2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 Owner's Manual

25 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Automatic climate control*
172
2
Audio system, see sepa-
rate operating instructions
3
Seat heater*, front passen-
ger side
107
4
Rear window sunshade*
160
5
Central locking switch
100
6
Opening/closing button
for storage tray or CD
changer*, see separate op-
erating instructions
227
7
Rear seat head restraints
switch, folding down
104
Item
Page
8
Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP) control switch
76
9
Seat heater*, driver’s side
107
10
Hazard warning flasher
switch
115
11
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
warning lamp
67

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

27 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Rear interior lighting
on/off
116
2
Automatic interior lighting
116
3
Front interior lighting
on/off
116
4
Temperature sensor
5
Right reading lamp on/off
116
6
Sliding/pop-up roof* or
panorama sliding/pop-up
roof*
187,
190
Item
Page
7
Tele Aid (emergency call
system) button
234
8
Rear view mirror
157
9
Reading lamps
116
10
Garage door opener
243
11
Tow-away alarm button
82
12
Ambient lighting
140
13
Interior lighting
14
Left reading lamp on/off
117

28 At a glanceDoor control panel
Door control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
93
2
Seat adjustment
35
3
Memory function (for stor-
ing seat, mirror and steer-
ing wheel settings)
109
4
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
39
5
Switches for opening/
closing front and rear side
windows, rear window
override switch
184
6
Trunk lid release switch,
Trunk lid opening/closing
system*
94

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).

31 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positionsStarter switch0For removing key
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
3Starting position
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.iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in position P.
!If the key is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of
time, it can no longer be turned in the
starter switch.

Remove the key from the starter
switch and reinsert.
If the key can still not be turned, the
battery may not be sufficiently
charged.

Check the battery and charge it
if necessary (
page 266).

Get a jump start (
page 346).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the key from the
starter switch.

32 Getting startedUnlockingUnlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys with remote controls and a re-
movable mechanical key. The locking tabs
for the mechanical key portion of the two
keys are a different color to help distin-
guish each key unit.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.
If you have the KEYLESS-GO function, your
vehicle checks whether the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is valid when you grasp the
door handle. If your key is valid, the doors
will unlock, and you can open them.

Grasp the door handle.
The turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs on the doors move up.
Pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the selector lever corresponds to
turning the key to the various starter
switch positions.
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the
vehicle, no further than approx. 3 feet
(1 meter) away from the door. Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always take the
key and the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
serious personal injury.