31 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Coolant temperature gauge403
2Fuel gauge with:
Fuel tank reserve warning
lamp
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
-ABS indicator lamp
=SRS indicator lamp
573
367
566
575
3Parktronic*/Park Assist*
warning indicator for left
front area 433,
437
4Multifunction display with:
Speedometer
0
USA only
!
Canada onlyElectronic
parking brake
warning or indi-
cator lamps568
ItemPage
;
USA only
3
Canada onlyBrake warning
lamp567
pressure*/TPMS mal-
function telltale*576
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp382
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp382
vESP® warning lamp572
lDistance warning
lamp*174,
414,
572
1Vehicles without DISTRONIC Plus*: Warning lamp
without function. It illuminates when the ignition is
on. It should go out when the engine is running.
ItemPage
5Parktronic*/Park Assist*
warning indicator for right
front area 433,
437
6Gear position/range indica-
tor 398
7Tachometer with:
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp570
8Selected program mode indi-
cator 399
9Main menu for control sys-
tem, multifunction display256
aOutside temperature 404
bDisplay with:
Additional speedometer271
:PRE-SAFE® Brake*
indicator268
ProCarManuals.com
36 At a glance
Center console
ItemPage
1Thumbwheel for air volume
control for left center air vent452
2Thumbwheel for air volume
control for right center air
vent 452
3AUTO mode for air distribu-
tion and volume, left455
4Temperature control, left456
5Manual fan speed adjust-
ment, left456
6Front defroster456
7Air recirculation458
8Climate control on/off455
9Residual engine heat and
ventilation (REST)460
aRear window defroster 457
ItemPage
bManual fan speed adjust-
ment, right456
cTemperature control, right456
dAUTO mode for air distribu-
tion and volume, right455
eAlarm system indicator lamp77
fCup holder473
gCover of compartment with:
Ashtray
Lighter
476
477
hCover of compartment with
CD/DVD changer
PCMCIA card slot
111
112
ProCarManuals.com
40 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are
Seat belts (page 52)
Child restraints (page 57)
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren (LATCH) (
page 61)
Additional protection potential provide
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with
Air bags (page 42)
Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)
Emergency Tensioning Device
(ETD) for seat belts (
page 55)
Seat belt force limiter (page 55)
Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE®) (page 56)Air bag system components with
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp (
page 50)
Front passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(
page 47)
Although independent systems, their pro-
tective functions work in conjunction with
each other.The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates early detection of malfunctions.
The =indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 30) comes on when the
ignition is switched on and goes out no lat-
er than a few seconds after the engine has
been started.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness when the =indicator lamp is
not lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the =indicator lamp:
fails to go out after approximately
4 seconds after the engine was started
does not come on at all
comes on after the engine was started
or while driving
iFor information on infants and children trav-
eling with you in the vehicle and restraint sys-
tems for infants and children, see “Children in
the vehicle” (
page 57).
ProCarManuals.com
48 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!G
If the 59indicator lamp illumi-
nates when an adult or someone larger than
a small individual is in the front passenger
seat, have the front passenger re-position
himself or herself in the seat until the
59indicator lamp goes out, or
check whether objects are caught under or
around the seat.
More information about air bag display mes-
sages (
page 580).
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow front passenger front air
bag deployment when the OCS classified
the front passenger seat occupant as being
up to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child re-
straint or if the front passenger seat is
sensed as being empty.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being up
to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the 59indicator
lamp will illuminate when the engine is start-
ed and remain illuminated, indicating that
the front passenger front air bag is deacti-
vated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat is classified as being empty, the
59indicator lamp will illumi-
nate when the engine is started and remain
illuminated, indicating that the front
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being
heavier than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child seated in a standard
child restraint or as being a small individual
(such as a young teenager or a small adult),
the 59indicator lamp will illu-
minate for approximately 6 seconds when
the engine is started and then, depending on
occupant weight sensor readings fromthe seat, remain illuminated or go out. With
the 59indicator lamp illumi-
nated, the front passenger front air bag is
deactivated. With the 59 indi-
cator lamp out, the front passenger front air
bag is activated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
g e r s e a t o c c u p a n t i s c l a s s i f i e d a s a n a d u l t o r
someone larger than a small individual, the
59indicator lamp will illumi-
nate for approximately 6 seconds when the
engine is started and then go out, indicating
that the front passenger front air bag is
activated.
If the 59indicator lamp is illu-
minated, the front passenger front air bag is
deactivated and will not be deployed.
If the 59indicator lamp is not
illuminated, the front passenger front air
bag is activated and will be deployed:
in the event of certain frontal impacts
if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
ProCarManuals.com
54 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Enhanced seat belt reminder system
When the engine is started, the seat belt
telltale< will always illuminate
for 6 seconds to remind you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened
when the engine is started, an additional
warning chime will also sound for a
maximum of 6 seconds or until the driver’s
seat belt is fastened.
If after these 6 seconds the driver’s or the
front passenger’s seat belt (with the front
passenger seat occupied) is not fastened
with both doors closed,
the seat belt telltale< remains
illuminated for as long as either the
driver’s or front passenger’s seat belt is
not fastened.
and if the vehicle speed once exceeds
15 mph (25 km/h), the seat belt
telltale< starts flashing and a
warning chime sounds with increasing
intensity for a maximum of 60 seconds
or until the driver’s and the
which exceed preset deployment
thresholds and in certain rollovers (win-
dow curtain air bags and ETD).
Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against your neck or off your shoul-
der. In a frontal crash, your body would
move too far forward. That would in-
crease the chance of head and neck in-
juries. The seat belt would also apply too
much force to the ribs or abdomen,
which could severely injure internal or-
gans such as your liver or spleen.
Never wear seat belts over rigid or
breakable objects in or on your clothing,
such as eyeglasses, pens, SmartKeys,
etc., as these might cause injuries.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips and not across the abdo-
m e n . I f t h e s e a t b e l t i s p o s i t i o n e d a c r o s s
your abdomen, it could cause serious in-
juries in a crash.
Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at time. Do not fasten a seat belt
around a person and another person or
other objects.
Seat belts should not be worn twisted.
In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full
width of the seat belt to distribute im-
pact forces. The twisted seat belt
against your body could cause injuries.
Pregnant women should also always use
a lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible
on the hips to avoid any possible pres-
sure on the abdomen.
Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
When using a seat belt to secure infant
or toddler restraints or children in
booster seats, always follow the child
seat manufacturer’s instructions.
ProCarManuals.com
64 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
This section contains information about
Adaptive Brake Lights as well as the follow-
ing driving safety systems:
ABS (Antilock Brake System)
Adaptive Brake
BAS (Brake Assist System)
BAS Plus* (Brake Assist System Plus)
EBP (Electronic Brake Proportioning)
ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
PRE-SAFE® Brake* (Preventive Occu-
pant Safe
ty Brake)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 30) comes on when you
switch on the ignition (
page 336). It goes
out when the engine is running.
Warning!G
The following factors increase the risk of ac-
cidents:
Excessive speed, especially in turns
Wet and slippery road surfaces
Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
iIn winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, Adaptive Brake, BAS,
BAS Plus*, EBP and ESP
® only achieved with
winter tires (
page 549), or snow chains as re-
quired.
Warning!G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
ProCarManuals.com
69 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
After a hard collision or damage to the
front of the vehicle from an accident, have
the adjustment and operation of the radar
sensors checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If BAS Plus is not available due to a radar
sensor malfunction, the braking system
will continue to function normally with full
brake boost and full standard BAS
function.EBP
The Electronic Brake Proportioning (EBP)
enhances braking effectiveness by allow-
ing the rear brakes to supply a greater pro-
portion of the braking effort in straight line
braking without a loss of vehicle stability.ESP®
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) is
operational as soon as the engine is run-
ning and monitors the vehicle’s traction
(force of adhesive friction between the
tires and the road surface) and handling.
The ESP
® recognizes when a wheel is spin-
ning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By ap-
plying brakes to the appropriate wheel and
by limiting the engine output, the ESP
®
works to stabilize the vehicle. The ESP® is
especially useful while driving off and on
wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP
®
also stabilizes the vehicle during braking
and steering maneuvers.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the instru-
ment cluster flashes when the ESP® is en-
gaged.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the instru-
ment cluster comes on when you switch on
the ignition (
page 336). It goes out when
the engine is running.
Warning!G
When the EBP is malfunctioning, the ABS,
BAS, BAS Plus* and ESP® are also switched
off.
If the EBP is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem will still function with full brake boost.
However, the rear wheels could lock up dur-
ing emergency braking situations, for exam-
ple. You could lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident. Adapt your driving style
to the changed driving characteristics.
ProCarManuals.com
70 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
section (
page 572) and (page 580).
Warning!G
Never switch off the ESP® when you see the
ESP® warning lamp v flashing in the in-
strument cluster. In this case proceed as fol-
lows:
While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.
While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.
Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
Warning!G
The ESP® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
iDISTRONIC Plus* and cruise control are
switched off when the ESP® engages.
iThe ESP® will only function properly if you
use wheels of the recommended tire size
(
page 678).
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* in position0
or1) when
the electronic parking brake is being tested
on a brake test dynamometer
the vehicle is being towed with the
front/rear axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.
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