2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350S child restraint

105 Controls in detail
Fastening the seat belts
Fastening the seat belts
For additional information on children in
the vehicle, see “Children in the vehicle”
(
page 51).
Warning!G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure all of your passengers
are properly restrained.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely severity
in an accident. You and your passengers
should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(
page 36).
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
appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Warning!G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt. Never use
a seat belt for more than one person at a
time.
Warning!G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the seat belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or even fatal injuries. The seat back-
rest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in a nearly upright posi-
tion and the seat belt is properly positioned
on the body.

106 Controls in detail
Fastening the seat belts
1Seat belt outlet
2Latch plate
3Release button
4Buckle
Pull the seat belt smoothly from the
seat belt outlet1.
Place the shoulder portion of the seat
belt across the top of your shoulder
and the lap portion across your hips.
Push latch plate2 into buckle4 until
it clicks.
If necessary, adjust the seat belt to the
correct height (
page 107).
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.
To release the seat belt, press release
button3 and guide latch plate2
back to seat belt outlet1.
Proper use of seat belts

Do not twist the seat belt when fasten-
ing.

Adjust seat belt so that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible
to the middle of the shoulder (it should
not touch the neck). Never pass the
shoulder portion of the seat belt under
your arm.

Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.

Place the seat backrest in a nearly up-
right position.

Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.

Do not fasten a seat belt around a per-
son and another object at the same
time. When using a seat belt to secure
infant restraints or toddler restraints or
children in booster seats, always follow
the child seat manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
Warning!G
Read and observe the additional warning no-
tices printed in the “Safety and Security”
section.

386 Practical hints
What to do if …?
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
5/The front passenger front air
bag off indicator lamp does
not illuminate and/or does
not remain illuminated with
the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a stan-
dard child restraint or less on
the front passenger seat.The system is malfunctioning.Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion
and child seat and check installation of the child
seat.
Make sure no objects applying supplemental
weight onto the seat are present.
If the front passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp remains out, have the system checked as
soon as possible at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not transport a child on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been repaired.
Also read and observe any messages in the
multifunction display and follow corrective steps
(
page 387).
Warning!G
If the5/indicator lamp does not il-
luminate or remains out with the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child in a standard
child restraint or less on the front passenger
seat, do not transport a child on the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired.

395 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front Passenger
Airbag Enabled
See Operator’s Manu-
alFront passenger front air bag is
activated while driving even
though a child, small individual,
or object below the system’s
weight threshold is on the front
passenger seat, or the front pas-
senger seat is empty. Objects
on the seat or forces acting on
the seat may make the system
sense supplemental weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (page 82).
Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and properly
secure the child in rear seat employing the child restraint if necessary.
Make sure no objects which apply forces to the seat are present (e.g.
objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind or around the
seat, head restraints pushing against roof, etc.). The system may recog-
nize such forces as supplemental weight and sense that an occupant on
the front passenger seat is of a greater weight than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch
on the ignition (
page 82).
Monitor the
5/indicator lamp right of the instrument cluster
(
page 45) and the multifunction display in the instrument cluster
(
page 151) for the following:
(Continued on next page)

489 Index
Bluetooth®
Settings (Audio system) 192
Telephone* (Audio system) 222
Brake assist system (BAS) 60
Brake fluid 324, 478, 480
Brake lamp
High mounted 431
Replacing bulbs 431, 436
Brake pads
Message in display 399
Brake warning lamp 27
Brakes 312
Warning lamp 27, 376
Break-in period 310
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbsC
California retail buyers and lessees,
important notice for 11
Can holder see Cup holder
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants 476
Cargo area see Trunk
Carpets, Cleaning and care of 371
Catalytic converter 319
CD
CD changer* 208
CD player 160, 208
MP3 playback options 220
MP3, selecting a track 219
Playback options 220
Selecting a track 219
Submenu overview 208
CD changer* 208
CD player 160, 208
Centigrade see Temperature display
mode 167
Central locking
Automatic 80, 173
Locking/unlocking from inside 81
Locking/unlocking switches 81
Central locking/unlocking switches 80Certification label 462
Change of address or ownership 12
Checking tire pressure electronically
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), (USA only) 344
Children in the vehicle 51
Air bags 51
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp 45, 385
Infant and child restraint systems 51
LATCH-type child seat anchors 55
Override switch for rear door window
operation 57
Tether attachment points 54
Cigarette lighter 292
Climate control system 250, 259
3-zone automatic climate control
(Canada only) 259
Air conditioning, Cooling 258, 267
Air distribution 254, 263
Air recirculation mode 257, 265
Air volume 254, 263
Air volume, rear 268
Automatic mode 253
Deactivating/Reactivating 252
Defrosting 264

495 Index
H
Halogen headlamp see Headlamps
Hands-free microphone 31
Hard plastic trim items, cleaning 370
Hazard warning flasher 114
Head restraints 89
Active head restraints 50
Adjustment 89
Front seat 89
Rear seat, Removing and
installing 90
Resetting activated active head
restraints 427
Headlamp cleaning system 112, 330
Washer fluid 479, 486
Headlamps
Automatic control 109
Automatic headlamp mode 172
Cleaning lenses 367
Cleaning system 330
Halogen 432
Manual headlamp mode 172
Messages in display 411
Refilling washer fluid 330
Replacing bulbs 431, 432Headliner and shelf below rear window,
Cleaning and care of 371
High beam flasher 112
Replacing bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 431,
435
Replacing bulbs (Halogen) 431, 433
High beam headlamps
Indicator lamp 27
Replacing bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 431
Replacing bulbs (Halogen) 431, 433
Replacing bulbs for high beam flasher
(Bi-Xenon*) 435
High mounted brake lamp 431
Hood 325
Message in display 406
Opening 325
Horn 25
Hot weather performance 483
HVAC see Climate control system
Hydroplaning 315I
Identification labels 462
Identification Number, Vehicle (VIN) 463
Ignition 82, 84, 127
Switching on 82
Switching on, KEYLESS-GO* 84
Immobilizer 66
Infant and child restraint systems see Chil-
dren in the vehicle
Inside door handle 79
Instrument cluster 26, 147
Coolant temperature gauge 27, 148
Fuel gauge 27, 150
Illumination 148
Lamps 374
Multifunction display 151
Outside temperature indicator 149
Setting the language (Audio
system) 193
Interior lighting 114
Activating automatic control 115
Deactivating automatic control 115
Delayed shut-off 173
In the rear 116
Reading lamps in the front 115, 116
Reading lamps in the rear 116

499 Index
Restraint systems 416
Run Flat Indicator 390
Side marker lamps 412
SRS 416
Tele Aid* 418
TPMS* (Tire Pressure Monitoring Sys-
tem), (USA only) 392, 418
Trunk 419
Turn signals 413
Windshield washer fluid 419
Multifunction steering wheel 28, 152
Button operation 152
N
Navigation system* 158
See separate COMAND* operating
instructions
Neutral gear position,
Automatic transmission* 138, 140
Neutral gear position,
Manual transmission 137
New vehicle break-in 310
Normal occupant weight 357
Number, Vehicle Identification (VIN) 463O
Occupant Classification System see OCS
Occupant distribution 357
Occupant safety 34
Air bags 36
Children and air bags 51
Children in the vehicle 51
Fastening the seat belt 105
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp 45
Infant and child restraint systems 51
LATCH-type child seat anchors 55
Seat belts 38, 105
OCS 41
Self-test 45
Oil
Filler neck 328
One-touch gearshifting
Gear selector lever* 145
Operating safety 15
Operating safety (Audio system) 177
Ornamental moldings, Cleaning 367
Outside temperature indicator 27, 149
Outside temperature see Displays
Overhead control panel 31
Override switch 57P
Paintwork, Cleaning 365
Panic alarm
Audible alarm and flashing exterior
lamps 58
Panic button 58
Panorama roof with power tilt/sliding
panel* 276
Cleaning 369
Opening/closing 277
Synchronizing 278
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 285
Parking 133, 314
Parking brake 129, 134
Message in display 401
Parking lamps
Messages in display 411
Replacing bulbs 431, 434, 436
Parking position* (Canada only)
Exterior rear view mirrors 101
Parts service 460
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp see
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp

501 Index
Replacing bulbs 430
Additional turn signals 431
Backup lamps 431, 436
Brake lamps 431
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamp* 431
Fog lamps 431, 436
Headlamp bulbs 432
Headlamps 431
High beam flasher
(Bi-Xenon*) 431, 435
High beam flasher
(Halogen) 431, 433
High beam headlamps
(Bi-Xenon*) 431
High beam headlamps
(Halogen) 431, 433
High mounted brake lamp 431
License plate lamps 431, 437
Low beam headlamps
(Bi-Xenon*) 431
Low beam headlamps
(Halogen) 431, 433
Parking lamps 431, 434, 436
Side marker lamps 431
Standing lamps 431, 434, 436Tail lamps 431, 436
Turn signal lamps 431
Turn signal lamps (Bi-Xenon*) 436
Turn signal lamps (Halogen) 434
Reporting safety defects 17
Reset to factory settings
(Audio system) 193
Residual engine heat and ventilation 266
Restraint systems
Messages in display 416
See Children in the vehicle
See SRS
Reverse gear position, Automatic
transmission* 138, 140
Reverse gear position,
Manual transmission 126
Rims 358
And Tires 467
Tires and wheels 331
Roadside Assistance 12
Roadside Assistance*
Tele Aid* 299
RON 478
Roof rack* 280
Rubber parts, cleaning 370
Run Flat Indicator* (Canada only) 342S
Safety
Driving safety systems 59
Occupant 34
Reporting defects 17
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio*
Calling SIRIUS Service Center 207
Channel update 207
Operation 200
Selecting program category 203
Showing program info 206
Storing channels 206
Submenu overview 200
Tuning in channels 204
Seat belts 46
Children in the vehicle 51
Cleaning 371
Fastening 46, 105
Force limiter 49
Messages in display 416
Proper use of 47, 106
Safety guidelines 38
Telltale 27, 48, 380
Seating capacity 335