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S203 MY03_A.book Page 1 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
C 240
C 240 4MATIC C 320
C 320 4MATICS203 MY03_A.book Page 2 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Our company and staff congratulate you on the purchase of your new Mercedes-Benz. Your selection of our product is a demon- stration of your trust in our company name. Further, it exemplifies your desire to own an automobile that will be as easy as possible to operate and provide years of service. Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef- forts of many skilled engineers and crafts- men. To help assure your driving pleasure, and also the safety of you and your passen- gers, we ask you to make a small invest- ment of time:
앫 Please read this manual carefully be- fore putting it aside. Then return it to your vehicle where it will be handy for your reference.
앫 Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de- signed to acquaint you with the opera- tion of your Mercedes-Benz.
앫 Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual. They are designed to help improve the safety of the vehicle operator and oc- cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles of safe, pleasurable driving. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC A DaimlerChrysler Company
S203 MY03_A.book Page 9 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Introduction Product information
Product information Please observe the following in your own best interest: We recommend using Mercedes-Benz orig- inal parts as well as conversion parts and accessories explicitly approved by us for your vehicle model. We have tested these parts to determine their reliability, safety and their special suitability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
We are unable to make an assessment for other products and therefore cannot be held responsible for them, even if in indi- vidual cases an official approval or authori- zation by governmental or other agencies should exist. Use of such parts and acces- sories could adversely affect the safety, performance or reliability of your vehicle. Please do not use them.
Mercedes-Benz original parts as well as conversion parts and accessories ap- proved by us are available at your autho- rized Mercedes-Benz Center where you will receive comprehensive information, also on permissible technical modifications, and where proper installation will be per- formed.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 10 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Introduction Operator’s Manual Operator’s Manual This Operator’s Manual contains a great deal of useful information. We urge you to read it carefully and familiarize yourself with the vehicle before driving. For your own safety and longer service life of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the in- structions and warnings contained in this manual. Ignoring them could result in dam- age to the vehicle or personal injury to you or others. Vehicle damage caused by fail- ure to follow instructions is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Your vehicle may have some or all of the equipment described in this manual. Therefore, you may find explanations for optional equipment not installed in your vehicle. If you have any questions about the operation of any equipment, your au- thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to demonstrate the proper proce- dures.
10
We continuously strive to improve our product, and ask for your understanding that we reserve the right to make changes in design and equipment. Therefore, infor- mation, illustrations and descriptions in this Operator’s Manual might differ from your vehicle. Optional equipment is also described in this manual, including operating instruc- tions wherever necessary. Since they are special-order items, the descriptions and illustrations herein may vary slightly from the actual equipment of your vehicle. If there are any equipment details that are not shown or described in this Operator’s Manual, your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to inform you of correct care and operating procedures. The Operator’s Manual and Service Book- let are important documents and should be kept with the vehicle.
Service and warranty information
The Service and Warranty Information Booklet contains detailed information about the warranties covering your Mercedes-Benz, including: 앫 New Car Limited Warranty, 앫 Emission System Warranty, 앫 Emission Performance Warranty, 앫 California, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Vermont Emission Control System Warranty (California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont only),
앫 State Warranty Enforcement Laws
(Lemon Laws).
S203 MY03_A.book Page 11 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
(1) the same substantial defect or mal-
function results in a condition that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven, that de- fect or malfunction has been subject to repair two or more times, and you have directly notified Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC in writing of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or mal-
function of a less serious nature than category (1) has been subject to repair four or more times and you have direct- ly notified us in writing of the need for its repair, or
Important notice for California retail buyers and lessees of Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to a replacement of your vehicle or a refund of the purchase price or lease price, if Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its au- thorized repair or service facilities fail to fix one or more substantial defects or mal- functions in the vehicle that are covered by its express warranty after a reasonable number of repair attempts. During the pe- riod of 18 months from original delivery of the vehicle or the accumulation of 18000 miles (approx. 29000 km) on the odometer of the vehicle, whichever occurs first, a reasonable number of repair at- tempts is presumed for a retail buyer or lessee if one or more of the following oc- curs:
Introduction Operator’s Manual
(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair of the same or different sub- stantial defects or malfunctions for a cumulative total of more than 30 calender days. Written notification should be sent to us, not a dealer, at Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Customer Assistance Center, One Mercedes Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645-0350.
11
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Introduction Operator’s Manual
Maintenance
Roadside Assistance
Change of address or ownership
The Service Booklet describes all the nec- essary maintenance work which should be performed at regular intervals. Always have the Service Booklet with you when you take the vehicle to your autho- rized Mercedes-Benz Center for service. The service advisor will record each ser- vice in the booklet for you.
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Program provides factory-trained technical help in the event of a breakdown. Calls to the toll-free Roadside Assistance number 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA) 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada) will be answered by Mercedes-Benz Cus- tomer Assistance Representatives 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For additional information refer to the Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Pro- gram brochure in your glove box.
If you change your address, be sure to send in the “Change of Address Notice” found in the Service and Warranty Informa- tion Booklet, or simply call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Ser- vice (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100. It is in your own interest that we can contact you should the need arise. If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all literature with the vehicle to make it avail- able to the next operator. If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used Car” found in the Service and Warranty In- formation Booklet, or call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen- ter (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100.
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Introduction Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for- eign countries, please be aware that: 앫 Service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available
앫 unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat- alytic converters may not be available; the use of leaded fuels will damage the catalysts,
앫 gasoline may have a considerably low- er octane rating, and improper fuel can cause engine damage.
Certain Mercedes-Benz models are avail- able for delivery in Europe under our Euro- pean Delivery Program. For details, consult your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or write to: In the USA: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC European Delivery Department One Mercedes Drive Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada: Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc. European Delivery Department 849 Eglinton Avenue East Toronto, Ontario M4G 2L513
S203 MY03_A.book Page 14 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Introduction Where to find it Where to find it This Operator’s Manual is designed to pro- vide comprehensive support information for you, the vehicle operator. For you to find information quickly each section has its own reference color:
At a glance Here you will find an overview of all the controls that can be operated from the driver’s seat.
Getting started Here you will find all the information you need for your first drive. You should read this section first if this is your first Mercedes-Benz vehicle or if you are rent- ing or borrowing this vehicle.
Safety and Security Here you will find descriptions of the safety features of your vehicle.
14
Controls in detail Here you will find detailed information about the equipment installed in your vehi- cle. This section expands on the “Getting started” section and also describes techni- cal innovations. If you are already familiar with the basic functions of your vehicle, this section will be of particular interest to you.
Operation Here you will find all the information you need for the proper operation of your vehi- cle.
Practical hints This section provides fast assistance for dealing with problems you may encounter.
Technical data All important technical data for your vehi- cle can be found in this section.
Indexes The glossary provides explanations of the most important technical terms. The table of contents and the index are de- signed to help you find information quickly and easily. The following publications are part of your vehicle documentation: 앫 this Operator’s Manual 앫 the Service Booklet Separate operating instructions will be provided as required depending on the equipment options installed in your vehi- cle.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 15 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Symbols The following symbols are found in this Operator’s Manual:
Optional equipment is identified with an asterisk. Since standard equipment varies between models, the descriptions and illustrations in this manual may differ slightly from the actual equipment of your vehi- cle.
Warning!
Warning notices draw your attention to haz- ards that may endanger your health or life, or the health or life of others.
Highlights hazards that may result in damage to your vehicle.
Helpful hints or further information you may find useful.
->
Introduction Symbols
왘 This symbol points to instructions for
you to follow.
왘 A number of these symbols appearing in succession indicates a multiple-step procedure.
컄 Page
컄컄
This symbol tells you where to look for further information on a topic. This continuation symbol marks an interrupted procedure which will be continued on the next page. In the glossary of technical terms, this symbol is used to cross-reference term defini- tions.
Display Words appearing in the multi- function display are printed in the type shown here.
15
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Introduction Operating safety Operating safety
Warning!
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you are familiar with the following information and rules: 앫 the safety precautions in this manual 앫 the “Technical data” section in this
manual
앫 traffic rules and regulations 앫 motor vehicle laws and safety stan-
dards
Work improperly carried out on electronic components and associated software could cause them to cease functioning. Because the vehicle’s electronic components are in- terconnected, any modification made may produce an undesired effect on other sys- tems.
Electronic system malfunctions could seri- ously impair the operating safety of your ve- hicle.
Ensure that any repairs or modifications to electronic components are carried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Other improper work or modifications on the vehicle could also have a negative impact on the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the engine is running. You should therefore nev- er turn off the engine while driving.
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S203 MY03_A.book Page 17 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Introduction Problems with your vehicle
Problems with your vehicle If you should experience a problem with your vehicle, particularly one that you believe may affect its safe operation, we urge you to immediately contact your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to have the problem diagnosed and corrected if required. If the matter is not handled to your satisfaction, please discuss the problem with the Mercedes-Benz Center management, or if necessary contact us at one of the following addresses: In the USA: Customer Assistance Center Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC One Mercedes Drive Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada: Customer Relations Department Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc. 849 Eglinton Avenue East Toronto, Ontario, M4G 2L517
S203 MY03_A.book Page 18 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Introduction Reporting safety defects Reporting safety defects For the USA only: The following text is published as required of manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the “National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.
Reporting Safety Defects
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer, or Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (or 366-0123 in Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also obtain other information about motor ve- hicle safety from the Hotline.
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At a glance Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Door control panel
19
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At a glance Cockpit Cockpit
20
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Item
Page
Item
1 Combination switch
앫 Turn signals 앫 Windshield wipers 앫 High beam
2 Cruise control lever 3 Instrument cluster
4 Multifunction steering
wheel
5 Lever for voice control system*, see separate operating instructions 6 Overhead control panel 7 Opening glove box 8 Glove box
47
48
47
190
22, 104
24, 10827
203
2039 Center console 10 Starter switch 11 Horn 12 Steering wheel adjustment
handle (manual)
13 Steering wheel adjustment
stalk (electrical)* 14 Hood lock release 15 Parking brake pedal 16 Door control panel 17 Parking brake release 18 Exterior lamp switch 19 Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
Page 25
31, 4437
37
234
46
28
51
47, 98
38, 9720 Headlamp washer switch
143
At a glance Cockpit
21
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At a glance Instrument cluster Instrument cluster
22
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Item
Page
1 Left turn signal indicator
lamp
2 Speedometer 3 Right turn signal indicator
lamp
4 Fuel gauge with:
Fuel reserve warning lamp 5 < Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp
1 Supplemental re-
straint system indi- cator lamp
6 Multifunction display
with: Trip odometer Main odometer
258
25856, 256
105
Page 44, 138
139
106118
25875, 254
47, 101
Item Selector lever position
Program mode Outside temperature display Digital clock
7 ? Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
v Electronic Stability
Program (ESP) warning lamp
A High beam head-
lamp indicator
E Indicator lamp with-
out function1
DTR Indicator lamp with-
out function1
1 The indicator lamp illuminates briefly when you
turn the key in the starter switch to position 2.
At a glance Instrument cluster
Item
8 - Antilock Brake Sys- tem (ABS) malfunc- tion indicator lamp
; Brake warning
lamp, except Cana- da
3 Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
Page 73, 255
46, 257
9 Tachometer 10 Reset knob:
앫 Resetting trip odome-
ter
앫 Resetting individual
settings
앫 Instrument cluster illu-
mination
105
116
104
23
Page 107
108
Item
1 Multifunction display in
speedometer Operating control sys- tem
2 Selecting the submenu or
setting the volume ç down/to decrease æ up/to increase
3 Telephone*: Press button
í to take a call ì to end a call
Item
Page
4 Menu systems: Press but-
ton è for next system ÿ for previous system
5 Moving within a menu:
Press button j for next display k for previous display
S203 MY03_A.book Page 24 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
At a glance Multifunction steering wheel Multifunction steering wheel
24
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Center console Upper part
At a glance Center console
Item
1 Seat heater*, driver’s side 2 Rear window wiper/washer
3 ESP control switch 4 Hazard warning flasher
switch – switching on/off
5 Central locking switch 6 Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp Tow-away alarm switch
Page 94
4977
10189
7980
Item
7 Seat heater*, passenger
side
8 Indicator lamp 7
9 Audio system,or COMAND* (see separate operating instructions)
10 Climate control
Automatic climate control* Rear window defroster
Page 94
67
161144
152
149, 15825
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At a glance Center console
Lower Part
Item
1 Ashtray 2 Selector lever for automat-
ic transmission* Gearshift lever for manual transmission
3 Storage compartment
Cup holder Cigarette lighter
4 Armrest 5 Program mode selector for
automatic transmission
Page 207
138134
205
204
208
206
13926
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Overhead control panel
At a glance Overhead control panel
Item
1 Rear interior lighting
on/off
2 Sliding/pop-up roof* 3 Right reading lamp on/off 4 Interior lighting control 5 Hands-free microphone for Tele Aid* (emergency call system), telephone* and voice control system* (see separate operating instruc- tions)
6 Rear view mirror
7 Garage door opener 8 Left reading lamp on/off 9 Tele Aid* (emergency call
system) button
Page 102
187
102
10238, 141
218
102
21027
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At a glance Door control panel Door control panel
Item
1 Door handle 2 Memory function* (for storing seat, mirror and steering wheel settings)
Page 88
953 Seat adjustment 4 Switches for opening/clos-
32, 90
184ing front door windows
5 Switch for rear door win-
71
dow override
6 Switches for opening/clos-
184
ing rear door windows
28
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Getting started Unlocking
Adjusting
Driving
Parking and locking
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Getting started Unlocking
The “Getting started” section provides an overview of the vehicle’s most basic func- tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners should pay special attention to the infor- mation given here. If you are already familiar with the basic functions described here, the “Controls in detail” section will help you with further in- formation. The corresponding page refer- ences are at the end of each segment.
Unlocking Unlocking with the SmartKey
SmartKey with remote control 1 ‹ Lock button 2 Œ Unlock button 3  Panic button (컄 page 72)
왘 Press unlock button Œ on the key. All turn signal lamps blink once. The locking knobs in the doors move up.
왘 Get in the vehicle and insert the key in
the starter switch.
Canada only: Only vehicles equipped with an anti-theft alarm system* have SmartKeys with integrated panic button* 3.
More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 84).
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Starter switch positions
Starter switch 0 For removing key
The steering is locked when the key is removed from the starter switch. If necessary, move steering wheel slight- ly to allow the locking mechanism to engage.
1 Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2 Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
3 Starting position
Warning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the SmartKey from the starter switch and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unattend- ed in the vehicle, or with access to an un- locked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause an accident and/or serious personal injury.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: The SmartKey can only be removed from the starter switch with the gear selector lever in position P.
Getting started Unlocking
If the key is left in starter switch position 0 for an extended period of time, it can no longer be turned in the starter switch. 앫 Remove the key from the starter
switch and reinsert.
If the key can still not be turned, the battery may not be sufficiently charged. 앫 Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (컄 page 305)
앫 Get a jump start (컄 page 308). To prevent accelerated battery dis- charge and a possible dead battery, al- ways remove the key from the starter switch.
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Getting started Adjusting Adjusting
Warning!
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas- tening of seat belts, must be done before the vehicle is put into motion.
Seats
serious or fatal injuries. The seat back and seat belts provide the best restraint when the wearer is in an upright position and belts are properly positioned on the body. Your seat must be adjusted so that you can cor- rectly fasten your seat belt (컄 page 40). Never place hands under the seat or near any moving parts while a seat is being ad- justed.
The seats can be adjusted either manually or electrically, depending on the vehicle’s equipment.
Warning!
Warning!
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving. Adjusting the seat while driving could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat back reclined. Sitting in an excessively re- clined position can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That could cause
32
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key from the starter switch, and lock your vehicle.
The power seats* can also be operated with the driver’s or front passenger door open. Do not leave children unattended in the ve- hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause an accident and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmartTM compatible child seat, which operates with the BabySmartTM system installed in the ve- hicle to deactivate the passenger side front airbag when it is properly installed. Other- wise they will be struck by the airbag when it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seat- ing positions. Infants and small children must ride in back seats and be seated in an appropriate infant or child restraint system, which is properly secured with the vehicle's seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in accordance with the child seat manufactur- er’s instructions.
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A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is significantly increased if the child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is not properly secured in the child restraint.
Manual seat
1 Seat fore and aft adjustment 2 Seat cushion tilt 3 Backrest tilt 4 Seat height
Seat fore and aft adjustment 왘 Lift handle 1. 왘 Slide seat to the desired position. 왘 Allow handle 1 to reengage. 왘 Check for proper engagement before
driving.
Adjust to a comfortable seating position that still allows you to reach the accelera- tor/brake pedal safely. The position should be as far to the rear as possible, consistent with ability to properly operate controls.
When moving the seat, be sure that there are no items in the footwell or be- hind the seats. Otherwise you could damage the seats.
Seat cushion tilt 왘 Turn handwheel 2 forward or backward
until your upper legs are lightly sup- ported.
Getting started Adjusting
Backrest tilt 왘 Press switch 3 in direction of arrow un- til your arms are slightly angled when holding the steering wheel.
Seat height 왘 Press the switch 4 in direction of arrow
until your legs are lightly supported.
Head restraint height
Warning!
For your protection, drive only with properly positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head restraints. Head restraints are intend- ed to help reduce injuries during an acci- dent.
33
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Getting started Adjusting
Power seat* 왘 Turn the key in the starter switch to
Seat fore and aft adjustment 왘 Press the switch forward or backward
position 1 or 2. or
왘 Open the driver’s or front passenger
door.
The seat adjustment switches are located in each front door.
1 Head restraint height 2 Seat height 3 Seat cushion tilt 4 Seat fore and aft adjustment 5 Backrest tilt
in the direction of arrow 4. Adjust to a comfortable seating posi- tion that still allows you to reach the accelerator/brake pedal safely. The position should be as far to the rear as possible, consistent with ability to properly operate controls.
When moving the seat, be sure that there are no items in the footwell or be- hind the seats. Otherwise you could damage the seats. With the memory function, you can store seat positions together with set- tings for the steering wheel and the ex- terior rear view mirrors (컄 page 95).
1 Release knob 왘 Manually adjust the height of the head restraint by pulling it upward. To lower the head restraint, push release knob 1 and push down on the head restraint.
Head restraint tilt 왘 Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint. Push or pull on the lower edge of the head restraint cushion. More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 91).
34
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Seat height 왘 Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow 2.
Seat cushion tilt 왘 Press the switch up or down in the di- rection of arrow 3 until your upper legs are lightly supported.
Backrest tilt 왘 Press the switch forward or back in di- rection of arrow 5 until your arms are slightly angled when holding the steer- ing wheel.
Head restraint height 왘 Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow 1.
Getting started Adjusting
Head restraint tilt 왘 Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint. Push or pull on the lower edge of the head restraint cushion. More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 91).
Rear seat head restraints
Warning!
Warning!
For your protection, drive only with properly positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head restraints. Head restraints are intend- ed to help reduce injuries during an acci- dent.
For safety reasons, always drive with the rear head restraints in the upright position when the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the folding operation of the head restraints.
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Getting started Adjusting
Folding head restraints back
Placing head restraints upright
Head restraint height (rear outer seats)
1 Lock button 왘 Push lock button 1.
The head restraints will fold backward.
왘 Pull the head restraint forward until it
locks into position.
Head restraint tilt Two different head restraint angle posi- tions are available.
1 Button Raising: 왘 Pull up on head restraint. Lowering: 왘 Push button 1. 왘 Push down on head restraint.
36
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Steering wheel
Steering wheel adjustment, manual
Warning!
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv- ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv- ing, or driving without the adjustment locked could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key from the starter switch, and lock your vehicle.
The electrical steering wheel adjustment feature* can also be operated with the driv- er’s door open. Do not leave children unat- tended 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.
1 Release handle 2 Steering column, lengthen or shorten 3 Steering column, height 왘 To unlock the steering column, pull
handle 1 out until its stop limit.
왘 Adjust the steering wheel to the de-
sired position.
왘 To lock, press handle 1 all the way in
until it engages. The steering wheel is once again locked into position.
Getting started Adjusting
Do not drive the vehicle until you have properly locked the steering column. If the warning message STEERING WHEEL ADJUST – LOCK! is displayed while the engine is running, the steer- ing column is not locked properly (컄 page 276).
37
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Getting started Adjusting
Steering wheel adjustment, electrical* The stalk is located on the steering column (lower left).
1 Steering column, lengthen or shorten 2 Steering column, height 왘 Turn the key in the starter switch to
position 1 or 2. or
왘 Open the driver’s door.
38
Steering column, lengthen or shorten 왘 Move stalk forward or backward in the direction of arrow 1 until a comfortable steering wheel position is reached with your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Steering column, height 왘 Move stalk up or down in the direction
of arrow 2. Make sure that your legs can move freely and that all the dis- plays (including malfunction and indi- cator lamps) on the instrument cluster are clearly visible.
