
5 Contents Emergency operation of 
sliding/pop-up roof  ...................286
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................287
Replacing wiper 
blade insert  ................................287
Roof rack  .........................................289
Vehicle careCleaning and care 
of the vehicle  .............................292
Power washer ..............................293
Tar stains  .....................................293
Paintwork, painted body 
components  .................................293
Engine cleaning ..........................294
Vehicle washing  .........................294
Ornamental moldings ................294
Headlamps, taillamps, 
turn signal lenses  ......................294Window cleaning  ....................... 295
Wiper blade  ................................ 295
Light alloy wheels  ..................... 295
Instrument cluster  ..................... 295
Steering wheel and 
gear selector lever  ..................... 295
Cup holder  .................................. 296
Seat belts ..................................... 296
Hard plastic trim items ............. 296
Headliner and shelf 
below rear window  .................... 296
Upholstery  .................................. 296
Plastic and rubber parts  ........... 296
Technical dataSpare parts service  ....................... 298
Warranty coverage  ........................ 298
Identification labels  ...................... 299
Layout of poly-V-belt drive  ........... 300
Technical data  ................................ 301Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. – 
capacities  ...................................305
Engine oils  ......................................307
Engine oil additives  .......................307
Air conditioner refrigerant ...........307
Brake fluid  ......................................307
Premium unleaded gasoline  ........308
Fuel requirements  .........................308
Gasoline additives  .........................309
Coolants ...........................................309
Consumer information ...................311
IndexIndex  ................................................ 313
J_C208_II.book Seite 5 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

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 or 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 page 283 and 285.
J_C208_II.book Seite 29 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

85 Instrument cluster
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Push buttons  V and W  for intensity of 
instrument lamps, see page 87
2Push button  Jfor resetting trip odometer, see 
page 89, or to acknowledge a malfunction or 
warning message, see page 106
3Coolant temperature gauge, see page 88
4Fuel gauge with reserve and fuel cap placement 
warning lamp, see page 228
5Outside temperature indicator, see page 88
6Left turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch on page 119
7ESP warning lamp, see page 2298Speedometer
9Trip odometer, see page 89
10Main odometer
11Multifunction indicator, see page 232
or FSS indicator, see page 111
or engine oil level indicator, see page 114
12Right turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch on page 119
13Tachometer, see page 89
14Gear range indicator display, see selector lever 
positions, see page 196
15Clock, see page 108
J_C208_II.book Seite 85 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

111 Flexible service system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Flexible service system (FSS)
(service indicator)
The FSS permits a flexible service schedule that is 
directly related to the operating conditions of the 
vehicle.
The symbol 9 or ½ appears together with a 
message in the multifunction display prior to the next 
suggested service. Depending on operating conditions 
throughout the year, the next service is calculated and 
displayed in days or distance remaining.The message is displayed for approx. 10 seconds when 
turning the electronic key in steering lock to position 2, 
or while driving when reaching the service warning 
threshold.
The symbols and messages indicate the type of service 
to be performed:
9Service A
½Service B
One of the following messages will appear in the display 
(e.g. Service A):
“SERVICE A – IN xx DAYS”
“SERVICE A – IN xx MILES” (Canada: KM)
“SERVICE A – EXCEEDED BY xx DAYS”
“SERVICE A – EXCEEDED BY xx MILES” (Canada: KM)
“SERVICE A – DUE NOW”
The next service due date is displayed either in days or 
in miles, depending on your driving style.
Once the suggested service term has passed, the symbol 
and message appear for approx. 30 seconds and a signal 
sounds every time when turning the electronic key in 
steering lock to position 2.
10
0
406080
60
40
mph
20km/h
20100
120
140160
80
100
180
200
220
240 160 120 140
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113 Flexible service system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Following a completed A or B service the 
Mercedes-Benz Center sets the counter mileage to 
10 000 miles (Canada: 15 000 km).
The counter can also be set by any individual. To do so:
Turn the electronic key in steering lock to position 2.
To call up the trip odometer and main odometer, press 
button è or ÿ on the multifunction steering 
wheel until the display appears. See page 94.
Press button j or k until the FSS indicator 
appears.
Press button  Jon the instrument cluster for 
approximately 4 seconds.The multifunction display will show the question: 
“DO YOU WANT TO RESET SERVICE INTERVAL? – 
CONFIRM BY PRESSING R”
Press button  J on the instrument cluster again for 
approximately 4 seconds, and hold until a signal 
sounds. The message “SERVICE INTERVAL HAS BEEN 
RESET” appears in the multifunction display.
The new service indicator is displayed with the reset 
distance of 10 000 miles (Canada 15 000 km).
If the FSS counter was inadvertently reset, have a 
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
However you choose to set your reference numbers, the 
scheduled services as posted in the Service Booklet 
must be followed to properly care for your vehicle.
J_C208_II.book Seite 113 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

