
Seat belts25
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Belt tension devices*Function of the belt tension device
During a frontal collision, the seat belts on the front seats are 
retracted automatically.The seat belts for the front occupants are equipped with belt tension devices. 
Sensors will trigger the belt tension devices during severe head-on, lateral 
and rear collisions only if the seat belt is being worn. This retracts and 
tightens the seat belts, reducing the forward motion of the occupants.
The belt tension device can be triggered only once.
The belt tension devices will not be trig gered in the event of light frontal and 
side collisions, if the vehicle overturns, or in situations where no large forces 
act on the front, side or rear of the vehicle.
Note
•
If the belt tension devices are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is 
normal and it is not an indication of fire in the vehicle.
•
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or 
components of the system are scrapped. A qualified workshop is familiar with 
these regulations and will be pleased to pass on the information to you.
Service and disposal of belt tension devicesThe belt tension devices are components of the seat belts that are installed 
in the seats of your vehicle. If you work on the belt tension devices or remove 
and install parts of the system when performing other repair work, the seat 
belt may be damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an acci-
dent, the belt tension  devices function incorrectly or not at all. So that the effectiveness of the belt tension device is not reduced and that 
removed parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution, regula-
tions, which are known to the qualified workshops, must be observed.
WARNING
•
If repairs are not carried out by a professional, or if the belt tension 
devices are used incorrectly, the risk of severe or fatal injuries increases. 
The belt tension devices may fail to trigger or may trigger in the wrong 
circumstances.
•
Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the belt 
tension devices or seat belts.
•
The belt tension device and seat belt including its automatic retractor 
cannot be repaired.
•
Any work on the belt tension devi ces and seat belts, including the 
removal and refitting of system parts in conjunction with  other repair work, 
must be performed by a qualified workshop only.
•
The belt tension devices will only provide protection for one accident 
and must be changed it they have been activated.
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Airbag system27
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
•
Always properly adjust the front seats.
The danger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger seat
Rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front 
passenger seat when the front  passenger airbag is enabled.An enabled front airbag on the front passenger side is potentially a major 
danger to a child. The front passenger seat is life threatening to a child if 
he/she is transported in a rear-facing child seat. You should always transport 
all children up to 12 years of age on the rear seat.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating 
airbag can strike it with such great force that critical or fatal injuries may 
result.
Therefore we strongly recommend you to transport children on the rear seats. 
That is the safest place for children in the vehicle. Alternatively, the front 
passenger airbag can be disabled with a key-operated switch  ⇒page 38. 
When transporting children, use a child seat appropriate to the age and size 
of each child.
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the airbag off, 
an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.
WARNING
•
If a child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, the risk to the child 
of sustaining critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident increases.
•
Never secure a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat if the 
front passenger airbag is enabled. The child can suffer critical or fatal inju-
ries when the front passenger airbag is triggered.
•
An inflating front passenger airbag can strike the rear-facing child seat 
and hurl it with great force against the door, the roof or the backrest.
•
If, under special circumstances, it is necessary to transport a child in a 
rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, it is absolutely essential 
that you observe the following safety measures:
−Disable the front passenger airbag  ⇒page 38, “Deactivating 
airbags*”.
− The child seat must be approved by the child seat manufacturer for 
use on a front passenger seat with front or side airbag.
− Follow the installation instructio ns of the child seat manufacturer 
and absolutely observe all warnings
− Before properly installing the child seat, push the front passenger 
seat completely backwards so that the greatest possible distance to 
the front passenger airbag is ensured.
− Ensure that no objects prevent the front passenger seat from being 
pushed completely back.
− The backrest of the front passenger seat must be in an upright 
position.
Warning lamp for airbag and belt tension device system 
This warning lamp monitors the airbag and belt tension 
device system.The warning lamp monitors all airbags and belt tension devices in the 
vehicle, including control units and wiring connections.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system
28Monitoring of airbag and belt tension device system
Both the airbag and belt tension device systems operation is constantly 
monitored electronically. The warning lamp 
 will light up for a few seconds 
every time the ignition is switched on (self-diagnosis).
The system must be checked when the warning lamp 
 :
•
does not light up when the ignition is switched on,
•
after the ignition is switched on, it turns off after 4 seconds,
•
it turns off and then lights up again after the ignition is switched on,
•
lights up or flashes while the car is moving.
In the event of a malfunction, the warning lamp remains on continuously. 
Have the airbag system inspected immediately by a qualified workshop.
If any of the airbags are de-activated by the Authorised Service Centre, the 
indicator lights for several  seconds more after the veri fication and will turn off 
if there is no fault.
WARNING
•
If there is a malfunction, the air bag and belt tension device system 
cannot properly perform its protective function.
•
If a malfunction occured, have the system checked immediately by a 
qualified workshop. Otherwise, in the event of an accident, the airbag 
system and belt tension devices may no t be triggered, or may not be trig-
gered correctly.
Repairs, maintenance and disposal of the airbagsThe parts of the airbag system are installed in various places in your vehicle. 
