
3 Contents 
DrivingControl and operation of 
radio transmitters  ..................... 176
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  ................................. 177
Maintenance  ................................... 177
Catalytic converter  ........................ 178
Emission control  ............................ 179
Tele Aid  ........................................... 180
Steering lock  ................................... 190
Starting and turning off 
the engine  .................................. 192
Automatic transmission  ............... 193
Parking brake  .................................202
Driving instructions  ......................203
Drive sensibly – save fuel  .........203
Drinking and driving .................203
Pedals  ...........................................203
Power assistance  ........................204
Brakes  ..........................................204Driving off ................................... 205
Parking  ........................................ 206
Tires  ............................................. 206
Snow chains  ............................... 209
Winter driving 
instructions  ................................ 209
Deep water  ...................................210
Passenger compartment  ............ 211
Traveling abroad  ......................... 211
Cruise control  .................................212
Brake assist system 
(BAS)  ...........................................214
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ........................................... 216
Electronic stability program 
(ESP)  ............................................ 218
What you should know 
at the gas station  ...................... 222
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ...................... 224
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ....................226
On-board diagnostic system 
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................226
Brake warning lamp  ..................227
Supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................228
Fuel reserve and fuel cap 
placement warning  ....................228
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp  ...............229
BAS/ESP malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................229
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................229
Telescoping steering column – 
indicator lamp .............................230
Seat belt warning lamp  .............230
J_C208_II.book Seite 3 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

4 Contents 
Malfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
center console  ........................... 231
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp ..... 231
Malfunction and 
warning messages in the 
multifunction display  ...............232
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit) ..................233
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ........................233
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR  ...........234
ABS-SYSTEM  ...............................235
BRAKE ASSIST  ...........................235
BRAKE LINING WEAR  ..............236
BRAKE FLUID  .............................236
PARKING BRAKE  .......................237
ENGINE FAN  ...............................237
COOLANT 
(coolant level)  .............................238
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ................239
LIGHTING SYSTEM  ....................240
LIGHT SENSOR ........................... 241STEER. WHEEL ADJUST.  .......... 241
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ................... 242
ELEC. STABIL. PROGRAM. 
(Electronic stability 
program)  ..................................... 243
REMOVE KEY  ............................. 243
WASHER FLUID  ......................... 244
TELE AID ..................................... 245
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  ..................................... 248
Shelf below rear window .............. 248
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ................................. 248
Fuses  ............................................... 249
Hood  ................................................ 251
Checking engine oil level ............. 253
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ................................... 254
Coolant level ................................... 254
Adding coolant  ........................... 255
Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 256Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  .........256
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment ................257
Vehicle jack .....................................258
Wheels  .............................................259
Tire replacement  ........................259
Rotating wheels  ..........................260
Spare wheel  .................................... 261
Changing wheels  ...........................262
Tire inflation pressure  ..................267
Battery  .............................................268
Jump starting  ..................................270
Towing the vehicle .........................272
Transmission selector lever, 
manually unlocking  ................... 274
Exterior lamps  ................................275
Headlamp assembly ................... 276
Taillamp assemblies  ..................278
Adjusting headlamp aim ...............280
Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................283
Synchronizing remote 
control  ..........................................285
J_C208_II.book Seite 4 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

19 Instruments and controls
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index For more detailed descriptions see index on page 313.
For adjustment of air outlets, refer to automatic climate 
control, see page 122.
1Side air outlet, adjustable
2Air volume control for side air outlet
3Exterior lamp switch, see page 116
4Parking brake release, see page 202
5Parking brake pedal, see page 202
6Hood lock release, see page 251
7Combination switch, see page 119
8Cruise control switch, see page 212
9Multifunction steering wheel, see page 90
Horn (with electronic key in steering lock 
position 1 or 2)
10Instrument cluster, see page 84
11Voice recognition system switch, see separate 
operating instructions
12Steering lock with ignition/starter 
switch, see page 19013Center air outlets, adjustable
14Air volume control for center air outlets
15Left front seat heater switch, see page 56
16Headlamp washer switch, see page 118
17Switch for rear seat head restraints, see page 52
18Hazard warning flasher switch, see page 121
19Central locking switch, see page 35
20Switch for tow-away alarm, see page 44
Indicator lamp for antitheft alarm system, see 
page 43
21Right front seat heater switch, see page 56
22Automatic climate control, see page 122 
Rear window defroster switch, see page 126
23Glove box (illuminated with electronic key in 
steering lock position 1 or 2), see page 154
24Audio system, see page 129
25Storage compartment
26Ashtray with lighter, see page 157
J_C208_II.book Seite 19 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