119 Combination switch
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Combination switch
1Low beam (exterior lamp switch position B)
2High beam (exterior lamp switch position B)3High beam flasher (high beam available 
independent of exterior lamp switch position)
4Turn signals, right
5Turn signals, left
To signal minor directional changes, such as changing 
lanes on a highway, move combination switch to the 
point of resistance only and hold it there.
To operate the turn signals continuously, move the 
combination switch past the point of resistance (up or 
down). The switch is automatically canceled when the 
steering wheel is turned to a large enough degree.
Turn signal failure
If one of the turn signals fails, the turn signal indicator 
system flashes and sounds at a faster than normal rate.
P54.25-2034-26
2
3
4
4
5
5
1
J_C208_II.book Seite 119 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

121 Hazard warning flasher
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Ve hi c l e s   w i t ho u t   r a i n   s e n s o r :  
If the vehicle is standing still, the wiper will switch back 
to setting I, intermittent wiping.
Windshield wiper smears
If the windshield wiper smears the windshield, even 
during rain, activate the washer system as often as 
necessary. The fluid in the washer reservoir should be 
mixed in the correct ratio, see page 256.
Blocked windshield wiper
If the windshield wiper becomes blocked (for example, 
due to snow), switch off the wiper.
For safety reasons before removing ice or snow, remove 
electronic key from steering lock. Remove blockage.
Activate combination switch again (electronic key in 
steering lock position 1).Hazard warning flasher switch
The hazard warning flasher can be activated with the 
switch located in the dashboard.
To activate hazard warning flasher, press switch once. 
To deactivate, press switch again.
Note:
With the hazard warning flasher activated, the 
combination switch in position for either left or right 
turn, and the electronic key in steering lock position 2, 
only the respective left or right side turn signals will 
operate.
J_C208_II.book Seite 121 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

167 Garage door opener
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index For operation in the USA only: This device complies 
with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to 
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and 
(2) this device must accept any interference received, 
including interference that may cause undesired 
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device could void 
to the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Programming or reprogramming the integrated 
remote control:
1. Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 1 
or 2.
2. Hold the end of the hand-held transmitter of the 
device you wish to train approximately 2 to 5 inches 
(5 cm to 12 cm) away from the surface of the 
integrated remote control located on the inside rear 
view mirror, keeping the indicator lamp in view.3. Using both hands, simultaneously push the hand-
held transmitter button and the desired integrated 
remote control button. Do not release the buttons 
until completing step 4.
4. The indicator lamp on the integrated remote control 
will flash, first slowly and then rapidly. When the 
indicator lamp flashes rapidly, both buttons may be 
released (the rapid flashing lamp indicates 
successful programming of the new frequency 
signal). To program the remaining two buttons, 
follow steps 1 though 4.
Note: 
If after repeated attempts, you do not successfully 
program the integrated remote control device to learn 
the signal of the hand-held transmitter, the garage door 
opener could be equipped with the “rolling code 
feature”.
J_C208_II.book Seite 167 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10