warning MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS 2003 Manual Online

181 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Air conditioner
The air conditioner is operational while the
engine is running and cools the interior air
to the temperature set by the operator.
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the vehi-
cle will then no longer be cooled or dehu-
midified.
Press buttonAC
OFF
.
The indicator lamp on the
buttonAC
OFF
lights up.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air conditioner.

PressAC
OFF
again.
The indicator lamp on
theAC
OFF
button goes out.
The air conditioner uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts blinking, this means that too
many electrical consumers are operat-
ing simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating
the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically turns itself back on.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.
!If the air conditioner cannot be turned
on again, this indicates that the air con-
ditioner is losing refrigerant. The com-
pressor has turned itself off.
Have the air conditioner checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
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184 Controls in detailPower windows
Power windowsOpening and closing the windows
The side windows can be opened and
closed electrically. The switches for all of
the side windows are on the driver’s door.
The switches for the respective windows
are on the front passenger and the rear
doors.
1Rear window override switch
(
page 71)
2Right front window
3Right rear window
4Left rear window
5Left front window

Turn key in the starter switch to
position1 or2.
Opening the windows

Press switch to resistance point.
The window will move downwards until
you release the switch.
Closing the windows

Pull on switch.
The window will move upwards until
you release the switch.
Fully opening windows

Press switch past resistance point and
release.
The window opens completely.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, be sure that
there is no danger of anyone being harmed
by the closing procedure.
In case of obstruction, the automatic rever-
sal will not operate if a door window is being
closed by pulling the switch and holding it,
or when using the SmartKey.
The closing procedure of door windows can
be immediately reversed by either pressing
or pulling the switch, or pressing
button
Œ
on the SmartKey and holding
it.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from starter switch, take it with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment can cause serious personal
injury.
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185 Controls in detail
Power windows
Fully closing windows
Pull switch past resistance point and
release.
The window closes completely.
If the upward movement of the window is
blocked during the closing procedure, the
window will stop and open slightly.Stopping windows

Press or pull respective switch again.Opening and closing the windows with
the Smartkey
The sliding/pop-up roof* will also be
opened or closed when the power windows
are operated with the key (
page 188).

Aim transmitter eye at the front door
handle.
Warning!
G
Driver’s door only:
If within five seconds switch1 is again
pulled past the resistance point and re-
leased, the automatic reversal will not oper-
ate.
iYou can also open or close the win-
dows using the following:

SmartKey (summer opening/con-
venience feature), see below


ButtonO in the control panel of
the climate control (
page 164) or
automatic climate control
(
page 174)


Buttonein the control panel of
the automatic climate control
(page 174)
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows or slid-
ing/pop-up roof* if there is the possibility of
anyone being harmed by the opening or
closing procedure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger, the procedure can be immediately halt-
ed by releasing the control button. To
reverse direction of movement press
button
Œ
for opening or
‹
for clos-
ing.
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187 Controls in detail
Sliding/pop-up roof*
Sliding/pop-up roof*
Opening and closing the sliding/pop-up roof*
The sliding/pop-up roof can be opened
and closed electrically. The switch for the
sliding/pop-up roof is on the overhead
control panel.
1Push back to slide roof open
2Push forward to slide roof closed
3Push up to raise roof at rear
4Pull down to lower roof at rearWith the roof closed or tilted open, a
screen can be slid into the roof opening to
guard against sun rays. When sliding the
roof open, the screen will also retract.

Turn the key in the starter switch to
position1 or2.
Opening and closing the sliding/pop-up
roof

To open, close, raise or lower the slid-
ing/pop-up roof, move the switch to
the resistance point in the required di-
rection.
Release the switch when the roof has
reached the required position.
Opening and closing the sliding/pop-up
roof automatically

Move the switch past the resistance
point in the direction required and re-
lease.
The sliding/pop-up roof opens or clos-
es completely.
Warning!
G
When closing the sliding/pop-up roof, be
sure that there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
The closing procedure of the sliding/pop-up
roof can be immediately reversed by either
moving the switch in any direction, or press-
ing button
Œ
on the key and holding it.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from starter switch, take it with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment can cause serious personal
injury.
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188 Controls in detailSliding/pop-up roof*Stopping the sliding/pop-up roof
Move the switch in any direction.
If the movement of the sliding/pop-up
roof is blocked during the closing pro-
cedure, the roof will stop and reopen
slightly.Opening and closing the sliding/pop-up
roof with the SmartKey
The power windows will also be opened or
closed when the sliding/pop-up roof is op-
erated with the key (
page 185).

Aim transmitter eye at the front door
handle.
iYou can also open or close the slid-
ing/pop-up roof using the following:

SmartKey, see below


ButtonO in the control panel of
the climate control (
page 164) or
automatic climate control
(
page 174)


Buttonein the control panel of
the automatic climate control
(page 174)
!To avoid damaging the seals, do not
transport any objects with sharp edges
which can stick out of the slid-
ing/pop-up roof.
Open the sliding/pop-up roof only if
the roof is clear of snow or ice.
The sliding/pop-up roof can be opened
or closed manually should an electrical
malfunction occur (
page 331).
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows or slid-
ing/pop-up roof if there is the possibility of
anyone being harmed by the opening or
closing procedure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger, the procedure can be immediately halt-
ed by releasing the remote control button.
To reverse direction of movement
pressŒ for opening or ‹ for closing.
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190 Controls in detailPanorama sliding/pop-up roof*
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof*Panorama sliding/pop-up roof* Opening and closing the roller sunblind
The roller sunblinds can only be opened or
closed when the panorama sliding/pop-up
roof is closed. The front and rear roller sun-
blind cannot be operated individually.
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof switch 1Open
2Close
Warning!
G
When closing the panorama sliding/pop-up
roof, ensure that no one is in danger of being
injured.
If the panorama sliding/pop-up roof is
closed with the convenience closing feature
and becomes blocked, it will not open auto-
matically.
Should this occur, press the release button
on the key and hold it down; the panorama
sliding/pop-up roof opens again.
Make sure to remove the key from the igni-
tion lock even when leaving the vehicle for
only a brief period of time.
In the event of an accident, the glass in ve-
hicles with a glass roof may shatter.
If the vehicle rolls over, there is a danger of
occupants without fastened seat belts being
thrown out of the opening.
In this case there is an increased risk of in-
jury even for passengers with fastened seat
belts, as entire body parts or portions of
them may protrude from the passenger
compartment.
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191 Controls in detail
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof*
Roller sunblind switch, rear 1Open
2Close
Make sure that the ignition is turned on
or press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button*.

Press the switch in the desired direc-
tion.
The sun roller sunblinds open.

Release the switch when the roller sun-
blinds have reached the desired posi-
tion.Opening the roller sunblinds automati-
cally

Press the switch past the resistance
point in direction1 and release it
again.
The roller sunblinds open completely.
Stopping the roller sunblinds

Press the switch again in any direction.Opening and closing the panorama slid-
ing/pop-up roof
1Push back to slide roof open
2Push forward to slide roof closed
3Push back to raise roof
4Push forward to lower roof

Make sure that the ignition is turned on
or press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button*.

Push the switch to the resistance point
in the required direction.
The panorama sliding/pop-up roof
opens.
Warning!
G
When closing the roller sunblinds, make
sure that no one is in danger of being injured
by the closing procedure.
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192 Controls in detailPanorama sliding/pop-up roof*
Release the switch once the roof has
reached the desired position.
Opening and closing the panorama slid-
ing/pop-up roof automatically

Press the switch past the resistance
point in the desired direction.
The panorama sliding/pop-up roof
opens completely.
Stopping the panorama sliding/pop-up
roof

Press the switch again in any direction.Opening and closing windows and pan-
orama sliding/pop-up roof with the
SmartKey
The power windows will also be opened or
closed when the panorama sliding/pop-up
roof is operated with the key (
page 185).

Aim transmitter eye at the front door
handle.Opening (Summer opening feature)
If roller blinds are closed:

Press and hold buttonΠafter un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows and roller blinds begin to
open after approximately one second.

Press and hold buttonŒagain.
The panorama sliding/pop-up roof tilts
and opens.
If roller blinds are already open:

Press and hold buttonΠafter un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows move down and the pan-
orama sliding/pop-up roof tilts and
opens after approximately one second.

Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.
!Do not transport any objects that pro-
trude out of the panorama slid-
ing/pop-up roof as the seals could be
damaged.
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows or slid-
ing/pop-up roof if there is the possibility of
anyone being harmed by the opening or
closing procedure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger, the procedure can be immediately halt-
ed by releasing the remote control button.
To reverse direction of movement
pressŒ for opening or ‹ for closing.
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194 Controls in detailDriving systems
Driving systemsThe following driving systems are ex-
plained on the following pages:

Cruise control


Distronic*


AIRMATIC DC*


Park assist (Parktronic*)
The BAS, ABS, ESP and SBC driving sys-
tems are described in the "Safety and Se-
curity" section (
page 73).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set any speed
over 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 20).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver must always remain
responsible for the vehicle speed and for
safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the traffic and
weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The "Resume" function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.
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196 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting stored speed ("Resume"
function)
Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control will resume the last
previously set speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Setting a higher speed

Lift the cruise control lever to
position1 and hold it up until the de-
sired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1.
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to preset
speed could endanger yourself and others.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iVehicles with automatic transmission:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the vehi-
cle sufficiently.
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