Page 13 of 370
19 At a glance
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Door control panel
S203 MY03_A.book  Page 19  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM 
     
        
        Page 15 of 370
21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch
Turn signals
47
Windshield wipers
48
High beam
47
2
Cruise control lever
190
3
Instrument cluster
22,
104
4
Multifunction steering 
wheel
24,
108
5
Lever for voice control 
system*, see separate 
operating instructions
6
Overhead control panel
27
7
Opening glove box
203
8
Glove box
203
Item
Page
9
Center console
25
10
Starter switch
31, 44
11
Horn
12
Steering wheel adjustment 
handle (manual)
37
13
Steering wheel adjustment 
stalk (electrical)*
37
14
Hood lock release
234
15
Parking brake pedal
46
16
Door control panel
28
17
Parking brake release
51
18
Exterior lamp switch
47, 98
19
Exterior rear view mirror 
adjustment
38, 97
20
Headlamp washer switch
143
S203 MY03_A.book  Page 21  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM 
     
        
        Page 16 of 370
22 At a glanceInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterS203 MY03_A.book  Page 22  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM 
     
        
        Page 17 of 370

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Left turn signal indicator 
lamp
2
Speedometer
3
Right turn signal indicator 
lamp
4
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
258
5
<
Seat belt nonusage 
warning lamp
258
1
Supplemental re-
straint system indi-
cator lamp
56,
256
6
Multifunction display 
with:Trip odometer
105
Main odometer
Item
Page
Selector lever position
44,
138
Program mode
139
Outside temperature 
display
106
Digital clock
118
7
?
Engine malfunction 
indicator lamp
258
v
Electronic Stability 
Program (ESP) 
warning lamp
75,
254
A
High beam head-
lamp indicator
47,
101
E
Indicator lamp with-
out function
1
1The indicator lamp illuminates briefly when you
turn the key in the starter switch to position2.
DTRIndicator lamp with-
out function
1
Item
Page
8
-
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
73,
255
;
Brake warning 
lamp, except Cana-
da
46,
257
3
Brake warning 
lamp, Canada only
9
Tachometer
10
Reset knob:
Resetting trip odome-
ter
105
Resetting individual 
settings
116
Instrument cluster illu-
mination
104
S203 MY03_A.book  Page 23  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM 
     
        
        Page 32 of 370

38 Getting startedAdjustingSteering wheel adjustment, electrical*
The stalk is located on the steering column 
(lower left).
1Steering column, lengthen or shorten
2Steering column, height
Turn the key in the starter switch to 
position1 or2.
or
Open the driver’s door.Steering column, lengthen or shorten
Move stalk forward or backward in the 
direction of arrow1 until a comfortable 
steering wheel position is reached with 
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Steering column, height
Move stalk up or down in the direction 
of arrow2. Make sure that your legs 
can move freely and that all the dis-
plays (including malfunction and indi-
cator lamps) on the instrument cluster 
are clearly visible.
Mirrors
Adjust the inside and exterior rear view 
mirrors before driving so that you have a 
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.
Inside rear view mirror
Manually adjust the inside rear view 
mirror.
More information can be found in the 
“Controls in detail” section (
page 141).
iWith the memory function, you can 
store seat positions together with set-
tings for the steering wheel and the ex-
terior rear view mirrors (
page 95).
Warning!
G
In the case of an accident liquid electrolyte 
may escape the mirror housing if the mirror 
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with 
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system. 
In case it does, immediately flush affected 
area with water, and seek medical help if 
necessary.
S203 MY03_A.book  Page 38  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM 
     
        
        Page 33 of 370

39 Getting started
Adjusting
Exterior rear view mirrorThe buttons are located above the exterior 
lamp switch.
1Driver’s side mirror
2Adjustment button
3Passenger side mirror
Make sure that the ignition is switched 
on.
All the lights in the instrument cluster 
light up.
Press button 1 for the left mirror or but-
ton 3 for the right mirror.
Push adjustment button 2, up, down, 
left or right according to the setting de-
sired.
More information can be found in the 
“Controls in detail” section (
page 141).
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passenger 
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror 
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface 
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror 
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
side rear view mirror or glance over your 
shoulder before changing lanes. !Electrolyte drops coming into contact 
with the vehicle paint finish can only be 
completely removed while in their liq-
uid state by applying plenty of water.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing 
is forcibly pushed forward or rearward, 
reposition it by applying firm pressure 
until it snaps into place. The mirror 
housing is now properly positioned and 
you can adjust the mirror normally.iWith the memory function*, you can 
store seat positions together with set-
tings for the steering wheel and the ex-
terior rear view mirrors (
page 95).
S203 MY03_A.book  Page 39  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM 
     
        
        Page 40 of 370

46 Getting startedDrivingParking brake 
1Release handle
2Parking brake
Release the parking brake by pulling on 
handle1.
The indicator lamp 
;
 (USA only) or 
3
 (Canada only) in the instrument 
cluster goes out. 
Driving
Depress the brake pedal.
Move selector lever to positionD orR 
(manual transmission: first or reverse 
gear).
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto-
matic central locking system engages 
and the locking knobs drop down.After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion engages at a higher revolution. This al-
lows the catalytic converter to reach its 
operating temperature earlier.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
key from the starter switch, and lock the ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in 
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked 
vehicle. Children could release the parking 
brake, which could result in an accident 
and/or serious injury.
iVehicles with automatic transmission: 
Wait for the gear selection process to 
complete before setting the vehicle in 
motion.
iYou can open a locked door from the 
inside. Open door only when conditions 
are safe to do so.!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes 
premature brake and drivetrain wear.!If you hear a warning signal when driv-
ing off, you have forgotten to release 
the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.
S203 MY03_A.book  Page 46  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM 
     
        
        Page 42 of 370

48 Getting startedDrivingHigh beam
Push the combination switch forward.
The high beam symbol 
A
 in the 
instrument cluster lights up.
More information can be found in the 
“Controls in detail” section (
page 101).
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is on the left of the 
steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
2Switching on windshield wipers 
Make sure that the ignition is switched 
on.Switching on windshield wipers
Turn the combination switch to the de-
sired position depending on the inten-
sity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speed
iTo signal minor directional changes, 
move combination switch to point of 
resistance only and release. The turn 
signal blinks three times.
iVehicles without rain sensor*: Fast 
wiper speed III goes to setting II when 
the vehicle is standing still.
Vehicles with rain sensor*: Intermittent 
wiping interval dependent on wetness 
of windshield. Wiping will not occur 
with a door open.
S203 MY03_A.book  Page 48  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM