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
106 Controls in detailInstrument clusterOutside temperature indicatorThe temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 106 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
116 Controls in detailControl systemSettings menu
In the
SETTINGS
menu there are two func-
tions:
The function
RESET TO FACTORY SET-
TINGS
, with which you can reset all the
settings to the original factory settings.
A collection of submenus with which
you can make individual settings for
your vehicle.
Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until the
SETTINGS
menu is seen in the
display.Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all sub-
menus to the factory settings.
Press the reset knob in the instrument
cluster for approximately three sec-
onds.
In the display you will see the request
to press the reset knob again to con-
firm.
Press the reset knob again.
The functions of all the submenus will
reset to factory settings.Submenus in the Settings menu
Press button
k
or
j
.
In the display you see the collection of
the submenus.
Press button
ç
.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.
The submenus are arranged by hierarchy.
Scroll down with theç
button, scroll up
with the
æ
button.
Move within the submenus with the
k
or
j
button to the individual functions.
The settings themselves are made with
buttonæ
or
ç
.
iThe settings you have changed will not
be reset unless you confirm the action
by pressing the reset knob a second
time.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 116 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
117 Controls in detail
Control system
Resetting the functions of a submenu
For each submenu you can reset all the
functions to the factory settings.
Move to a function in the submenu.
Press the reset knob in the instrument
cluster for approximately three sec-
onds.
In the display you will see the request
to press the reset knob again to con-
firm.
Press the reset knob again.
All functions of the submenu will reset
to factory settings.
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus. De-
tailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following pag-
es.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
LIGHTING
VEHICLE
CONVENIENCE
Set time (hours)
Set daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Set station selection mode
(radio)
Activate easy-entry/exit feature
Set time (minutes)
Set locator lighting
Set automatic locking
Set key dependency
Select time display mode
Exterior lamps delayed shut-off
Set parking position for exterior
rear view mirror
Select temperature display
mode
Interior lighting delayed shut-off
Select speedometer display
modeSelect languageSelect display (speed display or
outside temperature)
S203 MY03_A.book Page 117 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
118 Controls in detailControl systemInstrument cluster submenu
Access the
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
submenu
via the
SETTINGS
menu. Use the
INSTRU-
MENT CLUSTER
submenu to change the in-
strument cluster display settings. The
following functions are available:Set time (hours)
Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
IN-
STRUMENT CLUSTER
submenu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
TIME SETTINGS – HOURS
.
The selection marker is on the hour set-
ting.
Press
æ
or
ç
to set the hour.Set time (minutes)
Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
IN-
STRUMENT CLUSTER
submenu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
TIME SETTINGS – MINUTES
.
The selection marker is on the minute
setting.
Press
æ
or
ç
to set the minutes.
Function
Page
Set time (hours)
118
Set time (minutes)
118
Select time display mode
119
Select temperature display
mode
119
Select speedometer display
mode
119
Select language
120
Select display (speed display or
outside temperature)
120
S203 MY03_A.book Page 118 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
216 Controls in detailUseful featuresUpgrade signals
The Tele Aid system processes calls using
the following priority.
Automatic emergency – First priority
Manual emergency – Second priority
Roadside assistance – Third priority
Information – Fourth priority
Should a higher priority call be initiated
while you are connected, an upgrade (al-
ternating) tone will be heard, and the ap-
propriate indicator lamp will flash. If
certain information such as vehicle identi-
fication number or customer information is
not available, the operator may need to re-
transmit.
During this time you will hear a beep and
voice contact will be interrupted. Voice
contact will resume once the retransmis-
sion is completed. Once a call is conclud-
ed, a beep will be heard and the
appropriate indicator lamp will stop flash-
ing. The COMAND* system operation will
resume.
!If the indicator lamp continues to flash
or the system does not reset, contact
the Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada), or
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) in the USA or Cus-
tomer Service at 1-800-387-0100 in
Canada.iThe indicator lamp in the respective
button flashes until the call is conclud-
ed. Calls can only be terminated by a
Response Center or Customer Assis-
tance Center representative except
Roadside Assistance and Information
calls, which can also be terminated by
pressing button
ì
on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated,
the audio system or the COMAND* sys-
tem audio is muted and the selected
mode (radio, tape or CD) pauses. The
optional cellular phone (if installed)
switches off. If you must use this
phone, the vehicle must be parked. Dis-
connect the coiled cord and place the
call. The COMAND* navigation system
(if engaged) will continue to run. The
display in the instrument cluster is
available for use and spoken com-
mands are only available by pressing
the RPT button on the COMAND* unit.
A pop-up window will appear in the
COMAND* display to indicate that a
Tele Aid call is in progress.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 216 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
246 OperationMaintenance
MaintenanceWe strongly recommend that you have
your vehicle serviced by your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, in accordance with
the Service Booklet at the times called for
by the FSS (Flexible Service System).
Failure to have the vehicle maintained in
accordance with the Service Booklet at the
designated times /mileage called for by
the FSS may result in vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
FSS will notify you when your next service
is due.
Approximately one month before your next
service is due, one of the following mes-
sages will appear in the multifunction dis-
play while you are driving or when you
switch on the ignition (example service A):SERVICE A IN XX DAYS
SERVICE A IN XX MILES (KM)
SERVICE A DUE NOW!
The type of service due is indicated in the
speedometer display field:9
Minor service (A)
½
Major service (B)
Clearing the service indicator
The service indicator is automatically
cleared
after 10 seconds when you switch on
the ignition or when reaching the ser-
vice threshold while driving
after 30 seconds, once the suggested
service term has passed
You can also clear it yourself.
Press the reset knob on the instrument
cluster (
page 22).
Service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested ser-
vice term, you will see the following mes-
sage in the multifunction display:SERVICE A EXCEEDED BY XX DAYS
SERVICE A EXCEEDED BY XX MILES (KM)The Mercedes-Benz Center will reset the
service indicator following a completed
service.
iThe interval between services depends
on your driving habits. A gentle driving
style, moderate engine speeds and the
avoidance of short distance trips will
lengthen the interval between services.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 246 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM