Page 54 of 406
51 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Adjust the head restraint angle by hand. Push or pull 
the head restraint in direction of arrow.Storing seat positions:
The head restraint, steering wheel and exterior rear 
view mirror position are stored together with the seat 
position.
See page 95 for notes on the memory function. For 
recalling a stored seat / head restraint / steering wheel /
and exterior rear view mirror position see page 96.
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        Page 55 of 406
52 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Manual seat
(Standard equipment on model C 240)We recommend to adjust the seat in the following order:
1Fore/aft adjustment
Lift handle (1), slide seat to desired position and 
allow handle to reengage. Check for proper 
engagement before driving.
2Seat cushion tilt
Turn handwheel (2) forward or backward.
3Seat height adjustment
Press the switch (3) in the direction of the arrow 
until your legs are lightly supported.
4Backrest tilt
Press the switch (4) in the direction of the arrow 
until your arms are slightly angled when holding 
the steering wheel.
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        Page 57 of 406

54 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should check 
and adjust if necessary the seat height, seat position 
fore and aft, and backrest angle to insure adequate 
control, reach and comfort. The head restraint should 
also be adjusted for proper height. See also airbag 
section on page 73 for proper seat positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure 
ad eq uate  con tr ol, r each,  operation  and  com fort. B ot h the  
inside and outside rear view mirrors should be adjusted 
for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be 
seated in a properly secured restraint system that 
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213.
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view 
mirror adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts 
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, 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 
side 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.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in back seats 
and 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.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint.
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        Page 81 of 406

78 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Your vehicle was originally equipped with airbags 
which are designed to activate in certain impacts 
exceeding a preset threshold to reduce the potential 
and severity of injury. It is important to your safety 
a nd  tha t of your pas sen ger t hat you repl ac e d epl oyed 
airbags and repair any malfunctioning airbags to 
ensure the vehicle will continue to provide crash 
protection for occupants.
Wa r n i n g !
To reduce the risk of injury when the front airbags 
inflate, it is very important for the driver and front 
passenger to always be in a properly seated 
position and to wear your seat belt.For maximum protection in the event of a collision 
always be in normal seated position with your back 
against the backrest. Fasten your seat belt and 
ensure that it is properly positioned on your body.Since the airbag inflates with considerable speed 
and force, a proper seating and hands on steering 
wheel position will help to keep you at a safe 
distance from the airbag. Occupants who are 
unbelted, out of position or too close to the airbag 
can be seriously injured by an airbag as it inflates 
with great force in the blink of an eye:
• Sit properly belted in an upright position with 
your back against the backrest.• Adjust the driver seat as far as possible 
rearward, still permitting proper operation of 
vehicle controls. The distance from the center 
of the driver’s breastbone to the center of the 
airbag cover on the steering wheel must be at 
least ten inches (25 cm) or more. You should be 
able to accomplish this by a combination of 
adjustments to the seat and steering wheel. If 
you have any problems, please see your 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• Do not lean with your head or chest close to the 
steering wheel or dashboard.• Keep hands on the outside of steering wheel 
rim. Placing hands and arms inside the rim 
can increase the risk and potential severity of 
hand / arm injury when driver front airbag 
inflates.• Adjust the front passenger seat as far as 
possible rearward from the dashboard when 
the seat is occupied.
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        Page 84 of 406

81 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Safety guidelines for the seat belt, emergency 
tensioning retractor and airbag
Wa r n i n g !
• Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly 
stressed in an accident must be replaced and 
their anchoring points must also be checked. 
Use only belts installed or supplied by an 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• Airbags and “ETR’s” are designed to function 
on a one-time-only basis. An airbag or 
emergency tensioning retractor (ETR) that was 
activated must be replaced.
• No modifications of any kind may be made to 
any components or wiring of the “SRS”. This 
includes changing or removing any component 
or part of the “SRS”, the installation of 
additional trim material, badges etc. over the 
steering wheel hub, front passenger airbag 
cover, door trim panels, or door frame trims, 
and installation of additional electrical /
electronic equipment on or near “SRS” 
components and wiring. Keep area between 
airbags and occupants free from objects (e.g. 
packages, purses, umbrellas, etc).• Do not pass belts over sharp edges.• Do not make any modification that could 
change the effectiveness of the belts.
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82 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
When you sell your vehicle we strongly urge you to give 
notice to the subsequent owner that it is equipped with 
an “SRS” by alerting them to the applicable section in 
the Operator’s Manual.
• Do not use handles above doors for placing 
such items as coat hangers etc.• An airbag system component within the 
steering wheel gets hot after the airbag has 
inflated. Do not touch.• Improper work on the system, including 
incorrect installation and removal, can lead to 
possible injury through an unintended 
activation of the “SRS”.• In addition, through improper work there is a 
risk of rendering the “SRS” inoperative or 
causing unintended airbag deployment. Work 
on the “SRS” must therefore only be performed 
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
• 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 from your 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• Given the considerable deployment speed and 
the textile structure of the airbags, there is the 
possibility of abrasions or other injuries 
resulting from airbag deployment.
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        Page 91 of 406
88 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Steering wheel adjustment (manual)Unlocking:
Pull handle (1) out to its stop.
Adjusting:
Move steering wheel to the desired position.
Locking:
Push handle (1) in until it engages.
Important!
Do not drive the vehicle until you have properly locked 
the steering column.
See “STEERING WHEEL ADJUST” on page 312 for 
malfunction and warning messages in the multifunction 
display.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving. 
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving, or 
driving without the adjustment locked could cause 
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
P 68.10-2066-27
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89 Steering wheel adjustment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Steering wheel adjustment (electrical)
(optional on model C 240)
To adjust the steering wheel position, turn the electronic 
key in starter switch to position 1 or 2. With the driver’s 
door open, the steering wheel can also be operated with 
the electronic key removed or in starter switch 
position 0.The switch is located on the driver’s door.
1Steering column, lengthen or shorten column
Move the switch to the front or rear.
2Steering column, height
Move the switch up or down.
Note:
The steering wheel adjustment can be stored together 
with the seat and exterior mirror adjustment.
See page 95 for notes on the memory function.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving. 
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving could 
cause the driver to lose the control of the vehicle.When leaving the vehicle always remove the 
electroni c key  f rom  t he sta rter s wi tch a nd  lock  your 
vehicle.The steering wheel adjustment feature can also be 
operated with the driver’s door open. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with access 
to a n un locked  vehi cle. Un supervi sed  use of vehicl e 
equipment may cause serious personal injury.
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