With the memory function, you can store seat positions together with set- tings for the steering wheel and the ex- terior rear view mirrors (컄 page 95).
Mirrors
Adjust the inside and exterior rear view mirrors before driving so that you have a good view of the road and traffic condi- tions.
Warning!
In the case of an accident liquid electrolyte may escape the mirror housing if the mirror glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al- low the liquid to come into contact with eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system. In case it does, immediately flush affected area with water, and seek medical help if necessary.
Inside rear view mirror 왘 Manually adjust the inside rear view
mirror.
More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 141).
S203 MY03_A.book Page 39 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Exterior rear view mirror
Warning!
Exercise care when using the passenger side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror surface is convex (outwardly curved surface for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. Check your in- side rear view mirror or glance over your shoulder before changing lanes.
Electrolyte drops coming into contact with the vehicle paint finish can only be completely removed while in their liq- uid state by applying plenty of water.
Getting started Adjusting
The buttons are located above the exterior lamp switch.
왘 Press button 1 for the left mirror or but-
ton 3 for the right mirror.
1 Driver’s side mirror 2 Adjustment button 3 Passenger side mirror 왘 Make sure that the ignition is switched
on. All the lights in the instrument cluster light up.
왘 Push adjustment button 2, up, down, left or right according to the setting de- sired.
More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 141).
If an exterior rear view mirror housing is forcibly pushed forward or rearward, reposition it by applying firm pressure until it snaps into place. The mirror housing is now properly positioned and you can adjust the mirror normally.
With the memory function*, you can store seat positions together with set- tings for the steering wheel and the ex- terior rear view mirrors (컄 page 95).
39
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Getting started Driving Driving
Warning
Do not lay any objects in the driver’s foot- well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in the driver’s footwell have sufficient clear- ance for the pedals.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers the objects could get caught between the pedals. You could then no longer brake or accelerate.
Fastening the seat belt
Warning!
Always fasten your seat belt before driving off. Always make sure your passengers are properly restrained, even those sitting in the rear and pregnant women.
40
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po- sition your seat belt greatly increases your risk of injuries and their likely severity in an accident. You and your passenger should al- ways wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries can be considerably more severe without your seat belt properly buckled. Without your seat belt buckled, you are much more likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or death is lessened if you are wearing your seat belt. The airbags can only protect as ex- pected if the occupants are using their seat belts (컄 page 56).
Warning!
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmartTM compatible child seat, which operates with the BabySmartTM system installed in the ve- hicle to deactivate the passenger side front airbag when it is properly installed. Other- wise they will be struck by the airbag when it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seat- ing positions. Infants and small children must ride in back seats and be seated in an appropriate infant or child restraint system, which is properly secured with the vehicle's seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in accordance with the child seat manufactur- er’s instructions.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 41 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Getting started Driving
Warning!
Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there are seat belts available. Be sure everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re- strained with a separate seat belt - even those in the rear.
Warning!
Read and observe the additional warning no- tices printed in the “Safety and Security” section (컄 page 59) and (컄 page 61).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is significantly increased if the child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is not properly secured in the child restraint.
Warning!
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat backrest reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat belt provide the best re- straint when the wearer is in an upright po- sition and the belt is properly positioned on the body.
1 Latch plate 2 Buckle 3 Release button
41
S203 MY03_A.book Page 42 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Getting started Driving
왘 With a smooth motion, pull the belt
Seat belt height adjustment
Rear outer seats
Front seats
from the belt outlet.
왘 Place the belt over your shoulder. 왘 Push latch plate 1 into buckle 2 until it
clicks.
왘 If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion up.
4 Button for belt outlet height adjust-
ment
왘 Press button 4 and slide belt outlet up-
ward or downward.
5 Button for belt outlet height adjust-
ment
왘 Press button 5 and slide belt outlet up-
ward or downward.
42
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Proper use of seat belts 앫 Do not twist the belt when fastening. 앫 Adjust seat belt so that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible to the middle of the shoulder (it should not touch the neck or pass under the arm). For this purpose, you can adjust the height of the belt outlet.
앫 Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not across the abdomen.
앫 Place the seat backrest in a nearly up-
right position.
앫 Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at time.
Warning!
