2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 page 2

109 Controls in detailSeats
Removing and installing front seat head restraints
Information on head restraint adjustment
can be found in the “Getting started” sec-
tion (
page 36).
Front seat head restraints
Removing front head restraints

Press switch1upwards and hold until
the head restraint is fully extended.

Pull out head restraint.Installing front head restraints:

Press switch1upwards and hold for
about five seconds.

Push the head restraint down until it
engages.

Adjust head restraint to desired posi-
tion (
page 36).
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
iTilt the backrest to the rear for easier
removal and installation of the head re-
straints.

111 Controls in detailSeats
Removing and installing rear seat head
restraints
For removing and installing rear seat head
restraints, see “Expanding the cargo ar-
ea*” (
page 239)
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has a movable seat
cushion and inflatable air cushions built
into the backrest to provide additional lum-
bar and side support.
The seat cushion movement, backrest
cushion height and curvature can be con-
tinuously varied with switches on the right
side of the seat after turning the SmartKey
in the starter switch to position2 or press-
ing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
twice.1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Backrest side bolster adjustment

Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All lights in the instrument cluster
come on.Seat cushion depth

Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg using
switch1.
Backrest contour

Adjust the contour of the backrest to
the desired position using æ or
ç.

Move the backrest support to the bot-
tom by using button2 or to the center
by using button3.
Backrest side bolsters

Adjust the side bolsters so that they
provide good lateral support using
switch4.

112 Controls in detailSeatsDrive - Dynamic seat*
The Drive - Dynamic seat automatically ad-
justs the lateral support provided by the
backrest to your driving style.
1Backrest center
2Backrest bottom
3Seat cushion depth
4Activate drive dynamic function
5Backrest side bolsters
6Massage functionThe drive - Dynamic seat electronically con-
trols the air pressure in the air chambers of
the backrest side bolsters. This function
improves driving comfort and pleasure.
Activating

Press button4.
The indicator lamp in the button comes
on for five seconds and the fallowing
display appears in the multi-function
display for about five seconds.Deactivating

Press button4 again.
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out.iYou can adjust the characteristics of
the Drive - Dynamic seat using the con-
trol system (
page 153).
iWhen the engine is turned off, the last
cushion setting is retained in memory.
The cushion is automatically adjusted
to this setting when the engine is re-
started.

114 Controls in detailSeatsSwitching seat heating off
Press button1 repeatedly until all in-
dicator lamps go out.
Seat ventilation*
The switch is located on the center con-
sole. Seat ventilation can be activated
manually with the ignition on, or by the
summer opening feature (
page 199).
The blue indicator lamps on the switch
show the ventilation level selected:
1Seat ventilation switch

Make sure the ignition has been
switched on.
All lights in the instrument cluster
come on.
iThe seat heating will be automatically
switched off after approximately
20 minutes.!If one or more of the lamps on the seat
heater switch are flashing, there is in-
sufficient voltage available since too
many electrical consumers are turned
on. The seat heater switches off auto-
matically.
The seat heater will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.
Level3
Three indicator lamps lit
2
Two indicator lamps lit
1
One indicator lamp lit
off
No indicator lamp lit

115 Controls in detailSeats
Switching seat ventilation on
Press button1 repeatedly until the
desired ventilation level is set.
Switching seat ventilation off

Press button1 repeatedly until all in-
dicator lamps go out.iThe seat ventilation is automatically set
to the highest level if activated via sum-
mer opening feature (
page 199).
!If one or all of the lamps flash on the
seat ventilation switch, there is insuffi-
cient voltage due to too many electrical
consumers being switched on. The seat
ventilation switches off automatically.
The seat ventilation will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.

116 Controls in detailMemory function
Memory function
You can store up to three different settings
per SmartKey.
The following settings are saved for each
stored position:

Driver’s seat and backrest position


Steering wheel position


Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
position


Passenger side exterior rear view mir-
ror position


Front passenger seat position
These SmartKey-dependent memory set-
tings can be deactivated if desired
(
page 152).
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the driv-
er should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to en-
sure adequate control, reach and com-
fort. The head restraint should also be
adjusted for proper height. See also the
section on airbags (
page 57) for
more information on proper seat posi-
tioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the interior and
outside rear view mirrors should be ad-
justed for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

117 Controls in detail
Memory function
The memory switch is located on the door.
MMemory button
1, 2, 3Stored positions
Be sure the ignition is switched on or
the relevant door is open and the
SmartKey is inserted in the starter
switch.
Storing positions in memory
Adjust the seats, steering wheel and
exterior rear view mirrors to the de-
sired position (
page 34).

Press memory buttonM.

Release memory button and press
stored position button 1, 2 or 3 within
three seconds.
All the settings are stored at the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory
On memory button, press and hold
stored position button1, 2 or3 until
the seat, steering wheel and exterior
rear view mirrors have fully moved to
the stored positions.iReleasing the button immediately
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions.Warning!
G
Do not operate the power seats using the
memory button if the seat backrest is in an
excessively reclined position. Doing so
could cause damage to front or rear seats.
First move backrest to an upright position.

118 Controls in detailMemory functionStoring exterior rear view mirror park-ing position
For easier parking you can adjust the pas-
senger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage reverse gearR.
For information on activating the parking
position, see “Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position” (
page 169).
1Passenger side, exterior rear view mir-
ror
2Adjustment button

Stop the vehicle.

Switch on ignition (if not already on).

Press button1.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.

Adjust the exterior rear view mirror
with button2 so that you see the rear
wheel and the road curb.

Press memory button M.

Within three seconds, press bottom of
adjustment button2.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.
iYou can store a parking position for the
passenger side exterior rear view mir-
ror for each SmartKey using the memo-
ry button.
iIf the mirror does move, repeat the
above steps. After the setting is stored,
you can move the mirror again.