Page 69 of 297

65 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
• Occupants, especially children, should never 
lean their heads in the area of the door where 
the side airbag inflates. This could result in 
serious injuries or death should the airbag be 
triggered.• Adjust the passenger seat as far as possible 
rearward from the dashboard when the seat is 
occupied.• Children 12 years old and under must never 
ride in this vehicle, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM c ompati ble ch ild seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the 
passenger 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.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in 
severe or fatal injuries to you or other occupants. 
     
        
        Page 71 of 297

67 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index When you sell the vehicle we strongly urge you to give 
notice to the subsequent owner that it is equipped with 
a n “SRS” by a lerting h im to the  appl ic abl e sec tion in th e 
Operator’s Manual.Infant and child restraint systems
Use only a BabySmart
TM compatible child restraint in 
this vehicle.
We recommend that all infants and children be properly 
restrained at all times while the vehicle is in motion.
The passenger lap-shoulder belt has a special seat belt 
retractor for secure fastening of a child restraint.
To fasten a child restraint follow child restraint 
instructions for routing. Then pull shoulder belt out 
completely. Slide switch located on side of passenger 
seat to position N. Let the belt retract. During the 
seat belt retraction a ratcheting sound can be heard to 
indicate that the special seat belt retractor is activated. 
The belt is now locked. Push down on child restraint to 
take up any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and let seat belt 
retract completely. The seat belt can again be used in 
the usual manner.
• For your protection and the protection of 
others, when scrapping the airbag unit or 
emergency tensioning retractor, our safety 
instructions must be followed. These 
instructions are available at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.• Given the considerable deployment speed and 
the textile structure of the airbags, there is the 
possibility abrasions or other injuries 
resulting from airbag deployment.
Wa r n i n g !
Never release the seat belt buckle while vehicle is 
in motion, since the special seat belt retractor will 
be deactivated. 
     
        
        Page 72 of 297
68 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Important!
Th e use of infant or child restraints is req uire d by law  in 
all 50 states and all Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated in an 
appropriate infant or child restraint system properly 
secured by a lap-shoulder belt, and that complies with 
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and 
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. 
A statement by the child restraint manufacturer of 
compliance with this standard can be found on the 
instruction label on the restraint and in the instruction 
manual provided with the restraint.Wh en using  any infant or ch il d restraint system, be su re 
to carefully read and follow all manufacturer’s 
instructions for installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels affixed to inside 
of vehicle and to infant or child restraints. 
     
        
        Page 73 of 297

69 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
U.S.A. Mod els only
Since 1986 all U.S. child restraints comply with 
U.S. regulations without the use of a tether strap.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
this vehicle, 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 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.
Infants and small children must 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.Infants and small children should never share a 
seat belt with another occupant. During an 
accident, they could be crushed between the 
occupant and seat belt.When the child restraint is not in use, remove it 
from the vehicle or secure it with the seat belt to 
prevent the child restraint from becoming a 
projectile in the event of an accident. 
     
        
        Page 123 of 297

119 Interior equipment
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Items being transported in the area behind the seats 
should be placed in such a manner as not to affect the 
movement of the roll bar when being raised.Note:
If t he indicator lamps in t he sw itch a re blinking  or if t he 
warning lamp in the instrument cluster comes on, then 
a malfunction has been detected.
In this case, drive only with the roll bar raised until the 
problem has been corrected. Raise the roll bar by 
pressing the upper half of the roll bar switch. The 
indicator lamps in the switch will go out, however, the 
warning lamp in the instrument cluster will stay on.
Have the system checked at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Important!
The roll bar is intended to be a safety enhancement to 
the other features designed into the vehicle. No system 
in any vehicle can eliminate the possibility of serious 
injury or fatality in an accident. Properly fastened seat 
belts and child restraints must be used!
Wa r n i n g
This vehicle is a two occupant vehicle. The rear 
storage area should never be used by any persons. 
Raising or lowering of t he roll bar cou ld i nju re rear 
seated occupants.Before operating the roll bar switch make sure that 
the roll bar’s path is clear and no persons due to 
inattention are injured by the moving roll bar.For your own safety we recommend to drive with 
the roll bar raised, if• the outside temperature is below +5°F (-15°C)
• the soft top is closed and pets are placed in the 
rear storage area. 
     
        
        Page 210 of 297

206 Malfunction and indicator lamps
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belt warning lamp
With the key in steering lock position 2, the 
seat belt warning lamp comes on, and a 
warning sounds for a short time if the 
drivers seat belt is not fastened.
If a backrest is not engaged in its lock, a warning will 
sound intermittently for up to approx. 20 seconds.
After starting the engine, the seat belt warning lamp 
blinks for a brief period to remind the driver and 
passengers to fasten seat belts before driving off.
If the warning lamp does not go out after blinking 
brief ly, but is instead lit continuously, then a backrest is 
not engaged in its lock.
The warning lamp goes out as soon as the backrest is 
engaged in its lock.
If the backrest is locked and the warning lamp does not 
go out, have the system checked at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.Supplemental restraint system (SRS) indicator lamp
The operational readiness of the airbag 
system is verified by the indicator lamp 
“SRS” in the instrument cluster when 
turning the key in steering lock to position 1 or 2. If no 
fault is detected, the lamp will go out after 
approximately 4 seconds; after the lamp goes out, the 
system continues to monitor the components and 
circuitry of the airbag system and will indicate a 
malfunction by coming on again.
See page 60 for notes on airbags, see page 59 for belt 
tensioners and page 67 for infant and child seat 
restraint.
Wa r n i n g !
In the event a malfu nction of th e “SRS” is indic ated 
as outlined above, the “SRS” may not be 
operational. For your safety, we strongly 
recommend that you visit an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have the 
system checked; otherwise the “SRS” may not be 
activated when needed in an accident, which could 
result in serious or fatal injury, or it might deploy 
unexpectedly and unnecessarily which could also 
result in injury.