Getting started Driving
앫 Do not fasten a seat belt around a per-
son and another object at the same time.
앫 Check your seat belt during travel to ensure that it is properly positioned. 앫 Ensure that the seat belt is always fit- ted snugly. You should avoid wearing bulky clothing, such as winter coats, when traveling in the vehicle.
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the door or in the seat adjustment mechanism. This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to seat belts. This could impair the effective- ness of the belts.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly stressed in an accident must be replaced by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
43
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Getting started Driving
Starting the engine
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Warning!
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon- sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas (such as garage) which are not properly ven- tilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes are entering the vehicle while driving, have the cause determined and corrected imme- diately. If you must drive under these condi- tions, drive only with at least one window fully open.
44
Gearshift pattern for manual transmission 왘 Make sure that the gearshift lever is in
Neutral position.
왘 Do not depress accelerator. 왘 Fully depress clutch pedal.
Otherwise the engine cannot be start- ed due to the integrated safety inter- lock.
왘 Turn the key in the starter switch to position 3. Release only when the en- gine is firing regularly (컄 page 31). More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 134).
Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission P Park position with selector lever lock R Reverse gear N Neutral D Drive position More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 135). 왘 Make sure that the gear selector lever
is set to P.
왘 Do not depress accelerator.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 45 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Starting difficulties If the engine does not start as described, carry out the following steps: 왘 Turn key in starter to position 0 and re-
peat starting procedure (컄 page 44). 왘 Remember that extended starting at-
tempts can drain the battery. 왘 Get a jump start (컄 page 308).
Starting 왘 Turn the key in the starter switch to position 3. Release only when the en- gine is firing regularly (컄 page 31).
You can also use the “touch-start” function. Turn the key to position 3 and release it again immediately. The en- gine then starts automatically.
왘 Depress the brake pedal.
The selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine with the key, see “Turning off engine” (컄 page 52).
Getting started Driving
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. 왘 Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
45
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Getting started Driving
Parking brake
1 Release handle 2 Parking brake
Warning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key from the starter switch, and lock the ve- hicle. 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.
46
왘 Release the parking brake by pulling on
handle 1. The indicator lamp ; (USA only) or 3 (Canada only) in the instrument cluster goes out.
Driving 왘 Depress the brake pedal. 왘 Move selector lever to position D or R (manual transmission: first or reverse gear).
Vehicles with automatic transmission: Wait for the gear selection process to complete before setting the vehicle in motion.
왘 Release the brake pedal. 왘 Carefully depress the accelerator.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto- matic central locking system engages and the locking knobs drop down.
You can open a locked door from the inside. Open door only when conditions are safe to do so.
Simultaneously depressing the acceler- ator pedal and applying the brake re- duces engine performance and causes premature brake and drivetrain wear.
If you hear a warning signal when driv- ing off, you have forgotten to release the parking brake. Release the parking brake.
After a cold start, the automatic transmis- sion engages at a higher revolution. This al- lows the catalytic converter to reach its operating temperature earlier.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 47 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Warning!
Vehicles with automatic transmission: It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of P or N if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift into gear when the en- gine is idling normally and when your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order to obtain braking action. This could result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi- cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre- vent this type of loss of control.
More information on driving can be found in the “Operation” section (컄 page 223).
Getting started Driving
Switching on headlamps
Turn signals and high beam
The combination switch is on the left of the steering column.
Exterior lamp switch 1 Off 2 Low beam headlamps on 왘 Turn the switch to B. More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 98).
Combination switch 1 Turn signals, right 2 Turn signals, left 왘 Press the combination switch up 1 or
down 2.
47
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Getting started Driving
To signal minor directional changes, move combination switch to point of resistance only and release. The turn signal blinks three times.
High beam 왘 Push the combination switch forward.
The high beam symbol A in the instrument cluster lights up.
More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 101).
48
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is on the left of the steering column.
