Page 93 of 370

99 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch. For exterior lamp
switch, see above.
Automatic headlamp mode
The parking lamps, low beam headlamps
and license plate lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
U
.
Warning!
G
In automatic headlamp mode, the head-
lamps will not be automatically switched on
under foggy conditions. To minimize risk to
you and to others, activate headlamps by
turning exterior lamp switch to
B
.
The driver is responsible for the operation of
the vehicle’s lights at all times. The automat-
ic headlamp feature is only an aid to the driv-
er. Switch on the vehicle lights manually
when driving or when traffic conditions re-
quire you to do so.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated, the low beam headlamps will
not be switched off automatically.
iFront fog lamps and rear fog lamp can
not be switched on manually with exte-
rior lamp switch in position
U
. To
activate the fog lamps, turn exterior
lamp switch to position
B
.
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country where the vehicle is regis-
tered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 99 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 94 of 370

100 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
position
M
or
U
.
When the engine is running, the low beam
headlamps are automatically switched on.
In low ambient light conditions the parking
lamps will also switch on.
Canada only
When you shift from a driving position to
positionN orP, the low beam switches off
(with a three-minute delay).
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to position
B
to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.
USA only
The high beam headlamps can also be ac-
tivated when driving with the daytime run-
ning lamp mode activated and exterior
lamp switch in position
M
.To activate the daytime running lamp
mode, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode” (
page 121).
Locator lighting and night security illu-
mination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the control system
section under “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 122) and “Setting night security il-
lumination” (
page 122).
Switching on front fog lamps
Make sure that the low beam head-
lamps are switched on.
Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The green indicator lamp
‡
in the
lamp switch lights up.Switching on rear fog lamp
Make sure that the low beam head-
lamps are switched on.
Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The yellow indicator lamp
†
in the
lamp switch lights up.
iSee notes on the exterior lamp switch
(page 98).
iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding allow-
able lamp operation.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 100 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 95 of 370

101 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
Switching on high beams
Turn exterior lamp switch to
position
B
or to
U
(page 98).
Push the combination switch in
direction1.
The high beam symbol is illuminated on
the instrument cluster.High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be activat-
ed with the ignition switched on or off. It is
activated automatically when an airbag is
deployed.
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on the hazard warning
flasher
Press the hazard warning flasher
switch.
All turn signals will blink.
Switching off the hazard warning
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch
again.iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective left or right turn signals will
operate when the key in the starter
switch is in position1 or2.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 101 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 96 of 370

102 Controls in detailLightingInterior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Rear interior lights
2Right front reading lamp
3Rocker switch: Automatic control off
4Rocker switch: Automatic control on
5Rocker switch: Front interior lights on
6Left front reading lampActivating automatic control
Press the rocker switch to the center
position4.
Interior lamps are switched on in dark-
ness, when
unlocking the vehicle
opening a door
removing the SmartKey from start-
er switch
opening the tailgate
The interior lamps are switched off follow-
ing an adjustable time delay (
page 124).Deactivating automatic control
Press the rocker switch to the right
position3.
The interior lighting remains switched
off, even when
centrally unlocking the vehicle
opening a door
removing the SmartKey from the
starter switch
opening the tailgate
Manual control
Switching rear interior lights on and off
Press button1.
The lights in the rear passenger com-
partment go on.
Press button1 again.
The lights in the rear passenger com-
partment go out.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps switch off automatically after ap-
proximately five minutes, when the key
is removed or in the starter switch
position0.
An interior lamp switched on manually
does not go out automatically.
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103 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching right front reading lamp on
and off
Press button2.
The right reading lamp goes on.
Press button2 again.
The right reading lamp goes off.
Switching left front reading lamp on and
off
Press button6.
The left reading lamp goes on.
Press button6 again.
The left reading lamp goes off.Switching all front interior lights on and
off
Press button5.
The front interior lamps go on.
Press rocker switch to position3 or4.
The front interior lamps go out.
Door entry lamps
The appropriate door entry lamp switches
on if a door is opened in darkness and if
the interior lighting is switched to automat-
ic function.
The entry lamp switches off automatically
when the door is closed.
iThe setting selected for the interior
lighting is used for the cargo compart-
ment lighting as well.
If you leave the tailgate open for an ex-
tended period of time, the cargo com-
partment lighting will switch off
automatically after approximately ten
minutes
iIf you turn the key in the starter switch
to position0 and switch off the exterior
headlamps, the door entry lamps will
remain lit for approximately five min-
utes.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 103 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 98 of 370

104 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 22).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:
open a door
turn on the ignition
press the reset knob (
page 22)
switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 118).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset knob (
page 22) to adjust
the illumination brightness for the instru-
ment cluster.
To brighten illumination
Turn the reset knob in the instrument
cluster (
page 22) clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.To dim illumination
Turn the reset knob in the instrument
cluster (
page 22) counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Coolant temperature display
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the engine hood. Stay away
f r o m t h e e n g i n e i f y o u s e e o r h e a r s t e a m
coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until it
cools down.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 104 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 105 of 370
111 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu 1
Menu 2
Menu 3
Menu 4
Menu 5
Menu 6
Menu 7
Standard display
AUDIO
NAVI*
Malfunction
memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone*
Commands/submenusCoolant tempera-
ture display
Select radio station
Activate route
guidance
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consumption
statistics after
start
Load phone
book
Digital speedometer
Operate CD play-
er*
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consumption
statistics since
the last reset
Search for
name in
phone book
Call up FSS
Operate cassette
player
Lighting sub-
menu
Call up range
Check engine oil lev-
el
Vehicle sub-
menuConvenience
submenu
S203 MY03_A.book Page 111 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 111 of 370

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