2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS lumbar support

ContentsControls in detail............................... 85
Locking and unlocking ......................... 86
SmartKey ....................................... 86
KEYLESS-GO card*......................... 89
Opening the doors from the
inside ............................................. 94
Opening the trunk lid...................... 95
Opening the trunk from the
inside ............................................. 96
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 96
Closing the trunk lid ....................... 97
Separately locking the trunk .......... 98
Separately unlocking the trunk ...... 98
Trunk lid opening/closing
ystem* ........................................... 99
Power closing assist for doors
and trunk lid ................................. 102
Automatic central locking ............ 102
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ..................................... 103
Seats.................................................. 104
Lumbar support ............................ 104
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 104
Head restraints............................. 105
Multicontour seat* ....................... 107Drive-dynamic seat* .................... 109
Seat ventilation* .......................... 110
Seat heating* ............................... 111
Rear seats .................................... 113
Memory function ............................... 117
Storing positions into memory ..... 118
Recalling positions from
memory ........................................ 118
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 118
Lighting.............................................. 120
Exterior lamp switch..................... 120
Combination switch ..................... 123
Hazard warning flasher ................ 124
Interior lighting............................. 124
Courtesy lighting .......................... 126
Instrument cluster ............................. 127
Instrument cluster illumination .... 127
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 128
Trip odometer .............................. 128
Tachometer .................................. 129
Outside temperature indicator ..... 129
Control system .................................. 130
Multifunction display .................... 130
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 131
Menus .......................................... 133Standard display menu ................ 135
AUDIO menu ................................ 135
CD changer* operating mode ...... 137
TEL menu* ................................... 139
NAVI menu ................................... 142
Distronic* menu .......................... 142
Trip computer menu..................... 143
Malfunction memory menu .......... 145
Settings menu .............................. 146
Automatic transmission ..................... 160
One-touch gearshifting ................ 161
Gear ranges ................................. 162
Gear selector lever position ......... 163
Program mode selector switch .... 164
Accelerator position ..................... 165
Emergency operation (Limp home
mode) .......................................... 165
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) and manual shift
program S 55 AMG ...................... 166
Good visibility .................................... 168
Rear view mirror .......................... 168
Electrically folding exterior rear
view mirrors ................................. 170
Windshield wipers ........................ 171
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 171

104 Controls in detailSeats
SeatsInformation on seat adjustment can be
found in the “Getting started” section,
(page 34).
Lumbar support
You can adjust the contour of the seat’s
lumbar support to best support your spine.
The thumbwheel is located on the lower
side of the seat.
1Thumbwheel
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
should light up.

Set the lumbar support between 0
and 5.
Easy-entry/exit feature
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards and the
driver’s seat moves to the rear.
This allows easier entry into and exit from
the vehicle when the driver’s door is
opened. However, the engine must be
turned off.
When the SmartKey is inserted in the start-
er switch or you have pressed the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once and
the driver’s door is closed, the steering
wheel and the driver’s seat return to their
last set positions.

107 Controls in detailSeats
Power head restraints, rear*
You can fold the rear head restraints back-
ward or forward using head restraint fold-
ing switch. The switches are located

on the front center console
(page 106):

Make sure the ignition is switched
on.
All the lamps in the instrument clus-
ter should light up

Press switch1 briefly.
The rear head restraints will fold
backward.

Press switch1 and hold.
The rear head restraints will fold up-
right.


on the rear section of the door for ad-
justing the respective head restraint:
Make sure the ignition is switched
on.
All the lamps in the instrument clus-
ter should light up

Press switch1 up.
The rear head restraints will fold up-
right.

Press switch1 down.
The rear head restraints will fold
backward.
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has a movable seat
cushion and inflatable air cushions built
into the seat backrest to provide additional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion movement and the seat
backrest cushion height and curvature can
be continuously varied with regulators on
the right side of the seat after turning the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position2 or pressing the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button twice.

108 Controls in detailSeats1Shoulder region support
2Side bolster adjustment
3Massage function (PULSE)
4Lumbar region support
Adjusting the multicontour seat in the or-
der listed above is recommended.
Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
All lamps in the instrument cluster light
up.Shoulder region support

Press
æ
or
ç
on switch1.
The air cushion inflates or deflates.
Lumbar region support

Press
k
or
j
on rocker
switch4.
This selects the air cushion you wish to
adjust.

Press
æ
or
ç
on rocker
switch4.
The air cushion inflates or deflates.Side bolsters adjustment

Adjust the side bolsters so that they
provide good lateral support using
switch 2.iWhen the engine is turned off, the last
cushion setting is retained in memory
and the cushion is automatically ad-
justed to this setting when the engine
is restarted.

109 Controls in detailSeats
Massage function (PULSE)
You can reduce muscle tension during long
trips by periodically using the massage
function. 
Press button3.
The indicator lamp on button3 lights
up. The air cushions in the lumbar re-
gion inflate and deflate (pulse).
Drive-dynamic seat*
The drive-dynamic seat automatically ad-
justs the lateral support provided by the
seat backrest to your driving style.
1Activate drive-dynamic function
The drive-dynamic seat electronically con-
trols the air pressure in the air chambers of
the seat backrest side bolsters. This func-
tion improves driving comfort and plea-
sure.Activating

Press button1.
The indicator lamp in the button lights
up.
Deactivating

Press button1 again.
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out.
iThe massage function switches off au-
tomatically after approximately eight
minutes. The indicator lamp extinguish-
es.
iYou can adjust the characteristics of
the drive-dynamic seat using the con-
trol system (
page 159).

