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Occupant safety
53
tems installed on a suitable seat. Additional information can be found in the Operating Instructions in the chapter "Safety", "Chil- dren in the Vehicle". Observe the installa- tion instructions of the child restraint sys- tem manufacturer.
RDo not secure an object with a seat belt if the seat belt is also being used by one of the vehicle's occupants. G WARNING The seat belt does not offer the intended level of protection if the backrest is not in the upright position. When braking or in the event of an accident, you could slide underneath the seat belt and sustain abdomen or neck inju- ries, for example. This poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury. Adjust the seat properly before beginning your journey. Always make sure that the seat is in the upright position. G WARNING Seat belts cannot perform their intended pro- tective function if: Rthey are damaged, modified, bleached or
coloured, or are very dirty
Rthe seat belt buckle is damaged or very
dirty
Rmodifications have been made to the seat
belt tensioners or belt anchorages
In the event of an accident, seat belts can sustain damage that is not visible to the naked eye, e. g. due to glass splinters. Modified or damaged seat belts could tear or fail in the event of an accident, for example. Modified belt tensioners could deploy unexpectedly or fail. There is an increased risk of serious or even fatal injuries. Never make modifications to seat belts, belt tensioners, belt anchorages or seat belt retractors. Make sure that the seat belts are undamaged, are not worn and are clean.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use seat belts which have been approved
54 Occupant safety
specifically for your vehicle by Mercedes- Benz. Seat belts are the most effective means of restraining the movement of vehicle occu- pants in the event of an accident. This reduces the risk of vehicle occupants coming into contact with parts of the vehicle interior.
Fastening seat belts
For more information about releasing the seat belt with release button ?, see "Releasing seat belts" (Y page 55).
Seat belt adjustment The seat-belt adjustment function adjusts the driver's and front-passenger seat belt to the upper body of the occupants. The belt strap is tightened slightly when: Ryou engage the belt tongue in the belt
buckle and you then turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock.
Rthe key is in position 2 in the ignition lock and you then engage the belt tongue in the buckle.
The seat-belt adjustment is an integral part of the PRE-SAFE® convenience function. More information about PRE-SAFE® can be found in the "PRE-SAFE® (anticipatory occupant protection)" section (Y page 50).
Belt height adjustment You can adjust the seat belt height on the driver's seat and the front-passenger seat.
X Adjust the seat and move the backrest to an almost vertical position (Y page 102). X Pull the seat belt smoothly through belt
sash guide :.
X Without twisting it, guide the shoulder sec-
tion of the seat belt across the middle of your shoulder and the lap section across your pelvis.
X Engage belt tongue ; in buckle =.
Seat belt adjustment: if necessary, the driv- er's and front-passenger seat belts auto- matically adjust to the upper body (Y page 54).
X If necessary, adjust the seat belt to the
appropriate height (Y page 54).
X If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder section of the seat belt to tighten the belt across your body.
Adjust the height so that the upper part of the seat belt is routed across the centre of your shoulder. X To raise: slide the belt sash guide upwards. The belt sash guide engages in various posi- tions.
X To lower: press and hold belt sash guide
release :.
X Slide the belt sash guide downwards. X Let go of belt sash guide release : and make sure that the belt sash guide has engaged.
Wearing the rear centre seat belt If the left-hand rear seat backrest is folded down and back up again, the rear centre seat belt may lock. The seat belt can then not be pulled out. X To release the rear centre seat belt: pull the seat belt out approximately 20 mm at the belt outlet on the backrest and then release it again. The seat belt is retracted and released.
Releasing the seat belts
Occupant safety
55
Belt warning for the driver and front passenger The 7 seat belt warning lamp in the instru- ment cluster is a reminder for all occupants to fasten their seat belts. It may light up con- tinuously or flash. In addition, a warning tone may sound. The 7 seat belt warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases when the driver and the front passenger have fastened their seat belt. For certain countries only: regardless of whether the driver and the front passenger have fastened their seat belts, the 7 seat belt warning lamp lights up for six seconds after the engine is started. It then goes out if the driver and the front passenger have fas- tened their seat belts. i For more information on the 7 seat belt warning lamp, see "Warning and indi- cator lamps in the instrument cluster, seat belt" (Y page 297).
Rear seat belt status indicator
X Press release button ? on belt buckle =. X Guide belt tongue ; back to belt sash
guide :.
! Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled up. Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue will be trapped in the door or in the seat mechanism. This could damage the door, the door trim panel and the seat belt. Dam- aged seat belts can no longer fulfil their protective function and must be replaced. Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
Rear seat belt status indicator (illustrated example: vehicle with 12-button multifunction steering wheel) The rear-compartment seat belt status indi- cator tells you if the rear passengers have their seat belts fastened. The rear-compart- ment seat belt status indicator indicates the rear seat on which the belt is fastened. In the example, the passengers on the left and right rear seats have their seat belts fastened.
56 Occupant safety
The rear-compartment seat belt status indi- cator appears in the multifunction display for around 30 seconds if: Ryou drive off and reach a speed of approx-
imately 10 km/h.
Rthe rear passengers fasten or unfasten
their seat belts while the vehicle is in motion.
Rsomeone gets in or out of the vehicle and
the vehicle drives off again.
You can also cancel the rear seat belt status indicator immediately (Y page 257). i The status indicator for the rear-compart- ment seat belts is only available for certain countries.
Belt tensioners, belt force limiters G WARNING Pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners that have been deployed are no longer operational and are unable to perform their intended protec- tive function. This poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury. Therefore, have pyrotechnic belt tensioners which have been triggered immediately replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
! If the front-passenger seat is not occu-
pied, do not engage the seat belt tongue in the buckle on the front-passenger seat. Otherwise, the belt tensioner could be trig- gered in the event of an accident.
i Vehicles with PRE-SAFE®: belt tensioners that are triggered by an electric motor can be deployed as often as desired and do not need to be replaced.
The front seat belts and the outer seat belts in the rear are equipped with belt tensioners. The belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in an accident, pulling them close against the body. Belt tensioners do not correct incorrect seat positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
Belt tensioners do not pull vehicle occupants back towards the backrest. The belt tensioners can only be activated when: Rthe ignition is switched on Rthe restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" (Y page 45)
Rthe belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on each of the three-point seat belts in front The belt tensioners on the outside seats in the rear compartment are triggered independ- ently of the lock status of the seat belts. The belt tensioners are triggered depending on the type and severity of an accident: Rin certain situations where the vehicle over- turns and the system determines that it can provide additional protection
Rif, in the event of a head-on or rear-end col-
lision the vehicle decelerates or acceler- ates rapidly in a longitudinal direction dur- ing the initial stages of the impact
Rif, in the event of a side impact, on the side
opposite the impact the vehicle deceler- ates or accelerates rapidly in a lateral direc- tion
If the airbags are deployed, you will hear a bang, and a small amount of powder may also be released. Only in rare cases will the bang affect your hearing. The powder that is released generally does not constitute a health hazard and does not indicate that there is a fire in the vehicle. The powder may cause short-term breathing difficulties to persons suffering from asthma or other pulmonary conditions. In order to prevent potential breathing difficulties, you should leave the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. You can also open the window to allow fresh air to enter the vehicle interior. The 6 SRS warn- ing lamp lights up. If the seat belt is also fitted with a belt force limiter and this is triggered, the force exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant is reduced.
The belt force limiters on the front seats are synchronised with the front airbags, which take on a part of the deceleration force. This results in the load being distributed over a greater area.
Children in the vehicle Child restraint systems Important safety notes G WARNING To reduce the risk of serious or even fatal injury to the child in the event of a sudden change in direction, braking or an accident: RChildren less than 1.50 m tall and under
twelve years of age must always be secured in special child restraint systems on a suit- able vehicle seat. This is necessary because the seat belts are not designed for children.
RDo not transport children who are secured in rearward-facing child restraint systems on the front-passenger seat. Exception: if the vehicle is equipped with automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat and the child is secured in a child restraint system with transponders for automatic child seat recognition
RIf you secure a forward-facing child
restraint system to the front-passenger seat, you must move the front-passenger seat as far back as possible. When doing so, ensure that the shoulder belt strap from the belt outlet on the vehicle is routed towards the front to the shoulder belt guide on the child restraint system. Set the belt height adjustment so that the belt strap is routed towards the front along the bottom. RChildren must never travel sitting on the lap
of another occupant. Due to the forces which occur in the event of a sudden change of direction, heavy braking or an accident, it would not be possible to restrain the child. The child could be thrown
Children in the vehicle
57
against parts of the vehicle interior and be seriously or even fatally injured. G WARNING If the child restraint system is incorrectly fit- ted on the seat position suitable for this pur- pose, it cannot perform its intended protec- tive function. In the event of an accident, sharp braking or a sudden change in direction, the child may not be held securely. There is an increased risk of serious or even fatal inju- ries. Observe the manufacturer's installation instructions and the correct use for the child restraint system. Make sure that the entire surface of the child restraint system is resting on the seat surface. Never place objects under or behind the child restraint system, e.g. cushions. Only use child restraint sys- tems with the original cover designed for them. Only replace damaged covers with gen- uine covers. G WARNING If the child restraint system is fitted incor- rectly or is not secured, it can come loose in the event of an accident, heavy braking or a sudden change in direction. The child restraint system could be thrown about, strik- ing vehicle occupants. There is an increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal. Always fit child restraint systems properly, even if they are not being used. Make sure that you observe the child restraint system manufacturer's installation instructions. G WARNING Child restraint systems or their securing sys- tems that have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident cannot perform their intended protective function. In the event of an accident, sharp braking or a sudden change in direction, the child may not be held securely. There is an increased risk of serious or even fatal injuries.
58
Children in the vehicle
Immediately replace child restraint systems that have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident. Have the child restraint securing systems checked in a qualified spe- cialist workshop before fitting a child restraint system again. G WARNING If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they could: Ropen the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
Rget out and disrupt traffic. Roperate the vehicle's equipment. Additionally, children could set the vehicle in motion if, for example, they: Rrelease the parking brake. Rshift the automatic transmission out of
parking position P.
Rshift the manual transmission into neutral. Rstart the engine. There is a risk of an accident and injury. When leaving the vehicle, always take the key with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave children or animals unattended in the vehicle. Always keep the key out of reach of children. G WARNING If persons (particularly children) are exposed to heat or cold for a prolonged period, there is a risk of serious or even fatal injuries. Never leave persons (particularly children) unatten- ded in the vehicle. G WARNING If the child restraint system is placed in direct sunlight, the parts could become very hot. Children could be suffer burns by touching these parts, in particular on the metallic parts of the child restraint system. There is a risk of injury. If you and your child leave the vehicle, always make sure that the child restraint system is not in direct sunlight. Cover it with a blanket,
for example. If the child restraint system has been exposed to direct sunlight, leave it to cool down before securing the child in it. Never leave children unattended in the vehi- cle.
If a child is travelling in your vehicle, secure the child using a child restraint system which is appropriate to the size, age and weight of the child. In order to correctly secure the child in the child restraint system, always comply with the child restraint system manufactur- er's installation instructions. You should pref- erably fit the restraint system to a suitable rear seat. Make sure that the child is secured for the trip. Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use the listed child restraint systems (Y page 65). You can obtain further infor- mation about the correct child restraint sys- tem from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. i It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care products to clean child restraint systems. You can obtain information about this at any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Child restraint system on the front- passenger seat
Example: warning notice on the front-passenger sun visor
Children in the vehicle
59
the dashboard and on both sides of the sun visor on the front-passenger side. Information about recommended child restraint systems is available at any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
NEVER use a rearward facing child restraint on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it, DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD can occur.
Automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat
If the front-passenger seat of your vehicle does not have automatic child seat recogni- tion, this is indicated by a special sticker. The sticker is affixed to the side of the dashboard on the front-passenger side. The sticker is visible when you open the front-passenger door. Vehicles without automatic child seat recog- nition on the front-passenger seat: if you turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock, the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp lights up briefly. However, the indicator lamp has no function. It does not indicate that there is automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat.
Warning symbol for a rearward-facing child restraint system G WARNING If the front-passenger airbag is not disabled: Ra child secured in a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat could be seri- ously and even fatally injured by the front- passenger airbag deploying. This is espe- cially a risk if the child is in the immediate vicinity of the front-passenger airbag when it deploys.
Rnever secure a child on the front-passenger seat in a rearward-facing child restraint sys- tem. Only secure a rearward-facing child restraint system on a suitable rear seat. Ralways move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost position if you secure a child in a forward-facing child restraint system on the front-passenger seat.
The front-passenger airbag is not disabled: Ron vehicles without automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat Rin vehicles with automatic child seat rec- ognition in the front-passenger seat, if no special child restraint system with trans- ponders for automatic child seat recogni- tion in the front-passenger seat has been fitted
Ron vehicles with automatic child seat rec- ognition on the front-passenger seat, if the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 4 is not lit.
To make you aware of this danger, a corre- sponding warning sticker has been affixed on
60
Children in the vehicle
: PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp The sensor system for child restraint systems in the front-passenger seat detects whether a special Mercedes-Benz child seat with a transponder for automatic child seat recog- nition has been fitted. In this case, PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp : lights up. The front-passenger front airbag is disabled. G WARNING If the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indica- tor lamp does not light up when the child restraint system is fitted, the front-passenger front airbag has not been disabled. If the front- passenger front airbag deploys, the child could be seriously or even fatally injured. Proceed as follows: Rdo not use a rearward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
Rfit a rearward-facing child restraint system
on a suitable rear seat.
or Ronly use a forward-facing child restraint system on the front-passenger seat and move the front-passenger seat as far back as possible. When doing so, ensure that the shoulder belt strap from the belt outlet on the vehicle is routed towards the front to the shoulder belt guide on the child restraint system. Set the belt height adjust- ment so that the belt strap is routed towards the front along the bottom.
Rhave the automatic child seat recognition checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
To ensure that the automatic child seat rec- ognition on the front-passenger seat func- tions/communicates correctly, never place objects, e.g. a cushion, under the child restraint system. The entire base of the child restraint system must always rest on the seat cushion. An incorrectly fitted child restraint system cannot perform its intended protec- tive function in the event of an accident, and could lead to injuries.
i If the front-passenger front airbag is dis- abled by the automatic child seat recogni- tion, the following remain enabled on the front-passenger side: Rthe sidebag Rthe pelvisbag Rthe windowbag Rthe belt tensioner G WARNING Electronic devices on the front-passenger seat can affect the function of the automatic child seat recognition, for example: Rlaptop Rmobile phone Rtransponder cards such as ski passes or
access passes
The front-passenger front airbag could deploy unintentionally or not function as intended during an accident. This poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury. Do not place any of the devices mentioned above or similar devices on the front- passenger seat.
ISOFIX child seat securing system for the rear seats ISOFIX is a standardised securing system for specially designed child restraint systems on the rear seats. Securing rings for two ISOFIX child restraint systems are fitted on the left and right of the rear seats.
G WARNING A child restraint system secured by the ISOFIX child seat securing system does not provide sufficient protection for children weighing more than 22 kg. For this reason, do not secure children weighing more than 22 kg in a child restraint system secured by the ISOFIX child seat securing system. If the child weighs more than 22 kg, secure the child restraint system with the vehicle seat belt as well. In addition, when fitting a child restraint system, be sure to observe the manufacturer's instal- lation instructions and the instructions for correct use of the child restraint system. G WARNING The child restraint system cannot perform its protective function if it is not correctly fitted to a suitable vehicle seat. The child cannot be restrained in the event of an accident, heavy braking or sudden changes of direction. The child could be seriously or even fatally injured. For this reason, when fitting a child restraint system, be sure to observe the manufactur- er's installation instructions and the instruc- tions for correct use of the child restraint sys- tem. For safety reasons, when installing child restraint systems on the rear seats, only use child restraint systems with the ISOFIX child seat securing system, which are specially tes- ted and approved for Mercedes-Benz vehi- cles. An incorrectly fitted child restraint system could come loose and seriously or even fatally injure the child or other vehicle occupants. When fitting the child restraint system, always make sure that it is engaged correctly in the securing rings on both sides. G WARNING Please note that if child restraint systems, or their retaining systems, are damaged or sub- jected to a load in an accident, they may not be able to provide their protective function. This could result in serious or even fatal inju-
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61
ries to the secured child in the event of an accident, heavy braking or a sudden change in direction. For this reason, have child restraint systems and their anchorages which have been dam- aged or subjected to a load in an accident checked immediately at a qualified specialist workshop.
! When fitting the child restraint system,
make sure that the seat belt for the centre seat does not get trapped. Otherwise, the seat belt could be damaged.
Installation indicator : shows the installa- tion location of securing rings 2. X Install the ISOFIX child restraint system. Comply with the manufacturer's instruc- tions when installing the ISOFIX child restraint system.
Top Tether Top Tether provides an additional connection between the child restraint system secured with ISOFIX and the rear seat. It helps reduce the risk of injury even further. The Top Tether anchorages are located on the rear side of the rear seat backrests.
62
Children in the vehicle
ment cover : if luggage compartment cover : is fitted.
RTop Tether belt B is routed between the rear seat backrest ; and the safety net if the safety net is fitted.
X Move head restraint = back down again slightly if necessary (Y page 105). Make sure that you do not interfere with the cor- rect routing of Top Tether belt B .
X Move head restraint = upwards. X Fit the ISOFIX child restraint system with Top Tether. Comply with the manufactur- er's installation instructions when doing so.
X Route Top Tether belt B under head
restraint = between the two head restraint bars.
X Guide Top Tether belt B downwards
between luggage compartment cover : and rear seat backrest ;.
X Hook Top Tether hook A of Top Tether belt
B into Top Tether anchorage ?. Ensure that: RTop Tether hook A is hooked into Top
Tether anchorage ? as shown. RTop Tether belt B is not twisted. RTop Tether belt B is routed between rear seat backrest ; and luggage compart-
Children in the vehicle
63
Suitable positioning of the child restraint systems Only child restraint systems which are approved in accordance with the ECE standard ECE R44 are permitted for use in the vehicle. Suitability of the seats for attaching belted child restraint systems Key to the letters used in the following table: U Suitable for child restraint systems in the "Universal" category that are approved for use
Seat which is unsuitable for children in this weight category.
in this weight category.
UF Suitable for forward-facing child restraint systems that belong to the "Universal" category
and are approved for use in this weight category. Suitable for child restraint systems as recommended, see the following table of "Recom- mended child restraint systems" (Y page 65).
Seat positions Front-passenger seat Front- passenger front airbag is not disabled
The front- passenger air- bag is disa- bled1
U2, L2U2, L2
U2, L2
U2, L2
U2, 3, L2, 3
U2, 3, L2, 3
U2, 3, L2, 3
U2, 3, L2, 3
Weight catego- ries
Category 0: up to 10 kg Category 0+: up to 13 kg Category I: 9 to 18 kg Category II: 15 to 25 kg Category III: 22 to 36 kg
Rear seat Left, right
Centre
U, L
U, L
U, L
U, L
U, L
U, L
U, L
U, L
"Universal" category child restraint systems can be recognised by their orange approval label and the text "Universal".
1 Vehicles with automatic child seat recognition in the front-passenger seat: a child restraint system of the
"Universal" category with a transponder for automatic child seat recognition must be fitted. The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit.
2 Adjust the front-passenger seat to the rearmost position and the belt outlet height to the lowest position. 3 All vehicles except AMG
64
Children in the vehicle
Example: approval label on the child restraint system "Universal" category child restraint systems can be used on the seats indicated with U, UF or IUF according to the tables "Suitability of the seats for attaching belted child restraint systems" or "Suitability of the seats for attaching an ISOFIX child restraint system". Semi-universal child restraint systems are indicated by the text "semi-universal" on the approval label. These can be used if the vehicle and the seat are listed in the child restraint system manufacturer's vehicle model list. For more information, contact the child restraint system manufacturer or visit their website. Suitability of the seats for attaching ISOFIX child restraint systems Key to the letters used in the table:
ISOFIX position that is not suitable for ISOFIX child restraint systems in this weight cat- egory and/or size category.
IL
IUF Suitable for forward-facing ISOFIX child restraint systems that belong to the "Universal"
category which are approved for use in this weight category. Suitable for ISOFIX child restraint systems as recommended; see the following table of "Recommended child restraint systems" (Y page 65). Equipment
Size category
Weight categories
Carry-cot
0: up to 10 kg up to approximately 6 months 0+: up to 13 kg up to approximately 15 months
I: 9 to 18 kg between approx- imately 9 months and 4 years
ISO/L1
ISO/L2
ISO/R1ISO/R1
ISO/R2
ISO/R3
ISO/R2
ISO/R3
ISO/F2Rear seat, left and right IL
IL IL IL IL IL IUF
Children in the vehicle
65
Weight categories
Size category
Equipment
B1
ISO/F2X ISO/F3
Rear seat, left and right IUF IUF
Recommended child restraint systems When installing a child restraint system without a transponder for automatic child seat rec- ognition on the front-passenger seat: X Move the front-passenger seat to its rearmost position. Weight catego- ries
Manufac- turer
Type
Approval number (E1 ...) 03 301146
04 301146Order num- ber (A 000 ...) 970 10 00
Automatic child seat recognition Yes
Britax Römer
Britax Römer
BABY SAFE PLUS4
BABY SAFE PLUS4
03 301146
04 301146970 10 00
Yes
Britax Römer
DUO PLUS4
03 301133
04 301133970 11 00
970 16 00Yes No
Britax Römer
970 12 00
970 17 00Yes No
Category 0: up to 10 kg up to approx- imately 6 months Group 0+: up to 13 kg up to approx- imately 15 months Category I: 9 to 18 kg between approximately 9 months and 4 years Group II/III: 15 to 36 kg between approximately 4and 12 years
4 Move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost and highest position.
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Children in the vehicle
Suggested ISOFIX child restraint system from the Universal category Weight catego- ries
Approval number (E1 ...)
Size cate- gory
Manufac- turer
Type
Order number
Carry-cot
Group 0: up to 10 kg Group 0+: up to 13 kg
Group I: 9to 18 kg
B1
– – –
Britax Römer
– – – – – Britax Römer
–
– – –
– – –
– – –
04 301146 B6 6 86
8224
BABY SAFE ISOFIX PLUS – – – – – DUO PLUS 03 301133
04 301133
–– – – – –
–
– – – – – A000 970
11 00–
Auto- matic child seat recogni- tion – – –
No
– – – – – Yes
–
Children in the vehicle
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Problems with automatic child seat recognition
Problem The PASSENGER AIR- BAG OFF indicator lamp on the centre con- sole is lit. The PASSENGER AIR- BAG OFF indicator lamp on the centre con- sole is lit. or The 6 SRS warning lamp lights up and/or the PASSENGER AIR- BAG OFF indicator lamp does not light up briefly when you switch the ignition on.
Possible causes/consequences and M Solutions A special Mercedes-Benz child seat with a transponder for auto- matic child seat recognition has been fitted to the front-passenger seat. The front-passenger front airbag has therefore been disabled as desired. G WARNING There is no child seat fitted to the front-passenger seat. Automatic child seat recognition is malfunctioning. There is a risk of injury. X Remove electronic equipment from the front-passenger seat,
e.g.: Rlaptop RMobile phone Rcards with transponders, such as ski passes or access cards
If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is still lit: X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
If a child opens a door, the child or other per- sons could be injured as a result. They could get out and injure themselves or be injured by a passing vehicle. Also observe the notes on HOLD. Relevant information can be found in the index.
Child-proof locks for the rear doors You secure each door individually with the child-proof locks on the rear doors. A door secured with a child-proof lock cannot be opened from inside the vehicle. When the vehicle is unlocked, the door can be opened from the outside.
Child-proof locks Important safety notes G WARNING Activate the child-proof locks for the rear doors and the override switch for the rear windows when children are travelling in the vehicle. Otherwise, the children could open doors or side windows while the vehicle is in motion and injure themselves or others. G WARNING Do not leave children unsupervised in the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child restraint system. They could injure them- selves on parts of the vehicle. They could also be seriously or even fatally injured by pro- longed exposure to extreme heat or cold. Do not expose the child restraint system to direct sunlight. Parts of the child restraint sys- tem could heat up and the child could burn herself/himself on them.
68 Driving safety systems
X To activate: press the child-proof lock
lever up in the direction of arrow :.
X Make sure that the child-proof locks are
working properly.
X To deactivate: press the child-proof lock lever down in the direction of arrow ;.
Override feature for the rear side win- dows
X To activate/deactivate: press button ;. If indicator lamp : is lit, operation of the rear side windows is disabled. Operation is only possible using the switches in the driv- er's door. If indicator lamp : is off, oper- ation is possible using the switches in the rear compartment.
Driving safety systems Driving safety systems overview In this section, you will find information about the following driving safety systems: RABS (Anti-lock Braking System) RBAS (Brake Assist System) RBAS PLUS (Brake Assist System Plus) RAdaptive brake lamps RESP® (Electronic Stability Program) REBD (electronic brake force distribution) RPRE-SAFE® Brake
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are inattentive, the driving safety systems can neither reduce the risk of accident nor over- ride the laws of physics. Driving safety sys- tems are merely aids designed to assist driv- ing. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed and for braking in good time. Always adapt your driv- ing style to suit the prevailing road, weather and traffic conditions and maintain a safe dis- tance from the vehicle in front. Drive care- fully. i The driving safety systems described only work as effectively as possible when there is adequate contact between the tyres and the road surface. Please pay special atten- tion to the notes on tyres, recommended minimum tyre tread depths, etc. (Y page 358). In wintry driving conditions, always use winter tyres (M+S tyres) and, if necessary, snow chains. Only in this way will the driv- ing safety systems described in this section work as effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) General notes ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that the wheels do not lock when you brake. This allows you to continue steering the vehi- cle when braking. The yellow ! ABS warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Important safety notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68). G WARNING If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when braking. The steerability and braking charac- teristics may be severely impaired. Addition- ally, further driving safety systems are deac- tivated. There is an increased danger of skid- ding and accidents. Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme- diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems, including driving safety systems, will also become inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 299) and display messages which may be shown in the instrument cluster (Y page 259) or (Y page 264). ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/hupwards, regardless of road-surface conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even when you only brake gently.
Braking X If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the brake pedal with force until the braking sit- uation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
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69
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a pulsing in the brake pedal. The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica- tion of hazardous road conditions, and func- tions as a reminder to take extra care while driving.
Off-road ABS (vehicles with Off-Road Engineering package) An ABS system specifically suited to off-road terrain is activated automatically once the off- road drive program (Y page 227) is activated. At speeds below 30 km/h the front wheels lock cyclically during braking. The digging-in effect achieved in the process reduces the stopping distance when driving off-road. This limits steering capability.
BAS (Brake Assist) General notes BAS operates in emergency braking situa- tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS automatically boosts the braking force, thus shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68). G WARNING If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance in an emergency braking situation is increased. There is a risk of accident. In an emergency braking situation, depress the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
Braking X Keep the brake pedal depressed firmly until
the emergency braking situation is over. ABS prevents the wheels from locking. The brakes will function as usual once you release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
70 Driving safety systems
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System Plus) General notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
BAS PLUS is only available on vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS. For BAS PLUS to assist you, the radar sensor system must be operational. With the aid of the radar sensor system, BAS PLUS can detect obstacles that are in the path of your vehicle for an extended period of time. If the radar sensor system is malfunctioning, BAS PLUS will not be available. The brake system is still available with complete brake boosting effect and BAS. BAS PLUS can help you to minimise the risk of a collision with a vehicle or reduce the effects of such a collision. If BAS PLUS detects a danger of collision, you are assisted when braking.
Important safety notes G WARNING BAS PLUS cannot always clearly identify objects and complex traffic situations. In such cases, BAS PLUS may: Rintervene unnecessarily Rnot intervene There is a risk of an accident. Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the intervention in a non-critical driving situation. G WARNING BAS PLUS does not react: Rto people or animals Rto oncoming vehicles Rto crossing traffic Rwhen cornering
As a result, BAS PLUS may not intervene in all critical situations. There is a risk of an acci- dent. Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake.
In the event of snowfall or heavy rain, recog- nition can be impaired. Recognition by the radar sensor system is also impaired in the event of: Rdirt on the sensors or the sensors are
obscured
Rinterference by other radar sources Rstrong radar reflections, for example, in
multi-storey car parks
Ra narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle
Ra vehicle travelling in front on a different
line
Following damage to the front end of the vehi- cle, have the radar sensor settings and oper- ation checked at a qualified specialist work- shop. This also applies to collisions at slow speeds where there is no visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
Function To avoid a collision, BAS PLUS calculates the brake force necessary if: Ryou approach an obstacle, and RBAS PLUS has detected a risk of collision When driving at a speed under 30 km/h: if you depress the brake pedal, BAS PLUS is activated. Braking assistance from BAS PLUS is carried out at the last possible moment. When driving at a speed above 30 km/h: if you depress the brake pedal sharply, BAS PLUS automatically increases the brake pres- sure to a degree suited to the traffic situation. BAS PLUS provides braking assistance in haz- ardous situations with vehicles in front within a speed range between 7 km/h and 250 km/h.
At speeds of up to approximately 70 km/h, BAS PLUS can also detect stationary objects. Examples of stationary objects are stopped or parked vehicles. i If BAS PLUS demands particularly high
braking force, preventative passenger pro- tection measures (PRE-SAFE®) are activa- ted simultaneously.
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over. ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
BAS PLUS is deactivated and the brakes func- tion as usual again, if: Ryou release the brake pedal Rthere is no longer a risk of collision Rno obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle
Adaptive brake lamps i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
certain countries.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS or BAS PLUS, the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way, traffic travelling behind you is warned in an even more noticeable manner. If you brake sharply from a speed of more than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn- ing lamps are activated automatically. If the brakes are applied again, the brake lamps light up continuously. The hazard warning lamps switch off automatically if you travel faster than 10 km/h. You can also switch off the hazard warning lamps using the hazard warning button (Y page 120).
ESP® (Electronic Stability Program) General notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
Driving safety systems
71
ESP® monitors driving stability and traction, i.e. power transmission between the tyres and the road surface. If ESP® detects that the vehicle is deviating from the direction desired by the driver, one or more wheels are braked to stabilise the vehicle. The engine output is also modified to keep the vehicle on the desired course within physical limits. ESP® assists the driver when pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP® can also stabilise the vehicle during braking.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System) i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
ETS/4ETS traction control is part of ESP®. Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi- vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for example if the road surface is slippery on one side. In addition, more drive torque is trans- ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction. Traction control remains active if you deacti- vate ESP®.
Important safety notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68). G WARNING If ESP® is malfunctioning, ESP® is unable to stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving safety systems are switched off. This increa- ses the risk of skidding and an accident. Drive on carefully. Have ESP® checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
! When testing the electric parking brake on a braking dynamometer, switch off the ignition. Application of the brakes by ESP® may otherwise destroy the brake sys- tem.
Vehicles without 4MATIC: when towing your vehicle with the rear axle raised, it is impor-
72 Driving safety systems
tant that you observe the notes on ESP®(Y page 353). ESP® is deactivated if the å warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights up continu- ously when the engine is running. If the ÷ warning lamp and the å warn- ing lamp are lit continuously, ESP® is not available due to a malfunction. Observe the information on warning lamps (Y page 301) and display messages which may be shown in the instrument cluster (Y page 259) or (Y page 264). i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP® function properly.
Characteristics of ESP General notes If the ÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before beginning the journey, ESP® is automatically active. If ESP® intervenes, the ÷ ESP® warning lamp flashes in the instrument cluster. If ESP® intervenes: X Do not deactivate ESP® under any circum-
stances.
Deactivating/activating ESP® Important safety notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
You can select between the following sta- tuses of ESP: RESP® is activated. RESP® is deactivated. G WARNING If you deactivate ESP®, ESP® no longer sta- bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident. Only deactivate ESP® in the situations descri- bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP® in the fol- lowing situations: Rwhen using snow chains Rin deep snow Ron sand or gravel i Activate ESP® as soon as the situations described above no longer apply. ESP® will otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi- cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to spin.
X When pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
! Avoid spinning the drive wheels for an extended period when ESP® is switched off. You could otherwise damage the driv- etrain.
Deactivating/activating ESP®
ECO start/stop function The ECO start/stop function switches the engine off automatically if the vehicle stops moving. When pulling away again, the engine starts automatically. ESP® remains in its pre- viously selected status. Example: if ESP® was deactivated before the engine was switched off, ESP® remains deactivated when the engine is switched on again.
X To switch off: press button :.
The å ESP® OFF warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
X To switch on: press button :.
The å ESP® OFF warning lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP® is deactivated If ESP® is deactivated and one or more wheels start to spin, the ÷ ESP® warning lamp in the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa- tions, ESP® will not stabilise the vehicle. If you deactivate ESP®: RESP® no longer improves driving stability. Rengine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin. The spinning of the wheels results in a cut- ting action for better traction on loose sur- faces.
Rtraction control is still activated. RESP® still provides support when you
brake.
Off-road ESP® (vehicles with off-road engineering package) An ESP® system specifically suited to off-road terrain is activated automatically once the off- road drive program (Y page 227) is activated. The off-road ESP® intervenes with a delay if there is oversteering or understeering, thus improving traction.
ESP® trailer stabilisation G WARNING If road and weather conditions are poor, trailer stabilisation will not be able to prevent the vehicle/trailer combination from swerv- ing. Trailers with a high centre of gravity can tip over before ESP® can detect this. There is a risk of an accident. Always adapt your driving style to the prevail- ing road and weather conditions.
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73
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to lurch, you can only stabilise the vehicle/ trailer combination by depressing the brake firmly. In this situation, ESP® assists you and can detect if the vehicle/trailer combination begins to lurch. ESP® slows the vehicle down by braking and limiting the engine output until the vehicle/trailer combination has stabi- lised. Trailer stabilisation is active above speeds of about 65 km/h. Trailer stabilisation does not work if ESP® is deactivated or disabled because of a mal- function.
EBD (electronic brake force distribu- tion) General notes EBD monitors and controls the brake pres- sure on the rear wheels to improve driving stability while braking.
Important safety notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68). G WARNING If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can still lock, e.g. under full braking. This increa- ses the risk of skidding and an accident. You should therefore adapt your driving style to the different handling characteristics. Have the brake system checked at a qualified spe- cialist workshop.
Observe the notes on warning and indicator lamps (Y page 299) as well as display mes- sages (Y page 260) (4-button multifunction steering wheel) and (Y page 265) (12-button multifunction steering wheel).
74 Driving safety systems
PRE-SAFE® Brake General notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
PRE-SAFE® Brake is only available on vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS. For PRE-SAFE® Brake to assist you when driv- ing, the radar sensor system must be opera- tional. With the help of the radar sensor system, PRE-SAFE® Brake can detect obstacles that are in front of your vehicle for an extended period of time. PRE-SAFE® Brake can help you to minimise the risk of a collision with a vehicle ahead, and reduce the effects of such a collision. If PRE- SAFE® Brake has detected a risk of collision, you will be warned visually and acoustically as well as by automatic braking. PRE-SAFE® Brake cannot prevent a collision without your intervention.
Important safety notes G WARNING PRE-SAFE® Brake will initially brake your vehi- cle by a partial application of the brakes if a danger of collision is detected. There may be a collision unless you also brake. Automatic emergency braking cannot prevent a colli- sion. There is a risk of an accident. Always apply the brakes yourself and try to take evasive action. G WARNING PRE-SAFE® Brake cannot always clearly iden- tify objects and complex traffic conditions. In these cases, PRE-SAFE® Brake may: Rgive an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
Rneither give a warning nor intervene There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic situation and be ready to brake, especially if PRE-SAFE® Brake warns you. Terminate the intervention in a non-critical driving situation.
In order to maintain the appropriate distance to the vehicle in front and thus prevent a col- lision, you must apply the brakes yourself. G WARNING PRE-SAFE® Brake does not react: Rto people or animals Rto oncoming vehicles Rto crossing traffic Rwhen cornering As a result, PRE-SAFE® Brake may neither give warnings nor intervene in all critical sit- uations. There is a risk of an accident. Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake.
In the event of snowfall or heavy rain, recog- nition can be impaired. Recognition by the radar sensor system is also impaired in the event of: Rdirt on the sensors or the sensors are
obscured
Rinterference by other radar sources Rstrong radar reflections, for example, in
multi-storey car parks
Ra narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle
Ra vehicle travelling in front on a different
line
Following damage to the front end of the vehi- cle, have the radar sensor settings and oper- ation checked at a qualified specialist work- shop. This also applies to collisions at slow speeds where there is no visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
Function X To activate/deactivate: activate or deac-
tivate PRE-SAFE® Brake in the on-board computer (Y page 248). If the PRE-SAFE® Brake is not activated, the æ symbol appears in the multifunction display.
This function will issue a warning if: Rat a speed of around 30 km/h or more the distance maintained to the vehicle travel- ling in front is insufficient for several sec- onds. The · distance warning lamp then lights up in the instrument cluster.
Rat a speed of approximately 7 km/h or more, you rapidly approach a vehicle in front. An intermittent warning tone will then sound and the · distance warning lamp will light up in the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately to defuse the situation. or X Take evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
The PRE-SAFE® Brake function can also brake the vehicle automatically under the following conditions: Rthe driver and front-passenger have their
seat belts fastened and
Rthe vehicle speed is between approx-
imately 7 km/h and 200 km/h
At speeds of up to approximately 70 km/h PRE-SAFE® Brake can also detect stationary objects. Examples of stationary objects are stopped or parked vehicles. i If there is an increased risk of collision,
preventive passenger protection measures (PRE-SAFE®) are activated.
If the risk of collision with the vehicle in front remains and you do not brake, take evasive action or accelerate significantly, the vehicle may perform automatic emergency braking,
Anti-theft systems
75
up to the point of full brake application. Auto- matic emergency braking is not performed until immediately prior to an imminent acci- dent. You can prevent the intervention of the PRE- SAFE® Brake at any time by: Rdepressing the accelerator pedal further Ractivating kickdown Rreleasing the brake pedal The braking action of PRE-SAFE® Brake is ended automatically if: Ryou manoeuvre to avoid the obstacle Rthere is no longer any danger of a collision Rthere is no longer an obstacle detected in
front of your vehicle
Anti-theft systems Immobiliser The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from being started without the correct key. X To activate with the key: remove the key
from the ignition lock.
X To activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door. X To deactivate: switch on the ignition. i The immobiliser is always deactivated
when you start the engine.
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the alarm system is primed and you open: Ra door Rthe vehicle with the emergency key ele-
ment
Rthe tailgate Rthe bonnet The alarm is not switched off, even if you close the open door that has triggered it, for example.
76
Anti-theft systems
X To prime: lock the vehicle with the key or
KEYLESS-GO. Tow-away protection is primed after approximately 30 seconds.
X To switch off: unlock the vehicle with the
key or KEYLESS-GO. Tow-away protection is switched off auto- matically.
X To prime: lock the vehicle with the key or
KEYLESS-GO. Indicator lamp : flashes. The alarm sys- tem is primed after approximately 15 seconds.
X To switch off: unlock the vehicle with the
key or KEYLESS-GO.
X To stop the alarm using the key: insert
the key into the ignition lock. The alarm is switched off.
or X Press the % or & button on the key.
The alarm is switched off.
X To stop the alarm using KEYLESS-GO: grasp the outside door handle. The key must be outside the vehicle. The alarm is switched off.
or X Press the Start/Stop button on the dash- board. The key must be inside the vehicle. The alarm is switched off.
Tow-away protection An audible and visual alarm is triggered if your vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while tow-away protection is primed. This occurs if the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for exam- ple.
To prevent a false alarm, deactivate tow-away protection manually if your vehicle: Rit is being transported Rit is being loaded onto a ferry or car trans-
porter, for example
Ris parked on a movable surface, e.g. in a
split-level garage
Deactivating: X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up briefly.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-
GO. Tow-away protection is deactivated.
Tow-away protection remains deactivated until: Rthe vehicle is unlocked again Ra door is opened and closed again Rthe vehicle is locked again
Interior motion sensor When the interior motion sensor is primed, a visual and audible alarm is triggered if move-
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77
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-
GO. The interior motion sensor is deactivated. The interior motion sensor remains deactiva- ted until: Rthe vehicle is unlocked again Ra door is opened and closed again Rthe vehicle is locked again i UK only: your vehicle is equipped with a double lock function. The doors cannot be opened from the inside if the vehicle has been locked with the key (Y page 87). Deactivate the interior motion sensor before you lock the vehicle with the key. The doors can then be opened from the inside after the vehicle has been locked from the outside with the key. Observe the "Important safety notes" (Y page 86).
ment is detected in the vehicle interior. This occurs if someone reaches into the vehicle interior, for example. To prime: X Make sure that:
Rthe side windows are closed. Rthe panorama sliding sunroof is closed. Rthere are no objects, e.g. mascots, hang- ing on the rear-view mirror or on the grab handles on the roof trim.
This will prevent false alarms.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-
GO. The interior motion sensor is primed after approximately 30 seconds.
To switch off: X Unlock the vehicle with the key or KEY-
LESS-GO. The interior motion sensor is switched off automatically.
To prevent a false alarm, deactivate the inte- rior motion sensor if you lock your vehicle and: Rpeople or animals remain in the vehicle. Rthe side windows remain open. Rthe panorama sliding sunroof remains
open.
To deactivate: X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ; flashes briefly.
78
79
Useful information .............................. 80
Key ....................................................... 80
Doors .................................................... 86
Luggage compartment ....................... 89
Side windows ...................................... 94
Sliding sunroof .................................... 9780 Key
Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod- els, series and optional equipment for your vehicle that were available at the time of going to press. National variations are pos- sible. Note that your vehicle may not be equipped with all of the functions descri- bed. This is also the case for systems and functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 28).
Key Important safety notes United Kingdom only: G WARNING When the double locks are activated, the doors can no longer be opened from the inside. People in the vehicle can no longer get out, e.g. in hazardous situations. There is a risk of injury. Therefore, do not leave any people unsuper- vised in the vehicle, particularly children, eld- erly people or people in need of special assis- tance. Do not activate the double lock when people are in the vehicle.
If the vehicle has been locked from the out- side, the double lock function is activated as standard. It is then not possible to open the doors from inside the vehicle. You can deac- tivate the double lock function by deactivat- ing the interior motion sensor (Y page 76). The doors can then be opened from the inside after the vehicle has been locked from the outside. The anti-theft alarm system is trig- gered if the door is opened from the inside. Switch off the alarm (Y page 75). All countries:
G WARNING If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they could: Ropen the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
Rget out and disrupt traffic. Roperate the vehicle's equipment. Additionally, children could set the vehicle in motion if, for example, they: Rrelease the parking brake. Rshift the automatic transmission out of
parking position P.
Rshift the manual transmission into neutral. Rstart the engine. There is a risk of an accident and injury. When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