Combination switch 1 Single wipe 2 Switching on windshield wipers 왘 Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
Switching on windshield wipers 왘 Turn the combination switch to the de- sired position depending on the inten- sity of the rain. 0 Windshield wipers off Intermittent wiping II Normal wiper speed III Fast wiper speed
Vehicles without rain sensor*: Fast wiper speed III goes to setting II when the vehicle is standing still. Vehicles with rain sensor*: Intermittent wiping interval dependent on wetness of windshield. Wiping will not occur with a door open.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 49 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Vehicles with rain sensor*: Do not leave in intermittent setting when vehicle is taken to an automatic car wash or during windshield cleaning. Wipers will operate in the presence of water sprayed on the windshield, and wipers may be damaged as a result. The switch should not be left in inter- mittent setting as the wipers will wipe the windshield once every time the en- gine is started. Dust that accumulates on the windshield might scratch the glass when wiping occurs on a dry windshield.
Single wipe 왘 Press switch briefly in the direction of
arrow 1. The windshield wipers wipe one time without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid 왘 Push switch in the direction of arrow 1
past the resistance point. The windshield wiper operates with washer fluid.
If leaves, snow, etc. block the wind- shield wipers, switch off the wipers. 앫 For safety reasons, withdraw key from starter switch. Remove block- age.
앫 Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at all in switch position I, 앫 set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed.
앫 have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Getting started Driving
Rear window wiper/washer
1 Interval wiping on/off 2 Indicator lamp 3 Simultaneous operation of wiper and
washer
왘 Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
The rear window wiper will also auto- matically engage if 앫 the windshield wiper is engaged 앫 the gear selector lever is placed
in R “Reverse”
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Getting started Driving
Interval wiping
Problems while driving
Switching on 왘 Press upper half 1 of the switch.
Indicator lamp 2 comes on.
Switching off 왘 Press upper half 1 of the switch again.
Indicator lamp 2 goes out.
Simultaneous wiping and washing 왘 Press and hold lower half 3 of the
switch. The wiper operates with washer fluid.
The engine runs erratically and misfires 앫 An ignition cable may be damaged. 앫 The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.
앫 Unburned gasoline may have entered the catalytic converter and damaged it.
왘 Give very little gas. 왘 Have the problem repaired by an au- thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
The coolant temperature is over 248° F (120° C) The coolant is too hot and is no longer cooling the engine. 왘 Stop the vehicle as soon as possible and turn off the engine. Allow engine and coolant to cool.
왘 Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (컄 page 308).
50
In case of accident If the vehicle is leaking gasoline: 왘 Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
왘 Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de- termined: 왘 Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the 앫 major assemblies 앫 fuel system 앫 engine mount 왘 Start the engine in the usual manner.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 51 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Parking and locking You have now completed your first drive. You have properly stopped and parked your vehicle. End your drive as follows.
Warning!
Wait until the vehicle is stationary before re- moving the key from the starter switch. The vehicle cannot be steered when the key is removed.
Warning!
With the engine not running, there is no power assistance for the brake and steering system. In this case, it is important to keep in mind that a considerably higher degree of effort is necessary to stop or steer the vehi- cle.
Getting started Parking and locking
Warning!
Parking brake
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com- bustible materials such as grass, hay or leaves can come into contact with the hot exhaust system, as these materials could be ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re- sult of vehicle movement, before turning off the engine and leaving the vehicle always: 앫 Keep right foot on brake pedal. 앫 Firmly depress parking brake pedal. 앫 Move the selector lever to position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear).
앫 Slowly release brake pedal. 앫 When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.
앫 Turn the key to starter switch position 0
and remove.
앫 Take the key and lock vehicle when leav-
ing.
1 Release handle 2 Parking brake 왘 Step firmly on parking brake 2.
When the engine is running, the indica- tor lamp ; (USA only) or 3 (Canada only) in the instrument cluster will be illuminated.
51
S203 MY03_A.book Page 52 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM
Getting started Parking and locking
Warning!
Warning!
Turning off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key from the starter switch, and lock the ve- hicle. Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could release the parking brake and/or move the gear selector lever from position P, either of which could result in an accident and/or serious injury.
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector lever not fully engaged in position P is dan- gerous. Also, when parked on an incline, position P alone may not prevent your vehi- cle from moving, possibly hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to shifting to position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels towards the road curb.
Switching off headlamps
왘 Turn the exterior lamp switch to M
(컄 page 47).
More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 98).
52
왘 Place the gear selector lever in
position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear).
Always set the parking brake in addi- tion to shifting to position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear). On steep slopes, turn the front wheels towards the road curb.
Turning off 왘 Turn the key in the starter switch to
position 0 and remove it. The immobilizer is activated.
왘 Press the seat belt release button
