2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 Backrest

79 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Seat bench
1Fore and aft adjustment
The seat cushion moves fore / aft, together with the
inclination of the backrest.
2Head restraint
Press the switch up or down.
The head restraints can be placed individually in
either upright or fold-down positions. Individual seats (optional)
1Fore and aft adjustment
The seat cushion moves fore / aft together with the
inclination of the backrest.
2Cushion tilt
Press the switch up or down.
3Head restraint
Press the switch up or down.
2
1
1
P54.00-2005-26
3
22
1
1
P54.00-2006-26

80 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Power seat, setting passenger seat position from rear
The switch is located on the right rear door.
1Front passenger seat adjustment
2Rear seat adjustmentTurn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1
or 2.
Press button 1 to adjust the front passenger seat:
3Fore / aft adjustment
4Backrest tilt
5Head restraint height
6Seat, up / down
Press button 2 to adjust the rear seat.
See page 79 for rear seat adjustment.
Note:
Setting the passenger seat position from the rear is not
possible if you deactivate the operation of rear door
windows, see page 186.
Do not move the front passenger seat completely
forward if objects are stored in the parcel net in the
front passenger-side footwell. Items in the net may be
damaged.
5
3
4
4
66
3
1
2
P54.00-2004-26

82 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belt nonusage warning system
With the electronic key in starter switch position 2, a
warning sounds for a short time if the driver’s seat belt
is not fastened.
Automatic comfort-fit seat belt:
An automatic comfort-fit feature for all seat belt is
activated when the electronic key in the starter switch is
turned to position 1 or 2.
The retraction force of the inertia reel is reduced,
increasing the level of seat belt comfort.
Note:
For cleaning and care of the seat belts see page 389.
Wa r n i n g !
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position
can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat
belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt
would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That
could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The
backrest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in an upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.

95 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
and that of your passenger that you replace deployed
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 their seat belts.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’s 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.

108 Memory function
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Memory function
The memory and stored position buttons are located on
the doors.
1Memory button, used to store selected positions
which can be retrieved by pressing the buttons (2)
2Stored position buttonsThree sets of seat and multicontour backrest positions
may be stored into memory.
Together with the driver’s seat position you can store
the positions for steering wheel, exterior rear view
mirrors and inside rear view mirror.
For the front passenger you can store the seat position.
Three stored positions are available for each of the two
electronic keys or for both KEYLESS-GO-cards
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO).
For notes regarding the storing of key dependent
memory positions, see page 111.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not activate the memory function while driving.
Activating the memory function while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

109 Memory function
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Storing positions into memory
Driver’s seat: with the electronic key in starter switch
position 1 or 2 or with the driver’s door open.
Front passenger seat and rear seats: with electronic key
in starter switch position 1 or 2 or the relevant doors
open.
Adjust the seat and multicontour backrest to the desired
position. You can also adjust the steering wheel, the
exterior rear view mirrors electrically and the inside
rear view mirror by hand for the driver’s seat. See
page 104 for exterior rear view mirror adjustment and
page 102 for steering wheel adjustment.
Push memory button “M”, release and push a stored
position button “1”, “2” or “3” within 3 seconds.Recalling positions from memory
To recall a seat / steering wheel and rear view mirror
position, push and hold button “1”, “2” or “3” until seat /
steering wheel and rear view mirror movement has
stopped.
The seat / steering wheel and rear view mirror
movement stops when the button is released.
Caution!
Do not operate the power seats using the memory
button if the seat backrest is in an excessively reclined
position. Doing so could cause damage to front or rear
seats.
First move backrest to an upright position.

110 Memory function
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 for proper seat positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure
adequate control, reach, operation and comfort. Both 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.

201 Interior equipment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Armrest with integrated storage compartment
(rear seat)
Pull down the armrest (12) by its strap.
To open, press the handle (13) and lift lid.
Before storing the armrest in the backrest, close its
storage compartment lid.Storage compartments in the rear passenger
compartment (Vehicles with individual seats)
Opening the storage space:
Slide the cover (14) back to open, forward to close.