2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 Front seats

89 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 maxi-
mum 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 front doors closed,

the seat belt telltale< remains illu-
minated for as long as either the driv-
er’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 front
passenger’s seat belt are fastened
If the driver’s or the front passenger’s
seat belt remains unfastened after
60 seconds, the warning chime stops
sounding, the seat belt telltale<
stops flashing but continues to be illu-
minated.
The seat belt telltale< will only go out
if both the driver’s and the front passen-
ger’s seat belt (with the front passenger
seat occupied) are fastened, or the vehicle
is standing still and a front door is opened.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 442).Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD),
seat belt force limiter
The seat belts for the front seats and
second-row outer seats are equipped with
emergency tensioning devices and seat
belt force limiters. The seat belts for the
third-row seats are equipped with emer-
gency tensioning devices.
The ETD is designed to activate in the
following cases:

in frontal or rear-end impacts
exceeding the system deployment
threshold

in certain vehicle rollovers

if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly, see
1indicator lamp (
page 446)
iThe ETDs for the front seats will only acti-
vate if the respective front seat belt is fastened
(latch plate properly inserted into buckle).
The ETDs for the rear outer seats (second-row
seats) or rear seats (third-row seats) will activate
with or without the respective seat belt fastened.
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90 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In an impact, emergency tensioning
devices remove slack from the belts in
such a way that the seat belts fit more
snugly against the body. Belt force limiters,
when activated, are employed to help
reduce the peak force exerted by the seat
belts on occupants during a crash.Active head restraint
The active head restraints are intended to
offer the driver and front passenger
increased protection from whiplash type
injuries. In the event of a rear-end collision,
the active head restraints on the driver’s
and front passenger’s seats are designed
to move forward in the direction of travel,
providing the head with increased support
earlier on in the collision sequence. The
active head restraints move forward
whether the seat is occupied or not.
Warning!G
A pyrotechnic Emergency Tensioning Device
(ETD) that was activated must be replaced.
When disposing of the pyrotechnic emer-
gency tensioning device, our safety instruc-
tions must be followed. These are available
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Warning!G
Only use seat or head restraint covers which
have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model.
Using other seat or head restraint covers
may interfere with or prevent the activation
of the active head restraint. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for availability.
Do not attach any objects (e.g. hangers) to
the head restraints posts. Otherwise, the
active head restraints may not be able to
function properly or offer the intended
degree of protection in the event of an
accident.
Warning!G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that it is as close to
the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint 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 accident or similar situation.
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91 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
You cannot remove the active head
restraint on the driver’s and front
passenger’s seats.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 45).
For information on resetting the activated
active head restraints, see “Resetting acti-
vated head restraints” (
page 499).
Rear head restraintsChildren in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:
Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child.
Make sure the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
Warning!G
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints installed when the rear seats
are occupied. Head restraints are intended
to help reduce injuries during an accident.
With a rear seat occupied, make sure to
move the respective head restraint up from
the lowest non-use position and have the
occupant adjust the head restraint properly.
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible and the
head restraint 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 accident or similar situation.
Warning!G
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child re-
straint system. The children could

injure themselves on parts of the vehicle

be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or
cold

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92 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Infant and child restraint systems
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
All lap-shoulder belts except the driver’s
seat belt have special seat belt retractors
for secure fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow child
restraint instructions for mounting. Then
pull the shoulder belt out completely and
let it retract. During seat belt retraction, a
ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate
that the special seat belt retractor is acti-
vated. The belt is now locked. Push down
on child restraint to take up any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and
let seat belt retract completely. To deacti-
vate the special seat belt retractor for the
front passenger seat, the front passenger
seat must be in the most backward posi-
tion. The seat belt can again be used in the
usual manner.The use of infant or child restraints is re-
quired by law in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, the U.S. territories and all
Canadian provinces.Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system’s
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts.
If children open a door, they could

injure other persons

get out of the car and injure themselves
or be injured by following traffic
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger or cargo compartment unless
they are firmly secured in place. For more in-
formation, see “Loading” (
page 295) and
“Useful features” (
page 315).
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child’s risk of injury in the event
of

strong braking maneuvers

sudden changes of direction

an accident
Warning!G
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.
iFor information on child seats with mounting
fittings for tether anchorages, see “Installation
of infant and child restraint system”
(
page 96).
For information on LATCH-type child seat
mounts, see “Child seat anchors – LATCH type”
(
page 95).

164.boo Seite 92 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

93 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Infants and small children should be
seated in an appropriate infant or child
restraint system properly secured in
accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions for the child restraint, that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards 213 and 225 and
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 210.2.
A statement by the child restraint manu-
facturer of compliance with these
standards can be found on the instruction
label on the restraint and in the instruction
manual provided with the restraint.
When using any infant or child restraint
system, make sure to carefully read and
follow all manufacturer’s instructions for
installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels
affixed to the inside of the vehicle and to
infant or child restraints.
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
appropriate infant or child restraint
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle’s seat belt, the seat
belt and top tether strap, or lower anchors
and top tether strap, fully in accordance
with the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions.
Always sit as upright as possible, properly
use the seat belts and use an appropriately
sized infant restraint, toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following im-
portant information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the front
passenger seat:

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the front
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the OCS senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard
appropriate child restraint on the front
passenger seat.

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130 Controls in detail
Seats
For information on seat adjustment, see
the “Getting started” section (
page 45).
For more information on seats, see “Load-
ing” (
page 295).
Easy-entry/exit feature for third-row
seats
This feature allows for easier access to and
exit from the vehicle’s third-row seats.Easy-entry feature for third-row seats
The lever for the easy-entry feature is lo-
cated on the rear of the seat base of the
passenger side second-row seat.
1Easy-entry lever
Pull and hold easy-entry lever1 in di-
rection of arrow at resistance point.
The seat backrest folds forward.1Easy-entry lever
Pull and hold easy-entry lever1 once
again in direction of arrow at resistance
point.
Lift up the right second-row seat until it
folds forward.
You should now have sufficient space
to access the vehicle’s third-row seat.
Warning!G
To help avoid personal injury, the
second-row seat backrests must be properly
locked either in the upright position or,
when using the expanded cargo compart-
ment, in the fully folded position while the
vehicle is in motion.
!Make sure that the head restraint is pushed
all the way down (
page 135).
iVehicles with memory function*:
The front passenger seat moved slightly forward.
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131 Controls in detail
Seats
Easy-entry/exit position
While the easy-entry feature is activated,
you will see, for example, the following
message in the multifunction display:
2nd Row Of Seats – Right
Not Locked
Return seat into its original position
(
page 132).
The message in the multifunction dis-
play disappears.For setting the front passenger seat back
into the stored position, see “Recalling po-
sitions from memory” (
page 142).
For information on how to fold down the
second-row seats completely, see “Folding
second-row seats” (
page 306).
Easy-exit feature for third-row seats
The easy-exit strap is located on the right
rear of the second-row seat base.
1Easy-exit strap
To exit the vehicle when seated on a
third-row seat, pull up and hold
easy-exit strap1.
The right second-row seat backrest
folds forward.
Pull and hold once easy-entry strap1.
Lift up the right second-row seat until it
folds forward.
You should now have sufficient space
to exit the vehicle’s third-row seat.
While the easy-entry feature is activated,
you will see, for example, the following
message in the multifunction display:
2nd Row Of Seats – Right
Not Locked
iVehicles with memory function*:
The front passenger seat moved slightly forward.

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132 Controls in detail
Seats
Return seat into its original position
(
page 132).
The message in the multifunction dis-
play disappears.
For setting the front passenger seat back
into the stored position, see “Recalling po-
sitions from memory” (
page 142).
For information on how to fold down the
second-row seats completely, see “Folding
second-row seats” (
page 306).
Returning second-row seats to their
original positionFold seat (page 131) back until it au-
dibly engages.
Fold seat backrest (page 130) back
into original position until it engages.
To make sure the seat backrest has en-
gaged, lean firmly against the backrest.Emergency exit for third-row seats
1Emergency release
2Seat backrest
Warning!G
When occupants have entered or exited the
vehicle using the easy-entry/exit feature,
before driving off make sure

the seats are properly locked

the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition and are properly locked
If a seat and seat backrest are not properly
locked, the seat could move forward and the
seat backrest could fold. You could slide un-
der the seat belt during braking, vehicle ma-
neuvers, or in an accident. If you slide under
it, the belt would apply force at the abdomen
or neck. That could cause serious or even fa-
tal injuries.
iIf, due to an accident or other situation, it is
not possible for you to exit the vehicle on the
side of the easy-entry seat (
page 130), you
can fold the left side of the seat backrest in the
second row of seats down in order to open the
left rear door.
!Make sure that the head restraint is pushed
all the way down (
page 135).

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