
4 Contents
ENGINE FAN  ...............................239
COOLANT (coolant level)  ..........240
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ................ 241
LIGHTING 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
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  .....................................250
Shelf below rear window  ..............250
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ..................................250
Luggage cover .................................250
Fuses  ................................................252
Hood  .................................................254
Checking engine oil level  .............256Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ................................... 257
Coolant level ................................... 257
Adding coolant  ........................... 258
Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 259
Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  ........ 259
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment  ............... 260
Vehicle jack  .................................... 261
Wheels  ............................................ 262
Tire replacement  ....................... 262
Rotating wheels  ......................... 263
Spare wheel .................................... 264
Changing wheels  ........................... 266
Tire inflation pressure  ..................271
Battery ............................................. 272
Jump starting  ..................................274
Towing the vehicle  .........................276
Exterior lamps  ............................... 280
Headlamp assembly  .................. 281
Taillamp assemblies  .................. 283
Adjusting headlamp aim  .............. 285Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................288
Synchronizing remote 
control  .........................................290
Raising soft top manually ............. 291
Antenna  ...........................................298
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................299
Replacing wiper blade insert  .......299
Vehicle careCleaning and care 
of the vehicle  .............................302
Power washer ..............................303
Paintwork, painted body 
components  .................................303
Engine cleaning ..........................304
Tar stains  .....................................304
Vehicle washing  .........................304
Ornamental moldings ................304
Headlamps, taillamps, 
turn signal lenses  ......................305
Window cleaning  .......................305
Plastic and rubber parts ............305
J_A208.book Seite 4 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

26 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Start lock-out
Important!
Removing the electronic key from the steering lock 
activates the start lock-out. The engine cannot be 
started.
Inserting the electronic key in the steering lock 
deactivates the start lock-out.
Note:
In case the engine cannot be started (vehicle’s battery is 
in order), the system is not operational. Contact an 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call 1-800-FOR-
MERCedes (in the USA) or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).General notes on the central locking system
If the electronic key is inserted in the steering lock, the 
vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked with the remote 
control.
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked:
•Aim transmitter eye at a receiver of either door 
han d le.  Check  t he b atter ies  of t he elec tr oni c key,  se e 
page 288, or synchronize the remote control, see 
page 290.
•Use the mechanical key to unlock the driver’s door. 
To start the engine, insert the electronic key in the 
steering lock. There could be a slight delay until the 
electronic key can be turned in the steering lock.
Important!
When unlocking the driver’s door with the mechanical 
key, the exterior lamps will flash and the alarm will 
sound.
To cancel the alarm, insert the electronic key in the 
steering lock or press buttonŒ or‹ on the 
electronic key.
J_A208.book Seite 26 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

27 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Central locking system
Radio frequency and infrared remote control
The electronic key has an integrated radio frequency 
and infrared remote control.
Due to the extended operational range of the remote 
control, it could be possible to unintentionally lock or 
unlock the vehicle by pressing the transmit button. If 
one of the transmit buttons is pressed, the battery check 
lamp lights up briefly – indicating that the batteries are 
in order. See page 288 for checking batteries.
The vehicle doors, trunk and fuel filler flap can be 
centrally locked and unlocked via remote control.
Opening and closing the windows remotely can only be 
done with the infrared portion of the remote control. 
Aim transmitter eye at a receiver (6 or 7), press and 
hold transmit button Œ or ‹.
If the electronic key is inserted in steering lock, the 
vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked with the remote 
control.1Transmit button
‹ Locking
Œ Unlocking
Š Opening trunk (if not separately locked)
2Lamp for battery check (see page 288 for changing 
batteries if it does not light up briefly)
3PANIC button
4Transmitter eye
5Locking tab for mechanical key
P80.35-2032-26
24
3
5
1
J_A208.book Seite 27 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

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 

31 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Opening and closing windows from outside
Aim transmitter eye of remote control at a door receiver.
To o pen :
Continue to press transmit button Œ after unlocking 
the vehicle.
The windows begin to open after approx. 1 second.
To interrupt opening procedure, release transmit 
button.
To c lo se:
Continue to press transmit button ‹ after locking 
the vehicle.
The windows begin to close after approx. 1 second.
To interrupt closing procedure, release transmit button.Note:
If the windows cannot be operated automatically by 
pressing the transmit button of the remote control 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 page 288 
and 290.
Wa r n i n g !
Never operate the windows if there is the 
possibility of anyone being harmed by the opening 
or closing procedure.In case the procedure causes potential danger, the 
procedure can be immediately halted by releasing 
the remote control button. To reverse direction of 
movement press Œ for opening or ‹ for 
closing.
J_A208.book Seite 31 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

41 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Trunk lid emergency release 
(vehicles built prior to September 2001)
The emergency release button (1) is located in the trunk 
lid.
Briefly press emergency release button (1).
All doors, the fuel filler flap, and the trunk unlock; and 
the trunk lid opens.
The vehicle production date (e.g. 09 / 01) can be found 
on the certification label, which is located on the 
driver’s door pillar, see page 311.Note:
The emergency release button (1) only unlocks and 
opens the trunk while the vehicle is not in motion.
Important!
The emergency trunk lid release button (1) does not 
open the trunk lid, if the trunk has been locked using 
the mechanical key or if the vehicle battery is 
discharged or disconnected.
Illumination of the emergency release button (1):
The button will blink for 30 minutes after opening the 
trunk.
The button will blink for 60 minutes after closing the 
trunk.
1
J_A208.book Seite 41 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

49 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Recalling
To recall a seat/head restraint and exterior rear view 
mirror position, push and hold position button “1”, “2” 
or “3” until seat/head restraint and exterior rear view 
mirror movement has stopped. The seat/head restraint 
and exterior rear view mirror movement stops when the 
position button is released.
Caution!
Do not operate the power seats using the memory 
button if the backrest is in an excessively reclined 
position. Doing so could cause damage to front or rear 
seats.
First move the backrest to an upright position.Synchronizing power seats and head restraints
If the power supply was interrupted (battery 
disconnected or empty), the power seats and head 
restraints are no longer adjusted automatically.
To resynchronize the adjustment feature, turn 
electronic key in steering lock to position 2, move the 
seat completely forward and the head restraint fully 
down, and hold respective buttons for approx. 
2seconds.
J_A208.book Seite 49 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

110 Flexible service system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The service indicator disappears automatically after 
30 seconds or if button  J on the instrument cluster is 
pressed.
Calling up service indicator manually:
Turn the electronic key in steering lock to position 1 
or 2.
Call up the trip odometer and main odometer, by 
pressing button è or ÿ on the multifunction 
steering wheel until the display appears. See page 92.
Press button j or k until the FSS indicator 
appears. 
Pressing the è or ÿ button displays the next or 
previous system.
Important!
The FSS indicator does not include an engine oil level 
indicator. See page 112 for engine oil level indicator.Notes:
When disconnecting vehicle battery for one or more 
days at a time, such days will not be counted. Any such 
days not counted by the FSS can be added by your 
Mercedes-Benz Center. 
The interval between services is determined by the type 
of driving for which the vehicle is used. For example, 
driving at extreme speeds, and cold starts combined 
wi t h short di stan ce d r ivi ng in  which the e ngin e d oes  not 
reach operating normal temperature, reduce the interval 
between services.
J_A208.book Seite 110 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09