66 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Air bags
Warning!G
Air bags are designed to reduce the poten-
tial of injury and fatality in certain frontal im-
pacts (front air bags, driver-side knee bag),
side impacts (side impact air bags and win-
dow curtain air bags) or rollovers (window
curtain air bags). However, no system avail-
able today can completely eliminate injuries
and fatalities.
The activation of the air bags temporarily re-
leases a small amount of dust from the
air bags. This dust, however, is neither inju-
rious to your health, nor does it indicate a
fire in the vehicle. The dust might cause
some temporary breathing difficulty for peo-
ple with asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, you may wish to get out of the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you
have any breathing difficulty but cannot get
out of the vehicle after the air bag inflates,
then get fresh air by opening a window or
door.
Warning!G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
air bags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and front passenger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear their
respective seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and make sure that it is prop-
erly positioned on your body.
Since the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the air bag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the air bag can be seriously
injured or killed by an air bag as it inflates
with great force in the blink of an eye:
Sit properly belted in a position that is
as upright as possible with your back
against the seat backrest.
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 contact your 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.
118 Controls in detail
Seats
For more information on seat adjustment,
see “Adjusting” (
page 41).
For more information on folding the seats,
see “Loading” (
page 238).
Front seat active head restraints
You cannot remove the active head re-
straint on the driver’s and front passen-
ger’s seats.For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seat adjustment” (
page 42).
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraints” (
page 81).
Rear seat head restraints
Warning!G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that the center
of the head restraint supports the back of
the head at eye level. This will reduce the po-
tential for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident 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.
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.
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.
iThe rear seat head restraints cannot be ad-
justed.
119 Controls in detail
Seats
Folding head restraints back
The rear seat head restraints can be folded
backward for increased visibility.
1Head restraint release switch
Switch on the ignition (page 38).
Press the symbol-side on rocker
switch1 to release the head re-
straints.
The head restraints will fold backward.Placing head restraints upright
Pull the head restraint forward until it
locks into position.
Lumbar support
The curvature of the front seats can be ad-
justed to help enhance lower back support
and seating comfort.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in direction
of the arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
!Make sure the head restraints engage when
placing them upright. Otherwise their protective
function cannot be assured.
464 Index
Head restraints 118
Active head restraints 81
Comfort head restraint*,
Adjusting 44
Folding back 119
Front seat, Adjusting 43
Front seat, Removing
Rear seat, Removing and
installing 118
Headlamp cleaning system* 183
Headlamp shut off delay see Delayed
shut-off, Exterior lamps 161
Headlamps
Automatic headlamp mode 127
Bi-Xenon headlamps, Active 126
Cleaning lenses 337
Cleaning system* 183
Halogen 405
High beam 55
High beam flasher 55
High beam see High beam headlamps
Low beam 55
Manual headlamp mode 127
Replacing bulbs 404
Switch 55Headliner and shelf below rear window,
cleaning 340
Heated seats* 121
Heated steering wheel (Canada
only) 251
Height adjustment
Head restraints 43
Seats 42
Steering wheel 44
Vehicle level control 231
High beam flasher 55, 130
High beam headlamps
Replacing bulbs 408
Switching on 55, 130
High mounted brake lamp 406
High-performance brake system
(CLS 63 AMG only) 274
Hood 286
Message in display 372
Horn 25
HVAC see Climate control system
Hydroplaning 276
I
Identification labels 434
Identification Number, Vehicle (VIN) 435
Ignition 38, 40Immobilizer 97
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Infant and child restraint systems see Chil-
dren in the vehicle
Inflation pressure see
Tires, Inflation pressure 301
Information button (Tele Aid) 260
Inside door handle 108
Installing
Wiper blades 411
Instrument cluster 26, 136
Coolant temperature indicator 137
Illumination brightness 136
Lamps 344
Messages in the multifunction
display 358
Multifunction display 139
Outside temperature indicator 138
Instrument lighting see Instrument cluster,
Illumination brightness 136
Instrument panel see Instrument
cluster 136
Instruments and controls see
Cockpit 136
470 Index
Recommended tire inflation
pressure 325
Recovery services, Stolen vehicle (Tele
Aid) 262
Refrigerant, Air conditioning 450
Refueling 283
Regular checks 285
Reminder, seat belts see Seat belts, Tell-
tale
Remote control see Key, SmartKey
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 261
Replacing bulbs
Additional turn signals 407
Brake lamps 407
Front lamps 407
Headlamps 405
High beam headlamps 408
High mounted brake lamp 407
License plate lamps 409
Low beam headlamps 408
Parking lamps 409
Side marker lamps 407
Tail lamps 409
Turn signal lamps 408
Reporting safety defects 18
Research octane number see RONReserve fuel
Message in display 380
Reset button in the instrument
cluster 136, 153
Reset tool (Active head restraints) 401
Restraint system see Children in the vehi-
cle
Retaining hook 242
Reverse gear position, Automatic
transmission 169, 171
Rims 325, 438
Roadside assistance 12
Button 259
RON 284
Roof rack* 238
Rotating tires 326
Rubber parts, cleaning 339
Run Flat Indicator* 304
S
Safety
Driving safety systems 89
Occupant 64
Reporting defects 18
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio* 149
Seat belt force limiter 79Seat belts 76
Children in the vehicle 82
Cleaning 340
Fastening 48
Height adjustment 50
Proper use of 50, 78
Safety guidelines 68
Telltale 27, 351, 352
Warning lamp 351, 352
Seating capacity 297
Seats 41, 118
Adjusting 41
Easy entry/exit feature* 45
Heater* 121
Memory function 123
Multicontour seat* 120
Ventilation* 122
Securing cargo
Cargo tie-down hooks 242
Selecting display 156
Selective setting see Key, SmartKey or
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Selector lever see Gear selector lever
Self-test
OCS 76
Tele Aid 257
471 Index
Service and warranty information 10
Service intervals see Maintenance, Service
indicator
Service life
Tires 294
Service see Maintenance
Service system see Maintenance
system 330
Service, Parts 432
Settings 106, 152
Control system menus and
submenus 141
Date 158
Individual, Vehicle 152
Memory function 124
Resetting all, Control system 153
Selective, SmartKey 102
Selective, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 107
Suspension tuning 230
Temperature (interior) 195
Time 157
Settings menu
Functions in 152
Submenus 153
Shelf below rear window, cleaning 340Shift program mode, Automatic
transmission 175
Shifting, Automatic transmission 169
Side impact air bags 70
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 337
Side windows
Synchronizing power windows 207
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 325
Ski bag* (Canada only) 239
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* see Key,
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Snow chains 329
Snow tires 328
Spare wheel 393, 445
Mounting 412
Speed settings
Cruise control 213
Distronic* 223
Speedometer 27
Selecting display mode 155
SRS 64
Indicator lamp 27, 353
Messages in display 388Standing lamps 126
Standing water, Driving through 279
Starter switch 38
Starter switch positions 38
Starting difficulties 52
Starting the engine
SmartKey 51
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 52
Steering wheel 28
Adjustment 44
Buttons 28
Cleaning 340
Steering wheel gearshift control one-touch
gearshifting*
Automatic transmission 177
Stolen Vehicle Recovery services 262
Storage compartments 32, 243
Center armrest 243
Cup holder 246
Glove box 243
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 245
Rear armrest 244
Rear center console 244
Ruffled storage bags 245
Under seat 244