Page 4 of 346
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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Page 20 of 346
17 Contents – Instruments and controls
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls ............... 18
Center console .............................. 20
Overhead control panel ............... 21
J_A208.book Seite 17 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09
Page 24 of 346
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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Page 66 of 346
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
Page 77 of 346
74 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
When you sell the vehicle we strongly urge you to give
notice to the subsequent owner that it is equipped with
an “SRS” by alerting him to the applicable section in the
Operator’s Manual.
• No modifications of any kind may be made to
any components or wiring of the “SRS”. This
includes changing or removing any component
or part of the “SRS”, the installation of
additional trim material, badges etc. over the
steering wheel hub, front passenger airbag
cover, or front door trim panels, and
installation of additional electrical/electronic
equipment on or near “SRS” components and
wiring. Keep area between airbags and
occupants free of objects (e.g. packages,
purses, umbrellas, etc.).• An airbag system component within the
steering wheel gets hot after the airbag has
inflated. Do not touch.• Improper work on the system, including
incorrect installation and removal, can lead to
possible injury through an unintended
activation of the “SRS”.• In addition, through improper work there is
the risk of rendering the “SRS” inoperative or
causing unintended airbag deployment. Work
on the “SRS” must therefore only be performed
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
• For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the airbag unit or
emergency tensioning retractor, our safety
instructions must be followed. These
instructions are available at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.• Given the considerable deployment speed and
the textile structure of the airbags, there is the
possibility of abrasions or other injuries
resulting from airbag deployment.
J_A208.book Seite 74 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09
Page 117 of 346
114 Exterior lamp switch
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Exterior lamp switch
DOff
CParking lamps (also side marker lamps, taillamps,
license plate lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only: When the engine is running, the low
beam is additionally switched on.BParking lamps plus low beam or high beam
headlamps (combination switch pushed forward)
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two stops)
…Front fog lamps (pull out one stop) with parking
lamps and/or low beam headlamps on. Green
indicator lamp in lamp switch comes on.
„Rear fog lamp (pull out to 2nd detent) in addition
to fog lamps. Yellow indicator lamp in lamp switch
comes on.
Standing lamps
When the vehicle is parked on the street the standing
lamps (right or left side parking lamps) can be turned
on, making the vehicle more visible to passing vehicles.
The standing lamps cannot be operated with the
electronic key in steering lock position 2.
J_A208.book Seite 114 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09
Page 131 of 346
128 Audio system
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Operating and display elements
1On/off, volume, see page 131
2Telephone mode selector, see page 143
3Seek, see page 133, 137 and 141
4Radio mode selector, see page 133
5Tune, see page 133 and 134
Fast forward/reverse, see page 137
6CD mode selector, see page 1407Display panel
The cassette slot is located behind the display panel.
For notes on playing cassettes, see page 135.
8Alpha-numeric keypad for
station storage and frequency entry, see page 134
CD/Track access, see page 142
optional telephone, see page 143
9Function button, see page 134 and 142
J_A208.book Seite 128 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09
Page 132 of 346
129 Audio system
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 10Soft keys for
radio band selection, see page 133
tone controls, see page 131
scan, see page 134
Tape eject, see page 136
Tape track select, see page 136
Dolby, see page 138
CD Random/repeat, see page 142
11Tape mode selector, see page 135
Anti-theft system
If the power supply to the
radio has been interrupted,
“CODE” will appear on the
display when it is next
switched on. The radio will
only work after the five-digit code has been entered
using the buttons on the right-hand control panel.The code number is shown on the Radio code card,
supplied with the radio.
Important!
Never leave the Radio code card in the vehicle. Keep it in
a safe place.
J_A208.book Seite 129 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09
