12 IntroductionOperator’s ManualMaintenance
The Service Booklet describes all the nec-
essary maintenance work which should be
performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Service Booklet with you
when you take the vehicle to your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for service.
The service advisor will record each ser-
vice in the booklet for you.
Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program provides factory-trained technical
help in the event of a breakdown. Calls to
the toll-free Roadside Assistance number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz Cus-
tomer Assistance Representatives
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For additional information refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Pro-
gram brochure in your glove box.
Change of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to
send in the “Change of Address Notice”
found in the Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Ser-
vice (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100. It is in
your own interest that we can contact you
should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it avail-
able to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used
Car” found in the Service and Warranty In-
formation Booklet, or call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes,
or Customer Service (in Canada) at
1-800-387-0100.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 12 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch
Turn signals
47
Windshield wipers
48
High beam
47
2
Cruise control lever
190
3
Instrument cluster
22,
104
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
108
5
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
6
Overhead control panel
27
7
Opening glove box
203
8
Glove box
203
Item
Page
9
Center console
25
10
Starter switch
31, 44
11
Horn
12
Steering wheel adjustment
handle (manual)
37
13
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk (electrical)*
37
14
Hood lock release
234
15
Parking brake pedal
46
16
Door control panel
28
17
Parking brake release
51
18
Exterior lamp switch
47, 98
19
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
38, 97
20
Headlamp washer switch
143
S203 MY03_A.book Page 21 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
203 Controls in detail
Useful features
Useful features
Interior storage spaces Glove box
1Glove box lid release
2Glove box
Opening the glove box
Pull lid release1.
The glove box lid opens downward.
Closing the glove box
Push lid up to close.Locking the glove box
Insert mechanical key into the glove
box lock and turn it to position2.
Unlocking the glove box
Turn mechanical key in the glove box
lock to position1.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when stowing objects in the vehicle. Put lug-
gage or cargo in the cargo compartment if
possible. Do not pile luggage or cargo higher
than the seat backs.
Always use partition net when transporting
cargo. Partition net cannot secure hard or
heavy objects.
Parcel nets cannot secure hard or heavy ob-
jects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
about and injuring vehicle occupants during
an accident.
iPrior to closing the glove box, close the
compartment for glasses first.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 203 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
349 Index
MB Tex upholstery 252
Plastic and rubber parts 252
Seat belts 252
Steering wheel 251
Windows 251
Windshield 49
Wiper blades 251
Climate control 144
Adjusting 147
Defogging windshield 147
Defrosting 147
Rear window defroster 149
Setting the temperature 146
Clock 23, 118
Closing
Glove box 203
Hood 235
Side windows 185
Sliding/pop-up roof 187, 290
Sliding/pop-up roof with
SmartKey 188
Tailgate 87
Trunk lid 87
Windows 184
Windows with SmartKey 186Closing sliding/pop-up roof
In an emergency 290
Cockpit 20, 339
COMAND* 340
see separate operating instructions
Combination switch 101
High beam flasher 48, 101
Turn signals 47
Windshield wipers 48
Consumer information 337
Control and operation of radio
transmitter 230
Control system 107, 340
AUDIO menu 112
Convenience submenu 126
Display digital speedometer 112
Functions 108, 111
Instrument cluster submenu 118
Lighting submenu 121
Malfunction memory menu 115
Menus 110, 111
Multifunction display 107
Multifunction steering wheel 108
NAVI menu 114
Selecting radio system 113
Settings menu 116Standard display menu 112
Submenus 109, 111
TEL* menu 131
Trip computer menu 128
Vehicle submenu 124
Convenience submenu 126
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature 126
Setting key dependency 127
Setting parking position for exterior
rear view mirror 128
Coolant 238, 334
Adding 238
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 334
Capacities 328
Checking level 238
Messages in display 265, 266
Temperature 231
Temperature gauge 104
Warning lamp 266
Coolant level
Checking 233, 238
Cruise control 190, 340
Canceling 191
Driving downhill 191
S203 MY03_A.book Page 349 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
353 Index
Reserve warning 23
Switching (Flexible fuel vehicle) 332
Technical data 328
Fuel additives 332
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 129
Since last reset 129
Fuel filler flap 232
Locking 232
Opening 288
Unlocking 232
Fuel requirements 331
Fuel reserve tank
Message in display 271
Fuel tank
Capacity 329
Filler flap 232
Fuel, coolants, lubricants etc.
