2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 4MATIC WAGON Owner's Manual

54 Seats
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Ve h i c l e s w i t h s e a t v e n t i l a t i o n (optional)
The front seat heater switches are located in the center
console.Rapid heating mode:
Press button (3) once.
Both red indicator lamps above the button light up.
The system switches over to normal heating mode
automatically after approximately 5 minutes.
Normal heating mode:
Press button (3) twice.
One red indicator lamp above the button lights up.
The seat heater will be automatically switched off after
approximately 30 minutes.
Turning off the heater:
Press the button (3) again.
The indicator lamps go out. The seat heater is switched
off.

55 Seats
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Seat ventilation (optional)
The front seat ventilation switches are located in the
center console.
Turn the electronic key in steering lock to position 1
or 2.Level 3 ventilation setting (maximum):
Press button (1).
Three blue indicator lamps beside the button light up.
Level 2 ventilation setting (middle):
Press button (1) again.
Two blue indicator lamps beside the button light up.
Level 1 ventilation setting (minimum):
Press button (1) again.
One blue indicator lamp beside the button lights up.
Turning off seat ventilation:
If one blue indicator lamp is on, press button (1) once.
If two blue indicator lamps are on, press button (1)
twice.
If three blue indicator lamps are on, press button (1)
three times.

56 Seats
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Notes:
When in operation, the seat ventilation consumes a
large amount of electrical power. It is not advisable to
use the seat ventilation longer than necessary.
The seat ventilation may automatically switch off if too
many power consumers are switched on at the same
time or if the battery charge is low. When this occurs,
one or more indicator lamps in the switch will blink.
The seat ventilation will switch on again automatically
as soon as sufficient voltage is available.
If the blinking indicator lamps pose a distraction, the
seat ventilation can be switched off.

57 Restraint systems
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats,
emergency tensioning devices for all outboard seat
belts, dual front airbags, door mounted side impact
airbags and head protective window curtain airbags.
Their protective functions are designed to complement
one another.
Seat belts
Important
Laws i n mo st states and all Canadi an provi nc es require
seat belt use.
All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the U.S.
territories and all Canadian provinces require the use of
child restraints that comply with U.S. Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and Canadian Motor
Ve h i c l e S a f e t y S t a n d a r d 213 .
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly
recommend their use.
Wa r n i n 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 vehicle to deactivate the passenger
front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise 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 seating 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, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions.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.

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Note:
For cleaning and care of the seat belts, see page 318.
Seat belt nonusage warning system
With the electronic key in steering lock position 2, a
warning sounds for a short time if the driver’s seat belt
is not fastened.
Wa r n i n g !
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined 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 even fatal injuries. The
backrest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in an upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to wear and properly fasten and position
your seat belt greatly increases your risk of
injuries and their likely severity in an accident.
You and your passengers should always wear seat
belts.If you are ever in an accident, your injuries can be
considerably more severe without your seat belt
properly buckled. Without your seat belt buckled,
you are much more likely to hit the interior of the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed.In the same crash, the possibility of injury or death
is lessened if you ar wearing your seat belt.Wa r n i n g !
Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there
are seat belts available. Be sure everyone riding in
the vehicle is correctly restrained with a separate
seat belt.

59 Restraint systems
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Fastening of seat belts
1Latch plate
2Buckle
3Release buttonPush latch plate (1) into buckle (2) until it clicks. Do not
twist the belt. A twisted seat belt may cause injury.
To help avoid severe or fatal injuries, the lap belt should
be positioned as low as possible on your hips and not
across the abdomen.
Wa r n i n g !
Always fasten your seat belt before driving off.
Always make sure your passengers are properly
restrained – even those sitting in the rear.

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Tighten the lap portion to a snug fit by pulling shoulder
portion up.
The shoulder portion of the seat belt must be pulled
snug and checked for snugness immediately after
engaging it.4Button for belt outlet height adjustment
Raising:
Slide belt outlet upward.
Lowering:
Press button (4) and slide belt outlet downward.
P91-10-2077-26
4
P91.40-2060-26

61 Restraint systems
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data Instruments
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Adjust seat belt so that shoulder portion is located as
close as possible to the middle of your shoulder (it
should not touch the neck). For this purpose, you can
adjust the height of the belt outlet. Three positions are
available for the front seats, five positions are available
for the split rear bench seats.
Caution!
For safety reasons, avoid adjusting the seat or seat back
into positions which could affect the correct seat belt
positioning.
Operation
The inertia reel stops the belt from unwinding during
sudden vehicle stops or when quickly pulling on the
belt.
The locking function of the reel may be checked by
quickly pulling out the belt.Rear-facing bench seat
If the rear-facing bench seat is not being used, slip the
seat belt webbings into the retainers (5).