2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 Sport

294 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
The indicator lamp lights up.
A BabySmart
TM child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. Therefore, the front
passenger airbag is switched off.
The system is malfunctioning when there is
no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the
front passenger seat.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
The indicator lamp does not light up with a
BabySmart
TM child seat properly installed
on the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure that there is nothing be-
tween seat cushion and child seat and
check installation of the child seat.

If the light remains out, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been
repaired.

307 Practical hints
What to do if …
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Brakes overheated!
Drive carefully!
The brake system is overheated due to an
excessive load on the brakes.

Relieve the load on the brake sys-
tem.

Drive more smoothly and think
ahead to avoid unnecessary braking.

When driving down slopes, shift into
a lower gear to use the engine’s brak-
ing power (
page 153).

Cautiously continue driving so that
the air stream will cool down the
brakes.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Warning!
G
Driving while these messages are displayed
can result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
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 vehi-
cle" (
page 348).
If the SBC brake system enters its
limp-home (emergency operation) mode,
the driver must apply significantly greater
brake pedal pressure and depress the pedal
much further than normal to obtain braking
effect. If necessary, apply full pressure to
the brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to
the front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased!
Low brake fluid in the reservoir may cause
the braking system to fail!
Don’t add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid

348 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
Towing the vehicleTowing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment.
When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised only so far as to have the vehicle moved to a safe loca-
tion where the recommended towing
methods can be employed.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with key in starter switch turned
to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm and the
automatic central locking
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised, the engine must be shut off
(key in starter switch position0 or1).
Otherwise, the ESP will immediately be
engaged and will apply the rear wheel
brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the selector lever must
be in positionN and the key must be in
starter switch position2. When towing
the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the vehicle may be towed only
for distances up to 30 miles (50 km)
and at a speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).
!To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the transmission, however,
we recommend the drive shaft be dis-
connected at the rear axle drive flange
for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.

362 Technical dataRims and tiresMinispare wheel
Sport package
E320 / E500
Rim
4J x 17 ET 34
Wheel offset
1.34 (34 mm)
Tire
T 155/70 R 17
1
1Must not be used with snow chains.
E320*/ E500*
Same-sized
tiresRims
(light alloy)
8J x 17 ET 38
Wheel offset
1.5 in (38 mm)
Summer tires
(radial-ply tires)
245/45 R 17 95 H
1
Winter tires
(radial-ply tires)
245/45 R 17 95 M+S
1
1Must not be used with snow chains.

395 Index
Submenus 131
Shift lock 379
Shifting
Gear selector lever positions 154
Into optimal gear range (automatic
transmission) 152
Side impact airbags 61
Side marker lamps 332, 336
Side windows
Automatic opening 184
Closing 184, 185
Closing with KEYLESS-GO* 92
Closing with SmartKey 185
Opening 184, 185
Opening fully 184
Opening with SmartKey 185
Stopping 185
Synchronizing power windows 186
Signal strength (telephone*) 148
Simultaneous wiping and washing
Windshield wipers 48
Single wipe 48
Ski sack* 216
Removing 219
Unfolding and loading 216
Unloading and folding 218Sliding/pop-up roof* 187
Closing 187
Closing with KEYLESS-GO* 92
Closing with SmartKey 188, 192
Opening 187
Opening with SmartKey 188, 192
Stopping 188
Synchronizing 189
Sliding/pop-up roof* or panorama slid-
ing/pop-up roof*
Emergency operations 331
SmartKey
Locking and unlocking 86
Opening and closing the slid-
ing/pop-up roof* with 188, 192
Opening and closing windows
with 185
Unlocking with 30
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Global locking and unlocking 91
Locking the vehicle 92
Loss of 93
Remote controls 89
Unlocking with 32
Snow chains 274
Spare fuses 353Spare parts service 356
Spare wheel 324
Speed
Resetting stored speed in
Distronic* 203
Saving current 195
Speed settings
Cruise control 196
Distronic* 202, 203
Speedometer
Displaying gear range 153
Displays 199
Settings units 134
Speedometer display mode
Selecting 134
Split rear bench seat 219
Sporty driving style 212
SRS 63, 379
Indicator lamp 290
Standing lamps 112
Replacing bulbs 335
Starter switch 31
Positions 31
Starting difficulties 44
Starting position 31
Starting the engine 43

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

397 Index
Dialing a number from the phone
book 149
Ending a call 149
Loading phone book* 149
Messages in display 309
Operating 147
Redialing 149
Temperature
Display mode 134
Sensor 27
Setting interior temperature 165,
176
Setting units in display 134
Tie-down rings (trunk) 225
Tightening torque 342, 379
Time
Setting hours 137
Setting minutes 137, 138
Tire inflation pressure
Setting units 136
Tire speed rating 379
Tires 373
Tools 326
Tow-away alarm 82
Arming 82
Disarming 82Disarming for transport 82
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit)
Installing 350
Towing the vehicle 348
Tracking services
For stolen vehicle 242
Traction 155, 379
Trip computer 145
Trip odometer
Resetting 119
Trunk
Closing the lid 96
Lamp 117
Lock button, KEYLESS-GO* 92
Message in display 310
Opening 88, 96
Opening from inside vehicle 94
Separately locking 98
Tie-down rings 225
Trunk lid emergency release 97
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* 92
Trunk lid
Closing 96
Turn signals 46
Additional in mirrors 332
Front bulbs 332Turning off
Engine 51
U
Units
Setting speedometer units 134
Setting temperature units 134
Setting tire inflation pressure
units 136
Unlocking 30, 86, 327
Centrally from inside 100
Driver’s door in an emergency 327
Fuel filler flap 259
Global 87
Global with KEYLESS-GO* 91
Selective settings 87
Trunk lid with KEYLESS-GO* 92
Vehicle in an emergency 241
With KEYLESS-GO* 32
With the SmartKey 30
Upgrade signals
Tele Aid* 240
Uphill driving
Cruise control 195
Upshifting 152
Useful features 226
Ashtrays 231