31 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positionsStarter switch0For removing key
The steering is locked when the key is
removed from the starter switch. If
necessary, move steering wheel slight-
ly to allow the locking mechanism to
engage.
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch and lock
the vehicle. Do not leave children unattend-
ed in the vehicle, or with access to an un-
locked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle
equipment may cause an accident and/or
serious personal injury.iVehicles with automatic transmission:
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.
!If the key is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of
time, it can no longer be turned in the
starter switch.
Remove the key from the starter
switch and reinsert.
If the key can still not be turned, the
battery may not be sufficiently
charged.
Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 305)
Get a jump start (
page 308).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge and a possible dead battery, al-
ways remove the key from the starter
switch.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 31 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
45 Getting started
Driving
Starting
Turn the key in the starter switch to
position3. Release only when the en-
gine is firing regularly (
page 31).
Depress the brake pedal.
The selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine
with the key, see “Turning off engine”
(
page 52).Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
Turn key in starter to position0 and re-
peat starting procedure (
page 44).
Remember that extended starting at-
tempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 308).If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iYou can also use the “touch-start”
function. Turn the key to position3 and
release it again immediately. The en-
gine then starts automatically.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 45 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
79 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
Removing the key from the starter
switch activates the immobilizer.
Deactivating
Inserting the key in the starter switch
deactivates the immobilizer.
Anti-theft alarm system*
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens
a door
the tailgate
the hood.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle
the vehicle is opened with the mechan-
ical key.Arming the alarm system
The alarm system is armed after locking
the vehicle with the remote control. The
turn signal lamps blink three times to indi-
cate that the alarm system is activated.
A red lamp in the switch for the tow-away
alarm will blink after approximately
10 seconds when the alarm system is
completely armed.
iIn case the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),
the system is not operational. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid* sys-
tem (
page 211) provided Tele Aid*
service was subscribed to and properly
activated, and that necessary cellular
service and GPS coverage are avail-
able.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not blink
three times, the tow-away sensor* is
malfunctioning or one of the following
elements may not be properly closed:
a door
the tailgate
the hood
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 79 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
84 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.
Locking and unlockingInformation on locking and unlocking can
be found in the “Getting started” section
on (
page 30) and (
page 51).
Keys
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys with remote controls and a re-
movable mechanical key. The locking tabs
for the mechanical key portion of the two
keys are a different color to help distin-
guish each key unit.
The remote control key provides an ex-
tended operating range. To prevent theft,
however, it is advisable to only unlock the
vehicle when you are in close proximity to
it.
The key centrally locks and unlocks:
the doors
the tailgate
the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹
Lock button
2Mechanical key locking tab
3
Œ
Unlock button
4Battery check lamp
5
Â
Panic button (
page 72)
iCanada only:
Only vehicles equipped with an
anti-theft alarm system* have
SmartKeys with integrated panic
button*5.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 84 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
85 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Factory setting
Global unlocking
Press button
Œ
.
All turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if neither door nor tailgate is
opened, the SmartKey is not inserted in
the starter switch, or the central locking
switch is not activated.Global locking
Press button
‹
.
All turn signal lamps blink three times.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down.
Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the key so that
pressing
Œ
only unlocks the driver’s
door and the fuel filler flap.
Press and hold buttons
Œ
and
‹
simultaneously for about five seconds
until battery check lamp4 blinks twice.
The key will then function as follows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler
flap
Press button
Œ
once.
Global unlocking
Press button
Œ
twice.
Global locking
Press button
‹
.Restoring to factory setting
Press and hold buttons
Œ
and
‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp4 blinks twice.
iYou can also open and close the power
windows (
page 186) and slid-
ing/pop-up roof (
page 188) using
the SmartKey.
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the key to high levels of elec-
tromagnetic radiation.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, and lock the ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. It is possible for children to open a
locked door from the inside, which could re-
sult in an accident and/or serious injury.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 85 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
86 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Checking the batteries
Press button
‹
or
Œ
.
Battery check lamp4 lights up briefly
to indicate that the key batteries are in
order.Loss of SmartKey or mechanical key
If you lose a SmartKey or mechanical key,
you should do the following:
Have the SmartKey deactivated by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Report the loss of the SmartKey or the
mechanical key immediately to your
car insurance company.
If necessary, have the mechanical lock
replaced.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
will be glad to supply you with a replace-
ment.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the
vehicle with the key, then either the
batteries in the SmartKey are dis-
charged, the key is malfunctioning, or
the vehicle battery is drained.
Check the batteries in the key and
replace them if necessary
(page 287).
Check the vehicle battery
(page 305).
Use the mechanical key to unlock
the doors (
page 285) as required.
Lock the vehicle using the mechan-
ical key (
page 286).
If the key is malfunctioning, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!If battery check lamp4 does not light
up briefly during check, then the key
batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 287).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 86 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
186 Controls in detailPower windowsOpening and closing the windows with
the SmartKey
The sliding/pop-up roof will also be
opened or closed when the power windows
are operated with the SmartKey.
Aim transmitter eye at the front door
handle.Opening (Summer opening feature)
Press and hold button
Œ
after un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows and sliding/pop-up roof
begin to open after approximately one
second.
Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.
Closing (Convenience feature)
Press and hold button
‹
after lock-
ing the vehicle.
The windows and sliding/pop-up roof
begin to close after approximately one
second.
Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.
Ensure that all side windows and the slid-
ing/pop-up roof are properly closed before
leaving the vehicle.
Synchronizing power windows
The power windows must be resynchro-
nized each time after the battery has been
disconnected:
Pull the power window switches until
the side windows are closed and hold
the switches for approximately one
second.
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows or slid-
ing/pop-up roof if there is the possibility of
anyone being harmed by the opening or
closing procedure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger, the procedure can be immediately halt-
ed by releasing the remote control button.
To reverse direction of movement,
pressŒ for opening or ‹ for closing.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 186 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
189 Controls in detail
Sliding/pop-up roof*
Opening
Press and hold button
Œ
after un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows and sliding/pop-up roof
begin to open after approximately one
second.
Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.Closing
Press and hold button
‹
after lock-
ing the vehicle.
The windows and sliding/pop-up roof
begin to close after approximately one
second.
Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.
Ensure that all side windows and the slid-
ing/pop-up roof are properly closed before
leaving the vehicle.
Synchronizing the sliding / pop-up roof
The power sliding/pop-up roof must be re-
synchronized each time after the battery
has been disconnected, the slid-
ing/pop-up roof has been closed manually
or the sliding/pop-up roof does not open
smoothly or malfunctions.
Turn the key in starter switch to posi-
tion 1 or2 (
page 31).
Press the switch in the "raise" direction
until the sliding/pop-up roof is fully
raised at the rear (
page 187).
Hold the switch for approximately one
second.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 189 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM