2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 Lever

78 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
The SBC brake system is automatically ac-
tivated when you:

unlock the vehicle with the key or the
KEYLESS-GO*


open the driver’s or passenger door


turn the key in the starter switch to
position1


in vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*, press
start/stop button on selector lever
once


depress the brake pedal


release the parking brake
Warning!
G
The SBC brake system requires electrical
power to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its
limp-home (emergency operation) mode. In
such a case, the red brake warning lamp
(page 291) and warning messages in the
instrument cluster (
page 305) light up
while driving. To brake, the driver must then
apply significantly greater brake pedal pres-
sure and depress the pedal much further to
obtain the expected braking effect. If neces-
sary, apply full pressure to the brake pedal.
Brakes are only applied to the front wheels.
Stopping distance is increased!
If there is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system, we recommend that the vehicle be
transported with all wheels off the ground
using flatbed or appropriate wheel lift/dolly
equipment. A tow bar must be used if cir-
cumstances do not permit the use of the
recommended towing methods and the ve-
hicle requires towing with all four wheels on
the ground. Towing the vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground is only permissible
for distances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at
a speed not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
For more information, refer to "Towing the
vehicle" (
page 348).

81 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating

With the key: Removing the key from
the starter switch activates the immo-
bilizer.


With KEYLESS-GO*: Turning off the en-
gine by means of the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button on the gear selector
lever activates the immobilizer.Deactivating


With the key: Inserting the key in the
starter switch deactivates the immobi-
lizer.


With KEYLESS-GO*: Starting the en-
gine by means of the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button on the gear selector
lever deactivates the immobilizer.
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).

90 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Important notes on using KEYLESS-GO

You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal key
(page 86).


You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal key functions (e.g.
unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and lock-
ing with the remote control).


Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.


Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:

Electronic items such as a cellular
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO


Metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.


To lock or unlock the vehicle, the key
must be located outside the vehicle
within approximately 3 ft. (1 m) of a
door or the trunk.


In order to start the engine with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO:

The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be located in the vehicle.


All the doors must be closed.


If you have started the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button, you
can only turn it off again with this but-
ton, even if you have put the key in the
starter switch in the meantime.


This does not apply if, after starting, the
selector lever is still in positionP. The
SmartKey will then have priority over
the KEYLESS-GO function and the vehi-
cle’s electrical system will operate ac-
cording to the position of the key in the
starter switch, even stopping the en-
gine.


If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
positioned farther away from the vehi-
cle (e.g. inside clothing or briefcase)
and can no longer be recognized by the
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the Smart-
Key with KEYLESS-GO (if so equipped) with
you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause serious
personal injury.!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO to high levels of electro-
magnetic radiation.

111 Controls in detail
Memory function
Storing parking position
For easier parking you can adjust the pas-
senger exterior rear view mirror so that you
can see the right rear wheel as soon as you
engage reverse gearR.
The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position

10 seconds after you put the gear se-
lector lever out of positionR


immediately once you exceed a speed
of approx. 6 mph (10 km/h)


immediately when you press the button
for the driver’s side mirror
You can store a parking position for the
passenger exterior rear view mirror for
each key using the memory button.1Passenger side, exterior rear view mir-
ror
2Adjustment button
3Driver’s side, exterior rear view mirror
4Memory button

Stop the vehicle.

Switch ignition on (if not already on).

Press button1.
The passenger side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.

Adjust the exterior rear view mirror
with button2 so that you see the rear
wheel and the curb.

Press memory button "M" 4 on the
door.

Within three seconds, press bottom of
adjustment button2.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.iIf the mirror does move, repeat the
above steps. After the setting is stored,
you can move the mirror again.

141 Controls in detail
Control system

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the
Light-
ing
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
Headlamps delayed shut-off
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to select the de-
sired lamp-on period.
You can select:

0 s
, the delayed switch-off feature
is deactivated.


15 s
, 30 s
, 45 s
or
60 s
, the delayed
switch-off feature is activated.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion U.You can temporarily deactivate the de-
layed switch-off feature:

Before leaving the vehicle, turn the key
in the starter switch to position0.

Then turn it to position2 and back
to0.
The delayed switch-off feature is deac-
tivated. It will reactivate as soon as you
reinsert the key in the starter switch.
For vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the gear selector lever
(page 33).Interior lighting delayed switch-off
Use this function to set whether and for
how long you would like the interior light-
ing to remain lit during darkness after the
key is removed from the starter switch.

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the
Light-
ing
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
Interior lamp delayed
shut-off
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

151 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
Information for driving with an automatic
transmission is found in the "Getting start-
ed" section (
page 43).
Your transmission adapts its gear shifting
process to your individual driving style by
continually adjusting the shift points up or
down. These shift point adjustments are
performed based on current operating and
driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the au-
tomatic transmission reacts by adjusting
its gear shift program.The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on


the selector lever positionD with gear
ranges4, 3, 2, 1 (
page 153)


the selected shift program (W/S)
(page 155)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 156)


the vehicle speed
The current selector lever position and
shift program (W/S) appear in the speed-
ometer display (
page 121).
An additional indication of the current se-
lector lever position can be found on the
cover of the shifting-gate. The indicators
come on when you activate a switch (e.g.
unlocking the vehicle or opening a door)
and go out after approximately 15 min-
utes.When the selector lever is in positionD,
you can influence transmission shifting by


limiting the gear range


changing gears yourself
iDuring the brief warm-up, the transmis-
sion upshifting is delayed. This allows
the catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperatures.
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out
of P or N if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the en-
gine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

152 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionOne-touch gearshifting
Even with an automatic transmission you
can change the gears yourself when the
selector lever is in positionD.
Downshifting
Briefly press the selector lever to the
left in the D–direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear. This action si-
multaneously limits the gear range of the
transmission (
page 153).Upshifting

Briefly press the selector lever to the
right in the D+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simulta-
neously extends the gear range of the
transmission.Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the selector lever in the
D+direction until D reappears in the
tachometer display field.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in the D–direction.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal accelera-
tion and deceleration. This will involve
shifting down one or more gears.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
the selector lever is moved to the
D–direction, the transmission will not
shift to a lower gear if the engine's
max. speed would be exceeded.

153 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear ranges
With the selector lever in positionD, you
can limit the transmission’s gear range by
pressing the lever to the left (D–), and re-
verse the gear range limit by pressing the
lever to the right (D+).
The selected gear range will appear in the
tachometer display field. If you press on
the accelerator when the engine has
reached its rpm limit, the transmission will
upshift beyond any gear range limit
selected.
Gear
range
Effect
é
The transmission shifts
through fourth gear only.
è
The transmission shifts
through third gear only.
With this selection you can
use the braking effect of the
engine.
Gear
range
Effect
ç
The transmission shifts
through second gear only.
Allows the use of the en-
gine’s braking power when
driving

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates
only in first gear.
For maximum use of the en-
gine’s braking effect on very
steep or lengthy down-
grades.