2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 check oil

280 OperationVehicle care
Vehicle careCleaning and care of vehicle
In operation, your vehicle is subjected to
varying external influences which, if gone
unchecked, can attack the paintwork as
well as the undercarriage and cause last-
ing damage.
Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:

Air pollution


Road salt


Tar, gravel and stone chippingTo avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Insects


Tree resins etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions, for ex-
ample:


Near the ocean


In industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


During winter operationYou should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
A n y d a m a g e s h o u l d b e r e p a i r e d a s s o o n a s
possible to prevent the start of corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underside of
the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thorough
check is a washing of the undercarriage
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be reundercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
We have selected car-care products and
compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology.
You can obtain Mercedes-Benz approved
car-care products at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.

300 Practical hintsWhat to do if …:
Engine oil level
Check level!
The engine oil level is too low.

Check the engine oil level
(page 262) and add oil as required.
:
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level!
You have added too much engine oil. There
is a risk of damaging the engine or the cat-
alytic converter.

Have oil siphoned. Observe all legal
requirements with respect to its dis-
posal.
Engine oil
Visit workshop!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical lev-
el.

Check the engine oil level
(page 262) and add oil as required.

If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
There is water in the oil.

Have the oil checked.
Engine oil level
Visit workshop!
The measuring system is malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Distronic
External interference
Reactivate!
The Distronic* is switched off and is tem-
porarily unavailable.

Try activating the Distronic* again
later.
Clean sensor!
see oper. Manual
The Distronic* is switched off because the
Distronic* cover in the radiator grille is
dirty.

Clean the Distronic* cover in the ra-
diator grille (
page 283).

Restart the vehicle.
Visit workshop!
The Distronic* is malfunctioning or the dis-
play is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution

318 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
<
Front passenger seat
belt
Please fasten belt!
The display reminds you and your pas-
sengers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
Driver‘s seat belt
Fasten seat belt!
The display reminds you and your pas-
sengers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
_
Steering oil
Visit workshop!
The steering gear oil level is too low.
There is a danger of steering gear dam-
age.

Have the system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the level of steering gear oil in reservoir is
too low, the steering power assistance could
fail. Much greater effort will then be needed
to turn the steering wheel.
Do not add steering oil without checking the
steering system.
Do not drive the vehicle. Have the system
checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

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

396 IndexSteering column
Height adjustment 38
Length adjustment 38
Steering gear oil
Message in display 318
Steering wheel
Adjusting 37
Electrical adjustment 38
Height adjustment 38
Stolen vehicle
Tracking services 242
Stopping
Sliding/pop-up roof* 188
Windows 185
Storage compartments
Glove box 226
Storing (Memory function*)
Positions into memory 110
Submenus
Convenience 143
For settings 123
In control system 125
Instrument cluster 134, 136
Lighting 138
Resetting functions in Control
system 131Selecting 131
Settings menu 131
Vehicle 142
Sun visors 158
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) 379
Suspension tuning
For regular driving style 212
For sporty driving style 212
Switching off
Automatic central locking (control
system) 142
Engine 51
ESP 76
Hazard warning flasher 115
Headlamps 51
Switching on
Automatic central locking (control
system) 142
ESP 77
Front fog lamps 114
Hazard warning flasher 115
Headlamps 46
High beams 115
Rear fog lamp 114
Windshield wipers 47Symbol (Distronic*)
Distance warning function* 129
Synchronizing
Power windows 186
Sliding/pop-up roof* 189
T
Tachometer 120
Overspeed range 120
Tail lamps 333, 336
Tele Aid System 379
Tele Aid* 234
Emergency calls 236
Info services 242
Information 239
Initiating an emergency call
manually 237
Remote door unlock 241
Roadside assistance 238
SOS button 237
Stolen vehicle tracking services 242
System self-check 235
Tele Aid System 235
Upgrade signals 240
Telematics* 379
Telephone* 24, 233
Answering a call 148