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.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 303 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 311 of 370
317 Technical data
Spare parts service
Warranty coverage
Identification labels
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Engine
Rims and Tires
Electrical system
Main Dimensions
Weights
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Consumer information
S203 MY03_A.book Page 317 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 318 of 370
324 Technical dataRims and TiresSpare wheel
Your vehicle is equipped with either a
spare wheel with full size tire or a Mini-
spare wheel.
Spare wheel with full size tire
Minispare wheelRim (steel)
7J x16 H2
Wheel offset
1.46 in (37 mm)
All season tire
(radial-ply tire)
205/55 R16 91 H
Rim (steel)
3.5B x16 H2
Wheel offset
0.67 in (17 mm)
Tire
T 125/90 R 16 B98
1
1Must not be used with snow chains.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 324 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 346 of 370

352 Index
Checking level 235
Consumption 235
Display messages 270
Filler neck 236
Messages in display 237, 270
Viscosity 340
Engine oil level see Oil level 233
ESP 23, 75, 340
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP 78
Messages in display 268
Switching off 77
Switching on 77
Warning lamp 254
ETD 340
Safety guidelines 59
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 64
Ethanol fuel
At the gas station 232
Switching fuels 332
Exterior lamp switch 98
Exterior lamps
Delayed shut-off 122
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 39
Parking position for 128F
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 119
Fastening the seat belts 40
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 192
First aid kit 279
Flat tire 300
Lowering the vehicle 304
Mounting the spare wheel 300
Preparing the vehicle 300
Spare wheel 281
Flexible fuel vehicles 329, 332
At the gas station 232
Switching fuels 332
Flexible Service System (FSS) 246
Flexible service system (FSS) 340
Fog lamp, rear 100, 293
Fog lamps
Replacing bulbs 292
Fog lamps, front 100
Messages in display 274
Replacing bulbs 293
Switching on 100
Four wheel electronic traction system
(4MATIC) with ESP 784MATIC 78
Front airbags 60
Front lamps
Bi-Xenon type 295
Halogen-type 294
Messages in display 272–275
Replacing bulbs 292, 294
Switching on 98
Front seat head restraints
Installing 91
Manual seat 91
Power seat* 91
Removing 91
Front seats
Heater 94
FSS 340
FSS (Flexible Service System) 246
Fuel 233
Additives 332
Cruising range 333
E85 (Ethanol fuel) 333
Fuel reserve warning lamp 258
Gasoline additives 332
Premium unleaded gasoline 233,
329, 331
Requirements 331
S203 MY03_A.book Page 352 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 356 of 370

362 IndexSeats 90
Adjusting 32
Easy entry/exit feature 90
Heater 94
Manual 33
Multicontour seat 93
Power seats 34
Rapid seat heating 94
Split rear bench seat 199
Securing cargo
Cargo tie-down rings 202
Selecting
Display 120
Selector lever 23
Lock 44
Position (automatic
transmission) 23, 135
Self-test
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 67
Tele Aid* 211
Service
Calling up the service indicator 247
Major service (Service B) 246
Minor service (Service A) 246
Overdue 246Spare parts 318
Types 246
When due 246
Service and Warranty Booklet
Loss of 319
Service and warranty information 10
Service indicator 246
Calling up 247
Clearing 246, 247
Service life (tires) 242
Service see Maintenance 246
Service System see FSS 246
Setting
Convenience functions 117, 126
Cruise control 191
Daytime running lamp mode 121
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 97
Higher speed in cruise control 192
Hours (clock) 118
Individual vehicle settings 116
Interior lighting delayed shut-off 124
Key dependent memory 127
Lamps and lighting (control
system) 121
Language, multifunction display 120Locator lighting 122
Lower speed in cruise control 192
Miles/kilometers in
speedometer 119
Minutes (clock) 118
Night security illumination 122
Parking position for exterior rear view
mirrors 128
Slower speed in cruise control 192
Speed in cruise control 192
Speedometer display mode 119
Station selection mode 125
Temperature (interior) 146, 154
Temperature indicator 119
Time display mode (Clock) 119
Units
Speedometer 119
Temperature 119
Settings
Convenience functions 126
Factory, SmartKey 85
Individual (SmartKey) 127
Lighting (control system) 121
Menus and submenus 109
Resetting all (control system) 116
Resetting in the submenu 117
S203 MY03_A.book Page 362 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 357 of 370

363 Index
Selective 85
Settings menu
Functions in 116
Individual vehicle settings 116
Submenus 116
Shift lock (Automatic transmission) 342
Shifting
Gear selector lever positions 138
Gearshift lever 134
Into optimal gear range (automatic
transmission) 136
Into reverse (manual
transmission) 134
Shutting off
Delayed (exterior lamps) 122
Side impact airbags 61
Side marker lamps
Replacing bulbs 292, 293, 297
Side windows
Automatic opening 185
Cleaning 251
Closing 184, 185, 186
Closing with SmartKey 186
Opening 184, 186
Opening fully 185
Opening with SmartKey 186Stopping 185
Synchronizing power windows 186
Simultaneous wiping and washing
Rear window wiper/washer 50
Windshield wipers 49
Single wipe 49
Ski sack 193
Removing 196
Unfolding and loading 193
Unloading and folding 195
Sliding/pop-up roof 187
Closing 187, 290
Closing with SmartKey 188
Opening 187, 290
Opening with SmartKey 188
Stopping 188
Synchronizing 189
SmartKey
Changing battery 287
Locking and unlocking 84
Opening and closing the slid-
ing/pop-up roof with 188
Opening and closing windows
with 186
Unlocking with 30
Snow chains 245Soft keys
Audio system 164
Spare fuses 315
Spare parts service 318
Spare wheel 281, 324
Bolts 282
Full size tire 281
Minispare 303
Minispare wheel 282
Mounting 300
Speed
Saving current 191
Speed settings
Cruise control 192
Speedometer 23
Settings units 119
Speedometer display mode
Selecting 119
Split rear bench seat 199
SRS 63
Indicator lamp 256
SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) 342
Standing lamps 98
Replacing bulbs 292, 293, 295, 296
S203 MY03_A.book Page 363 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM