MERCEDES-BENZ C320 WAGON 2002 S203 Workshop Manual
Manufacturer: MERCEDES-BENZ, Model Year: 2002, Model line: C320 WAGON, Model: MERCEDES-BENZ C320 WAGON 2002 S203Pages: 390
Page 51 of 390

48 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Adjust the head restraint angle by hand. Push or pull
the head restraint in direction of arrow.Storing seat positions:
The head restraint, steering wheel and exterior rear
view mirror position are stored together with the seat
position.
See page 89 for notes on the memory function. For
recalling a stored seat / head restraint / steering wheel /
and exterior rear view mirror position see page 90.
S203.book Seite 48 Freitag, 19. Oktober 2001 1:25 13
Page 52 of 390

49 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should check
and adjust if necessary the seat height, seat position
fore and aft, and backrest angle to insure adequate
control, reach and comfort. The head restraint should
also be adjusted for proper height. See also airbag
section on page 67 for proper seat positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure
ad eq uate con tr ol, r each, operation and com fort. B ot h the
inside and outside rear view mirrors should be adjusted
for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be
seated in a properly secured restraint system that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view
mirror adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger
side front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury can result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating 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, fully in accordance with the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.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.
S203.book Seite 49 Freitag, 19. Oktober 2001 1:25 13
Page 53 of 390

50 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Removal and installation of front seat head
restraints
Power seat
Caution!
Do not remove head restraints except when mounting
seat covers. Whenever restraints have been removed be
sure to reinstall them before driving.Note:
Tilt the backrest rearward for easier removal and
installation of the head restraints.
To r e m ove :
Press switch (1) upwards and hold until the head
restraint is fully extended. Pull head restraint out.
To in st a l l :
Press switch (1) upwards and hold for about 5 seconds.
Press the head restraint down until it engages.
Adjust head restraint to the desired position.
Wa r n i n g !
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 intended to help
reduce injuries during an accident.
S203.book Seite 50 Freitag, 19. Oktober 2001 1:25 13
Page 54 of 390

51 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Multicontour seat (optional)
We recommend to adjust the multicontour seat in the
following order:
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Side bolster adjustmentSome models may be equipped with driver’s
multicontour seat. These seats have movable seat
cushions and inflatable air cushions built into the
backrest to provide additional lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion movement and amount of backrest
cushion height and curvature can be continuously
varied with regulators (1, 2 and 3) after turning the
electronic key in starter switch to position 2.
The side bolsters of the backrest can be adjusted with
rocker switch (4):
•press to the left –
increase side support,
•press to the right –
decrease side support.
If the engine is turned off, the last cushion setting is
retained in memory, and automatically adjusts the
cushion to this setting when the engine is restarted.
S203.book Seite 51 Freitag, 19. Oktober 2001 1:25 13
Page 55 of 390

52 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Heated seats (optional)
The front seat heaters can be switched on with the
electronic key in starter switch position 1 or 2.
The switch is located in the center console.Press switch to turn on seat heater:
1Normal seat heating mode. One indicator lamp in
the switch lights up.
2Rapid seat heating mode. Both indicator lamps in
the switch light up. After approximately 5 minutes
in the rapid seat heating mode, the seat heater
autom atically s witches to n ormal o peration an d on ly
one indicator lamp will stay on.
Turning off seat heater:
If one indicator lamp is on, press upper half of switch.
If both indicator lamps are on, press lower half of
switch.
If left on, the seat heater automatically turns off after
approximately 30 minutes of operation.
P54.25-2501-26
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Page 56 of 390

53 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Note:
When in operation, the seat heater consumes a large
amount of electrical power. It is not advisable to use the
seat heater longer than necessary.
The seat heaters may automatically switch off if too
many power consumers are switched on at the same
time, or if the battery charge is low. When this occurs,
the indicator lamp in the switch will blink (both
indicator lamps blink during rapid seat heating mode).
The seat heaters will switch on again automatically as
soon as sufficient voltage is available.
If the blinking of the indicator lamps is distracting to
you, the seat heaters can be switched off.Rear seat head restraints
Folding head restraints back in the rear passenger
compartment:
Push lock button (1). The head restraints will fold
backward.
P91.16-2110-26
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Page 57 of 390

54 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Place head restraints upright
Placing head restraints upright:
Pull the head restraint forward until it locks into
position.
Angle of head restraints:
Two different head restraint angle positions are
available.Important!
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.
P91.16-2111-26
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Page 58 of 390

55 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Head restraint heightRaising:
Pull up on head restraint.
Lowering:
Push button (2) and push down on head restraint.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head
approximately at ear level. The head restraint
inclination can also be adjusted manually.
Note:
The center rear seat head restraint cannot be adjusted
or removed.
S203.book Seite 55 Freitag, 19. Oktober 2001 1:25 13
Page 59 of 390

56 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats,
emergency tensioning retractors for all outboard seat
belts, dual front airbags, door mounted side impact
airbags, and head protective window curtain airbags.
Their protective functions are designed to complement
one another.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require
seat belt use.
All states and provinces require use of child restraints
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All child restraints systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a
lap-shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly
recommend their use.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger
side front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise 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 seating 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, fully in accordance with the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.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.
S203.book Seite 56 Freitag, 19. Oktober 2001 1:25 13
Page 60 of 390

57 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care IndexSeat belt nonusage warning system
With the electronic key in starter switch position 2, a
warning sounds for a short time if the driver’s seat belt
is not fastened.
Automatic comfort-fit seat belt:
An automatic comfort-fit feature for driver and front
passenger seat belt is activated when the electronic key
in the starter switch is turned to position 1 or 2.
The retraction force of the inertia reel is reduced,
increasing the level of seat belt comfort.
Note:
For cleaning and care of the seat belts see page 359.
Wa r n i n g !
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the 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
backrest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in an upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.
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