2002 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 tension

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 the trunk ....................... 30
Opening and closing windows
and sliding/pop-up roof
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 seat head restraints ...............51
Rear seat head restraints ............... 52
Multicontour seat ............................ 53
Seat heater ........................................ 54
Seat ventilation ................................ 57
Seat belts and
integrated restraint system ....... 59
Seat belts .......................................... 59Seat belt nonusage
warning system ........................... 60
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system .................... 66
Self-test BabySmart
TM without
special child seat installed ......... 66
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) ............................................. 67
Emergency tensioning retractor
(ETR) ............................................. 68
Airbags .............................................. 69
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning retractor
and airbag .................................... 75
Infant and child
restraint systems ......................... 77
Steering wheel adjustment ............ 81
Rear view mirrors ............................ 82
Instrument cluster ........................... 86
Multifunction steering wheel,
multifunction display ................. 92
Trip and main odometer, FSS
and engine oil level display ....... 96
W210.book Seite 1 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11

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 the trunk ....................... 30
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 ................. 40
Trunk lid emergency release ......... 41Trunk lid emergency release ........ 42
Antitheft alarm system ................... 43
Tow-away alarm ............................... 44
Power seats front ............................. 45
Front seat head restraints ...............51
Rear seat head restraints ............... 52
Multicontour seat ............................ 53
Seat heater ........................................ 54
Seat ventilation ................................ 57
Seat belts and
integrated restraint system ....... 59
Seat belts .......................................... 59
Seat belt nonusage
warning system .......................... 60
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system ................... 66
Self-test BabySmart
TM without
special child seat installed ......... 66
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) ............................................. 67
Emergency tensioning retractor
(ETR) ............................................. 68
Airbags .............................................. 69Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning retractor
and airbag .................................... 75
Infant and child
restraint systems ......................... 77
Steering wheel adjustment ............ 81
Rear view mirrors ............................ 82
Instrument cluster ........................... 86
Multifunction steering wheel,
multifunction display ................. 92
Trip and main odometer, FSS
and engine oil level display ....... 96
Audio systems .................................. 97
Radio .............................................. 97
CD player ....................................... 98
Cassette player ............................. 99
Telephone ........................................ 100
Telephone book .......................... 100
Redialing ..................................... 102
Incoming call .............................. 104
Navigation system .......................... 105
Trip computer ................................. 106
Malfunction message memory .... 108
Individual settings ..........................110
W210.book Seite 22 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11

59 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats,
emergency tensioning retractors for all outboard seat
belts, dual front airbags, door mounted side impact
airbags and head protective window curtain airbags.
Their protective functions are designed to complement
one another.
Seat belts
Important
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require
seat belt use.
All states and provinces require use of child restraints
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in
vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-
shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly
recommend their use.
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
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 will 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.
W210.book Seite 59 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11

63 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Unfastening of seat belts
Push the release button (3) in the belt buckle (2).
Allow t he retractor to completely rewind t he seat belt by
guiding the latch plate (1).
Operation
The inertia reel stops the belt from unwinding during
sudden vehicle stops or when quickly pulling on the
belt. The locking function of the reel may be checked by
quickly pulling out the belt.
Wa r n i n g !
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY.• Seat belts can only work when used properly.
Never wear seat belts in any other way than as
described in this section, as that could result
in serious injuries in case of an accident.• Each occupant should wear their seat belt at all
times, because seat belts help reduce the
likelihood of and potential severity of injuries
in accidents, including rollovers. The
integrated restraint system includes “SRS”
(driver airbag, front passenger airbag, front
and rear door mounted side impact airbags,
head protection window curtain airbags for
side windows), “ETR” (seat belt emergency
tensioning retractors), and front seat knee
bolsters. The system is designed to enhance
the protection offered to properly belted
occ upan ts in c erta i n fron tal (front ai rb ags ) a nd
side (side impact and window curtain airbags)
impacts which exceed preset deployment
thresholds.
W210.book Seite 63 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11

67 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Supplemental restraint system (SRS)
Airbags are intended as a supplement to seat belts.
Airbags alone cannot protect as well as airbags plus
seat belts in impacts for which the airbags were
designed to operate, and do not afford any protection
whatsoever in crashes for which the airbags are not
designed to deploy.
The SRS uses two crash severity levels (thresholds) to
activate either the Emergency Tensioning Retractor
(ETR) or front airbag or both. Activation depends on the
direction and severity of the impact exceeding the
preset thresholds and whether the seat belt is fastened.Seat belt fastened
•first threshold exceeded:
ETR activates
•second threshold exceeded:
airbag also activates
Seat belt not fastened
Front seats:
•first threshold exceeded:
airbag activates, but not ETR
Rear outer seats:
•first threshold exceeded:
ETR activates
Driver, front passenger and rear outer seat systems
operate independently of each other.
W210.book Seite 67 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11

68 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR)
The seat belts for the front and outer rear seats are
equipped with emergency tensioning retractors. These
tensioning retractors are located in each belt’s inertia
reel and become operationally ready with the electronic
key in steering lock position 1 or 2.
The emergency tensioning retractors are designed to
activate only when the seat belts are fastened during
frontal impacts exceeding the first threshold of the SRS
and in rear impacts exceeding a preset severity level.
They remove slack from the belts in such a way that the
seat belts fit more snugly against the body restricting
its forward movement as much as possible.In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts, roll-
overs, certain side impacts, or other accidents without
sufficient frontal or rear forces, the emergency
tensioning retractors will not be activated. The driver
and passengers will then be protected by the fastened
seat belts and inertia reel in the usual manner.
For seat belt and emergency tensioning retractor safety
guidelines, see page 75.
Note:
The front passenger ETR activates only if the front
passenger seat is occupied.
Heavy objects on the front passenger seat can appear to
the “SRS” to indicate the presence of an occupant in
that seat which causes the passenger front airbag to
deploy and the ETR to activate in a crash exceeding the
appropriate threshold.
W210.book Seite 68 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11

70 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The following system components are monitored or
undergo a selfcheck: crash-sensor(s), airbag ignition
circuits, front seat belt buckles, emergency tensioning
retractors, seat sensor.
Initially, when the electronic key is turned from
steering lock position 0 to position 1 or 2, malfunctions
in the crash-sensors are detected and indicated (the
“SRS” indicator lamp stays on longer than 4 seconds or
does not come on).
Have the system checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
In the operational mode, after the indicator lamp has
gone out following the initial check, interruptions or
short circuits in the airbag ignition circuit and in the
driver and front passenger seat belt buckle harnesses,
and low voltage in the entire system are detected and
indicated.Note:
See page 236 for information on the Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) indicator lamp.
Wa r n i n g !
In the event a malfunction of the “SRS” is indicated
as outlined above, the “SRS” may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have the
system checked; otherwise the “SRS” may not be
activated when needed in an accident, which could
result in serious or fatal injury, or it might deploy
unexpectedly and unnecessarily which could also
result in injury.
W210.book Seite 70 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11

75 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care IndexSafety guidelines for the seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor and airbag
Wa r n i n g !
Accident research shows that the safest place for
children in an automobile is in the rear seat.
Should you choose to place a child 12 years old or
under in the front passenger seat of your vehicle,
you must properly use a BabySmart
TM child
restraint which will turn off the passenger side
front airbag. BabySmart
TM will not, however, turn
off the vehicle’s side impact airbag.
It should be noted that with respect to both front
and rear side impact airbags there is a possibility
for a side airbag related injury if occupants,
especially children, are not properly seated or
restrained when next to a side airbag which needs
to deploy rapidly in a side impact in order to do its
job.To help avoid the possibility of injury, please
follow these guidelines: (1) occupants, especially
children, should never place their bodies or lean
their heads in the area of the door where the side
airbag inflates. This could result in serious
injuries or death should the side airbag be
activated; (2) always sit upright, properly use the
seat belts and use an appropriately sized infant or
child restraint system for all children 12 years old
or under; and (3) always wear seat belts properly.
If you believe that, even with the use of these
guidelines, it would be safer for your rear seat
occupants to have both rear door mounted side
airbags deactivated, then deactivation can be
accomplished upon your written election to do so
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center at an
additional cost. Please contact your local
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call our
Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-
MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) for details.Wa r n i n g !
• Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced and
their anchoring points must also be checked.
Use only belts installed or supplied by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• Do not pass belts over sharp edges.• Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the belts.
W210.book Seite 75 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11