lock MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS 2003 Owners Manual

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
At a glance.......................................... 19
Cockpit ................................................. 20
Instrument cluster ................................ 22
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 24
Center console ..................................... 25
Upper part ...................................... 25
Lower part ...................................... 26
Overhead control panel ........................ 27
Door control panel................................ 28Getting started................................... 29
Unlocking ............................................. 30
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 30
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 32
Adjusting .............................................. 34
Seats............................................... 34
Steering wheel ................................ 37
Mirrors ............................................ 38
Driving .................................................. 40
Fastening the seat belts.................. 40
Starting the engine ......................... 43
Switching on headlamps ................. 46
Turn signals and high beam ............ 46
Windshield wipers ........................... 47Problems while driving.................... 48
Parking and locking .............................. 50
Parking brake ................................. 50
Switching off headlamps................. 51
Turning off the engine ..................... 51
Safety and Security........................... 55
Occupant safety ................................... 56
Airbags ........................................... 57
Seat belts ....................................... 61
Children in the vehicle .................... 65
Blocking of rear door window
operation ........................................ 71
Panic alarm .......................................... 72
Activating........................................ 72
Deactivating.................................... 72
Driving safety systems ......................... 73
ABS ................................................. 73
BAS ................................................. 74
ESP ................................................. 75
The SBC brake system .................... 77
Anti-theft systems ................................ 81
Immobilizer ..................................... 81
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 82
Tow-away alarm .............................. 82
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ContentsControls in detail............................... 85
Locking and unlocking ......................... 86
Keys ............................................... 86
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*......... 89
Opening the doors from the inside . 93
Opening the trunk from the inside.. 94
Opening the trunk .......................... 96
Closing the trunk ............................ 96
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 97
Separately locking the trunk .......... 98
Separately unlocking the trunk ...... 99
Automatic central locking .............. 99
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ..................................... 100
Seats.................................................. 102
Easy-entry/exit feature* .............. 102
Head restraints............................. 103
Multicontour seat* ....................... 104
Dynamic driving seat* .................. 105
Heated seats* .............................. 107
Seat ventilation* .......................... 108
Memory function................................ 109
Storing positions into memory ..... 110
Recalling positions from memory . 110
Storing parking position ............... 111Lighting.............................................. 112
Exterior lamp switch..................... 112
Combination switch ..................... 115
Hazard warning flasher ................ 115
Interior lighting............................. 116
Door entry lamps ......................... 117
Trunk lamp ................................... 117
Instrument cluster ............................. 118
Instrument cluster illumination .... 118
Coolant temperature display ........ 119
Trip odometer .............................. 119
Tachometer .................................. 120
Outside temperature indicator ..... 120
Control system .................................. 121
Multifunction display .................... 121
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 122
Menus .......................................... 124
Standard display menu ................ 126
AUDIO menu ................................ 126
NAVI* ........................................... 128
Distronic* menu........................... 128
Malfunction memory menu .......... 129
Settings menu .............................. 130
Trip computer menu ..................... 145
TEL menu* ................................... 147
Automatic transmission ..................... 151One-touch gearshifting ................ 152
Gear ranges ................................. 153
Gear selector lever position ......... 154
Program mode selector switch .... 155
Accelerator position ..................... 156
Emergency operation
(Limp home mode) ....................... 156
Good visibility .................................... 157
Rear view mirror .......................... 157
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 158
Sun visors .................................... 158
Rear window sunshade* .............. 160
Roller sunblind* in the rear doors 161
Climate control .................................. 162
Setting the temperature............... 165
Adjusting air distribution .............. 166
Adjusting air volume .................... 166
Defrosting .................................... 167
Air recirculation mode.................. 167
Rear window defroster ................. 169
Deactivating the climate
control system ............................. 170
Air conditioner ............................. 170
Residual heat and ventilation* ..... 171
Automatic climate control* ............... 172
Setting the temperature............... 176
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ContentsTires and wheels ................................ 268
Important guidelines .................... 268
Life of tire ..................................... 269
Direction of rotation ..................... 269
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 269
Rotating wheels............................ 272
Winter driving..................................... 273
Winter tires................................... 273
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 274
Snow chains ................................. 274
Maintenance ...................................... 275
Flexible Service System PLUS (FSS
PLUS) ........................................... 275
Clearing the service indicator....... 275
Service term exceeded................. 276
Calling up the service indicator .... 276
Resetting the service indicator ..... 276
Setting the date for special works 278
Calling up the service data
information ................................... 279
Vehicle care ....................................... 280
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 280
Practical hints.................................. 287
What to do if … .................................. 288
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 288
Lamp in center console ................ 294
Messages in the display ............... 295
Where will I find ...? ........................... 324
First aid kit ................................... 324
Spare wheel ................................. 324
Luggage box ................................. 325
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 326
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 327
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 327
Locking the vehicle ...................... 328
Changing batteries ....................... 328
Fuel filler flap emergency release 329
Manually unlocking the
transmission selector lever .......... 330
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 331
Sliding/pop-up roof* or
panorama sliding/pop-up roof* ... 331Replacing bulbs ................................. 332
Bulbs ............................................ 332
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 334
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps .... 336
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 337
Replacing wiper blades ................ 337
Flat tire .............................................. 338
Preparing the vehicle ................... 338
Mounting the spare wheel ........... 338
Batteries ............................................ 343
Disconnecting the battery............ 344
Removing the battery................... 344
Charging and reinstalling the
battery ......................................... 344
Reconnecting the batteries .......... 345
Jump starting ..................................... 346
Towing the vehicle ............................. 348
Towing the vehicle ....................... 348
Installing towing eye bolt ............. 350
Fuses ................................................. 352
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ............................... 352
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21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
45, 50
2
Hood lock release
261
3
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
38
Heated steering wheel*
233
4
Parking brake release
45
5
Combination switch

Turn signals
46


Windshield wipers
47


High beam
47
6
Door control panel
28
7
Exterior lamp switch
112
Item
Page
8
Headlamp washer button*
158
9
Cruise control lever

Cruise control
201


Distronic*
197
10
Instrument cluster
22,
118
11
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
122
12
Horn
13
Lever for voice recognition
system*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
14
Starter switch
31
15
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
212
16
Overhead control panel
27
17
Mobile phone/Glasses box
226
18
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
226
19
Glove box
226
20
Center console
25
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23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal indi-
cator lamp
2
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
288
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
with:Basic display with outside
temperature display
126
Status indicator with mal-
function warning messageTrip odometer
119
5
lDistance warning
lamp
1
1Vehicles without Distronic*: Warning lamp without
function. It illuminates with key in starter switch
position 2. It should go out when the engine is run-
ning.
289
6
KRight turn signal in-
dicator lamp
Item
Page
7
Coolant temperature dis-
play with:•Coolant tempera-
ture warning lamp
292
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
290
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
289
warning lamp
293
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator
115
9
Main odometer with:

Selector lever position
43


Program mode
155
Item
Page
10
Clock with:;Brake warning
lamp, except
Canada
291
3Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
291
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
293
11
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warn-
ing lamp
293
12
Reset knob for:

Resetting trip
odometer
119


Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination
118


Confirming new time
settings
136
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25 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Automatic climate control*
172
2
Audio system, see sepa-
rate operating instructions
3
Seat heater*, front passen-
ger side
107
4
Rear window sunshade*
160
5
Central locking switch
100
6
Opening/closing button
for storage tray or CD
changer*, see separate op-
erating instructions
227
7
Rear seat head restraints
switch, folding down
104
Item
Page
8
Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP) control switch
76
9
Seat heater*, driver’s side
107
10
Hazard warning flasher
switch
115
11
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
warning lamp
67
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29 Getting started
Unlocking
Adjusting
Driving
Parking and locking
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30 Getting startedUnlockingThe "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.
UnlockingUnlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button for trunk lid
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 72)

Press unlock button Πon the key.
All turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.

Get in the vehicle and insert the key in
the starter switch.
More information can be found in the
"Controls in detail" section (
page 86).
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31 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positionsStarter switch0For removing key
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the Smart-
Key with KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) with
you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause serious
personal injury.iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in position P.
!If the key is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of
time, it can no longer be turned in the
starter switch.

Remove the key from the starter
switch and reinsert.
If the key can still not be turned, the
battery may not be sufficiently
charged.

Check the battery and charge it
if necessary (
page 266).

Get a jump start (
page 346).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the key from the
starter switch.
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32 Getting startedUnlockingUnlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys with remote controls and a re-
movable mechanical key. The locking tabs
for the mechanical key portion of the two
keys are a different color to help distin-
guish each key unit.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.
If you have the KEYLESS-GO function, your
vehicle checks whether the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is valid when you grasp the
door handle. If your key is valid, the doors
will unlock, and you can open them.

Grasp the door handle.
The turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs on the doors move up.
Pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the selector lever corresponds to
turning the key to the various starter
switch positions.
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the
vehicle, no further than approx. 3 feet
(1 meter) away from the door. Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always take the
key and the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
serious personal injury.
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