2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C32AMG steering

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting Safety Defects ............... 18
At a glance.......................................... 19
Cockpit ................................................. 20
Instrument cluster ................................ 22
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 24
Center console ..................................... 25
Upper part ...................................... 25
Lower part ...................................... 26
Overhead control panel ........................ 27
Door control panel................................ 28
Getting started................................... 29
Unlocking ............................................. 30
Unlocking with SmartKey................ 30
Adjusting .............................................. 32
Seats .............................................. 32
Steering wheel ................................ 37
Mirrors ............................................ 39
Driving .................................................. 41
Fastening the seat belt ................... 41
Starting the engine ......................... 44
Switching on headlamps ................. 47
Turn signals and high beam ............ 47
Windshield wipers ........................... 48
Problems while driving .................... 49
Parking and locking .............................. 51
Parking brake ................................. 51
Switching off headlamps................. 52
Turning off engine ........................... 53

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 55
Occupant safety................................... 56
Airbags ........................................... 57
Seat belts ....................................... 61
Children in the vehicle .................... 65
Blocking of rear door window
operation ........................................ 71
Panic alarm* .................................. 72
Activating ....................................... 72
Deactivating ................................... 72
Driving safety systems ......................... 73
ABS ................................................ 73
BAS ................................................ 74
ESP ................................................. 75
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC*) with the ESP ..... 78
Anti-theft systems................................ 79
Immobilizer..................................... 79
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 79
Tow-away alarm ............................. 80
Controls in detail............................... 83
Locking and unlocking ......................... 84
Keys ............................................... 84
Opening the doors from the inside . 87
Opening the trunk from the inside . 88
Opening the trunk .......................... 88
Closing the trunk............................ 89
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 89
Separately locking the trunk .......... 90
Separately unlocking the trunk ...... 91
Automatic central locking .............. 91
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 92
Seats ................................................... 93
Easy-entry/exit feature* ................ 93
Head restraints .............................. 94
Multicontour seat* ......................... 96
Heated seats* ................................ 97
Memory function* ............................... 98
Storing positions into memory ....... 99
Recalling positions from memory ... 99
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 100Lighting ............................................. 101
Exterior lamp switch .................... 101
Combination switch ..................... 104
Hazard warning flasher ................ 104
Interior lighting ............................ 105
Door entry lamps ......................... 106
Trunk lamp ................................... 106
Instrument cluster ............................. 107
Instrument cluster illumination .... 107
Coolant temperature display ........ 108
Trip odometer .............................. 109
Tachometer .................................. 109
Outside temperature indicator ..... 110
Control system .................................. 111
Multifunction display.................... 111
Multifunction steering wheel........ 112
Menus .......................................... 114
Standard display menu ................ 116
AUDIO menu ................................ 116
NAVI menu ................................... 118
Malfunction memory menu .......... 118
Settings menu .............................. 119
Trip computer menu..................... 132
TEL menu* ................................... 134
Manual transmission ......................... 137
Shifting into reverse ..................... 137

19 At a glance
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Door control panel

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals
47


Windshield wipers
48


High beam
47
2
Cruise control lever
193
3
Instrument cluster
22,
107
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
112
5
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
6
Overhead control panel
27
7
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
203
8
Glove box
203
9
Center console
25
10
Starter switch
31
11
Horn
12
Steering wheel adjustment
handle (manual)
37
13
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk (electrical)*
38
Item
Page
14
Hood lock release
235
15
Parking brake pedal
45, 51
16
Trunk lid release switch
88
17
Door control panel
28
18
Parking brake release
45
19
Exterior lamp switch
101
20
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
39
21
Headlamp washer switch*
146

24 At a glanceMultifunction steering wheel
Multifunction steering wheel
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display in
speedometer
111
Operating control sys-
tem
111
2
Selecting the submenu or
setting the volumeç
down/to decrease
æ
up/to increase
3
Telephone*: Press buttoní
to take a call
ì
to end a call
Item
Page
4
Menu systems: Press but-
tonè
for next system
ÿ
for previous system
5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonj
for next display
k
for previous display

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
consumers, 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 240).


Get a jump start (
page 306).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge and a possible dead battery, al-
ways remove the key from the starter
switch.

32 Getting startedAdjusting
AdjustingSeats
The seats can be adjusted either manually
or electrically, depending on the vehicle’s
equipment.Warning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back reclined. Sitting in an excessively re-
clined position can be dangerous. You could
slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you
slide under it, the belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck.
That could cause serious or fatal injuries.
The seat back and seat belts provide the
best restraint when the wearer is in an up-
right position and belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body. Your seat must be
adjusted so that you can correctly fasten
your seat belt (
page 41).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, and lock your
vehicle.
The power seats* can also be operated with
the driver’s or front passenger door open.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger side front
airbag when it is properly installed. Other-
wise they will be struck by the airbag when
it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious
or fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in back seats and be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle’s
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions.

33 Getting started
Adjusting
Manual seat
1Seat fore and aft adjustment
2Seat cushion tilt
3Backrest tilt
4Seat heightSeat fore and aft adjustment

Lift handle1.

Slide seat to the desired position.

Allow handle1 to reengage.

Check for proper engagement before
driving.
Adjust to a comfortable seating position
that still allows you to reach the accelera-
tor/brake pedal safely. The position
should be as far rearward as possible,
consistent with ability to properly operate
controls.
Seat cushion tilt

Turn handwheel2 forward or backward
until your upper legs are lightly sup-
portedBackrest tilt

Press switch3 in direction of arrow un-
til your arms are slightly angled when
holding the steering wheel.
Seat height

Press switch4 in direction of arrow un-
til your legs are lightly supported.
Head restraint height
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
iWhen moving the seat, be sure that
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seats. Otherwise you could
damage the seats.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.