
3 ContentsAutomatic transmission  ............... 195
Parking brake  .................................204
Driving instructions  ......................205
Drive sensibly – 
save fuel  .......................................205
Drinking and driving .................205
Pedals  ...........................................205
Power assistance  ........................206
Brakes  ..........................................206
Driving off  ...................................207
Parking  ........................................208
Tires  .............................................208
Snow chains  ................................ 211
Winter driving 
instructions  ................................. 211
Deep water  .................................. 213
Passenger compartment  ........... 213
Traveling abroad  ........................ 213
Cruise control  ................................. 214
Brake assist system 
(BAS)  ........................................... 216
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ........................................... 218Electronic stability program 
(ESP)  ........................................... 220
What you should know 
at the gas station  ...................... 224
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ...................... 226
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster .................... 228
On-board diagnostic system 
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp  ............................ 228
Brake warning lamp  .................. 229
Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS) indicator lamp  .... 230
Fuel reserve and fuel cap 
placement warning  ................... 230
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp  ............... 231
BAS/ESP malfunction 
indicator lamp  ............................ 231ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp ............................. 231
Telescoping steering column – 
indicator lamp .............................232
Seat belt warning lamp  .............232
Malfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
center console  ...........................232
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....232
Roll bar warning lamp  ...............233
Malfunction and 
warning messages in the 
multifunction display  ...............234
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit) ..................235
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ........................235
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR  ...........236
ABS-SYSTEM ...............................237
BRAKE ASSIST  ...........................237
BRAKE LINING WEAR  ..............238
BRAKE FLUID .............................238
PARKING BRAKE  .......................239
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83 Instrument cluster
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Push buttonsVandWfor intensity of instrument 
lamps, see page 85
2Push buttonJ for resetting trip odometer, see 
page 87, or to acknowledge a malfunction or 
warning message, see page 104.
3Coolant temperature gauge, see page 86
4Fuel gauge with reserve and fuel cap placement 
warning lamp, see page 230
5Outside temperature indicator, see page 86
6Left turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch on page 117
7ESP warning lamp, see page 2318Speedometer
9Trip odometer, see page 87
10Main odometer
11Multifunction indicator, see page 88
or FSS indicator, see page 109
or engine oil level indicator, see page 112
12Right turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch on page 117
13Tachometer, see page 87
14Gear range indicator display, see selector lever 
positions on page 198
15Clock, see page 106
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224 What you should know at the gas station
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
What you should know at the gas station
Fuel supplyOpen flap by pushing near front (arrow). Turn fuel cap 
to the left and hold on to it until possible pressure in 
tank has been released, then remove cap. Failure to 
remove slowly could result in personal injury.
Manual release of fuel filler flap, see page 299.
Fuel
To prevent fuel vapors from escaping into open air, fully 
insert filler nozzle unit. Only fill fuel tank until the filler 
nozzle unit cuts out – do not top up or overfill.
Leaving the engine running and the fuel cap open can 
cause the “CHECK ENGINE” lamp to illuminate.
Fuel tank capacity approx. 16.4 US gal (62.0 l).
This includes approx. 2.1 US gal (8.0 l) reserve. Use 
premium unleaded gasoline: Posted Octane Index 91 
(Average of 96 RON/86 MON).
Wa r n i n g !
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous. It 
burns violently and can cause serious injury. 
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid inhaling 
fumes and skin contact, extinguish all smoking 
materials. Never allow sparks, flame or smoking 
materials near gasoline!
Wa r n i n g !
Overfilling of fuel tank may result in creating 
pressure in the system which could cause a gas 
discharge such as the gas spraying back out upon 
removing the filler nozzle which could cause 
personal injury.
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227 Contents – Instrument cluster display
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ....................228
On-board diagnostic system 
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................228
Brake warning lamp  ..................229
Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS) indicator lamp  ....230
Fuel reserve and fuel cap 
placement warning  ....................230
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp  ............... 231
BAS/ESP malfunction 
indicator lamp ............................. 231
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp ............................. 231
Telescoping steering column – 
indicator lamp .............................232
Seat belt warning lamp  .............232Malfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
center console  ........................... 232
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp  .... 232
Roll bar warning lamp  .............. 233
Malfunction and 
warning messages in the 
multifunction display  .............. 234
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit)  ................. 235
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ....................... 235
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR  .......... 236
ABS-SYSTEM  .............................. 237
BRAKE ASSIST ........................... 237
BRAKE LINING WEAR .............. 238
BRAKE FLUID  ............................ 238
PARKING BRAKE  ....................... 239
ENGINE FAN ............................... 239
COOLANT (coolant level)  ......... 240
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ............... 241LIGHTING SYSTEM ....................242
LIGHT SENSOR ...........................243
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST. ...........243
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ...................244
ELEC. STABIL. PROG. 
(Electronic stability 
program)  ......................................245
REMOVE KEY  .............................245
WASHER FLUID  .........................246
TELE AID  .....................................247
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230 Malfunction and indicator lamps
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Supplemental restraint system (SRS) indicator lamp
The operational readiness of the airbag 
system is verified by the indicator lamp 
“SRS” in the instrument cluster when 
turning the electronic key in steering lock to position 1 
or 2. If no malfunction is detected, the lamp will go out 
after approximately 4 seconds; after the lamp goes out, 
the system continues to monitor the components and 
circuitry of the airbag system and will indicate a 
malfunction by coming on again.
See page 67 for notes on airbags, see page 66 for belt 
tensioners and page 75 for infant and child seat 
restraint.Fuel reserve and fuel cap placement warning
When the warning lamp (1) comes on after starting the 
engine, or if it comes on while driving, it indicates that 
the fuel level is down to the reserve quantity of 
approximately 2.1 gal (8 liters).
The warning lamp blinks when the fuel cap is not 
closed, or a fuel system leak has been detected. 
Retighten cap and see if lamp goes out after restart and 
next OBD selfcheck.
If the warning lamp continues to blink after closing the 
fuel cap correctly, have the fuel system checked at your 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Leaving the engine running and the fuel cap open can 
also cause t he “CHECK ENGINE” lamp to illuminate, see 
page 228.
Wa r n i n g !
In the event a malfunction of the “SRS” is indicated 
as outlined above, the “SRS” may not be 
operational. For your safety, we strongly 
recommend that you visit an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have the 
system checked; otherwise the “SRS” may not be 
activated when needed in an accident, which could 
result in serious or fatal injury, or it might deploy 
unexpectedly and unnecessarily which could also 
result in injury.SRS
1
P54.30-4557-21
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319 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Windshield washer system
(MB Windshield washer concentrate “S” 
1)approx. 7.4 US qt (7.0 l)
Fuel tank
including a reserve of
(Premium unleaded gasoline: 
Posted Octane 91 (Avg. of 96 RON/86 MON))approx. 16.4 US gal (62.0 l)
approx. 2.1 US gal (8.0 l)
Air conditioner system
(R-134a refrigerant and special
PA C   l u b r i c a n t  (Never R-12))
1 Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and 
commercially available premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing. Follow suggested mixing ratios, see 
page 259.Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. Model Capacity
J_A208.book Seite 319 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

330 Index
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Exterior lamp malfunction 
and warning message  ..............................................242
Exterior lamp switch  ......................................................114
Exterior lamps  ................................................................ 280
Adjusting headlamp aim .......................................... 285
Fog lamps  ....................................................................114
Headlamps  ......................114, 242, 243, 281, 285, 305
Low and high beam  .......................................... 117, 282
Parking lamps  ...................................................114, 282
Replacing bulbs ......................................................... 280
Side marker lamp, front  ........................................... 284
Standing lamps ..................................................114, 282
Taillamp assemblies  ................................................. 283
Turn signal lamp  ............................................... 117, 282
FFirst aid kit  ..................................................................... 250
Flat tire
See changing wheels  ................................................266
Flexible service system (FSS)  ...................................... 109
Fuel
Gasoline additives  ....................................................322
Premium unleaded gasoline  .................. 180, 319, 321Fuel cap placement warning  ....................................... 230
Fuel filler flap
Manual release  ......................................................... 299
Fuel requirements  .........................................................321
Fuel reserve warning .................................................... 230
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities  ............... 318
Fuse box  ......................................................................... 252
Fuses, electrical ............................................................. 252
GGarage door opener  ....................................................... 158
Gasoline
Additives .................................................................... 322
Fuel requirements  ....................................................321
Premium unleaded  ...................................................321
General notes on the central locking system  .............. 26
Global locking
See Central locking system  ....................................... 29
Glove box  ......................................................................... 151
J_A208.book Seite 330 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09