center console MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS 2003 User Guide

100 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingLocking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
trunk from inside using the central locking
switch. This can be useful, for example, if
you want to lock the vehicle before starting
to drive.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or un-
locked with the central locking switch.The switch is located in the center console.
Central locking switch1Locking
2Indicator lamp
3UnlockingLocking

Press upper half1 of the central lock-
ing switch.
If both front doors are closed, the vehi-
cle locks.
Unlocking

Press lower half2 of the central lock-
ing switch.
The vehicle unlocks.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take it with you
and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of
vehicle equipment may cause serious per-
sonal injury.
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107 Controls in detailSeats
Heated seats*
Both switches for the front seats are locat-
ed in the center console. The red indicator
lamps in the switch light up to show which
heating level you have selected.
1Seat heating

Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
light up.Switching seat heating on

Press button1 repeatedly until the de-
sired heating level is set.
Switching seat heating off

Press button1 repeatedly until all indi-
cator lamps go out.
Level3
3 indicator lamps litThe seat heater automatically
switches to level 2 after approx-
imately 5 minutes
2
2 indicator lamps litThe seat heater automatically
switches to level 1 after approx-
imately 10 minutes
1
1 indicator lamp litThe seat heater automatically
switches off after approximately
20 minutes
off
No indicator lamps lit
!The seat heater may switch off if the
battery voltage is too low. One or more
indicator lamps will blink.
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108 Controls in detailSeatsSeat ventilation*
The seat ventilation switch is located on
the center console. The blue indicator
lamps in the switch show which ventilation
level you have selected.
1Seat ventilation

Make sure that the ignition has been
switched on.
All lamps in the instrument cluster light
up.Switching seat ventilation on

Press button1 repeatedly until the de-
sired ventilation level is set.
Switching seat ventilation off

Press button1 repeatedly until all indi-
cator lamps go out.
Level3
3 indicator lamps lit
2
2 indicator lamps lit
1
1 indicator lamp lit
off
No indicator lamps lit
!The seat ventilation may switch off if
the battery voltage is too low.
iIf seat ventilation is activated through
the summer opening function, seat
ventilation is automatically set to the
highest level.
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160 Controls in detailGood visibility
Rear window sunshade*
The switch is located in the center console.
Turn the key to starter switch position
1 or 2. Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
press the start/stop button once or
twice.

Press the switch briefly at 1 to raise the
sunshade.

Press the switch briefly at 1 to lower
the sunshade.
Always raise the sunshade fully for its sup-
port against the window frame.
iIf sunlight enters through a side win-
dow, disengage sun visor from
mounting1 and pivot to the side.
Mirror lamp3 will switch off.
Warning!
G
When operating the rear window sunshade,
be sure that there is no danger of anyone be-
ing harmed by the raising or lowering proce-
dure.
The raising or lowering procedure can be im-
mediately halted by briefly pressing the up-
per or lower half of the switch.
Briefly press upper or lower half of the
switch again to raise or lower the rear win-
dow sunshade completely.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from starter switch, and lock your
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment can cause serious personal injury.
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204 Controls in detailDriving systemsDeactivating Distronic
There are several ways to deactivate the
Distronic system:
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow3 (
page 201).
or

Step on the brake pedal.
Distronic will be deactivated. The last
speed set will be stored into memory.Distronic deactivates automatically when:


you set the parking brake


you drive slower than 25 mph
(Canada: 40 km/h)


the ESP is active (
page 75) or you de-
activate the ESP


you move the transmission selector le-
ver into positionN
A si gnal wi ll s ound. T he
Distronic off

message appears in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.Setting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following dis-
tance for Distronic by varying the time set-
ting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using
this time setting and the current speed of
your vehicle, Distronic calculates and sets
the required following distance to the vehi-
cle ahead. The set distance will be shown
in the multifunction display field.
The thumbwheel for making the time set-
ting is located on the lower section of the
center console.
iThe following message will appear in
the multifunction display for approxi-
mately five seconds:
Distronic off
.
The last stored speed is deleted when
you turn off the engine.
Warning!
G
Distronic switches off and releases the
brakes when the vehicle decelerates below
the minimum speed of approx. 25 mph
( 40 km / h) by operation of the system. At
that time the driver must apply the brakes in
order to reduce vehicle speed further or
bring it to a stop.
Warning!
G
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving recom-
mendations for safe following distance.
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210 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine is running:
The switch is located in the lower section
of the center console.
1Vehicle level control switch
2Indicator lamp

