183 Controls in detail
Audio system
Call waiting
If you receive another call during an al-
ready active call, you can accept the sec-
ond call and switch between the two.Accepting a second call
Press the
SND
key.
You are connected with the second
caller, the first call is muted.
Switching between the calls
Press the
SND
key again.Terminating the second call
Press the
END
key.
The current call will be terminated. You
are connected with the muted call
again.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 183 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
212 Controls in detailUseful featurestion display. All information relevant to the
emergency, such as the location of the ve-
hicle (determined by the GPS satellite loca-
tion system), vehicle model, identification
number and color are generated.
A voice connection between the Response
Center and the occupants of the vehicle
will be established automatically soon af-
ter the emergency call has been initiated.
When a voice connection is established the
audio system mutes and the message TELE AID – EMERGENCY CALL ACTIVE
ap-
pears in the multifunction display. The Re-
sponse Center will attempt to determine
more precisely the nature of the accident
provided they can speak to an occupant of
the vehicle.The Tele Aid system is available if:
it has been activated and is operation-
al. Activation requires a subscription
for monitoring services, connection
and cellular air time
the relevant cellular phone network
and GPS signals are available and pass
the information on to the response cen-
teriLocation of the vehicle on a map is only
possible if the vehicle is able to receive
signals from the GPS satellite network
and pass the information on to the re-
sponse center.
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamp in the SOS button is il-
luminated continuously and there was no
voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could
not initiate an emergency call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network is not available).
The message
EMERGENCY CALL –
CALL FAILED appears in the multifunction
display for approx. 10 seconds.
Should this occur, assistance must be sum-
moned by other means.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 212 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
213 Controls in detail
Useful features
Initiating an emergency call manually
1Cover
2SOS button
Briefly press on cover1.
The cover will open.
Press SOS button2 briefly.
The indicator lamp in the SOS button2
will flash until the emergency call is
concluded.
Wait for a voice connection to the Re-
sponse Center.
Close cover1 after the emergency call
is concluded.Roadside Assistance button
•
Located below the center armrest cover is
the Roadside Assistance button
•
.
Press and hold the button (for longer
than 2 seconds).
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside As-
sistance dispatcher will be initiated.
The button will flash while the call is in
progress. The message
ROADSIDE AS-
SISTANCE – CONNECTING CALL
will ap-
pear in the multifunction display.
When the connection is established, the
message
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE –
CALL CONNECTED
appears in the multifunc-
tion display. The Tele Aid system will trans-
mit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and lo-
cation (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established. When a
voice connection is established the audio
Warning!
G
If you feel at any way in jeopardy when in the
vehicle (e.g. smoke or fire in the vehicle, ve-
hicle in a dangerous road location), please
do not wait for voice contact after you have
pressed the emergency button. Carefully
leave the vehicle and move to a safe loca-
tion. The Response Center will automatically
contact local emergency officials with the
vehicle’s approximate location if they re-
ceive an automatic SOS signal and cannot
make voice contact with the vehicle occu-
pants.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 213 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
215 Controls in detail
Useful features
lished. When a voice connection is estab-
lished the audio system mutes and the
message
TELE AID – INFO CALL ACTIVE
appears in the multifunction display. Infor-
mation regarding the operation of your ve-
hicle, the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
or Mercedes-Benz USA products and ser-
vices is available to you.
For more details concerning the Tele Aid
system, please visit www.mbusa.com and
use your ID and password (sent to you sep-
arately) to learn more (USA only).
iThe indicator lamp in the Information
button
¡
remains illuminated in red
for approx. 10 seconds during the sys-
tem self-check after turning key in the
starter switch to position2 (together
with the SOS button and the Roadside
Assistance button
•
).
See System self-check (
page 211)
when the indicator lamp does not light
up in red or stays on longer than ap-
proximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Information
button
¡
is illuminated continuous-
ly and there was no voice connection to
the Response Center established, then
the Tele Aid system could not initiate
an Information call (e.g. the relevant
cellular phone network is not avail-
able). The message
INFO –
CALL FAILED
appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
Information calls can be terminated us-
ing the
ì
button on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.
