
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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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
J_A208.book Seite 22 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

45 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Power seats, front
To operate the front power seat adjustment switches, 
turn electronic key in steering lock to position 1 or 2 
(with the driver’s or passenger’s door open, the power 
seats can also be operated with the electronic key 
removed or in steering lock position 0).
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving. 
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause the 
driver to lose control of the vehicle.Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest 
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position 
can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat 
belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt 
would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That 
could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The 
backrest and seat belt provide the best restraint 
when the wearer is in an upright position and the 
belt is properly positioned on the body.Never place hands under seat or near any moving 
parts while a seat is being adjusted.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the 
electronic key from the steering lock, and lock your 
vehicle.The power seats can also be operated with the 
driver’s or passenger door open. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle or with access 
to an  unl ocked vehic l e. Uns upervi s ed us e of  vehi cl e 
equipment may cause serious personal injury.
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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.
J_A208.book Seite 50 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

53 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Switch for roll bar and head restraints, rear
The switch is located in the center console. 
Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2. 
Press switch: 
1Raise roll bar
2Lower roll bar 
The lowering or raising procedure is immediately 
interrupted by releasing the roll bar switch. With the engine running and the roll bar lowered, the 
warning lamp in the roll bar switch will blink for 
approx. 15 seconds. The blinking is reminding you to 
raise the roll bar if the rear passenger seats are 
occupied. See also page 233 for roll bar warning lamp.
Important! 
The roll bar is intended to be a safety enhancement to 
the other features designed into the vehicle. No system 
in any vehicle can eliminate the possibility of serious 
injury or fatality in an accident. Properly fastened seat 
belts and child restraints must be used! 
Notes: 
If the warning lamp in the switch comes on, then a 
malfunction has been detected. In this case, drive only 
with the roll bar raised until the problem has been 
corrected. Raise the roll bar by pressing the upper half 
of the roll bar switch.
Have the system checked at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible. 
Items being transported in the rear passenger 
compartment should be placed in such a manner as not 
to affect the movement of the roll bar when being 
raised.
P91.59-2001-26
12
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54 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Backrest
1Release lever
Folding forward: 
Lift release lever (1) and fold backrest forward. The seat 
will automatically slide forward and the head restraint 
will move down.
Folding back: 
Lift release lever (1) and fold backrest back. The seat 
and head restraint return to their previous positions.
To interrupt the procedure, activate the power seat 
switch.Notes:
The automatic seat slide is provided with a safety 
feature. The automatic process is interrupted, if the 
backrest of the sliding seat is pushed against an 
occupant or object. The seat will slide forward, stop, and 
make 3 attempts sliding backward.
To halt the automatic process, activate the power seat 
switch. Investigate and correct the cause of interruption. 
Now use memory button or power seat switch to bring 
seat into desired position.
The backrest release lever (1) also serves as a rest for 
the front seat belt, bringing it within easy reach.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the 
electronic key from the steering lock, and lock your 
vehicle.The power seats can also be operated with the 
driver’s or passenger door open. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle or with access 
to an  unl ocked vehic l e. Uns upervi s ed us e of  vehi cl e 
equipment may cause serious personal injury.Never place hands under seat or near any moving 
parts during a seat adjustment procedure.
J_A208.book Seite 54 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

58 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats, 
emergency tensioning retractors for the front seat belts, 
dual front airbags, door mounted side impact airbags 
and knee bolsters for driver and front passenger. Their 
protective functions are designed to complement one 
another.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require 
seat belt use.
All states and provinces require use of child restraints 
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213.
All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in 
vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-
shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly 
recommend their use.
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 will 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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63 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
• Pregnant women should also use a lap-
shoulder belt. The lap belt portion should be 
positioned as low as possible on the hips to 
avoid any possible pressure on the abdomen.• Never place your feet on the instrument panel 
or on the seat. Always keep both feet on the 
floor in front of the seat.Wa r n i n g !
USE CHILD RESTRAINTS PROPERLY.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 
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 will 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.Children too big for child restraint systems must 
ride in back seats using regular seat belts. Position 
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or 
neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve 
proper belt positioning.
J_A208.book Seite 63 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09