Briefly press switch1 to change from
"Normal" level to "Raised" level. When
vehicle is at "Raised" level, pressing the
switch will return the vehicle to "Nor-
mal" level.
Vehicle level when
stationary
Use for
Ride height increase
over normal
Automatic lowering
Indicator lamp (
page 210)
Normal
Normal operation
None
Max. approx. 0.6 in (15 mm)
Lamp off
Raised
Driving with snow
chains or very
rough road sur-
face conditions
Approx. 1 in (25 mm)
Max. approx. 1 in (25 mm)
Lamp on
iAt a speed of approx. above 75 mph
(120 km/h) or if the speed amounts to
between 50 mph (80 km/h) and
75 mph (120 km/h) for approx. five
minutes the setting "Raised" is can-
celed. The message
Level selec.
canceled
appears in the multifunction
display.
If you do not drive in this speed range,
the "Raised" level remains stored even
if the key is removed from the ignition.
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215 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Switching the Parktronic system
on/off
You can switch off the Parktronic system
manually.
The Parktronic switch is located in the low-
er section of the center console.
1Parktronic on/off
2Indicator lampSwitching off the Parktronic system

Press button 1.
Indicator lamp 2 comes on.
Switching on the Parktronic system

Press button 1 again.
Indicator lamp 2 goes out.
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227 Controls in detail
Useful features
Storage compartment in the center
console
1Opening/closing button
Press button1 to open.The control panel swings out upward
and the storage compartment extends
out.

Press button1 to close.
Storage compartment in front of the
armrestOpening

Briefly press the marking in the back of
the cover.
The cover opens.
Cup holder in the center console

Briefly press marking on the cup hold-
er.
The cup holder extends automatically.
iPrior to closing the glove box, close the
compartment for glasses first.iThe storage compartment in the center
console cannot be opened if the cas-
sette tray is open.
iNever place any medications in the
storage compartment. If there is a pow-
er failure, the storage compartment
cannot be opened.
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229 Controls in detail
Useful features
Front center console storage compart-
ment ventilation
The front center console storage compart-
ment under the armrest has its own air out-
let. The air temperature is about the same
as that of the dashboard air outlets.
The lever is located in the front center out-
let.
1Lever
To open air outlet slide the lever up.

To close air outlet slide the lever down.Storage compartment in the rear cen-
ter console

Briefly press the top of the compart-
ment.
It extends automatically.
iThe compartment can get very warm
due to its confined space. When storing
heat sensitive objects (e.g. groceries)
in the compartment, close the air outlet
while heating the passenger compart-
ment
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231 Controls in detail
Useful features
Ashtrays
Center console ashtray
Opening ashtray
Briefly press the marking on the bot-
tom of cover1.
The ashtray opens automatically.Removing ashtray insert

Secure vehicle from movement by set-
ting the parking brake. Move the selec-
tor lever to positionN.
Now you have more room to take out
the insert.

Push sliding button2 to the right and
hold.

Grip and remove insert from ashtray
frame.
Reinstalling ashtray insert

Install insert by pushing it back into
frame until it engages again.Rear seat ashtray
Opening ashtray

Briefly press the top of the ashtray.
The ashtray opens.
Warning!
G
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle
standing still. Set the parking brake to se-
cure vehicle from movement. Move gear se-
lector lever to positionN. With gear selector
lever in positionN turn off the engine.
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