2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 electrical

173 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated af-
ter approximately 6 to 17 minutes of oper-
ation depending on the outside
temperature.
Activating
Press buttonFon the climate con-
trol panel (
page 173) or the automat-
ic climate control panel (
page 176).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating

Press buttonF again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
!Always guide the sunblind by hand. Do
not let it snap back, as the retractor
could be damaged.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts flashing, this means that too
many electrical consumers are operat-
ing simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating
the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically turns itself back on.

197 Controls in detail
Power windows
Power windows
Opening and closing the windows
The side windows can be opened and
closed electrically. The switches for all of
the side windows are on the driver’s door.
The switches for the respective windows
are on the front passenger door and the
rear doors.
1Rear window override switch
(
page 72)
2Right front window
3Right rear window
4Left rear window
5Left front window
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being harmed
by the closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing the switch or,
if switch was pulled past the resistance
point and released, by either pressing or
pulling the respective switch.
If the window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you pulled the switch past the resistance
point and released it to close the window,
the automatic reversal function will stop the
window and open it slightly.
If the window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you are closing the window by pulling and
holding the switch, by pressing and holding
button ‹ on the SmartKey, or by press-
ing and holding the lock button (vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO*) on the door handle,
the automatic reversal function will not op-
erate.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment can cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.iYou can also open or close the win-
dows using the following:

SmartKey (summer opening/con-
venience feature) (
page 199)


ButtonO in the control panel of
the climate control (
page 176)


Buttone in the control panel of
the automatic climate control
(page 186)

201 Controls in detail
Sliding / pop-up roof*
Sliding / pop-up roof*
Opening and closing the sliding / pop-up roof
The sliding / pop-up roof can be opened
and closed electrically. The switch for the
sliding / pop-up roof is on the overhead
control panel.
1Push back to slide roof open
2Push forward to slide roof closed
3Push up to raise roof at rear
4Pull down to lower roof at rearWith the roof closed or tilted open, a
screen can be slid into the roof opening to
guard against sun rays. When sliding the
roof open, the screen will also retract.
Warning!
G
When closing the sliding / pop-up roof, make
sure that there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
The closing procedure of the sliding/pop-up
roof can be immediately halted by releasing
the switch or, if the switch was moved past
the resistance point and released, by mov-
ing the switch in any direction.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment can cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
!To avoid damaging the seals, do not
transport any objects with sharp edges
which can stick out of the
sliding / pop-up roof.
Open the sliding / pop-up roof only if
the roof is clear of snow or ice.
The sliding / pop-up roof can be opened
or closed manually should an electrical
malfunction occur (
page 358).
iYou can also open or close the
sliding / pop-up roof using:

SmartKey, (
page 202)


ButtonO in the control panel of
the climate control (
page 176) or
automatic climate control
(
page 186)


Buttone in the control panel of
the automatic climate control
(page 186)

206 Controls in detailPanorama sliding / pop-up roof*
Release the switch when the roller sun-
blinds have reached the desired posi-
tion.
Fully opening the roller sunblinds
(Express-open)

Move the panorama sliding/pop-up
roof switch or the rear roller sunblind
switch past the resistance point in
direction1 and release.
The roller sunblinds opens completely.
Stopping the roller sunblinds

Move the switch in any direction.Opening and closing the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof
The panorama sliding/pop-up roof can be
opened and closed electrically. The switch
for the panorama sliding/pop-up roof is on
the overhead control panel.
The panorama sliding/pop-up roof only op-
erates with the sunblinds opened.
1Push back to slide roof open
2Push forward to slide roof closed
3Push up to raise roof
4Pull down to lower roof
Warning!
G
When closing the roller sunblinds, make
sure that no one is in danger of being injured
by the closing procedure. The closing of the
roller sunblinds can be immediately halted
by releasing the switch.
Warning!
G
When opening or closing the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof, make sure that there is
no danger of anyone being harmed by the
opening or closing procedure.
The opening procedure of the panorama
sliding/pop-up roof can be immediately
halted by releasing the switch or, if the
switch was moved past the resistance point
and released, by moving the switch in any di-
rection.
The closing procedure of the panorama
sliding/pop-up roof can be immediately
halted by releasing the switch.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment can cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.


207 Controls in detail
Panorama sliding / pop-up roof*

Turn SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1 or2 or press the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once
or twice.Opening and closing the panorama
sliding/pop-up roof

To open or close the panorama
sliding/pop-up roof, move the switch
to resistance point in the required
direction1 to4.
Release the switch when the roof has
reached the desired position.
Fully opening the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof (Express-open)

Move the switch past the resistance
point in direction1 and release.
The panorama sliding / pop-up roof
opens completely.
Stopping the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof

Move the switch in any direction.
!Do not transport any objects that pro-
trude out of the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof as the seals could
be damaged.
Do not open the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof if there is snow or
ice on the roof, as this could result in
malfunctions.
The panorama sliding/pop-up roof can
be opened or closed manually should
an electrical malfunction occur
(page 358).
iYou can also open or close the panora-
ma sliding/pop-up roof using the:

SmartKey (summer opening/con-
venience future) (
page 199)


button, in the control panel of
the automatic climate control
(page 186)


buttone in the control panel of
the automatic climate control
(page 192)
iThe panorama sliding/pop-up roof can-
not be closed fully (Express-close)

210 Controls in detailPanorama sliding / pop-up roof*
Wait until the roller sunblinds are
closed and then keep the switch
pressed for approximately one second.

Move the switch in direction1
(page 206).

Wait until the roller sunblinds are
opened.

Move the switch in direction3
(page 206).

Wait until the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof is raised and then
keep the switch pressed for approxi-
mately one second.

Move the switch in direction2
(page 206).

Wait until the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof is closed and then
keep the switch pressed for approxi-
mately one second.
The panorama sliding/pop up roof is
synchronized.
The synchronization must be repeated if
the panorama sliding / pop-up roof cannot
be fully opened (Express-open).
Solar panel*
A solar panel is available in combination
with the panorama sliding / pop-up roof.
The solar cells convert natural light into
electrical energy. When the engine is
switched off, the energy generated auto-
matically switches on the ventilation fan.
The constant air flow creates a cooler tem-
perature for cars parked in the sunlight.
The air flow depends on the intensity of the
solar radiation. The ventilation starts two
minutes after switching off the engine.


248 Controls in detailUseful features
12-V socket*
The socket is located in the rear of the cen-
ter console storage compartment.
The socket can be used for accessories up
to a maximum of 180 W.
Heated steering wheel*
The steering wheel heating warms up the
leather area of the steering wheel.
The stalk with the heated steering wheel
switch is on the lower left-hand side of the
steering wheel.
1Indicator lamp
2Switching off
3Switching on
Warning!
G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the lighter; they are extremely hot. Hold the
knob only.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and / or serious personal injury.iThe lighter socket can be used to ac-
commodate electrical accessories up
to a maximum 85 W.

268 OperationDriving instructionsPower assistance
Brakes
Warning!
G
The brake system requires electrical energy
for operation.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. In such a case, the
red brake warning lamp (
page 312) and
warning messages in the instrument cluster
(
page 318) come on while driving. To
brake, the driver must then apply signifi-
cantly greater brake pedal pressure and de-
press the pedal much further to obtain the
expected braking effect. If necessary, apply
full pressure to the brake pedal. Brakes may
only be applied to the front wheels. Stop-
ping distance is increased! If there is a mal-
function 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 circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle 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 infor-
mation, refer to “Towing the vehicle”
(page 381). For more information see
SBC brake system (
page 79).
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.
Warning!
G
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking ef-
fect. Maintain a safe distance from vehicles
in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an acci-
dent.