
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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46 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The slide switches are located in each door.
We recommend to adjust the power seat in the following 
order:
1Seat, up/down 
Press the switch (up/down direction) until 
comfortable seating position with still sufficient 
headroom is reached.
2Seat, fore/aft 
Press the switch (fore/aft direction) until a 
comfortable seating position is reached that still 
allows you to reach the accelerator/brake pedal safely. The position should be as far rearward as 
possible, consistent with ability to properly operate 
controls.
Note:
Do not move the front passenger seat completely 
forward if objects are stored in the parcel net in the 
front passenger side footwell. Items in the net may 
be damaged.
3Seat cushion tilt 
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until 
your legs are lightly supported.
4Backrest tilt 
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until 
your arms are slightly angled when holding the 
steering wheel.
5Head restraint 
During seat adjustment, the head restraint is 
automatically adjusted based on seat (fore/aft) 
position to support the back of the head 
approximately at ear level. Please check the position 
of the head restraint to assure that it supports the 
back of the head approximately at ear level. The 
head restraint angle can also be adjusted manually.
87
4
52
2
1
3
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47 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
Your vehicle is equipped with power head restraints, do 
not try to raise or lower them manually.
Only minor personal adjustments, as described below, 
should then be required.
For steering wheel adjustment, see page 77;
inside rear view mirror, see page 78;
exterior rear view mirrors, see page 79.Caution!
Do not remove head restraints except when mounting 
seat covers. For removal see page 51. Whenever 
restraints have been removed be sure to reinstall them 
before driving.
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48 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Memory storing and recalling
6Memory button
7Position buttonsStoring
Three sets of seat/head restraint positions may be 
programmed into memory.
Together with the driver’s seat position you can store 
the exterior rear view mirror positions.
After the seat/head restraint and exterior rear view 
mirrors are positioned, push memory button (6), 
release, and within 3 seconds push position button “1”. 
A second and third set of positions for the same seat/
head restraint and exterior rear view mirrors can be 
programmed into memory by pushing first memory 
button (6) and then “2”, respectively “3”.
Note:
See page 79 for instructions on adjustment of mirrors.
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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.
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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.
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