Page 297 of 370

303 Practical hints
Flat tire
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last 
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.Minispare wheel
In the case of a flat tire, you may tempo-
rarily use the Minispare wheel when ob-
serving the following restrictions:
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of 
50 mph (80km/h).
Drive to the nearest tire repair facility 
to have the flat tire repaired or re-
placed as appropriate.
Do not operate vehicle with more than 
one spare wheel mounted.
Warning!
G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be re-
paired immediately. Do not continue to drive 
under these circumstances! Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call 
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect mounting bolts or improperly 
tightened mounting bolts can cause the 
wheel to come off. This could cause an acci-
dent. Be sure to use the correct mounting 
bolts.
Warning!
G
Use only genuine equipment 
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts. They are identi-
fied by the Mercedes star. Other wheel bolts 
may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could 
tip over.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are 
different from those of the road wheels. As 
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics 
change when driving with a Minispare wheel 
mounted.
The spare wheel should only be used tempo-
rarily, and replaced with a regular road 
wheel as quick as possible.
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        Page 324 of 370

330 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their 
suitability in our engines. Therefore, use 
only engine oils recommended by 
Mercedes-Benz. Information on recom-
mended brands is available in the Factory 
Approved Service Products pamphlet, or at 
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Please follow FSS recommendations for 
scheduled oil changes. Failure to do so 
could result in engine damage not covered 
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil. 
They may be harmful to the engine opera-
tion.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from 
blending oil additives are not covered by 
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG 
lubricating oil is used in the air conditio-
ning system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil, otherwise damage to the 
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point 
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced 
through the absorption of moisture from 
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture 
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the 
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by 
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.
S203 MY03_A.book  Page 330  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM 
     
        
        Page 334 of 370

340 Technical termsCOMAND*
(Cockpit Management and Data Sys-
tem)
Information and operating center for 
vehicle sound and communications 
systems, including the radio and navi-
gation system, as well as for other op-
tional equipment (CD changer*, 
telephone*, etc.).
Control system
The control system is used to call up vehi-
cle information and to change component 
settings. Information and messages ap-
pear in the multifunction display. The driv-
er uses the buttons on the multifunction 
steering wheel to navigate through the sys-
tem and to adjust settings.
Cruise control
Driving convenience system for automati-
cally maintaining the vehicle speed set by 
the driver.Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer and 
placed on the cylinder block to uniquely 
identify each engine produced.
Engine oil viscosity
Measurement for the inner friction (viscos-
ity) of the oil at different temperatures. The 
higher the temperature an oil can tolerate 
without becoming thin, or the lower the 
temperature it can tolerate without be-
coming viscous, the better the viscosity.
ESP
(Electronic Stability Program)
Improves vehicle handling and direc-
tional stability.
ETD
(Emergency Tensioning Device)
Device which deploys in certain frontal 
and rear collisions exceeding the sys-
tem's threshold to tighten the seat 
belts.
->SRSFSS
(Flexible Service System)
Service indicator in the multifunction 
display that informs the driver when 
the next vehicle maintenance service is 
due.
Gear range
Number of gears which are available to the 
automatic transmission for shifting. The 
automatic gear shifting process can be 
adapted to specific operating conditions 
using the selector lever.
GPS
(Global Positioning System)
Satellite-based system for relaying 
geographic location information to and 
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers. Employs CD digital maps for 
navigation.S203 MY03_A.book  Page 340  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM 
     
        
        Page 342 of 370

348 IndexButton
Audio system 164
C
CAC (Customer assistance center) 339
California
Important notice 11
Calling up
Range (distance to empty) 130
Service indicator 247
CAN system 339
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 328
Cargo area see Cargo compartment 87
Cargo compartment
Auxiliary fuse box 315
Lighting 103
Parcel net 196
Storage compartment inside 197
Tailgate 87
Tie-down rings 202
Cargo tie-down rings 202
Casette mode
Playing cassettes 170
Cassette player
Operating 114
Catalytic converter 230CD changer* 174
CD mode 174
CD player
Operating 113
Center console 25
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 259
Lower part 26
Upper part 25
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 119
Central locking
Automatic 88
From inside 89
Switch 89
Switching on/off (control 
system) 125
Unlocking from inside 89
Central locking switch 89
Certification label 320
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey) 287
Key setting 126
Changing CDs 174
Charcoal filter 157
Charging
Vehicle battery 306CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator 
lamp 23, 258
Checking
Coolant level 233, 238
Oil level 233, 235
Tire inflate pressure 233
Vehicle lighting 233
Child safety 65
Airbags 58
Infant and child restraint systems 62, 
65
LATCH child seat anchors 70
Child safety switch see Blocking of rear 
door window operation 71
Child seat anchors see LATCH child seat 
anchors 70
Cigarette lighter 208
Cleaning
Cup holder 251
Gear selector lever 251
Hard plastic trim items 252
Headlamps 143
Headliner 252
Instrument cluster 251
Leather upholstery 252
Light alloy wheels 251S203 MY03_A.book  Page 348  Tuesday, January 28, 2003  2:22 PM