BE400 FLT CREW CLBS TO 2000 FT PRIOR TO 4.5 DME ON THE TEB 5 OFF RWY 25 TO TEB.

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WE WERE CLRED FOR TAKEOFF VIA THE TEB 5 DEP; RWY 24; WHICH REQUIRED A CLB TO RWY HEADING TO 1500 FT MSL; THEN A TURN TO HEADING 280 DEGS; MAINTAINING 1500 FT UNTIL CROSSING THE TEB 4 NM DME. AT THAT POINT; A CLB TO 2000 FT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INITIATED. PRIOR TO DEP; I PROGRAMMED A 4 NM DME CIRCLE AROUND TEB TO SHOW ON THE MFD; AND BRIEFLY MENTIONED IT TO THE CAPT IN THE R SEAT. AS THE FO AT THE CONTROLS; I HAND-FLEW THE DEP UNTIL APPROX 1350 FT MSL; AND THEN ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT; WHICH HAD BEEN ARMED IN THE HEADING AND PITCH MODES. AT APPROX THE SAME INSTANT; AND WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE; THE ALT PRESELECT WAS SET FOR 2000 FT BY THE CAPT. WE CLBED THROUGH 1500 FT MSL RATHER QUICKLY; AND I DID NOT DISENGAGE THE AUTOPLT BEFORE WE LEVELED AT 2000 FT MSL. QUICKLY AFTER LEVELING; THE TWR ASKED US WHY WE WERE AT 2000 FT; AND THE CAPT REPLIED THAT WE WERE PAST THE 4 DME FIX. HE RESPONDED THAT WE WERE 'NOWHERE NEAR 4 DME;' AND INSTRUCTED US TO 'LOOK AT THE CHART NEXT TIME.' IN HINDSIGHT; I THINK A BETTER DEP BRIEFING COULD HAVE BEEN EXECUTED; AND I THINK THE CAPT COULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS SETTING THE NEXT ALT. THIS WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME THE OPTION TO DISAGREE AND POINT OUT THE 4 DME CIRCLE AROUND TEB VOR THAT I HAD PROGRAMMED. THERE WAS NOT MUCH TIME TO EXECUTE A DESCENT BEFORE WE WERE QUERIED ON OUR ALT; AND PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE DESCENDED DURING THIS TIME; BUT IT HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY.