2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 Indicator lamp

68 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetySelf-test BabySmart
TM without special
child seat installed
After turning the key in the starter switch
to position1 or2 or pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) start/stop
button once or twice, PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF indicator lamp1 located in the center
console lights up for approx. 6 seconds
and then goes out.
If the indicator lamp should not come on or
is continuously lit, the system is not func-
tioning. You must see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before seating any
child on the passenger seat.
More information can be found in the
"Practical hints" section (page 294).
Warning!
G
The BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation sys-
tem will ONLY work with a special child seat
designed to operate with it. It will not work
with child seats which are not BabySmart
TM
compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the deactivation sys-
tem. The bottom of the child seat must
make full contact with the passenger seat
cushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat
could cause injuries to the child in case of an
accident, instead of protecting the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.
Warning!
G
When using a BabySmart
TM compatible
child seat on the front passenger seat, the
front passenger airbag will not deploy only if
the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
remains illuminated.
Please be sure to check the indicator every
time you use the special system child seat.
Should the light go out while the restraint is
installed, please check installation. If the
light remains out, do not use the
BabySmart
TM restraint to transport children
on the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.

69 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Installation of infant and child restraint
systems
This vehicle is equipped with tether an-
chorages for a top tether strap at each of
the rear seating positions.Not foldable rear seat backrest
Vehicles without foldable rear seat back-
rests
Remove cover1 from anchorage ring.

Guide tether strap between head re-
straints.

Securely fasten the hook2 to the an-
chorage ring3.Foldable rear seat backrest*
Vehicles with foldable rear seat backrests
Fold rear seat backrest slightly for-
ward.

Guide tether strap between head re-
straints.

Securely fasten the hook2 to the an-
chorage ring3.

Swing rear seat backrest to the rear un-
til it engages.

Check the rear seat backrest to be
locked in its upright position
(page 302).
Warning!
G
Do not place powered-on laptops, cell
phones and like electronic devices on the
front passenger seat. Signals from such de-
vices may interfere with the BabySmart
TM
system. Such signal interference may cause
the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
not to come on during self-test or be contin-
uously lit, indicating that the system is not
functioning.
iFor safety, make sure that the hook2
has attached to the ring3 beyond the
safety catch.

71 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Blocking of rear door window operation
1Override switch
2Indicator lamp
Press override switch1.
Indicator lamp 2 lights up. The rear
door windows can no longer be operat-
ed using the switches located in the
rear doors.For more information on power windows,
see the "Controls in detail" section
(
page 184).
!Operation of the rear door windows
with the switches located on the door
control panel of the driver‘s door is still
possible.Warning!
G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children may otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
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. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment can cause serious personal injury.

77 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1ESP off/on
Press button1.
The ESP warning lamp v, located in
the instrument cluster comes on.
Some functions of the ESP remain active,
even when the button is in the OFF posi-
tion.
The ESP warning lamp v in the instru-
ment cluster starts to flash at any speed as
soon as the tires lose traction. Switching on the ESP

Press button1.
The ESP warning lamp v in the in-
strument cluster goes out. You are now
again in normal driving mode.
The SBC brake system
The SBC brake system combines a hydrau-
lic brake circuit with electronically con-
trolled brake servo assistance. You have
increased braking safety and improved
braking comfort.
!Avoid spinning of one drive wheel for
an extended period with the ESP
switched off. This may cause serious
damage to the drive train which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.Warning!
G
When the ESP warning lamp
v
is
illuminated continuously, the ESP is
switched off.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP.
Warning!
G
Never ignore a brake malfunction indicated
in the speedometer display, for example by
the
;
(USA only) or
3
(Canada only)
indicator lamp. Refer to the "Practical hints"
section (
page 291). Also read and ob-
serve the messages in the instrument clus-
ter display (page 295).

82 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsAnti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the trunk


the hood.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


the vehicle is opened with the mechan-
ical keyArming the alarm system
The alarm system is armed within approx.
10 seconds after locking the vehicle. The
indicator lamp in the button for the
tow-away alarm will then blink.
Disarming the alarm system
The alarm system is disarmed when you
unlock your vehicle with the remote con-
trol or KEYLESS-GO*.
Canceling the alarm
With the key

Insert the key in the starter switch.
or

Press the Œ or ‹ button on the
key.With KEYLESS-GO*

Grasp the outside door handle.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button.
Tow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-
tem* (
page 234), provided that the
Tele Aid service was subscribed to and
properly activated.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-
tem* (
page 234), provided that the
Tele Aid service was subscribed to and
properly activated, and that necessary
cellular service and GPS coverage are
available.

83 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Arming the tow-away alarm
When you lock your vehicle, the tow-away
alarm is automatically armed after about
30 seconds.
When you unlock your vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms automatical-
ly.
Disarming the tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm
feature, switch off the tow-away alarm be-
fore towing the vehicle, or when parking on
a surface subject to movement, such as a
ferry or auto train.The button is located on the overhead con-
trol panel.
1Tow-away alarm off button

Turn off the ignition and remove the
key.

Press button1.
The indicator lamp in the button lights
up briefly.

Lock your vehicle with the key or (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*) the lock but-
ton at each door handle.
The tow-away alarm remains disarmed un-
til you lock your vehicle again.
Canceling the alarm

Insert the key in the starter switch.
or

Press the Œ or ‹ button on the
key.
iYou cannot disarm the tow-away alarm
if the ignition is turned on.

94 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Opening the trunk from the inside
You can open the trunk from the inside if
the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 5.75 ft.
(1.75 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
The switch is located on the driver’s door.
1Remote trunk lid release switch with in-
dicator lamp
Pull remote trunk lid release switch1.
The trunk opens. The indicator lamp in
the switch lights up and remains lit as
long as the trunk is open.The trunk can also be opened using the
SmartKey (
page 88) or from its inside in
an emergency, see "Trunk lid emergency
release" (
page 97).
iIf the vehicle has previously been
locked from the outside, opening a
door from the inside will trigger the an-
ti-theft alarm system. To cancel the
alarm, do one of the following:

Press button Œor ‹on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
!The trunk lid swings open upwards au-
tomatically. Always make sure that
there is sufficient overhead clearance.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk lid will lock automati-
cally when closed (
page 96). The
turn signals will flash three times to
confirm locking.
If the vehicle was previously separately
locked (
page 98), the trunk lid will re-
main locked.

95 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Trunk lid opening/closing system*
The switch for opening and closing the
trunk is located on the driver’s door.
1Remote control switch
Pull remote control switch1 until the
trunk begins to open.
The trunk lid opens automatically.
The indicator lamp in the switch lights
up and remains lit until the trunk is
closed again by pressing remote con-
trol switch1.If the vehicle was previously separately
locked (
page 98), the trunk lid will re-
main locked.Activating opening height restriction of
trunk lid
If the opening height restriction of trunk lid
is activated, the trunk lid opens to below
the roof line of the vehicle.
1Trunk lid closing switch

Press the trunk lid closing switch 1 for
approx. 5 seconds.
The opening height restriction is acti-
vated.

Press the trunk lid closing switch 1
again for approx. 5 seconds.
The opening height restriction is deac-
tivated.
iThe trunk lid swings open upwards au-
tomatically. Always make sure that
there is sufficient overhead clearance.
To stop the opening procedure, pull or
press the remote control switch for the
trunk lid.