2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 Start

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................................ 28Getting started................................... 29
Unlocking ............................................. 30
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 30
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 32
Adjusting .............................................. 34
Seats............................................... 34
Steering wheel ................................ 37
Mirrors ............................................ 38
Driving .................................................. 40
Fastening the seat belts.................. 40
Starting the engine ......................... 43
Switching on headlamps ................. 46
Turn signals and high beam ............ 46
Windshield wipers ........................... 47Problems while driving.................... 48
Parking and locking .............................. 50
Parking brake ................................. 50
Switching off headlamps................. 51
Turning off the engine ..................... 51
Safety 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
The SBC brake system .................... 77
Anti-theft systems ................................ 81
Immobilizer ..................................... 81
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 82
Tow-away alarm .............................. 82

ContentsTires and wheels ................................ 268
Important guidelines .................... 268
Life of tire ..................................... 269
Direction of rotation ..................... 269
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 269
Rotating wheels............................ 272
Winter driving..................................... 273
Winter tires................................... 273
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 274
Snow chains ................................. 274
Maintenance ...................................... 275
Flexible Service System PLUS (FSS
PLUS) ........................................... 275
Clearing the service indicator....... 275
Service term exceeded................. 276
Calling up the service indicator .... 276
Resetting the service indicator ..... 276
Setting the date for special works 278
Calling up the service data
information ................................... 279
Vehicle care ....................................... 280
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 280
Practical hints.................................. 287
What to do if … .................................. 288
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 288
Lamp in center console ................ 294
Messages in the display ............... 295
Where will I find ...? ........................... 324
First aid kit ................................... 324
Spare wheel ................................. 324
Luggage box ................................. 325
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 326
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 327
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 327
Locking the vehicle ...................... 328
Changing batteries ....................... 328
Fuel filler flap emergency release 329
Manually unlocking the
transmission selector lever .......... 330
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 331
Sliding/pop-up roof* or
panorama sliding/pop-up roof* ... 331Replacing bulbs ................................. 332
Bulbs ............................................ 332
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 334
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps .... 336
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 337
Replacing wiper blades ................ 337
Flat tire .............................................. 338
Preparing the vehicle ................... 338
Mounting the spare wheel ........... 338
Batteries ............................................ 343
Disconnecting the battery............ 344
Removing the battery................... 344
Charging and reinstalling the
battery ......................................... 344
Reconnecting the batteries .......... 345
Jump starting ..................................... 346
Towing the vehicle ............................. 348
Towing the vehicle ....................... 348
Installing towing eye bolt ............. 350
Fuses ................................................. 352
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ............................... 352

14 IntroductionWhere to find it
Where to find itThis Operator’s Manual is designed to pro-
vide comprehensive support information
for you, the vehicle operator. For you to
find information quickly each section has
its own reference color:At a glance
Here you will find an overview of all the
controls that can be operated from the
driver’s seat.Getting started
Here you will find all the information you
need for your first drive. You should read
this section first if this is your first
Mercedes-Benz vehicle or if you are rent-
ing or borrowing this vehicle.Safety and Security
Here you will find descriptions of the safety
features of your vehicle.
Controls in detail
Here you will find detailed information
about the equipment installed in your vehi-
cle. This section expands on the "Getting
started" section and also describes techni-
cal innovations. If you are already familiar
with the basic functions of your vehicle,
this section will be of particular interest to
you.Operation
Here you will find all the information you
need for the proper operation of your vehi-
cle.Practical hints
This section provides fast assistance for
dealing with problems you may encounter.
Technical data
All important technical data for your vehi-
cle can be found in this section.Indexes
The glossary provides explanations of the
most important technical terms.
The table of contents and the index are de-
signed to help you find information quickly
and easily.
The following publications are part of your
vehicle documentation:

this Operator’s Manual


the Service Booklet
Separate operating instructions will be
provided as required depending on the
equipment options installed in your vehi-
cle.

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
45, 50
2
Hood lock release
261
3
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
38
Heated steering wheel*
233
4
Parking brake release
45
5
Combination switch

Turn signals
46


Windshield wipers
47


High beam
47
6
Door control panel
28
7
Exterior lamp switch
112
Item
Page
8
Headlamp washer button*
158
9
Cruise control lever

Cruise control
201


Distronic*
197
10
Instrument cluster
22,
118
11
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
122
12
Horn
13
Lever for voice recognition
system*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
14
Starter switch
31
15
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
212
16
Overhead control panel
27
17
Mobile phone/Glasses box
226
18
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
226
19
Glove box
226
20
Center console
25

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal indi-
cator lamp
2
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
288
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
with:Basic display with outside
temperature display
126
Status indicator with mal-
function warning messageTrip odometer
119
5
lDistance warning
lamp
1
1Vehicles without Distronic*: Warning lamp without
function. It illuminates with key in starter switch
position 2. It should go out when the engine is run-
ning.
289
6
KRight turn signal in-
dicator lamp
Item
Page
7
Coolant temperature dis-
play with:•Coolant tempera-
ture warning lamp
292
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
290
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
289
warning lamp
293
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator
115
9
Main odometer with:

Selector lever position
43


Program mode
155
Item
Page
10
Clock with:;Brake warning
lamp, except
Canada
291
3Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
291
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
293
11
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warn-
ing lamp
293
12
Reset knob for:

Resetting trip
odometer
119


Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination
118


Confirming new time
settings
136

26 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
231
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
33
3
Selector lever for automat-
ic transmission
43,
151
4
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
212
5
Adaptive damping system
(ADS)* switch
209
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control
switch*
209
7
Thumbwheel for setting
distance for Distronic*
204
8
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off switch
205
9
Program mode selector for
automatic transmission
155

29 Getting started
Unlocking
Adjusting
Driving
Parking and locking

30 Getting startedUnlockingThe "Getting started" section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the "Controls in
detail" section will help you with further in-
formation. The corresponding page refer-
ences are at the end of each segment.
UnlockingUnlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button for trunk lid
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 72)

Press unlock button Πon the key.
All turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.

Get in the vehicle and insert the key in
the starter switch.
More information can be found in the
"Controls in detail" section (
page 86).