Page 115 of 370

121 Controls in detail
Control system
Lighting submenu
Access the
LIGHTING
submenu via the
SET-
TINGS
menu. Use the
LIGHTING
submenu
to change the lamp and lighting settings on
your vehicle. The following functions are
available:Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
LIGHT-
ING
submenu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
LAMP CIRCUIT HEADLAMP MODE
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press
æ
or
ç
to select manual
or daytime running lamp (constant)
mode. This function is not available in
countries where daytime running
lamps are mandatory.With daytime running lamp mode se-
lected and the exterior lamp switch at
position0, the following lamps will
come on automatically when the en-
gine is turned on:
Parking lamps and low beam head-
lamps
License plate lamps (in low ambient
light conditions)
Function
Page
Set daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
see
below
Set locator lighting
122
Exterior lamps delayed
switch-off
122
Interior lighting delayed shut-off
124
iIf you turn the exterior lamp switch to
another position, the corresponding
lamp(s) will switch on.
For safety reasons, resetting the LIGHTING
submenu to factory settings
(
page 117) will not reset the daytime
running lamp mode.
In the display you will then see the mes-
sage:
LIGHTING – CANNOT BE COM-
PLETELY RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS
WHILE DRIVING!
.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 121 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 116 of 370

122 Controls in detailControl systemSetting locator lighting
During darkness, the following lamps will
come on when the exterior lamp switch is
in position
U
, the locator lighting fea-
ture is activated, and the vehicle is un-
locked by remote control:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened. It switches off au-
tomatically after a period of approximately
40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
LIGHT-
ING
submenu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
LOCATOR LIGHTING
.The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press
æ
or
ç
to select the de-
sired setting.
The locator lighting will be switched on
or off.Setting night security illumination
(Exterior lamps delayed shut-off)
Use the
HEADLAMPS DELAYED SHUT-OFF
function to set whether and for how long
you would like the exterior lamps to illumi-
nate during darkness after all doors are
closed. When the delayed shut-off feature
is activated and the exterior lamp switch is
in position
U
, the following lamps will
remain lit after you remove the key from
the starter switch:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Front fog lampsiYou can reactivate this function within
ten minutes by opening a door.
If you do not open a door after remov-
ing the key, the lamps will automatical-
ly switch off after 60 seconds.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 122 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 117 of 370
123 Controls in detail
Control system
Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
LIGHT-
ING
submenu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
HEADLAMPS DELAYED SHUT-OFF
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press
æ
or
ç
to select the de-
sired lamp-on period.
You can select:
0 s
, the delayed shut-off feature is
deactivated
15 s
, 30 s
, 45 s
or
60 s
, the delayed
shut-off feature is activatedYou can temporarily deactivate the de-
layed switch-off feature:
Before leaving the vehicle turn the key
in the starter switch to position0.
Then turn it to position2 and back
to0.
The delayed shut-off feature is deacti-
vated. It will reactivate as soon as you
reinsert the key in the starter switch.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 123 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 118 of 370
124 Controls in detailControl systemInterior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether and for
how long you would like the interior light-
ing to remain lit during darkness after the
key is removed from the starter switch.
Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
LIGHT-
ING
submenu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
INT. LIGHTING DELAYED
SHUT-OFF
.The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press
æ
or
ç
to select the de-
sired lamp-on time period. You can se-
lect:
0 s
, the delayed shut-off feature is
deactivated
5 s,
10 s
, 15 s
or
20 s
, the delayed
shut-off feature is activatedVehicle submenu
Access the
VEHICLE
submenu via the
SET-
TINGS
menu. Use the
VEHICLE
submenu to
make general vehicle settings. The follow-
ing functions are available:
Function
Page
Set station selection mode
(radio)
see
below
Set automatic locking
see
below
S203 MY03_A.book Page 124 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 135 of 370

141 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
Information on the windshield wipers
(page 48) and for setting the rear view
mirrors (
page 39) is found in the “Get-
ting started” section.
Rear view mirror
Inside rear view mirror, antiglare posi-
tion
Tilt the mirror to the antiglare night po-
sition using the lever at its lower edge.
Automatic antiglare rear view mirror*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the inside rear view mirror will respond au-
tomatically to glare when
the ignition is switched on, and
incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the inside rear view mir-
ror.
The rear view mirror will not react if
reverse gear is engaged
the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!
G
The automatic antiglare function does not
react if incoming light is not aimed directly
at sensors in the inside rear view mirror.
The inside rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, when transporting cargo
which covers the rear window.
Glare can endanger you and others.Warning!
G
In the case of an accident liquid electrolyte
may escape from the mirror housing if the
mirror glass breaks.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 141 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 137 of 370
143 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Headlamp cleaning system*
The switch is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer switch
Switch on ignition.
Press switch1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
Information on filling up the washer reser-
voir can be found in the “Operation” sec-
tion (page 240).
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
Swing sun visors down when you expe-
rience glare.1Mounting
2Mirror cover
3Mirror lamp
4Sun visor
To use mirror, lift up cover2.
Warning!
G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.
iIf sunlight enters through a side win-
dow, disengage sun visor from
mounting1 and pivot to the side.
The mirror lamp3 will switch off.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 143 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 140 of 370

146 Controls in detailClimate controlThe climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate
the climate control system in either the au-
tomatic or manual mode. The system cools
or heats the interior depending on the se-
lected interior temperature and the cur-
rent outside temperature.
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the AC
OFF
mode is selected
(
page 150).
Setting the temperature
Use the temperature controls2 and3 to
separately adjust the air temperature on
each side of the passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C).
Increasing
Turn the control slightly to the right.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing
Turn the control slightly to the left.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.iIf the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 146 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Page 143 of 370

149 Controls in detail
Climate control
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated af-
ter approximately 6 to 17 minutes of oper-
ation depending on the outside
temperature.
Activating
Press button
F
(page 145).
The indicator lamp on the button lights
up.
Deactivating
Press button
F
(page 145) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Deactivating the climate control sys-
tem
Deactivating
Set the air volume control
(page 145) to position0.
Reactivating
Set the air volume control
(page 145) to any speed.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts blinking, this means that too
many electrical consumers are operat-
ing simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating
the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically turns itself back on.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 149 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM