2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 distronic

Contents
Control system .................................. 129
Multifunction display .................... 129
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 130
Menus .......................................... 132
Standard display menu ................ 134
AUDIO menu ................................ 134
NAVI* menu ................................. 136
Distronic* menu........................... 136
Malfunction memory menu .......... 137
Settings menu .............................. 138
Trip computer menu..................... 153
TEL menu* ................................... 155
Automatic transmission ..................... 158
One-touch gearshifting................. 159
Gear ranges ................................. 160
Gear selector lever position ......... 161
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) E 55 AMG ................. 162
Program mode selector switch..... 164
Accelerator position ..................... 164
Manual shift program E 55 AMG .. 165
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 167Good visibility ..................................... 168
Rear view mirror ........................... 168
Windshield wipers ......................... 169
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 170
Sun visors ..................................... 170
Rear window sunshade* ............... 172
Roller sunblind* in the rear doors . 172
Rear window defroster .................. 173
Climate control ................................... 174
Setting the temperature................ 178
Adjusting air distribution............... 178
Adjusting air volume ..................... 179
Defrosting ..................................... 179
Air recirculation mode .................. 180
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 181
Air conditioning............................. 182
Residual heat and ventilation* ...... 182Automatic climate control* ................ 184
Setting the temperature ............... 188
Adjusting air distribution .............. 189
Adjusting air volume ..................... 190
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 190
Defrosting ..................................... 190
Air recirculation mode .................. 191
Charcoal filter ............................... 192
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 193
Air conditioning ............................ 194
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 194
Rear air conditioning..................... 195
Power windows .................................. 197
Opening and closing the windows 197
Synchronizing power windows ...... 200
Sliding / pop-up roof* ......................... 201
Opening and closing the
sliding / pop-up roof ...................... 201
Synchronizing the
sliding / pop-up roof ...................... 204

ContentsPanorama sliding / pop-up roof* ........ 205
Opening and closing the
roller sunblinds............................. 205
Opening and closing the
panorama sliding / pop-up roof..... 206
Synchronizing the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof ..................... 209
Solar panel* ................................. 210
Driving systems ................................. 211
Cruise control............................... 211
Distronic*..................................... 214
Airmatic DC (Dual Control)* ......... 226
Parktronic system*
(Parking assist) ............................. 229Loading .............................................. 233
Roof rack*.................................... 233
Ski sack* ..................................... 233
Split rear bench seat* .................. 236
Expanding the cargo area*........... 239
Loading instructions..................... 240
Cargo tie-down rings* .................. 241
Useful features .................................. 242
Interior storage spaces ................ 242
Ashtrays ....................................... 246
Cigarette lighter ........................... 247
12-V socket* ................................ 248
Heated steering wheel* ............... 248
Telephone* .................................. 249
Tele Aid* ...................................... 250
Garage door opener ..................... 258
Operation......................................... 265
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 266
Driving instructions ........................... 267
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 267
Drinking and driving ..................... 267
Pedals .......................................... 267
Power assistance ......................... 268
Brakes.......................................... 268
Driving off .................................... 270
Parking......................................... 270
Tires ............................................. 270
Hydroplaning................................ 271
Tire traction ................................. 272
Tire speed rating .......................... 272
Winter driving instructions ........... 273
Standing water............................. 274
Passenger compartment .............. 274
Driving abroad ............................. 274
Control and operation of
radio transmitter .......................... 275
Catalytic converter....................... 275
Emission control .......................... 276
Coolant temperature.................... 277

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
45, 51
2
Hood lock release
281
3
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
37
Heated steering wheel*
248
4
Parking brake release
45
5
Combination switch

Turn signals
47


Windshield wipers
48


High beam
47
6
Door control panel
28
7
Exterior lamp switch
119
Item
Page
8
Headlamp washer button*
170
9
Cruise control lever

Cruise control
218


Distronic*
214
a
Instrument cluster
22,
126
b
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
130
c
Horn
d
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
e
Starter switch
31
f
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
229
g
Overhead control panel
27
h
Mobile phone/Glasses box
242
j
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
242
k
Glove box
242
l
Center console
25

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal indi-
cator lamp
2
vAntilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS)/Electronic
Stability Program
(ESP) warning lamp
311
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
with:Basic display with outside
temperature display
141
Status indicator with mal-
function warning messageTrip odometer
127
5
lDistance warning
lamp
1
1Vehicles without Distronic*: Warning lamp without
function. It illuminates with the ignition on. It should
go out when the engine is running.
315
6
KRight turn signal indi-
cator lamp
Item
Page
7
Coolant temperature dis-
play with:•Coolant tempera-
ture warning lamp
314
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
316
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
310
warning lamp
315
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator
123
9
Main odometer with:

Selector lever position
43


Program mode
164
Item
Page
a
Clock with:
143
;Brake warning
lamp, except
Canada
312
3Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
312
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
313
b
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warn-
ing lamp
315
c
Reset button for:

Resetting trip
odometer
127


Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination
126


Confirming new time
settings
143

26 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
246
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
33
3
Selector lever for automat-
ic transmission
43,
161
4
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
229
5
Adaptive damping system
(ADS)* switch
226
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control
switch*
227
7
Thumbwheel for setting
distance for Distronic*
221
8
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off switch
222
9
Program mode selector for
automatic transmission
164

78 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 drive wheels spin
and thus cut into surfaces for better grip
such as:

s t a r t i n g o u t o n s l i p p e r y s u r f a c e s a n d i n
deep snow in conjunction with snow
chains


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

Press ESP switch 1 until the
ABS/ESP warning lamp v in the in-
strument cluster comes on.
The ESP is deactivated.If one or more drive wheels are spinning,
the ABS/ESP warning lamp v in the in-
strument cluster flashes, regardless of the
speed.
Traction control brakes a spinning wheel
even when the ESP is deactivated.
The ESP always operates when you are
braking, even when it has been deactivat-
ed.
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 driving
maneuvers.!Turn on the ESP immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not
apply anymore.
iDISTRONIC* cannot be activated when
the 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.

133 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Menu8
Standard dis-
play
AUDIO
NAVI*
Distronic*
Malfunction
memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone
Commands/submenusDigital speed-
ometer
Select radio
station
Activate
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consumption
statistics after
start
Load phone
book
Call up FSS
PLUS
Operate CD
player
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consumption
statistics since
the last reset
Search for
name in
phone book
Check tire pres-
sure*
Time/Date sub-
menu
Call up range
Check engine oil
level
Lighting sub-
menuVehicle sub-
menuConvenience
submenuDynamic seat*
submenu

136 Controls in detailControl systemNAVI* menu
The
Navi
menu contains the functions
needed to operate your navigation system.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the message
Navi
in the
display.


If the navigation system is switched off,
the message
Navi Off
is shown in the
display.


If the navigation system is switched on,
the message
Navi Active
is shown in
the display.
Please refer to the COMAND manual for in-
structions on how to activate the route
guidance system.
Distronic* menu
Use the Distronic menu to display the cur-
rent settings for your Distronic system.
What information is shown in the display
depends on whether the Distronic system
is active or inactive.
Please refer to the “Driving systems” sec-
tion of this manual (
page 214) for in-
structions on how to activate Distronic.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following two
pictures in the display.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated, you will see
the standard display in the display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
function