
2 Contents 
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ................. 90
Trip and main odometer 
and sub menu  .............................. 94
Audio systems  .................................. 95
Radio  .............................................. 95
CD player  ....................................... 96
Cassette player  ............................. 97
Telephone  .......................................... 98
Telephone book  ............................ 98
Redialing  ..................................... 100
Incoming call  .............................. 102
Navigation system .......................... 103
Trip computer  ................................. 104
Malfunction message 
memory  ...................................... 106
Individual settings ......................... 108
Setting the audio volume ...............110
Flexible service system (FSS)  ....... 111
Engine oil level indicator ...............114
Engine oil consumption  .................115Exterior lamp switch ...................... 116
Night security illumination  .......... 117
Headlamp cleaning system  ........... 118
Combination switch  ....................... 119
Hazard warning flasher 
switch  ..........................................121
Automatic climate control ............ 122
Display and controls  ................. 124
Basic setting - 
automatic mode  ......................... 124
Economy ...................................... 125
Special settings  .......................... 125
Rear window defroster  .............. 126
Air recirculation  ........................ 127
Residual engine 
heat utilization  ........................... 127
Dust filter  .................................... 128
Audio and telephone, 
operation  .................................... 129
Power windows  .............................. 147
Sliding/pop-up roof  ....................... 149Interior lighting  ............................. 151
Rear window sunshade  ................. 152
Sun visors  ....................................... 152
Illuminated vanity mirrors ........... 153
Interior  ............................................ 153
Storage compartments, 
armrest and cup holder  ........... 153
Glove box  ..................................... 154
Ashtrays  .......................................... 157
Lighter  ............................................. 159
Enlarged cargo area – split folding 
rear seat backrest  ..................... 160
Loading instructions  ..................... 162
Cargo tie down rings  ..................... 163
Parcel net in front 
passenger footwell  .................... 164
Telephone, general  ........................ 164
Cellular telephone  ......................... 165
Garage door opener  ....................... 166
Ski sack  ........................................... 170
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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
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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 

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
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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 and sliding/pop-up 
roof 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  ................. 40Trunk 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
Rear head restraints  .................... 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  ................... 65
Self-test BabySmart
TM without 
special child seat installed  ......... 66
Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS)  ............................... 66
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR)  ............................ 67Airbags  .............................................. 68
Safety guidelines for the 
seat belt, emergency tensioning 
retractor and airbag  ..................... 74
Infant and child 
restraint systems  .......................... 76
Adjusting telescoping 
steering column  .......................... 79
Inside rear view mirror  .................. 80
Exterior rear view mirrors  ............. 81
Instrument cluster  ........................... 84
Indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ...................... 86
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ................. 90
Trip and main odometer 
and sub menu  .............................. 94
Audio systems  .................................. 95
Radio  .............................................. 95
CD player  ....................................... 96
Cassette player  ............................. 97
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36 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Automatic central locking
The central locking switch also operates the automatic 
central locking.
With the automatic central locking system activated, the 
doors and trunk are locked at vehicle speeds of approx. 
9 mph (15 km/h) or more. The fuel filler flap remains 
unlocked.
To a c ti va te :
With electronic key in steering lock position 2 hold 
upper portion of switch(1) for a minimum of 5 seconds.
To deactivate:
With electronic key in steering lock position 2 hold 
lower portion of switch(2) for a minimum of 5 seconds.
Notes:
If doors are unlocked with the central locking switch 
after activating the automatic central locking, and 
neither door is opened, then the doors remain unlocked 
even at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km/h) or 
more.If a door is opened from the inside at speeds of approx. 
9 mph (15 km/h) or less with the automatic central 
locking activated, the door will again be automatically 
locked at speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
Important!
When towing the vehicle, or with the vehicle on a 
dynamometer test stand, please, note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and the 
electronic key in steering lock position 2, the vehicle 
doors will lock if the left front wheel as well as the right 
rear wheel spin at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph 
(15 km/h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking, 
deactivate the automatic central locking.
Emergency unlocking in case of accident
The doors unlock automatically a short time after a 
strong deceleration is detected, such as in a collision 
(this is intended to aid rescue and exit).
Driving on rough roads may cause the vehicle to unlock. 
If necessary, the vehicle can be locked again with the 
central locking switch, see page 35.
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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 79;
inside rear view mirror, see page 80;
exterior rear view mirrors, see page 81.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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