!If the indicator lamps do not start flash-
ing after pressing one of the buttons or
remain illuminated (in red) at any time,
the Tele Aid system has detected a
fault or the service is not currently ac-
tive, and may not initiate a call. Visit
your Mercedes-Benz Center and have
the system checked or contact the Re-
sponse Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in
the USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in Cana-
da) as soon as possible.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 215 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
341 Technical terms
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning lamps
in the driver’s field of vision, including the
tachometer, speedometer, engine temper-
ature display and fuel gauge.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the point
of resistance shifts the transmission down
to the lowest possible gear. This very
quickly accelerates the vehicle and should
not be used for normal acceleration needs.
Lock button
Button on the door which indicates wheth-
er the door is locked or unlocked. Pushing
the lock button down on an individual door
from inside will lock that door.
Memory function*
Used to store three individual seat, steer-
ing wheel and mirror positions for each
key.Menu
The control system displays are arranged
in menus. Each menu contains a number of
commands for particular systems. In the
Audio menu, for example, you will find the
commands SELECT RADIO STATION or OP-
ERATE CD PLAYER. Using commands you
can directly change the settings for your
vehicle.
MON
(Motor Octane Number)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized meth-
od. It is an indication of a gasoline's
ability to resist undesired detonation
(knocking). The average of both the
MON (Motor Octane Number) and
->RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as AN-
TI-KNOCK INDEX.Multifunction display
Display field in the instrument cluster used
to present information provided by the
control system.
Multifunction steering wheel
Steering wheel with buttons for operating
the control system.
Overspeed range
Engine speeds within the red marking of
the tachometer dial. Avoid this engine
speed range, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Poly-V-belt drive
Drives engine-components (alternator,
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 341 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
343 Technical terms
Tele Aid* System
(Telematic Alarm Identification on De-
mand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response: automatic and man-
ual emergency, roadside assistance
and information. Tele Aid is initially ac-
tivated by completing a subscriber
agreement and placing an acquain-
tance call.
The Tele Aid system is operational pro-
viding that the vehicle’s battery is
charged, properly connected, not dam-
aged and cellular and GPS coverage is
available.Telematics*
A combination of the terms “telecommuni-
cations” and “informatics”.
Tightening torque
Force times lever arm (e.g. a lug wrench)
with which threaded fasteners such as
wheel bolts are tightened.
Tire speed rating
Part of tire designation; indicates the
speed range for which a tire is approved.Traction
Force exerted by the vehicle on the road
via the tires.
VIN
(Vehicle Identification Number)
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the body to uniquely
identify each vehicle produced.
Voice control system*
Voice control system for car phones, por-
table cell phones and audio systems (ra-
dio, CD, etc.).
S203 MY03_A.book Page 343 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
346 IndexAir volume
Adjusting 147, 155
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 259
Airbags 57
BabySmart
TM deactivation
system 67
Children 58
Front 60
Passenger 60
Safety guidelines 59
Side impact 61
Window curtain 61
Alarm
Audible 72, 80
Canceling 80
Visual 79
Alarm system
Anti-theft 79
Alignment bolt 302, 339
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 335
Antiglare
Automatic 141
Antilock brake system (ABS) 339
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 79
Canceling alarm 80Disarming 80
Anti-theft systems 79
Anti-theft alarm system* 79
Immobilizer 79
Tow-away alarm 80
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning 226
Armrest
Storage compartment in front of 205
Storage spaces 206
Ashtray 207
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 237
AUDIO menu 112
Selecting radio station 113
Audio system
Audio and telephone, operation 161
Button and soft key operation 164
Cassette mode 170
CD mode 174
Operating and display elements 162
Operating safety 161
Operation 164
Radio mode 167
Switching off 164
Switching on 164
Telephone operation 178
Audio systems 161Automatic antiglare for rear view
mirror 141
Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating (control
system) 125
Automatic climate control 152
Adjusting air distribution 155
Air recirculation mode 156
Deactivating 150
Defrosting 156
Rear window defroster 158
Residual heat utilization 159
Residual ventilation 159
Setting the temperature 154
Automatic headlamp mode 99
Automatic lighting control
Activating 102
Deactivating 102
Automatic locking when driving 88
Automatic transmission 135
Accelerator position 140
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 140
Fluid level 237
Gear ranges 137
Gear selector lever position 138
S203 MY03_A.book Page 346 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM