Page 63 of 473

62 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper opera-
tion of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the air bag cover
on the steering wheel must be at least
10 in (25 cm) or more. You should be
able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not lean with your head or chest
close to the steering wheel or dash-
board.
Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver front air bag inflates.
Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.
Occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their
heads in the area of the door or the rear
side trim panel where the front side im-
pact air bag and/or the rear side impact
air bag* inflates. This could result in se-
rious injuries or death should the air bag
be triggered. Always sit nearly upright,
properly use the seat belts and appropri-
ate size infant or child restraint system.
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 BabySmartTM
system installed in the vehicle to deacti-
vate the passenger front air bag when it
is properly installed. Otherwise they will
be struck by the air bag when it inflates
in a crash. If this happens, serious or fa-
tal injury will result.
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in severe injuries to you or other
occupants.
If you sell your vehicle, it is important that
you make the buyer aware of this safety
information. Be sure to give the buyer this
Operator’s Manual.
Page 107 of 473

106 Controls in detail
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 71).
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.
i
Adjust 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.
Page 110 of 473

109 Controls in detail
Seats
1Release button
Removing rear seat head restraints
Fold back head restraint (page 107).
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 direction
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.
Page 462 of 473

461 Index
Standing lamps 398, 400, 401
Tail lamps 401
Turn signal lamps 398, 400, 401
Reporting safety defects 18
Research Octane Number see RON
Reset button, In the instrument
cluster 122, 136
Reset tool
Location 391
Residual heat utilization 195
Residual ventilation 195
Restraint system
see Children in the vehicle
see Infant and child restraint systems
see SRS
Restraint system see Infant and child re-
straint systems
Reverse gear position, Automatic
transmission 45
Rims 333, 429
Roadside Assistance 12
RON 447
Roof rack* 248
Rubber parts, Cleaning 346
Run Flat Indicator* (Canada only) 318S
Safety
Driving safety systems 82
Occupant 60
Reporting defects 18
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio* 209
Seat belt force limiter 70
Seat belts 67
Children in the vehicle 72
Cleaning 347
Fastening 42
Height adjustment 44
Message in display 378
Proper use of 44, 68
Safety guidelines 64
Telltale 25, 378
Seat heating 110
Seating capacity 310
Seats, 35, 106
Heating 110
Lumbar support* 109
Memory function 111
Power 36, 106
Rear bench seat* 252
Securing cargo 255Selecting radio mode 205
Selector lever see gear selector lever
Self-test
BabySmartTM air bag deactivation
system 76
Tele Aid* 266
Service and Warranty Booklet
Loss of 425
Service and warranty information 10
Service intervals see Maintenance service
indicator 338
Service life (tires) 306
Service see Maintenance Service system
see FSS (Canada vehicles) or Mainte-
nance System (U.S. vehicles) 338
Service System see FSS
Service, Parts 424
Page 463 of 473

462 Index
Settings
Control system menus and
submenus 128, 129
Date 142, 143
Factory, SmartKey 96
Individual, SmartKey 96
Individual, Vehicle 135
Lighting (control system) 144
Memory function 111
Menus and submenus 127
Resetting all (control system) 136
Selective, SmartKey 96
Time 140, 141
Shelf below rear window, cleaning 347
Shift lever position indicator 125, 156
Shift lock 447
Shift program (manual)
Automatic transmission 165
Shift program mode, Automatic
transmission 125
Shifting 155
Automatic transmission 45
Into optimal gear range
(automatic transmission) 162
Side impact air bags (front and rear*) 66Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 344
Messages in display 374
Replacing bulbs 400
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 333
Ski sack (Canada only) 249
Ski sack* (Canada only) 251, 252
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
Snow chains 337
Sound system* 202
Spare fuses 420
Spare wheel 433
Bolts 385
Mounting 404
Speed settings
Cruise control 247
Speedometer 25, 138
Split rear bench seat* 252
SRS 68, 447
Indicator lamp 25, 356
Message in display 363
Standing lamps
Replacing bulbs 395, 396
Standing water, Driving through 289Starter switch 23, 33
Positions 33
Starting difficulties, Engine 46
Steering column 38
Easy entry/exit feature 39
Steering gear oil
Message in display 378
Steering wheel 38
Buttons 26
Cleaning 346
Electrical adjustment 38
Stolen vehicle
Recovery services 272
Storage compartments
Armrest 257
Cup holder 258
Glove box 256
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 258
Storing (memory function)
Positions into memory 112
Storing tires 307
Submenus see Control system submenus
Substitute lamps
Bulbs 394
Summer opening feature 241