Cockpit
23Function Page
1 Combination switch:
• main-beam headlamps 94
• turn signals 94
• windscreen wipers 98
2 Cruise control lever:
• cruise control 145
• Speedtronic 154
• Distronic* 148
3 Instrument cluster
26
4 Multi-function steering
wheel
30
5 Horn Function Page
6 DIRECT SELECT selector
lever
107
7
Parktronic* warning dis-
play
165
8 Overhead control panel
34
9 Locks/unlocks the glove
compartment 201
a Glove compartment
201
b Centre console
31
c Ignition lock/KEYLESS GO
button*
75 Function Page
d Adjusts the steering wheel
manually
83
e Opens the bonnet
219
f Releases the parking brake
105
g Parking brake
105
h Door control panel
35
j Light switch
92
k Adjusts the headlamp
range
95
l Adjusts the steering wheel
electrically*
83
Steering wheel heating* 84At a glance
* optional
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Cockpit
25Function Page
1 Combination switch:
• main-beam headlamps 94
• turn signals 94
• windscreen wipers 98
2 Cruise control lever:
• cruise control 145
• Speedtronic 154
• Distronic* 148
3 Instrument cluster
26
4 Multi-function steering
wheel
30
5 Horn Function Page
6 DIRECT SELECT selector
lever
107
7 Adjusts the headlamp
range
95
8 Light switch
92
9 Door control panel
35
a Releases the parking brake
105
b Opens the bonnet
219
c Ignition lock/KEYLESS GO
button*
75
d Adjusts the steering wheel
manually
83 Function Page
e Parking brake
105
f Adjusts the steering wheel
electrically*
83
Steering wheel heating* 84
g Centre console
31
h Opens and locks the glove
compartment
201
j
Glove compartment* 201
k
Parktronic* warning dis-
play
165
l Overhead control panel
34At a glance
* optional
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Centre console
31Centre console
Upper section (not ML 63 AMG) Function Page
1
Controls COMAND APS*
and the audio system – see
the respective operating
instructions
2 Controls Thermatic or
Thermotronic*
171
Switches the rear window
heating on/off
182
3 Switches the hazard warn-
ing lamps on/off
95
4 Automatic transmission
gearshift program selection
button
111
5 Switches the right-hand
seat heating* on
/off 82
6 Switches the right-hand
seat ventilation* on
/off 81
7 Switches the auxiliary heat-
ing* on
/off 184
8 59
warning
lamp 8 50 Function Page
9 Engages the differential
locks*
143
a Selects
/deselects LOW
RANGE* off-road gear 141
b Activates/deactivates DSR
139
c
Vehicle level control*: rai-
ses/lowers the vehicle
158
d Deactivates/activates
ESP
® 59
e
Selects ADS* settings 157
f Switches the left-hand seat
ventilation* on/off
81
g Switches the left-hand seat
heating* on/off
82
h Deactivates/activates
Parktronic (PTS)*
166
8
The warning lamp also lights up briefly when you turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock on vehicles without automatic child seat recognition on the front-
passenger seat*. It has no function, however, and does not indicate that the front-passenger seat is equipped with automatic child seat recognition*. At a glance
* optional
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Centre console
32 Upper section (only ML 63 AMG)
Function Page
1
Controls COMAND APS*
and the audio system – see
the respective operating
instructions
2 Controls Thermatic or
Thermotronic*
171
Switches the rear window
heating on/off
182
3 Switches the hazard warn-
ing lamps on/off
95
4 Automatic transmission
gearshift program selection
button*
112
5
Vehicle level control*: rai-
ses/lowers the vehicle
158
6 Switches the right-hand
seat heating* on
/off 82
7 Switches the right-hand
seat ventilation* on
/off 81 Function Page
8 Switches the auxiliary heat-
ing* on
/off 184
Deactivates/activates
Parktronic (PTS)*
166
9 59
warning
lamp 9 50
a Deactivates/activates
ESP
® 59
b
Selects ADS* settings 157
c Switches the left-hand seat
ventilation* on/off
81
d Switches the left-hand seat
heating* on/off
82
e Activates/deactivates DSR
139
9
The warning lamp also lights up briefly when you turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock on vehicles without automatic child seat recognition on the front-
passenger seat*. It has no function, however, and does not indicate that the front-passenger seat is equipped with automatic child seat recognition*. At a glance
* optional
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Occupant safety
41carry out any modifications on the restraint
systems.
Never tamper with electronic components
and their software.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
The SRS reduces the risk of occupants com-
ing into contact with the vehicle's interior in
the event of an accident. It can also reduce
the forces to which occupants are subjected
during an accident.
The SRS consists of:
R The 1 warning lamp
R belt tensioners
R belt force limiters
R airbags
The 1 1 warning lamp The SRS functions are checked regularly
when you turn on the ignition and when the
engine is running. Malfunctions can therefore
be detected in good time.
The
1 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out no later than a few seconds
after the engine is started. G
Risk of injury
If SRS is malfunctioning, individual systems
may be activated unintentionally or not be
deployed in the event of an accident with
heavy braking.
A malfunction has occurred if the 1
warning lamp:
R does not light up when you switch on the
ignition
R does not go out after the engine has been
running for a few seconds
R lights up again once the engine is running
In this case, have SRS checked immedi-
ately at a qualified specialist workshop.
Triggering of belt tensioners, belt force
limiters and airbags In the event of a collision, the sensor in the
airbag control unit evaluates important phys-
ical data such as duration, direction and force
of the vehicle deceleration or acceleration.
Based on the evaluation of this data and
depending on the vehicle's rate of longitudi-
nal deceleration in a collision, in the first
stage the airbag control unit pre-emptively
triggers the belt tensioners.i
The front belt tensioners can only be trig-
gered if the belt tongue is correctly
engaged in the seat belt buckle.
The front airbags are only deployed if there is
an even higher rate of vehicle deceleration in
a longitudinal direction.
Your vehicle has adaptive, dual stage front
airbags. When the first activation threshold is
reached, the front airbag is filled with enough
propellant gas to reduce the risk of injuries.
The front airbag is only fully inflated if a sec-
ond threshold is reached within a few milli-
seconds, due to the control unit having
detected further deceleration.
Criteria for triggering belt tensioners and
airbags
In the first stage of a collision, the airbag con-
trol unit evaluates the duration and direction
of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in
order to determine whether it is necessary to
trigger the belt tensioner and/or airbag.
The belt tensioner and airbag triggering
thresholds are variable and are adapted to the
rate of deceleration of the vehicle. This proc-
ess is pre-emptive in nature as the airbag
must be deployed during – and not at the end
of – the collision. Safety
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Occupant safety
42
i
Airbags are not deployed in all types of
accidents. They are controlled by complex
sensor technology and evaluation logic.
This process is pre-emptive in nature as
airbag deployment must take place during
the impact and must be adapted to provide
calculated, additional protection for the
vehicle occupants. Not all airbags are
deployed in an accident.
The different airbag systems work inde-
pendently of each other. However, the
deployment of each individual system will
depend on the type of accident determined
by the control system in the first stages of
the collision (head-on collision, side impact
and overturn) and the extent of the acci-
dent (in particular, the vehicle's rate of
deceleration or acceleration).
The rate of vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion and the direction of the force are basi-
cally determined by:
R the distribution of forces during the colli-
sion
R the collision angle R
the deformation characteristics of the vehi-
cle
R the characteristics of the object with which
the vehicle has collided, e.g. the other vehi-
cle
Factors which can only be seen and measured
after a collision has occurred do not play a
decisive role in the deployment of an airbag,
nor do they provide an indication of it.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly,
e. g. on the bonnet or the wing, without an
airbag being deployed. This is the case if only
parts which are relatively easily deformed are
affected and the necessary deceleration does
not occur. Conversely, airbags may be
deployed even though the vehicle suffers only
minor deformations. This is the case if, for
example, very rigid vehicle parts such as lon-
gitudinal body members are affected and suf-
ficient deceleration occurs as a result.
Belt tensioners, belt force limiters The front seat belts and the outer seat belts
in the 2nd row are equipped with belt ten-
sioners. The front seat belts are also fitted
with belt buckle tensioners.
!
Do not engage the seat belt tongue in the
buckle on the front-passenger seat if the seat is not occupied. Otherwise the belt
tensioner could be activated in an emer-
gency.
If the seat belt is also equipped with a belt
force limiter, the force exerted by the seat
belt on the seat occupant is reduced.
Belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in an
accident, pulling them close against the body.
i Belt tensioners do not correct incorrect
seat positions or incorrectly fastened seat
belts.
Belt tensioners do not pull occupants back
towards the backrest.
The front belt force limiters are synchronised
with the front airbags, which distribute the
forces exerted by the belt force limiters on
the occupant over a greater area.
The belt tensioners/belt buckle tensioners
are triggered when the ignition is switched
on:
R only if the restraint systems are operational
(the 1 warning lamp lights up after the
ignition is switched on and goes out once
the engine is running)(Y page 41)
R for each three-point seat belt in the front of
the vehicle when the belt tongue is
engaged in the buckle Safety
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Occupant safety
50 rearward-facing child restraint system on
a suitable rear seat.
R always move the front-passenger seat to
the rearmost position if you secure a
child in a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
The front-passenger front airbag is not dis-
abled:
R on vehicles without automatic child seat
recognition in the front-passenger
seat*.
R on vehicles without automatic child seat
recognition on the front-passenger
seat*, if no special child restraint system
with automatic child seat recognition has
been fitted to the front-passenger seat.
R on vehicles with automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat*, if
the 5 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warn-
ing lamp is not lit.
To draw attention to this danger, there is an
appropriate warning sticker on the dash-
board as well as on both sides of the sun
visor on the front-passenger side. Information about recommended child
restraint systems is available at any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Automatic child seat recognition on the
front-passenger seat*
If your vehicle does not have automatic child
seat recognition on the front-passenger seat,
this is indicated by a special sticker. The
sticker is affixed to the side of the dashboard
on the front-passenger side. It is visible when
you open the front-passenger door.
The warning lamp 10
is located on the centre
console. 1
5 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning
lamp The front-passenger seat sensor system for
child restraint systems detects whether a
special Mercedes-Benz child seat with auto-
matic child seat recognition has been fitted.
In such cases, 5PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF indicator lamp 1lights up. The front-
passenger airbag is deactivated. G
Risk of injury
If the 5 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warn-
ing lamp does not light up when the child
restraint system is fitted, the front-
passenger front airbag has not been disa-
bled. If the front-passenger front airbag is
deployed, the child could be seriously or
even fatally injured.
Proceed as follows:
R do not use a rearward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger
seat.
R fit a rearward-facing child restraint sys-
tem on a suitable rear seat.
or
R only use a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat and
10 Vehicles without automatic child seat recognition in the front-passenger seat: the warning lamp lights up briefly when you turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock. However, it has no function and does not indicate that there is automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat. Safety
* optional
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Occupant safety
51move the front-passenger seat to its rear-
most position.
R have the automatic child seat recognition
checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
To ensure that the automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat func-
tions correctly, never place objects (such
as a cushion) under the child restraint sys-
tem. The entire base of the child restraint
system must always rest on the seat cush-
ion. An incorrectly fitted child restraint sys-
tem cannot perform its intended protective
function in the event of an accident, and
could lead to injuries. i
The windowbag, the sidebag and the belt
tensioner on the front-passenger side are
still active even when the front-passenger
front airbag is disabled. G
Risk of injury
Do not place items of electronic equipment
on the front-passenger seat, e.g.:
R laptops, when switched on
R mobile phones
R cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes
or access cards
Signals from electronic equipment can
cause interference in the automatic child
seat recognition sensor system. This could lead to a system malfunction. This may
cause the
5PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
warning lamp to light up without there
being a child seat with automatic child seat
recognition fitted. This means that the
front-passenger airbag does not deploy
during an accident. It is also possible that
the 5 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning
lamp will not light up briefly if you turn the
key in the ignition lock to position 2.
Suitable positioning of the child restraint system Weight categories and ages Child restraint system on the
front-passenger seat Child restraint system on the
left-hand and right-hand rear
seats Child restraint system on the
centre rear seat
Group 0: up to 10 kg;
up to approx. 9 months Vehicles with automatic child
seat recognition* on the front-
passenger seat: as recommen-
ded
11 Universal Universal
Group 0+: up to 13 kg;
up to approx. 18 months 11
Only use child restraint systems with automatic child seat recognition. Safety
* optional
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