Flexible fuel vehicles 329
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Capacities 328
Functions (control system) 108, 111
Resetting 117
Fuse box 314
Fuse chart 314
Fuse extractor 315Fuses 314
Auxiliary fuse box in cargo
compartment 315
Fuse box in engine compartment 314
Fuse box in passenger
compartment 314
Fuse chart 314
Fuse extractor 315
Spare fuses 315
G
Garage door opener 27, 218
Erasing in remote control 220
Integrated remote control 219
Rolling code programming 219
Gasoline see Fuel 233
Gasoline additives 332
Gear range 340
Automatic transmission 137
Limiting 137
Shifting into optimal 136
Gear range limit
Canceling 136
Gear selector lever
Cleaning 251
Position 138Global
Locking 85
Unlocking 85
Global positioning system (GPS) 340
Glove box 21, 203
Closing 203
Opening 203
Good visibility 141
GPS 340
GPS see COMAND* 216
H
Halogen-type
Front lamp bulbs 294
Hand-held transmitter
Programming integrated remote
control 219
Hands-free microphone 27
Hard plastic trim items
Cleaning 252
Hazard warning flasher 101
Switching off 101
Switching on 101
Head restraints 91
Manual seats 33
Power seats* 35
Rear seats 35
S203 MY03_A.book Page 353 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
355 Index
Operating 220
Rolling code programming 219
Interior lighting 102
Activating automatic control 102
Deactivating automatic control 102
Delayed shut-off 124
Manual operation 102
Interior storage spaces 203
Armrest 206
Cup holder 204
Glove box 203
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 206
Storage compartment in front of
armrest 205
Interval wiping 50
Switching off 50
Switching on 50
J
Jack 280
Jump starting 308
K
Key dependency memory
Settings 127
Key positions in starter switch 31Key, mechanical 285
Key, SmartKey
Battery check lamp 85
Changing the batteries 287
Checking the batteries 86
Factory setting 85
Global locking 85
Global unlocking 85
Loss of 86
Positions in starter switch 31
Remote control 84
Restoring to factory setting 85
Selective setting 85
Starting the engine 44, 45
Turning off the engine 52
Unlocking with 30
Keys 84
Kickdown 140, 341
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 119
Km/h or mph in speedometer 119
L
Labels, identification 320
Lamp bulbs, exterior 292
Lamps, exterior
Front 292
Light sensor 271Messages in display 272–275
Rear 293
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 255
Airbag Off 61
Battery (SmartKey) 85
CHECK ENGINE 258
Coolant 265
Engine diagnostics 258
ESP 254
Fuel reserve 258
Instrument cluster 254–258
Seat belts 258
Service indicator 246
SRS 57
Turn signals 23
Language
Multifunction display 120
Setting 120
LATCH child seat anchors 70
LATCH child seat anchors
Folding back 70
Layout of poly-V-belt drive 321
Leather upholstery
Cleaning 252
S203 MY03_A.book Page 355 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
364 IndexStanding water
Driving instructions 229
Starter switch 21, 31
Positions 31
Starting difficulties 45
Starting position 31
Starting the engine 44
Station (radio)
Search 113
Station selection
Setting 125
Steel rims
Technical data 323
Steering column
Height adjustment 37, 38
Length adjustment 37, 38
Steering gear oil
Message in display 276
Steering wheel
Adjusting 37
Buttons 24
Cleaning 251
Electrical adjustment 38
Height adjustment 38
Manual adjustment 37Stolen vehicle
Tracking services 217
Stopping
Sliding/pop-up roof 188
Windows 185
Storage compartments
Armrest 205
Cargo compartment 197
Glove box 203
Ventilated compartments 150
Storage spaces
Cup holder 204
Storing (Memory function*)
Positions into memory 96
Submenus 111
Convenience 126
For settings 109
In control system 111
Instrument cluster 118
Lighting 121
Resetting functions in Control
system 117
Selecting 116
Settings menu 116
Vehicle 124
Sun visors 143Switching
Fuel (Flexible fuel vehicle) 332
Switching off
Audio system 164
Automatic central locking (control
system) 125
Engine 52
ESP 77
Hazard warning flasher 101
Headlamps 52
Seat heating 94
Switching on
Audio system 164
Automatic central locking (control
system) 125
ESP 77
Front fog lamps 100
Hazard warning flasher 101
Headlamps 47
High beams 101
Rapid seat heating 94
Rear fog lamp 100
Seat heating 94
Windshield wipers 48S203 MY03_A.book Page 364 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM