76 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyFurthermore, the occupant weight may ap-
pear to increase or decrease due to
objects hanging on the seat, other passen-
gers pushing on the seat, objects lodged
underneath the seat or stuffed between
seat and middle console or between seat
and door or due to objects applying pres-
sure on the back of the seat. Always make
sure that the seat has clearance in all di-
rections at all times.
Both driver and the front passenger should
always use the 75 indicator
lamp as an indication of whether or not the
front passenger is properly positioned.i
If your seat, including your trim cover and
cushion needs to be serviced in any way, take
the vehicle to your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Only seat accessories approved by
Mercedes-Benz may be used.
Warning!
G
If the 75 indicator 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
75 indicator lamp goes out, or
check whether objects are caught under or
around the seat.
More information about air bag display mes-
sages (
page 403).
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 re-
straint, the 75 indicator lamp
will illuminate 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 is classified as being empty, the
75 indicator lamp will illumi-
nate when the engine is started and remain
illuminated, indicating that the front passen-
ger front air bag is deactivated.
79 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The 75 indicator lamp is lo-
cated in the center console.
1Indicator lamp
The 75 indicator lamp1 will
be illuminated, except with the SmartKey
removed or in starter switch position0
(page 38).
i
Deployment of the driver front air bag does
not mean that the front passenger front air bag
also should have deployed.
The Occupant Classification System (
page 75)
may have determined:
that the seat was empty or occupied by the
weight up to or less than that of a typical
12-month-old child seated in a standard
child restraint - both instances where the
system suppresses deployment of the front
passenger front air bag even though the im-
pact met the criteria and was of sufficient
severity to deploy the driver front air bag
that the seat was occupied by a small individ-
ual (such as a young teenager or a small
adult) or a child weighing more than the
weight of a typical 12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint - instances where
the system may suppress deployment of the
front passenger front air bag even though
the impact met the criteria and was of suffi-
cient severity to deploy the driver front
air bag
Warning!
G
If the 1indicator lamp and the
75 indicator lamp are lit at the
same time, there is a malfunction in the
Occupant Classification System. The front
passenger front air bag will be deactivated
in this case.
In order to ensure proper operation of the
air bag system and OCS:
Have the system checked as soon as
possible by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Do not place more than 4.4 lb (2 kg) into
the ruffled storage bag on the back of
the front passenger seat. Otherwise, the
OCS may not be able to properly approx-
imate the occupant weight category.
80 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Self-test Occupant Classification Sys-
tem (USA only)
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1 or2 or pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once or
twice, the 75 indicator lamp
located in the center console illuminates. If
an adult occupant is properly sitting on the
front passenger seat and the system sens-
es the occupant as being an adult, the
75 indicator lamp will illumi-
nate and go out after approximately
6 seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the system
senses the front passenger seat as being
empty, the 75 indicator lamp
will illuminate and not go out. For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 393).
Do not place objects under and/or
around the front passenger seat.
Do not hang anything from or attach any
items to the seats.
Do not stuff objects such as books be-
tween the middle console and the front
passenger seat.
Do not move the front passenger seat
backwards against stiff objects.
Sit properly belted in a nearly upright
position with your back against the seat
backrest.
Do not lean on the armrests or lift your-
self from the seat by using the handle
over the door as this may cause the OCS
to be unable to correctly approximate
the occupant weight category.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Read and observe all warnings in this
chapter.
Warning!
G
If the 75 indicator lamp should
not illuminate, the system is not functioning.
You must see an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center before seating any child on the front
passenger seat.Warning!
G
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the Occupant Classifi-
cation System. The bottom of the child seat
must make full contact with the passenger
seat cushion. An incorrectly mounted child
seat could cause injuries to the child in case
of an accident, instead of increasing protec-
tion for the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of child seats.
81 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation
system (Canada only)
175indicator lamp
Special BabySmart
TM compatible child
seats, designed for use with the
Mercedes-Benz system, are required for
use with the BabySmart
TM air bag deactiva-
tion system. Please contact your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information on availability. With the special
child seat properly installed, the front pas-
senger front air bag will not deploy.The 75indicator lamp locat-
ed in the center console will be illuminat-
ed, except with the SmartKey removed or
in starter switch position0.
Self-test BabySmart
TM without special
child seat installed (Canada only)
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1 or2 or pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once or
twice, the 75indicator lamp
located in the center console comes on for
approximately 6 seconds and then goes
out.
If the 75indicator lamp
should not come on or is continuously lit,
the system is not functioning. You must
see an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
before seating any child on the passenger
seat.
More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (page 395).
i
The system does not deactivate the side im-
pact air bag, the window curtain air bag and the
emergency tensioning device.
Warning!
G
The BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation sys-
tem will ONLY work with a special child seat
designed to operate with it. It will not work
with child seats which are not BabySmart
TM
compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the deactivation sys-
tem. The bottom of the child seat must
make full contact with the passenger seat
cushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat
could cause injuries to the child in case of an
accident, instead of protecting the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.
107 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Arming the alarm system
The indicator lamp located in the central
locking switch in the center console.
1Indicator lamp
Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash three times
to indicate that the alarm system is
armed. The indicator lamp1 begins to
flash after approximately 30 seconds
after arming the alarm system.Disarming the alarm system
Unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey
or KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash once to
indicate that the alarm system is
disarmed.Canceling the alarm
With the SmartKey
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
or
Press button Œ or ‹ on the
SmartKey.
With KEYLESS-GO*
Pull an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 39).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be inside the vehicle.
i
If the turn signal lamps do not flash three
times, one of the following elements may not be
properly closed:
a door
the trunk
Close the respective element and lock the vehi-
cle again.
i
The alarm system will rearm automatically
after approximately 40 seconds if neither a door
nor the trunk was opened.
130 Controls in detailSeatsFolding head restraints back with
switch in the center console
The rear seat head restraints can be folded
backward for increased visibility.
1Head restraint release switch
Switch on the ignition (
page 37).
Press the symbol-side on switch1to
release the head restraints.
The head restraints will fold backward.Placing head restraints upright
Pull the head restraint forward until it
locks into position.Removing and installing rear seat head
restraints* (vehicles with split rear
bench seat* only)
1Release catch
Removing rear seat head restraints
Fold the backrest forward
(page 277).
Fold back head restraint (
page 130).
Press head restraint release catch1
and pull the head restraints out of the
guides.
Fold the backrest back to its original
position.
!
Make sure the head restraints engage when
placing them upright. Otherwise their protective
function cannot be assured.
144 Controls in detailLightingHazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on au-
tomatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is locat-
ed on the upper part of the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher
Press the hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals lamps are flashing.Switching off hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
i
With the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left or
right turn, only the respective left or right turn
signals will operate when the ignition is switched
on.
i
If the hazard warning flasher has been acti-
vated automatically, press hazard warning flash-
er switch1 once to switch it off.
162 Controls in detailControl system
Operating CD player
Selecting CD track
Turn on COMAND and select CD or
CD changer. Refer to separate
COMAND operating instructions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played appear in the multifunc-
tion display.
1Current CD (for CD changer)
2Current track
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.Selecting MP3-CD track
Turn on COMAND and select MP3-CD.
Refer to separate COMAND operating
instructions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the settings for the MP3-CD cur-
rently being played appear in the multi-
function display.
1MP3 mode
2Current track
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
i
Additional optional satellite radio equipment
and a subscription to satellite radio service pro-
vider are required for satellite radio operation.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for details and availability for your vehicle.
For more information, refer to separate
COMAND operating instructions.
i
The COMAND system and the CD changer
can play audio CDs as well as MP3-CDs.
i
To select a CD from the CD changer maga-
zine, press a number on the COMAND system
key pad located in the center console.