “P”, the low beam switches off (2 seconds delay).
For nighttime driving the exterior lamp switch should 
be turned to position B to permit activation of the 
high beam headlamps.
Night security illumination
When exiting the vehicle after driving with the exterior 
lamps on, they switch on again for added illumination 
for approximately 30 seconds after closing the last door. 
The lamp-on time period can be changed at your 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
J_A208.book Seite 115 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

139 Audio system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index CD mode
General notes on CD mode
Should excessive temperatures occur while in CD mode, 
“TEMP HIGH” will appear in the display and muting 
will take place. The unit will then switch back to radio 
mode until the temperature has decreased to a safe 
operating level.
Should temperatures occur while in CD mode which are 
too low, “TEMP LOW” will be displayed, but the CD will 
play. It will be sensitive to skipping if you are driving 
over rough roads.
Handle CDs carefully to prevent interference during 
playback.
Avoid fingerprints and dust on CDs. Do not write on the 
CDs or apply any label to the CDs.
Clean CDs from time to time with a commercially 
available cleaning cloth. No solvents, anti-static sprays, 
etc. should be used. 
Replace the CD in its container after use. Protect CDs 
from heat and direct sunlight.Only use CDs, which bear the 
label shown and that conform to 
the compact disc digital audio 
standard (IEC 60908).
Use of CDs which do not meet this 
stan dard  may  cause d am age to t he 
CD changer. Do not play single-CDs (80 mm) with an 
adapter.
1Optional equipmentWa r n i n g !
The CD changer
1 is a Class 1 laser product. There is 
a danger of invisible laser radiation if the cover is 
opened or damaged.
Do not remove the cover. The CD changer
1 does not 
contain any parts which can be serviced by the 
user. For safety reasons, have any service work 
which may be necessary performed only by 
qualified personnel.
J_A208.book Seite 139 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

199 Automatic transmission
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Dependent on the program mode selector switch 
position “S” or “W” the maximum speed in the 
reverse gear is different. However, it is not 
possible to change the program mode while in 
reverse.
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the engine to the 
drive axle. When the brakes are released, the 
vehicle can be moved freely (pushed or towed). Do 
not engage “N” while driving except to coast 
when the vehicle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on 
icy roads, see winter driving instructions on 
page 211).
Important!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other 
reason with selector lever in “N” can result in 
transmission damage that is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
The transmission automatically upshifts through 
5th gear. Position “D” provides optimum driving 
characteristics under all normal operating 
conditions.Gear selection for special circumstances
The transmission gear ranges for special circumstances 
can be selected by pressing the selector lever to the 
right or the left with the selector lever in position “D”.
The gear range currently selected is indicated in the 
instrument cluster display.
Briefly press selector lever in the ç direction:
The transmission downshifts, one gear at a time, in the 
order “4”, “3”, “2”, “1”.
Press and hold selector lever in the ç direction:
The selector lever position display will switch to the 
gear range currently selected by the automatic 
transmission.
The transmission will only shift down one gear if the 
gear range currently selected has already shifted to its 
highest possible gear.
Briefly press selector lever in the æ direction:
The transmission will shift from the current gear range 
to the next higher gear range. If the transmission is 
already in gear range “D”, an additional upshift of one 
gear is possible.
J_A208.book Seite 199 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

328 Index
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
CD changer
See Audio system  ...................................................... 140
Cellular telephone  ......................................................... 157
Center console .................................................................. 20
Central locking switch  .................................................... 35
Central locking system  ................................................... 27
Automatic central locking  ......................................... 36
Choosing global or selective mode ........................... 30
Electronic key  .............................................................. 25
Locking and unlocking  .............................................. 29
Mechanical keys .......................................................... 32
Remote control  ............................................................ 27
Changing wheels  ...........................................................266
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator lamp ............ 228
Check regularly and before a long trip  ......................226
Checking engine oil level
Via engine oil level indicator  ...................................112
Via oil dipstick ...........................................................256
Child restraint  .............................................. 58, 63, 64, 75
Child seat
See Infant and child restraint systems  .................... 75
Cleaning and care of the vehicle  .................................302
Clock, setting  .................................................................. 106
COMAND, radio and telephone  ................................... 178
Combination switch  .......................................................117
Consumer information .................................................. 324Control and operation of radio transmitters .............. 178
COOLANT (coolant level) - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 240
Coolant level
Adding coolant .......................................................... 258
Checking .................................................................... 257
COOLANT TEMP. (coolant temperature) - 
malfunction and warning messages  ...................... 241
Coolant temperature gauge  ............................................86
Coolants  .......................................................................... 322
Anticorrosion/antifreeze quantity  ........................ 322
Cruise control  ................................................................. 214
Cup holder
Center console, front  ................................................ 153
DDaytime running lamps  ................................................ 115
Deep water
Driving instructions  ................................................. 213
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE (engine control unit) - 
malfunction and warning messages  ..................... 235
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE (several systems) - 
malfunction and warning messages  ..................... 235
Display illumination  ........................................................85
Doors  ..................................................................................33
J_A208.book Seite 328 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09