86 Instrument cluster
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
High beam
ABS malfunction, see page 229
Brake fluid low (except Canada), 
Parking brake engaged, see page 236
Brake fluid low (Canada only), 
Parking brake engaged, see page 236
BAS malfunction, see page 229
ESP malfunction, see page 229
ESP. Adjust driving to road condition, 
see page 229
Fasten seat belts, see page 230Telescoping steering column not locked, 
seepage230
SRS malfunction, see page 228
Engine malfunction indicator lamp. If the 
“CHECK ENGINE” malfunction indicator 
lamp comes on when the engine is running, 
it indicates a malfunction of the fuel 
management system, emission control 
system, systems which impact emissions, or 
the fuel cap is not closed tight. In all cases, 
we recommend that you have the 
m alf unc ti on che cked as s oon as  p oss ible,  s ee 
page 228
Function indicator lamp on the center console
Front passenger airbag automatically 
switched off, see page 231
ABSBRAKEBAS
ESP
SRSCHECK
ENGINE
J_C208_II.book Seite 86 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

157 Interior equipment
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Ashtrays
Center console, front
By touching the bottom of the cover lightly, the ashtray 
opens automatically.Prior to removing the ashtray insert, move the gear 
selector lever to position “N”.
To   r e m ove   as ht r ay :
Push sliding knob (1) toward the right to eject the 
insert.
To install ashtray:
Install insert into ashtray frame and push down to 
engage.
Wa r n i n g !
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle standing 
still. With the gear selector lever in position “N”, 
turn off the engine and set the parking brake. 
Otherwise the vehicle might move as a result of 
unintended contact with the gear selector lever.
J_C208_II.book Seite 157 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

175 Contents – Driving
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of 
radio transmitters  ..................... 176
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  ................................. 177
Maintenance  ................................... 177
Catalytic converter  ........................ 178
Emission control  ............................ 179
Tele Aid  ........................................... 180
Steering lock  ................................... 190
Starting and turning off 
the engine  .................................. 192
Automatic transmission  ............... 193
Parking brake  .................................202Driving instructions ...................... 203
Drive sensibly – save fuel  ........ 203
Drinking and driving  ................ 203
Pedals  .......................................... 203
Power assistance ........................ 204
Brakes .......................................... 204
Driving off ................................... 205
Parking  ........................................ 206
Tires  ............................................. 206
Snow chains  ............................... 209
Winter driving 
instructions  ................................ 209
Deep water  ...................................210
Passenger compartment  ............ 211
Traveling abroad  ......................... 211Cruise control  ................................. 212
Brake assist system 
(BAS)  ........................................... 214
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ........................................... 216
Electronic stability program 
(ESP)  ........................................... 218
What you should know 
at the gas station  .......................222
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ......................224
J_C208_II.book Seite 175 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

192 Starting and turning off the engine
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Starting and turning off the engine
Before starting
Ensure that parking brake is engaged and that selector 
lever is in position “P” or “N”. Turn electronic key in 
steering lock to position 2.
Starting
Do not depress accelerator.
Briefly turn electronic key in steering lock clockwise to 
the stop and release. The starter will engage until the 
engine is running.
If engine will not run, and the starting procedure stops, 
turn electronic key completely to the left and repeat 
starting the engine.
After several unsuccessful attempts, have the system 
checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.Important!
Due to the installed starter non-repeat feature, the 
electronic key must be turned completely to the left 
before attempting to start the engine again.
In areas where temperatures frequently drop below -4
°F 
(-20
°C) we recommend that an engine block heater be 
installed. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will 
advise you on this subject.
Note:
Too many unsuccessful starting attempts may discharge 
the battery.
Turning off
Turn the electronic key in the steering lock to position 0 
to stop the engine.
The electronic key can only be removed with the 
selector lever in position “P”.
J_C208_II.book Seite 192 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

193 Automatic transmission
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Automatic transmissionThe automatic transmission selects individual gears 
automatically, dependent upon
•Selector lever position
•Program mode selector
•Accelerator position
•Vehicle speed
The gear shifting process is continuously adapted, 
dependent on the driving style, the driving situation 
and the road characteristics.
Important!
When parking the vehicle or before working on the 
vehicle with the engine running, firmly depress the 
parking brake pedal and shift the selector lever into “P”.
J_C208_II.book Seite 193 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10