2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS warning light

78 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsBAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing the braking distance. Apply
continuous full braking pressure until the
emergency braking situation is over. The
ABS will prevent the wheels from locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
For more information see “Practical hints”
(page 289).
ESP
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
monitors the vehicle's traction (force of
adhesive friction between the tires and the
road surface) and handling.
The ESP recognizes when a wheel is spin-
ning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By ap-
plying brakes to the appropriate wheel and
by limiting engine output, the ESP works to
stabilize the vehicle. The ESP is especially
useful while driving off and on wet or slip-
pery road surfaces.
The ESP warning lamp
v
in the instru-
ment cluster flashes when the ESP is en-
gaged.
The ESP warning lamp
v
in the instru-
ment cluster lights up when you turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position2 or press the KEYLESS-GO* (if so
equipped) start/stop button twice. It goes
out when the engine is running.
Warning!
G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that af-
forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes
and tires or the traction. The BAS cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns, following an-
other vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents. The capabilities of a BAS
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in
a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.

80 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsSwitching off the ESP
To improve the vehicle's traction, turn off
the ESP in driving situations where it would
be advantageous to have the drive wheels
spin and thus cut into surfaces for better
grip such as:

starting out on slippery surfaces and in
deep snow in conjunction with snow
chains


sand or gravelThe switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1ESP off / on

Press ESP switch1 until the ESP warn-
ing lamp
v
in the speedometer
lights up.
ESP is deactivated.
If one or more wheels are spinning, the
ESP warning lampv
in the speedome-
ter flashes, regardless of the speed.
Traction control brakes a spinning wheel
even when ESP is deactivated.
ESP always operates when you are brak-
ing, even when it has been deactivated.Switching on ESP

Press switch1.
The ESP warning lamp
v
in the in-
strument cluster goes out. You are now
again in normal driving mode.
Warning!
G
The ESP should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.iDistronic* cannot be activated when
ESP has been deactivated.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period with the ESP switched
off. This may cause serious damage to
the drivetrain which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Warning!
G
When the ESP warning lamp
v
is
illuminated continuously, the ESP is
switched off.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP.

88 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingRestoring to factory setting
Press and hold buttons
Œ
and
‹

simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp5 blinks twice.Checking the batteries

Press button
‹
or
Œ
.
Battery check lamp5 lights up briefly
to indicate that the SmartKey batteries
are in order.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
KEYLESS-GO* card (if so equipped) with you
and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. It is possible for chil-
dren to open a locked door from the inside,
which could result in an accident and/or se-
rious injury.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the
vehicle with the SmartKey, then either
the batteries in the SmartKey are dis-
charged or the SmartKey is malfunc-
tioning.

Check the batteries in the
SmartKey and replace them if nec-
essary (
page 328).
or


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the doors (
page 326) and trunk
(
page 327) as required. Lock the
vehicle using the mechanical key
(page 327).
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning, con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
!If battery check lamp5 does not light
up briefly during check, the SmartKey
batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 328).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.

93 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Checking vehicle lock status
If you cannot remember whether you have
locked the vehicle, you can check the lock
status using the KEYLESS-GO card.
Briefly press programming button1.
The indicator lamp for “Driver’s door”2
or “Central unlock”3 lights up in red or
green.
Vehicle lock status:
Red: Vehicle is locked
Green: Vehicle is unlockedLocking the vehicle
1Trunk lock button

Press the lock button at door
(page 53) or trunk1.Closing the side windows and
sliding/pop-up roof

Press and hold lock button at the door
(page 53) until the side windows and
the sliding/pop-up roof are closed.
iWhen the vehicle is unlocked and the
anti-theft alarm system is switched off,
the turn signals illuminate briefly. If it is
dark, the locator lighting also switches
on (
page 122).
When the vehicle is locked and the an-
ti-theft alarm system is activated, the
turn signals flash three times.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows and the slid-
ing/pop-up roof, be sure that there is no
danger of anyone being harmed by the clos-
ing procedure.
If potential danger exists, proceed as fol-
lows:

Release the lock button.


Pull on the door handle and hold firmly.
The side windows and the slid-
ing/pop-up roof will open for as long as
the door handle is held but the door is
not opened.

99 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Trunk lid opening/closing system*
You can open or close the trunk lid from
the inside if the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 6 ft.
(1.85 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
Opening from the inside
You can open the trunk using the trunk lid
release switch.
A minimum height of 6 ft. (1.85 m) is re-
quired to open the trunk lid.
1Indicator lamp
2Remote trunk lid switch

Pull remote trunk lid switch2.
The trunk opens. Indicator lamp1
comes on. It remains lit until you close
the trunk again.
The trunk can also be opened from the in-
side in an emergency, see “Trunk lid emer-
gency release” (
page 96).
You can stop the opening process of the
trunk lid.

Press the remote trunk lid switch2.
The trunk lid remains in the current po-
sition.Closing from the inside

Press remote trunk lid switch2
(page 96) until the trunk lid is closed
and indicator lamp1 goes out.
To interrupt the closing procedure:

Release remote trunk lid switch2. The
trunk lid stops moving.
If the trunk lid comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high) in the upper motion
sequence, the closing procedure is
stopped and the trunk re-opens slightly.
!The trunk lid swings open upwards au-
tomatically. Always make sure that
there is sufficient overhead clearance.iThe vehicle must be unlocked.
If the trunk lid does not open, it is still
locked separately (
page 98).
Warning!
G
Maintain sight of trunk area while operating
door mounted switch. Monitor the closing
procedure carefully to ensure that no one is
in danger of being injured. To interrupt the
closing procedure, release the door mount-
ed remote trunk lid switch.

100 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingTrunk lid closing switch in trunk
1Trunk lid closing switch
Press closing switch1.
The trunk lid closes automatically.
If the trunk lid comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high) in the upper motion
sequence, the closing procedure is
stopped and the trunk re-opens slightly.Closing and locking the trunk with
KEYLESS-GO*
On vehicles with trunk lid opening/closing
system and KEYLESS-GO, you can close
the trunk lid and lock the vehicle simulta-
neously.
1Trunk lid closing switch
2KEYLESS-GO switch

Make sure that you have the SmartKey
and the KEYLESS-GO card with you.
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
ensure that no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the trunk opening when closing the trunk.
Be especially careful when small children
are around. To stop the closing procedure,
press the remote trunk lid switch (on driv-
er’s door control panel), the trunk lid closing
switch1, or the
Š
button on the
SmartKey.
iDo not place the SmartKey in the open
trunk. You may lock yourself out.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To pre-
vent a possible inadvertent lockout, the
trunk lid will open automatically if a
KEYLESS-GO card is recognized in the
area of the rear shelf or inside the
trunk.

101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

Press switch2 in the trunk lid.
The trunk lid closes automatically and
the vehicle is locked. The turn signals
flash three times to confirm locking.Limiting opening height of trunk
You can limit the opening angle of the
trunk lid. The trunk lid then opens only to
approximately the height of the roof edge.
This can be useful when there is not
enough overhead clearance space, for ex-
ample. The trunk lid opening height can be
limited when transporting goods on a roof
rack (e.g. presence of an MB sport luggage
container). When activated, the trunk lid
opens to approximately the height of the
roof edge.

With the trunk lid closed, press the re-
mote control switch (
page 99) and
hold for at least five seconds.
Depending on its previous status, the
opening height restriction is then
switched either on or off.
iTo prevent a possible inadvertent lock-
out, the trunk lid will open automatical-
ly if a KEYLESS-GO card is recognized
in the area of the rear shelf or inside
the trunk.Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
ensure that no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the trunk opening when closing the trunk.
Be especially careful when small children
are around. To stop the closing procedure,
press the trunk lid closing switch1 in the
trunk lid, the
Š
button on the SmartKey,
or the remote trunk lid switch (on driver’s
door control panel).
iIf the trunk lid comes into contact with
an object while closing (e.g. luggage
that has been piled too high), the clos-
ing procedure is stopped and the trunk
re-opens slightly.
The closing procedure can be stopped
at anytime by once again pressing the
closing switch in the trunk lid, the re-
mote control switch in the driver’s
door, or the
Š
button on the Smart-
Key.

106 Controls in detailSeatsInstalling front head restraints:
Press switch1 upwards and hold for
about five seconds.

Push the head restraint down until it
engages.

Adjust head restraint to desired posi-
tion (
page 35).
Rear seat head restraintsFolding rear head restraints back

Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
should light up.

Press switch1.
The rear head restraints will fold back-
ward.Placing rear head restraints upright

Pull the rear head restraint forward un-
til it locks into position.
Rear head restraint tilt
The read head restraint angle can be ad-
justed manually.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the
rear head restraints in the upright position
when the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.iYou can adjust the angle manually by
pulling or pushing the head restraints
by hand.
!Make sure that the head restraints en-
gage when adjusting them manually.
Otherwise, their protective function
cannot be ensured.