
48 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Unfastening of seat belts
Push the release button (3) in the belt buckle (2).
Allow t he retractor to completely rewind t he seat belt by 
guiding the latch plate (1).
Operation
The inertia reel stops the belt from unwinding during 
sudden vehicle stops or when quickly pulling on the 
belt.The locking function of the reel may be checked by 
quickly pulling out the belt.
Wa r n i n g !
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY.• Seat belts can only work when used properly. 
Never wear seat belts in any other way than as 
described in this section, as that could result 
in serious injuries in case of an accident.• Each occupant should wear their seat belt at all 
times, because seat belts help reduce the 
likelihood of and potential severity of injuries 
in accidents, including rollovers. The 
integrated restraint system includes “SRS” 
(driver airbag, passenger airbag, door mounted 
side impact airbags), “ETR” (seat belt 
emergency tensioning retractors), and driver 
knee bolster. The system is designed to 
enhance the protection offered to properly 
belted occupants in certain frontal (front 
airbags) and side (side impact airbags) impacts 
which exceed preset deployment thresholds. 

52 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Supplemental restraint system (SRS)
Airbags are intended as a supplement to seat belts. 
Airbags alone cannot protect as well as airbags plus 
seat belts in impacts for which the airbags were 
designed to operate, and do not afford any protection 
whatsoever in crashes for which the airbags are not 
designed to deploy.
The SRS uses two crash severity levels (thresholds) to 
activate either the Emergency Tensioning Retractor 
(ETR) or front airbag or both. Activation depends on the 
direction and severity of the impact exceeding the 
preset thresholds and whether the seat belt is fastened.Seat belt fastened
•first threshold exceeded:
ETR activates
•second threshold exceeded:
airbag also activates
Seat belt not fastened
•first threshold exceeded:
airbag activates, but not ETR
Driver and passenger systems operate independently of 
each other. 

53 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR)
The seat belts are equipped with emergency tensioning 
retractors. These tensioning retractors are located in 
each belt’s inertia reel and become operationally ready 
with the key in steering lock position 1 or 2.
The emergency tensioning retractors are designed to 
activate only when the seat belts are fastened during 
frontal and front-angled impacts and rear impacts 
exceeding the first threshold of the SRS and in rear 
impacts exceeding a preset severity level. They remove 
slack from the belts in such a way that the seat belts fit 
more snugly against the body restricting its forward 
movement as much as possible.In cases of other frontal impacts, roll-overs, certain side 
impacts, rear collisions or other accidents without 
sufficient frontal or rear impact forces, the emergency 
tensioning retractors will not be activated. The driver 
and passenger will then be protected by the fastened 
seat belts and inertia reel in the usual manner.
For seat belt and emergency tensioning retractor safety 
guidelines see page 61.
Note:
The passenger ETR activates only if the passenger seat 
is occupied.
Heavy objects on the passenger seat can appear to the 
“SRS” to indicate the presence of an occupant in that 
seat which causes the passenger front airbag to deploy 
and the ETR to activate in a crash exceeding the 
appropriate treshhold. 

55 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 3Side impact airbag
The side impact airbags are located in the doors.
The most effective occupant restraint system yet 
developed for use in production vehicles is the seat belt. 
In some cases, however, the protective effect of a seat 
belt can be further enhanced by an airbag.In conjunction with wearing the seat belts, the driver 
and passenger airbags can provide increased protection 
for the driver and passenger in certain frontal impacts 
exceeding preset thresholds.
Door mounted side impact airbags can provide 
increased protection to belted occupants on the 
impacted side of the vehicle in side impacts exceeding 
its preset thresholds.
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 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. If the lamp does not 
come on at all or if it fails to extinguish after 
approximately 4 seconds or if it comes on thereafter, a 
malfunction in the system has been detected. 

57 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Front airbags
The driver and passenger front airbags are designed to 
activate only in certain frontal impacts exceeding a 
preset threshold.
The passenger front airbag deploys only if the 
passenger seat is occupied, and the 7 indicator lamp 
on the center console is not illuminated.
Note:
Heavy objects on the passenger seat can cause the 
passenger front airbag to deploy in a crash.Side impact airbags
The side impact airbags are designed to activate only in 
certain side impacts exceeding a preset threshold. Only 
the side impact airbag on the impacted side of the 
vehicle deploys.
The side impact airbag for the passenger deploys only if 
the passenger seat is occupied.
Side impact airbags operate best in conjunction with a 
properly positioned and fastened seat belt.
Note:
Heavy objects on the passenger seat can appear to the 
“SRS” to indicate the presence of an occupant in that 
seat which causes the passenger front airbag to deploy 
in a crash exceeding the appropriate threshold. 

58 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Important!
Airbags are designed to activate only in certain 
frontal (front airbags) impacts, or side (side impact 
airbags) impacts which exceed preset thresholds.
Only during these types of impacts, if of sufficient 
severity to meet the deployment thresholds, will 
they provide their supplemental protection.
The driver and passenger must always wear their 
seat belts, otherwise it is not possible for the airbags 
to provide their intended supplemental protection.
In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts, 
roll-overs, other side impacts, rear collisions, or 
other accidents in which the airbags are not 
designed to deploy, the airbags will not be activated. 
The driver and passenger will then be protected by 
the fastened seat belts.
We caution you not to rely on the presence of the 
airbags in order to avoid wearing your seat belt.
Wa r n i n g !
Airbags are designed to reduce the potential of 
injury in certain frontal (front airbags) impacts, 
and side (side impact airbags) impacts which may 
cause significant injuries, however, no system 
available today can totally eliminate injuries and 
fatalities.The activation of the “SRS” temporarily releases a 
small amount of dust from the airbags. This dust, 
however, is neither injurious to your health, nor 
does it indicate a fire in the vehicle. The dust might 
cause some temporary breathing difficulty for 
people with asthma or other breathing trouble. To 
avoid this, you may wish to get out of the vehicle as 
soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any breathing 
difficulty but cannot get out of the vehicle after the 
airbag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a 
window or door. 

59 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 
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 the 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 the driver front airbag 
inflates.• Adjust the passenger seat as far as possible 
rearward from the dashboard when the seat is 
occupied. 

78 Flexible service system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The counter can also be set by any individual. To do so:
1. Turn key in steering lock to position 2.
2. Within 1 second press button (1) twice.
3. The present status for days or distance is displayed. 
Within 10 seconds turn key in steering lock to 
position 0.
4. Press and hold button (1), while turning key in 
steering lock to position 2 again. The present status 
for days or distance is displayed once more. 
Continue to hold button (1).
After approximately 10 seconds a signal sounds, and 
the display shows 10 000 miles 
(Canada: 15 000 km) for approximately 10 seconds.
5. Release button (1).
If the FSS counter was inadvertently reset, have a 
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.Note:
When disconnecting vehicle battery for one or more 
days at a time, such days will not be counted. Any such 
days not counted by FSS can be added by your 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The interval between services is determined by the kind 
of vehicle operation. Driving at extreme speeds, and 
cold starts combined with short distance driving in 
which the engine does not reach normal operating 
temperature, reduce the interval between services.
However you choose to set your reference numbers, the 
scheduled services as posted in the Service Booklet 
must be followed to properly care for your vehicle.