
3 Contents 
DrivingControl and operation 
of radio transmitters  ................ 176
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  ................................. 177
Maintenance  ................................... 177
Tele Aid  ........................................... 178
Catalytic converter  ........................ 188
Emission control  ............................ 189
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
Block heater ................................. 211
Deep water  ................................... 211
Passenger compartment  ............ 211
Traveling abroad  ......................... 211
Cruise control  .................................212
Brake assist system 
(BAS)  ...........................................215
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ...........................................217
Four Wheel Electronic Traction 
System (4MATIC) ....................... 219
Electronic stability program 
(ESP)  ........................................... 220
Parking assist 
(Parktronic)  ............................... 224
What you should know 
at the gas station  ...................... 229
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ...................... 231
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator lamps 
in the instrument cluster .........234
On-board diagnostic system  .....234
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................234
Brake warning lamp  ..................235
Supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................236
Fuel reserve and fuel cap 
placement warning  ....................236
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp  ...............237
BAS / ESP malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................237
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................238
Seat belt warning lamp  .............238
Malfunction and indicator lamp 
in the center console  ................239
W210.book Seite 3 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11 

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
Tele Aid  ........................................... 178
Catalytic converter  ........................ 188
Emission control  ............................ 189
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
Block heater ................................. 211
Deep water  ................................... 211
Passenger compartment  ............ 211
Traveling abroad  ......................... 211Cruise control  ................................. 212
Brake assist system 
(BAS)  ........................................... 215
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ........................................... 217
Four Wheel Electronic Traction 
System (4MATIC)  ...................... 219
Electronic stability program 
(ESP)  ...........................................220
Parking assist 
(Parktronic) ................................224
What you should know 
at the gas station  .......................229
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ...................... 231
W210.book Seite 175 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11 

208 Driving instructions
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy road is 
always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the condition of 
the road whenever the outside temperatures are close to 
the freezing point.
We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires for the winter 
season for all four wheels to insure normal balanced 
handling characteristics. On packed snow, they can 
reduce your stopping distance as compared with 
summer tires. Stopping distance, however, is still 
considerably greater than when the road is not snow or 
ice covered.Tire speed rating
E 320:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “H”-rated tires, 
which have a speed rating of 130 mph (210 km / h).
E 430:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “W”-rated tires, 
which have a speed rating of 168 mph (268 km / h).
An electronic speed limiter for models E 320 and E 430 
prevents your vehicle from exceeding the speed rating.
Model E 55 AMG:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “Z”-rated tires.
An electronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from 
exceeding a speed of 155 mph (250 km / h).
Despite the tire rating, local speed limits should be 
obeyed. Use prudent driving speeds appropriate to 
prevailing conditions.
Wa r n i n g !
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will be 
substantially reduced. Under such weather 
conditions, drive, steer and brake with extreme 
caution.
Wa r n i n g !
Even when permitted by law, never operate a 
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed 
rating of the tires.
W210.book Seite 208 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11 

219 Driving systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Four Wheel Electronic Traction System (4MATIC) 
with Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
(Model with All Wheel Drive [AWD])
The 4MATIC improves vehicle’s ability to use available 
traction, e.g. during winter operation in mountains 
under snowy conditions, by applying power to all four 
wheels.
Important!
If the ESP warning lamp flashes:
•during take-off, apply as little throttle as possible,
•while driving, ease up on the accelerator.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road 
conditions.Caution!
Operational tests with the engine running can only be 
conducted on a 2-axle dynamometer.Otherwise the ESP 
will immediately be engaged and will apply the brakes 
to the spinning wheels.
If the vehicle is towed with one axle raised (see 
page 285), or when testing the parking brake on a brake 
test dynamometer, the engine must be shut off 
(electronic key in steering lock position 0 or 1).
If one or more wheels tend to spin, ESP will apply the 
brakes to them. The traction control for the front axle 
wheels deactivate at approximately 50 mph (80 km / h), 
and for the rear axle wheels at approximately 80 mph 
(130 km / h).
The warning lamp in the speedometer blinks at any 
speed as soon as one tire loses traction.
Note:
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the 
4MATIC is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz 
recommended M+S rated radial-ply tires and / or snow 
chains.
W210.book Seite 219 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11