2003 Mercedes E-Class Owner's Manual - Page 202

Controls in detail Driving systems Activating Distronic You can activate Distronic if: you are driving between 25 mph (Canada:40 km/h) and 110 mph (Canada:180 km/h) the ESP is activated ( page 75) If Distronic has not been activated after pressing the cruise control lever you will see the message --- in the multifunction display. In the following cases you cannot activate Distronic: Up to two minutes after starting the engine When you brake If you have set the parking brake If the gear selector lever is in position P, R or N If the ESP is switched off Setting the current speed Accelerate or decelerate to the desired speed. Briefly lift or depress the cruise control lever. Distronic is activated and the current speed is set. Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Setting a higher speed Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the direction of arrow 1 ( page 201) to increase vehicle speed in increments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h). The new speed is set. The stored speed is displayed in the multifunction display for approximately five seconds ( page 201), and one or two segments around the stored speed light up on the speedometer ( page 199). i If you do not take your foot off of the accelerator completely, the following message will appear in the multifunction display: Distronic override. The distance to a slower moving vehicle in front of you will not be set. Your vehicle speed will then be determined only by the accelerator pedal position. i Depressing the accelerator pedal does not deactivate Distronic. After brief acceleration (e.g. for passing), cruise control will resume the last speed set. 202