trunk MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS 2003 Owner's Manual

101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Locking the vehicle from the trunk*
Vehicles with trunk lid opening/closing
system* and KEYLESS-GO* can be central-
ly locked using a switch in the trunk lid.
1Central locking
Press button 1.
The vehicle is centrally locked.
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked using the SmartKey, it will not
unlock using the central locking switch.
If the vehicle was previously locked
with the central locking switch

while in the selective remote con-
trol mode, only the door opened
from the inside is unlocked.


while in the global remote control
mode, the complete vehicle is un-
locked when a door is opened from
the inside.
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117 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching left front reading lamp on and
off
Press button1.
The left reading lamp goes on.

Press button1 again.
The left reading lamp goes out.
Switching right front reading lamp on
and off

Press button5.
The right reading lamp goes on.

Press button5 again.
The right reading lamp goes out.
Door entry lamps
The appropriate door entry lamp switches
on if a door is opened in darkness and if
the interior lighting is switched to the auto-
matic function.
The entry lamp goes out automatically
when the door is closed.
Trunk lamp
The trunk lamp switches on if the trunk lid
is opened.
If you leave the trunk open for an extended
period of time, the trunk lamp will switch
off automatically after approximately ten
minutes.
iIf you turn the key in the starter switch
to position0 or remove the key, the
door entry lamps will remain lit for ap-
proximately five minutes.
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216 Controls in detailLoading
LoadingRoof rack*
1TrimPreparing roof rack installation

Open trim1 at the trim strips in the
roof.

Secure the roof rack according to man-
ufacturer’s instructions for installation.
Ski sack*
Unfolding and loading
Fold armrest down (arrow).

Swing cover1 down.
Warning!
G
Use only those roof racks approved by Mer-
cedes-Benz for your vehicle model to avoid
damage to the vehicle. Follow manufactur-
er’s installation instructions.
!Be sure to stack a load on the roof rack
so that the vehicle cannot be damaged
while driving.
Make sure that:

you can fully raise the
sliding/pop-up roof*


you can fully open the trunk
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217 Controls in detail
Loading

Open hook and loop strap1.

Pull ski sack into passenger compart-
ment and unfold.

From trunk, slide skis into ski sack.

Wrap strap around ski sack and arm-
rest.

Close clasp (arrows) and pull strap
tight to immobilize skis.
Warning!
G
The ski sack is designed for up to four pairs
of skis. Do not load the ski sack with other
objects.
Always fasten the ski sack securely. In an
accident, an unfastened ski sack can cause
injury to vehicle occupants.
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218 Controls in detailLoading
Connect snap hook1 of front strap to
eye2 located on center tunnel in front
of rear seat bench.Unloading and folding

Loosen strap, open clasp by pressing
tabs together (arrows).

Unload skis.

Close flap in trunk.

Fold and flatten ski sack lengthwise
and place folded ski sack inside recess
of backrest.

Close ski sack compartment cover.
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219 Controls in detail
Loading
Removal of ski sack
For removal of the ski sack we recommend
that you contact an authorized Mer-
cedes-Benz Center.
Split rear bench seat*
To expand the trunk, you can fold down the
left and right rear seat backrests.
The two sections can be folded down sep-
arately to enlarge the trunk.
When transporting long items, the folding
front passenger seat* can be folded for-
ward, and you can remove the rear seat
cushions.
Warning!
G
Never drive vehicle with trunk open while
the ski sack is removed. Deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle in-
terior, resulting in unconsciousness and
death.iTo prevent unauthorized persons from
access to the trunk, always close the
cover.
Warning!
G
When expanding the luggage compartment,
always fold the seat cushions fully forward.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
Always use the cargo tie down rings
(page 225).
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220 Controls in detailLoadingFolding the backrest forward
1Release handle
Pull release handle1.
The seat cushion automatically springs
upward slightly.1Seat cushion
2Seat backrest

Grip the back of seat cushion1 and
fold forward.

Push the rear seat head restraints all
the way in.

Pull the handle in the trunk.
The seat backrest is released and the
head restraints fold back.

Fold the seat backrest forward.
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221 Controls in detail
Loading
Returning seat backrest to original po-
sition
1Seat cushion
2Seat backrest
Swing seat backrest2 to the rear until
it engages.

Swing seat cushion1 to the rear and
press the center front of the cushion
until it audibly engages.

Swing the head restraint forward by
hand until it engages.
Warning!
G
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when rear seat bench is occupied, or the ex-
tended trunk compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo.
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224 Controls in detailLoadingLoading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle oc-
cupants and luggage/cargo should not ex-
ceed the vehicle capacity weight indicated
on the certification tag which can be found
on the left door pillar.The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
Always place items being carried against
front or rear seat backrests, and fasten
them as securely as possible.
The heaviest portion of the cargo should al-
ways be kept as low as possible since it in-
fluences the handling characteristics of
the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo. Put luggage or car-
go in the trunk if possible. Do not pile lug-
gage or cargo higher than the seat backs.
Do not place anything on the shelf below the
rear windows.
Never drive vehicle with trunk open. Deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter ve-
hicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.
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226 Controls in detailUseful features
Useful featuresInterior storage spaces Parcel net in front passenger footwell
A small convenience parcel net is located
in the front passenger footwell. It is for
small and light items, such as road maps,
mail, etc.Glove box
1Glove box lid release
2Compartment for mobile phone/glass-
es
Opening the glove box

Push lid release1.
The glove box lid opens downward.
Closing the glove box

Push lid up to close.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when stowing objects in the vehicle. Put lug-
gage or cargo in the trunk if possible. Do not
pile luggage or cargo higher than the seat
backs. Do not place anything on the shelf
below the rear window.
Luggage nets cannot secure hard or heavy
objects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
about and injuring vehicle occupants during
an accident.
Warning!
G
The parcel net is intended for storing
light-weight items only.
Heavy objects, objects with sharp edges or
fragile objects may not be transported in the
parcel net.
The parcel net cannot protect transported
goods in the event of an accident.
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