387 Index
A
ABC 213
Messages in display 297, 299
Setting vehicle level 212, 215
ABS 76, 381
Malfunction indicator lamp 291
Messages in display 298
Warning lamp 291
Accelerator position, automatic transmis-
sion 165
Accident
In case of 49
Activating
Air conditioner (cooling) 184
Air conditioning 184
Air recirculation mode 180
Anti-theft alarm system 83
Central locking (control system) 155
Charcoal filter 182
Distance warning function* 208
Distronic* 204
Easy-entry/exit feature 156
ESP 80
Exterior lamps 121Exterior rear view mirror parking posi-
tion 169
Front and rear fog lamp 121
Hazard warning flasher 124
Headlamps 46
High beams 123
Ignition 31
Ignition with KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button 33
Immobilizer 52, 82
Rear window defroster 183
Residual heat 185
Seat heater 111, 112
Seat ventilation* 110
Tow-away alarm 84
Windshield wipers 47
Activating steering wheel gearshift control
166
Downshifting 167
Upshifting 166
Adding
Coolant 269
Engine oil 266, 267
Additional turn signals 331Adjustable air vents, rear passenger com-
partment 186
Adjusting 34
Air distribution 178
Air volume 179
Backrest tilt 36
Drive-dynamic seats 159
Exterior rear view mirror 39
Head restraint height 37
Head restraint tilt 37
Inside rear view mirror 38
Instrument cluster illumination 127
Lumbar support 104
Mirrors 38
Multicontour seat* 107
Power seat bench* 113
Seat cushion depth 36, 108
Seat cushion tilt 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 36
Seat height 36
Seat in the lumbar region 108
Seat in the shoulder region 108
Seats 34
Steering column height 38
Steering column length 38
Steering wheel 37

389 Index
Gear selector lever position 163
Gear shifting malfunctions 165
Kickdown 165
One-touch gearshifting 161
Program mode selector switch 164
Selector lever position 160
Starting the engine 43
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) and manual shift pro-
gram S 55 AMG 166
Transmission fluid 268
Winter program mode 166
Auxiliary cup holder 230
Inserting 230
Removing 231
Auxiliary fuse box 353
B
BabySmart
TM
Airbag deactivation system 69
Compatible child seats 69, 381
Self-test 70
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system
381
Backrest supports
Lumbar region 108
Shoulder region 108Backup lamps 332, 336
Bulbs 332
BAS 78, 381
Messages in display 300, 310
Batteries, KEYLESS-GO* card
Check lamp 92
Checking 92
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 328, 329
Check lamp 88
Checking 88
Battery discharged
Jump starting 347
Battery, vehicle 270, 344
Charging 345
Disconnecting 345
Reconnecting 345
Reinstalling 345
Removing 345
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 381
Block heater* 279
Blocking
Rear window operation 74
Brake assist system (BAS) 381
Brake fluid 262, 373
Brake lamp bulbs 332Brake lamp, high mounted 332
Brake pads
Message in display 302
Brakes 252
Warning lamp 293
Break-in period 250
Bulbs, replacing 331
Additional turn signals 331
Backup lamps 332
Brake lamps 332
Fog lamps 331
Front lamps 331
High beam 331
High mounted brake lamp 332
License plate lamps 332, 336
Low beam 331
Parking and standing lamps 331
Parking lamps 332, 335
Rear fog lamp 332
Rear fog lamps 336
Side marker lamps 331, 335
Standing lamps 331, 332, 335
Tail lamp assemblies 332, 336
Turn signal lamps 331, 332

398 IndexLayout of poly-V-belt drive 361
Leather upholstery
Cleaning 287
Lever
For cruise control 203
License plate lamps
Replacing bulbs 332, 336
Light alloy wheels
Cleaning 286
Light sensor 312
Lighter see Cigarette lighter 233
Lighting 120
Automatic headlamp mode 121
Combination switch 123
Daytime running lamp mode 122
Exterior lamp switch 120
Front fog lamps 122
High beam flasher 123
High beams 123
Instrument cluster illumination 127
Interior 124
Locator lighting 122
Low beam 120
Manual headlamp mode 121
Night security illumination 122
Parking lamps 120Rear fog lamp 123
Settings (control system) 150
Limiting the gear range 162
Limp Home Mode 165
Loading 222
Cargo tie-down hooks 223
Instructions 222
Roof rack 222
Locator lighting 122
Setting 151
Lock button 383
Lock buttons 383
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 53
Locking 50, 86
Fuel filler flap 261
Global (KEYLESS-GO* card) 91, 92
Global, SmartKey 87
The vehicle with KEYLESS-GO* 93
Trunk lid, separately 98
Vehicle in an emergency 327
Loss of keys 89, 94
Low beam headlamps
Messages in display 313, 314
Replacing bulbs 331
Lowering
Vehicle 342Lumbar support adjustment 104
M
Main Dimensions 369
Maintenance 12, 280
Malfunction
Displaying 145
Malfunction memory 145
Calling up 145
Manual headlamp mode 121
Manual operations
Fuel filler flap 329
Interior lighting control 125
Locking the vehicle 327
Sliding/pop-up roof 330
Unlocking the driver’s door 326
Unlocking the trunk lid 327
Manual shift program S 55 AMG 166
Massage function 109
MAXCOOL
Maximum cooling 179
Mechanical key 326
Memory function 117, 383
Recalling positions from memory 118
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing positions 118
Storing key dependent settings 118