2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 ABS

299 Practical hints
What to do if …
ESP
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The BAS or the BAS display is malfunction-
ing.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accident.
ESP
not available!
See operator‘s manual
The ESP is deactivated because of a mal-
function or interrupted power supply. The
SBC brake system is still functioning nor-
mally. The ABS may still be operational.

With the vehicle stationary, turn the
steering wheel completely to the left
and then to the right to synchronize
the ESP.
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accident.
:
Engine oil leve
l
Stop, engine off!
There is no oil in the engine. There is a dan-
ger of engine damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt
as soon as possible.

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution

368 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines. Therefore, use
only engine oils recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Information on recom-
mended brands is available in the Factory
Approved Service Products Pamphlet, or at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Please follow FSS recommendations for
scheduled oil changes. Failure to do so
could result in engine damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may be harmful to the engine opera-
tion.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioner refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil is used in the air conditioner
system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil. Otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.

375 Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Alignment bolt
Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the front passenger seat. The
system will automatically deactivate
the passenger front airbag when such a
seat is properly installed
(PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp located in the center console
lights up). See your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for availability. BabySmart
TM compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the pas-
senger side airbag if a BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat is installed.
BAS
(B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
Bi-Xenon headlamps*
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
a light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.CAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.
CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.

381 Index
A
ABS 73, 375
Malfunction indicator lamp 289
Messages in display 296
Warning lamp 289
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 156
Accident
In case of 49
Activating
Air conditioning (cooling) 170, 181
Air recirculation mode 168, 178
Anti-theft alarm system 82
Automatic climate control 174
Central locking (control system) 142
Charcoal filter 180
Climate control 164
Defrost 167
Distance warning function* 206
Distronic* 202
Easy-entry/exit feature* 143
ESP 77
Exterior headlamps 46
Exterior lamps 113
Hazard warning flasher 115
Headlamps 46High beams 115
Ignition 31
Ignition with KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button 33
Immobilizer 52, 81
Rear fog lamp 113
Rear window defroster 169, 180
Residual heat 171, 182
Tow-away alarm 83
Windshield wipers 47
Adjustable air outlets, rear passenger
compartment 182
Adjusting 34
Air distribution 166, 177
Air volume 166, 177
Backrest tilt 36
Exterior rear view mirror 39
Head restraint height 36
Head restraint tilt 36
Inside rear view mirror 38
Instrument cluster illumination 118
Mirrors 38
Multicontour seat* 104
Seat cushion depth 105
Seat cushion tilt 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35Seat height 35
Seats 34
Steering column height 38
Steering column length 38
Steering wheel 37
Air conditioner (cooling)
Turning off 170, 181
Turning on 170, 181
Air distribution
Adjusting 166, 177
Air outlets, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 182
Air recirculation mode 167, 178
Activating 168, 178
Deactivating 168, 179
Air volume
Adjusting 166, 177
Airbags 57
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 67, 375
Children 58
Front 60
Passenger 60
Safety guidelines 59
Side impact 61
Window curtain 61

382 IndexAIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) 209
Alarm
Audible 72, 82
Canceling 82
Visual 82
Alarm system
Anti-theft 82
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 340, 375
Antiglare
Automatic 157
Antilock brake system (ABS) 375
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 82
Canceling alarm 82
Disarming 82
Anti-theft systems 81
Anti-theft alarm system 82
Immobilizer 81
Tow-away alarm 82
Ashtray 231
AUDIO menu 126
Selecting radio station 127
Automatic antiglare for rear view
mirror 157Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating (control
system) 142
Automatic climate control
Temperature sensor 27
Automatic climate control* 172
Adjusting air distribution 177
Adjusting air volume 166, 177
Air recirculation mode 178
Defrosting 178
Rear window defroster 169, 180
Residual heat utilization 182
Residual ventilation 182
Setting the temperature 176
Automatic headlamp mode 113
Automatic lighting control
Activating 116
Deactivating 116
Automatic locking when driving 99
Automatic transmission 151
Accelerator position 156
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 156
Gear ranges 153Gear selector lever position 154
Gear shifting malfunctions 156
Kickdown 156
One-touch gearshifting 152
Program mode selector switch 155
Selector lever position 151
Starting the engine 43
Winter program mode 155
B
BabySmart
TM
Compatible child seats 375
Self-test 68
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 67, 375
Backrest
Folding forward 220
Folding rearward 221
BAS 74, 375
Messages in display 297, 298
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 329
Check lamp 87
Checking 88

386 IndexDoors
Message in display 323
Opening from inside vehicle 93
Opening from outside 87, 91
Downhill driving
Cruise control 195
Downshifting 152
Driving
General instructions 40
Problems 48
Safety systems 73
With Distronic* 206
Driving hints
SBC brake system 79
Driving safety systems
ABS 73
BAS 74
ESP 75, 376
SBC brake system 77
Driving systems 194
AIRMATIC DC 209
Cruise control 194
Distronic* 197
Driving safety systems 73
Vehicle level control 209
DTR see Distronic* 376Dual control
AIRMATIC DC 209
E
Easy-entry/exit
Message in display 310
Easy-entry/exit feature* 102
Activating 143
Interrupting movement 102, 143
Electrical fuses 352
Electrical system 363
Electronic Stability Program see ESP 75,
376
Emergency call system* 235
Emergency calls
Initiating an emergency call 237
With Tele Aid* 236
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 156
Emergency operations
Releasing trunk lid from inside 97
Remote door unlock 241
Sliding/pop-up roof* or panorama slid-
ing/pop-up roof* 331
Unlocking the vehicle 327Emergency tensioning device 377
Emergency tensioning device see
ETD 377
Ending
A call (telephone) 149
Engine 360
Starting 43
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 44
Starting with the key 44
Turning off with the key 52
Engine number 376
Engine oil
Adding 263
Additives 368
Checking level 262
Display messages 299, 300
Filler neck 263
Messages in display 264, 300
Viscosity 376
ESP 75, 376
Switching off 76
Switching on 77
Warning lamp 288
ETD 377
Safety guidelines 59
Exterior lamp switch 112

389 Index
Key, Mechanical 327
Key, SmartKey
Battery check lamp 87
Checking the batteries 88
Factory setting 87
Global locking 87
Global unlocking 87
Loss of 89
Positions in starter switch 31
Remote controls 86
Restoring to factory setting 87
Selective setting 87
Starting the engine 44
Turning off the engine 52
Unlocking the trunk lid 88
Unlocking with 30
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Turning off the engine 53
KEYLESS-GO*
Activating ignition with 33
Closing side windows 92
Closing sliding/pop-up roof* 92
Factory setting 91
Global locking 91
Global unlocking 91
Important notes 90Locking the vehicle 92
Remote controls 89
Starting the engine 44
Turning off engine 53
Unlocking with 32
Unlocking, trunk lid 92
KEYLESS-GO* card
Messages in display 309
Keys 86
Kickdown 156, 377
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 134
Km/h or mph in speedometer 134
L
Lamp bulbs, exterior 332
Lamps, exterior
Front 332
Light sensor 313
Messages in display 313–??
Replacing bulbs for rear 333, 336
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 289
Airbag Off 61
Battery (SmartKey) 87
Brakes 291
Coolant 292
DTR* 199ESP 288
SBC 77
Seat belts 293
SRS 56
Language
Multifunction display 135
Setting 135
Layout of poly-V-belt drive 359
Level control system
AIRMATIC DC 209
Lever
Cruise control 201
License plate lamps 333
Messages in display 316
Replacing bulbs 336
Light sensor 313
Lighter see Cigarette lighter 232
Lighting 112
Automatic headlamp mode 113
Combination switch 115
Daytime running lamp mode 114
Door entry lamps 117
Exterior lamp switch 112
Front fog lamps 114
High beams 115
Instrument cluster illumination 118

391 Index
Storing exterior mirror parking
position 111
MON 260
MON (Motor Octane Number) 378
Mph or km/h in speedometer 134
Multicontour seat* 104
Multifunction display 121, 378
Selecting language 135
Standard display 125
Multifunction display messages
ABS 296
BAS 297, 298
Batteries 303, 304
Brake pads 305
Coolant 311, 312
Coolant level 311
Distronic* 300
Doors 323
Easy-entry/exit feature 310
Engine oil level 300
Fuel reserve tank 313, 323
Hood 313
Key 313, 323
KEYLESS-GO* card 309
Lamps 313–??
Parking brake 310SBC brake system 305, 306
Seat belts 310
Steering gear oil level 318
Telephone* 309
Trunk lid 310
Washer fluid 311
Multifunction steering wheel 24, 122,
378
Buttons 122
N
Network provider 148
Night security illumination 114
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
Seat belts 40, 59
Oil
Viscosity 376
One-touch gearshifting 152
Canceling gear range limit 152
Downshifting 152Upshifting 152
Opening 331
Ashtray 231
Doors from the inside 93
Glove box 226
Side windows 184
Sliding/pop-up roof* 187
Sliding/pop-up roof* with
SmartKey 188, 192
Trunk 88, 96
Trunk from the inside 94
Windows 184
Windows with SmartKey 185
Operating
Cassette player 128
CD player* 127, 128
Garage door opener 246
Integrated remote control 246
Radio 127
Safety 16
Telephone* 147
Vehicle outside the USA and
Canada 13
Operating safety 16
Operator’s Manual 10
Outside temperature indicator 120