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
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
112 Controls in detailControl system
Standard display menu
You can select the functions in the stan-
dard display menu with button
k
or
j
.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer
Press button
j
twice.
The current vehicle speed is shown in
the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the
AUDIO
menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned
on, the message
AUDIO OFF
i s s h o w n i n t h e
display.
The following functions are available:
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.
Function
Page
Call up coolant temperature dis-
play
104
Call up digital speedometer
see
below
Call up FSS
246
Check engine oil level
235
Function
Page
Select radio station
113
Operate CD player*
113
Operate cassette player
114
S203 MY03_A.book Page 112 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
113 Controls in detail
Control system
Select radio station
Turn on the radio (
page 162) Vehi-
cles with COMAND*: Refer to separate
operating instructions.
Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the display.
1Station frequency
2Waveband setting
3Setting for station selection using
memory
Press button
k
or
j
repeatedly
until the desired station is found.
The type of search depends on the set-
ting for the station tuning
(
page 125):
The next stored station is selected
(SP)
Station searchOperate the CD player*
Turn on the radio and select the CD
player (
page 163) Vehicles with CO-
MAND*: Refer to separate operating in-
structions.
Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played are shown in the display.
1Current track
2Current CD (for CD changer*)
Press button
k
or
j
repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
iYou can only store new stations using
the corresponding feature on the radio
(page 169) Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instruc-
tions.
You can also operate the radio in the
usual manner.
iTo select a CD from the magazine,
press a number on the audio system or
the COMAND* system key pad located
in the center dashboard.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 113 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
114 Controls in detailControl systemOperate the cassette player
Turn on the radio and select the cas-
sette player (
page 170) Vehicles
with COMAND*: Refer to separate op-
erating instructions.
Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until the settings for the cassette cur-
rently being played are shown in the
display.
1Current side
Press button
j
to fast forward to
the next track.
Press button
k
to rewind the cas-
sette to the beginning of the current
track.
NAVI menu
The
NAV
menu contains the functions need-
ed to operate your navigation system.
Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until you see the message NAV
in the
display.
If the navigation system is switched off,
the message
NAV OFF
is shown in the
display.
If the navigation system is on, the mes-
sage
NAV ACTIVE
is shown in the dis-
play.
Please refer to the COMAND* manual for
instructions on how to activate the route
guidance system*.
iTo select the reverse side of the tape,
press button below track number on
the audio system display, or enter re-
quest on the COMAND* system locat-
ed in the center dashboard.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 114 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
348 IndexButton
Audio system 164
C
CAC (Customer assistance center) 339
California
Important notice 11
Calling up
Range (distance to empty) 130
Service indicator 247
CAN system 339
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 328
Cargo area see Cargo compartment 87
Cargo compartment
Auxiliary fuse box 315
Lighting 103
Parcel net 196
Storage compartment inside 197
Tailgate 87
Tie-down rings 202
Cargo tie-down rings 202
Casette mode
Playing cassettes 170
Cassette player
Operating 114
Catalytic converter 230CD changer* 174
CD mode 174
CD player
Operating 113
Center console 25
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 259
Lower part 26
Upper part 25
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 119
Central locking
Automatic 88
From inside 89
Switch 89
Switching on/off (control
system) 125
Unlocking from inside 89
Central locking switch 89
Certification label 320
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey) 287
Key setting 126
Changing CDs 174
Charcoal filter 157
Charging
Vehicle battery 306CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 23, 258
Checking
Coolant level 233, 238
Oil level 233, 235
Tire inflate pressure 233
Vehicle lighting 233
Child safety 65
Airbags 58
Infant and child restraint systems 62,
65
LATCH child seat anchors 70
Child safety switch see Blocking of rear
door window operation 71
Child seat anchors see LATCH child seat
anchors 70
Cigarette lighter 208
Cleaning
Cup holder 251
Gear selector lever 251
Hard plastic trim items 252
Headlamps 143
Headliner 252
Instrument cluster 251
Leather upholstery 252
Light alloy wheels 251S203 MY03_A.book Page 348 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
358 Index
Tailgate 277
Tele Aid* 277
Telephone* 277
Washer fluid 278
Multifunction steering wheel 24, 108,
341
Buttons 108
N
Navigation system
Operating 114
See separate COMAND* operating in-
structions
Network provider 131
Night security illumination 100
Setting 122
O
Occupant safety 56
Airbags 57
Children and airbags 58
Children in the vehicle 65
Fastening the seat belt 40
Infant and child restraint systems 65
LATCH child seat anchors 70
Seat belts 40, 59
Odometer, main 23Oil
Adding 236
Checking level 235
Consumption 235
Dipstick 235
Filler neck 236
Oil level
Checking 233
One-touch gearshifting 136
Canceling gear range limit 136
Downshifting 136
Upshifting 136
Opening
Ashtray 207
Doors from the inside 88
Fuel filler flap 232
Fuel filler flap manually 288
Glove box 203
Hood 234
Side windows 185
Sliding/pop-up roof 187, 290
Sliding/pop-up roof in an
emergency 290
Sliding/pop-up roof with
SmartKey 188
Tailgate 87Windows 184
Windows with SmartKey 186
Operating
Audio system 161
Cassette player 114
CD player 113
COMAND* see separate operating in-
structions
Garage door opener 220
Integrated remote control 220
Navigation system 114
Radio 113
Radio transmitter 230
Safety 16
Telephone 161
Telephone* 131, 178
Vehicle outside the USA and
Canada 13
Operating safety 16
Audio system 161
Operator’s Manual 10
Ornamental moldings 250
Outer seats
Rear seat head restraints 92
Outside temperature indicator 106
Overdue service 246
S203 MY03_A.book Page 358 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM