11 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Important notice for California retail
buyers and lessees of Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to
a replacement of your vehicle or a refund
of the purchase price or lease price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and / or its au-
thorized repair or service facilities fail to fix
one or more substantial defects or mal-
functions in the vehicle that are covered by
its express warranty after a reasonable
number of repair attempts. During the pe-
riod of 18 months from original delivery of
the vehicle or the accumulation of
18 000 miles (approx. 29 000 km) on the
odometer of the vehicle, whichever occurs
first, a reasonable number of repair at-
tempts is presumed for a retail buyer or
lessee if one or more of the following oc-
curs: (1) the same substantial defect or mal-
function results in a condition that is
likely to cause death or serious bodily
injury if the vehicle is driven, that de-
fect or malfunction has been subject to
repair two or more times, and you have
directly notified Mercedes-Benz USA,
LLC in writing of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or mal-
function of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to repair
four or more times and you have direct-
ly notified us in writing of the need for
its repair, or(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason
of repair of the same or different sub-
stantial defects or malfunctions for a
cumulative total of more than
30 calender days. Written notification
should be sent to us, not a dealer, at
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Customer
Assistance Center, One Mercedes
Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645-0350.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 11 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
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
105 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1 or2.
Call up the trip odometer and main
odometer by pressing button
è
or
ÿ
on the multifunction steering
wheel (page 108).
Press button
j
or
k
until the
coolant temperature display appears.During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer and main odometer
(page 107) in the multifunction dis-
play.
Press and hold the reset knob on the in-
strument cluster (
page 22) until the
trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger
a warning in the multifunction display.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 105 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
107 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the key in the starter switch is turned to
position1. The control system enables you
to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Main odometer
3Trip odometer
4Automatic transmission program mode
5Current gear selector lever position
6Digital clock
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player, cassette player) will ap-
pear in English, regardless of the
language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his /her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 13.5 m) every second.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 107 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
358 Index
Tailgate 277
Tele Aid* 277
Telephone* 277
Washer fluid 278
Multifunction steering wheel 24, 108,
341
Buttons 108
N
Navigation system
Operating 114
See separate COMAND* operating in-
structions
Network provider 131
Night security illumination 100
Setting 122
O
Occupant safety 56
Airbags 57
Children and airbags 58
Children in the vehicle 65
Fastening the seat belt 40
Infant and child restraint systems 65
LATCH child seat anchors 70
Seat belts 40, 59
Odometer, main 23Oil
Adding 236
Checking level 235
Consumption 235
Dipstick 235
Filler neck 236
Oil level
Checking 233
One-touch gearshifting 136
Canceling gear range limit 136
Downshifting 136
Upshifting 136
Opening
Ashtray 207
Doors from the inside 88
Fuel filler flap 232
Fuel filler flap manually 288
Glove box 203
Hood 234
Side windows 185
Sliding/pop-up roof 187, 290
Sliding/pop-up roof in an
emergency 290
Sliding/pop-up roof with
SmartKey 188
Tailgate 87Windows 184
Windows with SmartKey 186
Operating
Audio system 161
Cassette player 114
CD player 113
COMAND* see separate operating in-
structions
Garage door opener 220
Integrated remote control 220
Navigation system 114
Radio 113
Radio transmitter 230
Safety 16
Telephone 161
Telephone* 131, 178
Vehicle outside the USA and
Canada 13
Operating safety 16
Audio system 161
Operator’s Manual 10
Ornamental moldings 250
Outer seats
Rear seat head restraints 92
Outside temperature indicator 106
Overdue service 246
S203 MY03_A.book Page 358 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
361 Index
Replacing
Backup lamp bulbs 297
Brake lamp bulbs 297
Bulbs 292
Front lamp bulbs 294
Front turn signal bulbs 294, 295
Fuses 315
High beam bulbs 294
High beam bulbs (xenon-type
headlamps) 295
License plate lamp bulbs 298
Low beam bulbs 294
Parking lamp bulbs 295, 296
Rear fog lamp bulbs 297
Rear lamp bulbs 293, 297
Rear turn signal bulbs 297
Side marker lamp bulbs 297
Standing lamp bulbs 295, 296
Wiper blades 299
Reporting
Safety defects 18
Reset knob in the instrument cluster 116
Resetting
All functions (control system) 116
All functions of a submenu 117
Fuel consumption 129Service indicator (FSS) 247
Trip odometer 105
Residual heat utilization 159
Residual ventilation 159
REST 342
Restraint system see Infant and child re-
straint systems 65, 69
Restraint systems 342
Reverse (manual transmission)
Shifting into 134
Rims 323
Roadside Assistance 12
Roadside assistance
Tele Aid* 213
Rolling code programming 219
RON 233
RON (Research Octane Number) 342
Roof rack 193
Rotating wheels 243
Rubber parts
Cleaning 252
S
Safety
Occupant 56
Safety belts see Seat belts 40Safety defects
Reporting 18
Safety systems
Driving 73
Saving current speed 191
Searching
Radio station 113
Seat belt force limiter 64
Seat belt height adjustment 42
Front seats 42
Rear outer seats 42
Seat belts 61
Cleaning 252
Fastening 40
Height adjustment 42
Proper use of 43, 63
Safety guidelines 59
Warning lamp 258
Seat cushion depth
Adjusting 93
Seat heater
Switching off 94
Switching on 94
S203 MY03_A.book Page 361 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
366 IndexTilt
Backrest 33
Head restraint 34
Seat cushion 33
Time
Setting hours 118
Setting minutes 118
Time display
Setting 119
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 233, 242
Tire speed rating 227
Tire traction 227
Tires 241, 323
Consumer information 337
Direction of rotation 242
Driving instructions 226
Retreads 241
Rims and tires 323
Service life 242
Temperature 243
Temperature grades 338
Traction 337
Tread depth 244
Wear pattern 243
Winter 244Tools 279
Tow-away alarm 25
Arming 80
Disarming 80
Disarming for transport 80
Tow-away alarm* 80
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit)
Installing 313
Towing the vehicle 310
Tracking services
For stolen vehicle 217
Traction 139, 343
Traction (Tires) 337
Transmission see Automatic
transmission 237
Transmission selector lever 289
Unlocking manually 289
Traveling abroad 229
Tread depth (tires) 244
Tread wear 337
Trim panel
Opening 315
Trip computer 128
Trip odometer
Resetting 105Trunk
Closing the lid 87
Trunk see Cargo compartment 87
Turn signal lamps
Replacing bulbs 292, 293
Turn signals 47
Additional in mirrors 292
Cleaning lenses 250
Front bulbs 292, 294, 296
Indicator lamps 23
Rear bulbs 293, 298
Turning off
Engine 52
Twin-reel roller blind
Installing 199
Luggage cover and partition net 197
Removing 198
U
Units
Setting speedometer units 119
Setting temperature units 119
Unlocking 30, 84
Centrally from inside 89
Driver’s door in an emergency 285
Fuel filler flap 232
Global 85S203 MY03_A.book Page 366 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM