2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 rear seats

79 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant or child restraint recom-
mended for the size and weight of the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle’s seat belt, the seat
belt and top tether strap, or lower anchors
and top tether strap, fully in accordance
with the child seat manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following
important information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the front
passenger seat:

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the front
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the system senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard appropri-
ate child restraint on the front passen-
ger seat.


A child in a rear-facing child restraint on
the front passenger seat will be serious-
ly injured or even killed if the front pas-
senger front air bag inflates in a collision
which could occur under some circum-
stances, even with the air bag technolo-
gy installed in your vehicle. The only
means to completely eliminate this risk
is to never place a child in a rear-facing
child restraint in the front seat. We
therefore strongly recommend that you
always place a child in a rear-facing
child restraint in the back seat.


If you must install a rear-facing child re-
straint on the front passenger seat be-
cause circumstances require you to do
so, make sure that the 56 indi-
cator lamp is illuminated, indicating that
the front passenger front air bag is deac-
tivated. Should the 56 indicator
lamp not illuminate or go out while the
restraint is installed, please check in-
stallation. Periodically check the
56 indicator lamp while driving
to make sure the 56indicator
lamp is illuminated. If the 56 in-
dicator lamp goes out or remains out, do
not transport a child on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been
repaired. A child in a rear-facing child re-
straint on the front passenger seat will
be seriously injured or even killed if the
front passenger front air bag inflates.


83 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Once the top tether anchorage hook is
attached, the child restraint itself can be
secured. Tighten the top tether strap
according to the child restraint
manufacturer’s instructions.
Reinstall cover1 after removing the
tether strap.Child seat anchors – LATCH-type
This vehicle is equipped with two LATCH-
(L
ower A
nchors and T
ethers for CH
ildren)
type anchors (at each of the outer rear
seats) for the installation of a LATCH-type
child seat with the matching mounting
fittings.
iFor safety, make sure the hook has
attached to the ring beyond the safety
catch, as illustrated.
Warning!
G
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts.
Position shoulder belt across chest and
shoulder, not face or neck.
A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper belt positioning for children from
41 lbs until they reach a height where a
lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a
booster.
Install child seat according to manufactur-
er’s instructions.
T h e c h i l d s e a t m u s t b e f i r m l y a t t a c h e d i n t h e
right and left side anchors1.
An incorrectly mounted child seat may come
loose during an accident which could result
in serious injury or death to the child.
Damaged or impact damaged child seats or
child seat mounting fittings must be
replaced.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system.

84 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
The LATCH-type anchors are located be-
tween the seat cushion and the backrest.
1Anchors
Install child seat according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
iThe child seat must be firmly attached
in the right and left side anchors1.
With a child seat installed in the left
rear seat, the seat belt for the center
seat occupied by a passenger must op-
erate freely. Guide seat belt between
its seat cushion mount and backrest
mount along outside of right side child
seat anchor.
iNon-LATCH-type child seats may also
be used and can be installed using the
vehicle’s seat belt system. Install child
seat according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.

85 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Blocking of rear door window operation
You can block the rear door window
operation (for instance when you have
children riding in the rear passenger
compartment).
The override switch is located on the door
control panel of the driver’s door.
1Deactivating override switch
2Activating override switch
3Override switchActivating override switch

Slide override switch3 to the right.
The rear door windows can no longer
be operated using the respective
switch located in the rear doors.
Deactivating override switch

Slide override switch3 to the left.
The rear door windows can be operated
again using the respective switch
located in the rear doors.
For more information, see “Power win-
dows” (
page 240).
Warning!
G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children may otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment can cause an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
iOperation of the rear door windows
with the switches located on the door
control panel of the driver’s door is still
possible.

109 Controls in detailSeats
Seats
For information on seat adjustment, see
“Adjusting” (
page 35).
Front seat active head restraintsYou cannot remove the active head re-
straints on the driver’s and passenger’s
seat.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
For information on head restraint
adjustment, see “Seats” (
page 35).
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraint” (page 73).
Rear seat head restraints
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are
intended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as
possible.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the
rear head restraints in the upright position
when the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.

110 Controls in detailSeatsHead restraint height (rear outer seats)
1Release button
Raising
Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
If the head restraint is fully retracted,
push release button1 and pull the
head restraint out.
Lowering

To lower the head restraint, push
release button1 and push down on
the head restraint.Folding head restraints back with
release button
The rear seat head restraints can be folded
backward for increased visibility.
1Release button

Push release button1.
The head restraint will fold backward.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as
possible.Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are
intended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
iYou can also fold the rear outer seat
head restraints back using the switch
in the center console (
page 111).

111 Controls in detailSeats
Folding head restraints back with
switch in the center console
1Switch for rear seat head restraints
Start the engine (
page 48).

Press switch1.
The rear seat head restraints will fold
backward.Placing head restraints upright

Pull the head restraint forward until it
locks into position.Head restraint tilt (rear outer seats)
Two different head restraint angle
positions are available:

Press the release button (
page 110)
and tilt the head restraint to the
desired position.
Removing and installing rear seat head
restraints (rear outer seats)
Warning!
G
Make sure the head restraints engage when
placing them upright. Otherwise their
protective function cannot be assured.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as
possible.iThe rear center seat head restraint
cannot be removed.

112 Controls in detailSeats
1Release button
Removing rear seat head restraints
Fold back head restraint (
page 110).

Pull head restraint to its highest
position.

Push release button1 and pull out
head restraint.
Installing rear seat head restraints

Insert head restraint and push it down
until it engages.

Push button1 and adjust head
restraint to desired position.
Lumbar support*
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back sup-
port and seating comfort.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in the direc-
tion of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.