2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS radio

Contents
Sun visors .................................... 172
Rear window sunshade* .............. 173
Rear door window sunshade* ...... 173
Automatic climate control ................. 174
Setting the temperature ............... 177
Adjusting air distribution .............. 178
Adjusting air volume .................... 179
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ....... 179
Defrosting .................................... 180
Air recirculation mode.................. 180
Charcoal filter .............................. 182
Rear window defroster ................. 183
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 183
Air conditioning ............................ 184
Storage compartment ventilation. 184
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 185
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 186
Rear passenger compartment
climate control* ........................... 187
Power windows.................................. 188
Opening and closing the windows 188
Synchronizing power windows ..... 191Sliding/pop-up roof ............................ 192
Opening and closing the slid-
ing/pop-up roof ............................ 192
Synchronizing the sliding / pop-up
roof .............................................. 195
Driving systems .................................. 196
Cruise control ............................... 196
Distronic* ..................................... 199
AIRMATIC...................................... 211
Active Body Control (ABC)* .......... 213
Parktronic system* (Parking
assist) ........................................... 218
Loading............................................... 222
Roof rack* .................................... 222
Loading instructions ..................... 222
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 223
Useful features ................................... 224
Interior storage spaces ................. 224
Ashtrays........................................ 232
Cigarette lighters .......................... 233
Heated steering wheel* ................ 235
Telephone* ................................... 236
Tele Aid ......................................... 237
Garage door opener ...................... 245
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 248
Operation.......................................... 249
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 250
Driving instructions ............................ 251
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 251
Drinking and driving...................... 251
Pedals ........................................... 251
Power assistance .......................... 251
Brakes .......................................... 252
Driving off ..................................... 253
Parking ......................................... 253
Tires.............................................. 254
Hydroplaning ................................ 255
Tire traction .................................. 255
Tire speed rating ........................... 255
Winter driving instructions ............ 256
Standing water ............................. 257
Passenger compartment............... 258
Driving abroad .............................. 258
Control and operation of radio
transmitters .................................. 258
Catalytic converter ....................... 259
Emission control ........................... 259
Coolant temperature .................... 260

44 Getting startedDrivingStarting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter
switch to position0 and repeat starting
procedure.

If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the KEYLESS-GO card.
or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as
radio signals from another source may
be interfering with the KEYLESS-GO
card.

Repeat the starting procedure
(page 42). Remember that extended
starting attempts can drain the battery.

Get a jump start (
page 347).If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Parking brake
1Parking brake pedal
2Parking brake release handle

Release the parking brake by pulling
handle2.
The indicator lamp
;
(USA only) or
3
(Canada only) in the instrument
cluster goes out.
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. Children could release
the parking brake, which could result in an
accident and/or serious injury.

131 Controls in detail
Control system
Multifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system are
controlled using the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel (
page 24).Pressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under
AUDIO
, for example). These
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your
vehicle.
1
Multifunction display in the speed-
ometerOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting
the volumeç
down / to decrease
æ
up / to increase
3
Telephone*í
to take a call
ì
to end a call
4
Menu systemsè
for next menu
ÿ
for previous menu
5
Moving within a menuj
for next display
k
for previous display

134 Controls in detailControl systemMenus, submenus and functions
Menu 1
Menu 2
Menu 3
Menu 4
Menu 5
Menu 6
Menu 7
Menu 8
Commands/submenusStandard dis-
play
AUDIO
Telephone*
NAVI
Distronic*
Trip computer
Malfunction
memory
Settings
Call up FSS
Select radio
station
Load phone
book
Activate
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Fuel consumption
statistics after
start
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory
settings
Check tire pres-
sure*
Operate CD
player
Search for
name in
phone book
Fuel consumption
statistics since
the last reset
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Check engine oil
level
Call up range
Lighting sub-
menu
Digital speed-
ometer
Vehicle sub-
menuConvenience
submenu

135 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
You can select the functions in the stan-
dard display menu with button
k

or
j
.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer

Press the
j
or
k
button repeat-
edly until you see the digital speedom-
eter appear in the display.
The current vehicle speed is shown in
the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the
AUDIO
menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned
on, the message
AUDIO OFF
i s s h ow n i n t h e
display.
The following functions are available:
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.
Function
Page
Call up FSS
281
Check tire pressure*
274
Check engine oil level
264
Call up digital speedometer
see below
Function
Page
Select radio station
136
Operate CD player
136

136 Controls in detailControl systemSelect radio station
Turn on the radio. Refer to separate
COMAND operating instructions.

Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the display.
1Waveband
2Setting for station selection using
memory
3Station frequency

Press button
k
or
j
repeatedly
until the desired station is found.
The type of search depends on the
setting for the station tuning
(
page 154):


Frequency


MemoryOperate the CD player

Turn on the radio and select the CD
player. Refer to separate COMAND op-
erating instructions.

Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played appear in the display.
1Current CD
(for CD changer* (
page 137))
2Current track

Press button
k
or
j
repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
iYou can only store new stations using
the designated feature on the radio.
Refer to separate COMAND operating
instructions.
You can also operate the radio in the
usual manner.
iCD changer*: To select a CD from the
magazine, press a number on the
COMAND system key pad located in
the center dashboard.

139 Controls in detail
Control system
TEL menu*You can use the functions in the
TEL
menu
to operate your telephone, provided it is
connected to a hands-free system and
switched on.

Switch on the telephone and Audio or
COMAND.

Press button
ÿ
or
è
on the
steering wheel repeatedly until you see
the
TEL
menu in the display.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
o m m e n d t h a t y o u p u l l o v e r t o a s a f e l o c a t i o n
and stop before placing or taking a tele-
phone call. If you choose to use the tele-
phone while driving, please use the
hands-free device and only use the tele-
phone when weather, road and traffic condi-
tions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving a ve-
hicle.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of approximately
44 feet (approximately 13.5 m) every sec-
ond.
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury.

154 Controls in detailControl system
Press
æ
or
ç
to select the de-
sired lamp-on time period. You can se-
lect:


0 S
, the delayed shut-off feature is
deactivated.


5 S,
10 S
, 15 S
, or
20 S
, the delayed
shut-off feature is activated.Vehicle submenu
Access the
VEHICLE
submenu via the
SET-
INGS
menu. Use the
VEHICLE
submenu to
make general vehicle settings. The follow-
ing functions are available:
Setting station selection mode
Use the
STATION SEARCH USING
function to
select the manual or memory station se-
lection mode for the radio (
page 136).

Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
VEHI-
CLE
submenu.

Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
STATION SEARCH USING
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press
æ
or
ç
to select the de-
sired station selection mode. You can
select:


FREQUENCY


MEMORY
selects next stored station

Function
Page
Set station selection mode
(radio)
see
below
Setting automatic locking
155