If you work on the airbag system or remove and install parts of the system 
when performing other repair work, parts of the airbag system may be  damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an accident, the 
airbag inflates incorrectly 
or does not inflate at all.
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or 
components of the airbag are  scrapped. The specialist workshops and the 
Vehicle disposal centres are familiar with these requirements.
WARNING
•
If repairs are not carried out by a professional, or if the airbags are used 
incorrectly, the risk of severe or fatal injuries is increased. The airbags may 
fail to inflate, or could inflate in the wrong circumstances.
•
Do not cover or stick anything on  the steering wheel hub or the soft 
plastic surface of the airbag unit on the passenger side of the dashboard, 
and do not obstruct or modify them in any way.
•
It is important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or tele-
phone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.
•
To clean the steering wheel or dash panel, you may use only a dry or a 
water-moistened cloth. Never clean the dash panel and the airbag module 
surface with cleansers containing solvents. Solvents cause the surface to 
become porous. If the airbag trigger ed, disintegrating plastic parts could 
cause substantial injuries.
•
Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the airbag 
system.
•
Any work on the airbag system or re moval and installation of the airbag 
components for other repairs (such as repairs to the steering wheel) should 
be performed only by a qualified workshop. Qualified workshops have the 
necessary tools, repair information and qualified personnel.
•
We strongly recommend you to go to  a qualified workshop for all work 
on the airbag system.
•
Never attempt to alter the front bumper or the body.
•
The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once 
they have deployed.
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Airbag system
36Function of curtain airbags
Fully inflated airbags reduce the ri sk of head or chest injury in 
a side collision.During some  side collisions  the curtain airbag is tri ggered on the impact side 
of the vehicle  ⇒fig. 22 .
In certain types of accident the front, side and curtain airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. In the 
process, the curtain bag covers the side windows and door pillars.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags 
have to deploy extremely rapidly (within thousandth of a second). A fine dust 
may develop when the airbag deploys. This  is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the front occupants and 
help to reduce the risk of injury to the upper body. The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and 
chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag.
Safety notes on the operation of the curtain airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the 
risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
•
In order for the side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the 
prescribed sitting position must alwa ys be maintained with seat belts 
fastened while travelling.
•
For safety reasons, the head air bag must be disconnected in those 
vehicles fitted with a passenger compartment separation screen. See an 
Authorised Service Centre  to make this adjustment.
•
There must be no other persons, animals or objects between the occu-
pants of the outer seats and the depl oyment space of the curtain airbags 
so that the curtain airbag can deploy  without restriction and provide the 
greatest possible protection. Therefor e, sun blinds which have not been 
expressly approved for use in your ve hicle should not be attached to the 
side windows.
•
The built-in coat hooks should be us ed only for lightweight clothing. Do 
not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets. Please, do not 
hang the clothes on coat hangers.
•
The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once 
they have deployed.
•
Any work on the curtain airbag system or removal and installation of 
the airbag components for other repairs (such as removal of the roof lining) 
should only be performed by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, faults may 
occur during the airbag system operation.
Fig. 22  Deployed curtain 
airbags
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Child safety41
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Safety notes on using child seats
Proper use of child seats substantially reduces the risk of 
injury in an accident!As the driver, you are responsible for any children you transport in 
your vehicle.
– Protect your children by properly using appropriate child seats 
⇒page 42.
– Always ensure that the belt webbing is properly positioned  according to the instructions prov ided by the manufacturer of the 
child seat.
– When travelling, do not allow children to distract you from traffic.
– Take breaks regularly during long trips. Take a break at least  every two hours.
WARNING
•
Never install a child seat facing backwards (or rear-facing) on the front 
passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This 
could lead to a risk of pote ntially fatal injuries to the child! However, if it is 
necessary, in exceptional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger 
seat, the front passenger airbag must always be disabled  ⇒page 38, 
“Deactivating airbags*”. If the passe nger seat has a height adjustment 
option, move it to the highest position.
•
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the 
airbag off, an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.
•
All passengers, especially children, must assume the proper sitting 
position and be properly belted in while travelling.
•
Never hold children or babies on your lap, this can result in potentially 
fatal injuries to the child!
•
Never allow a child to be transported in a vehicle without being properly 
secured, or to stand up or kneel on a  seat while travelling. In an accident, 
the child could be flung through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal injuries 
to themselves and to the other passengers.
•
If children assume an improper sitting position when the car is moving, 
they expose themselves to greater risk  of injury in the event of sudden 
braking manoeuvre or in an accident. Th is is particularly important if the 
child is travelling on the front passenger seat and the airbag system is trig-
gered in an accident; this could cause serious injury or even death.
•
A suitable child seat can protect your child!
•
Never leave an unsupervised child alone on a child seat or in the 
vehicle.
•
Depending on weather conditions, it may become extremely hot or cold 
inside the vehicle. This can be fatal.
•
Children who are less than 1.5 metres  tall must not wear a normal seat 
belt without a child restraint system, as this could cause injuries to the 
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an 
accident.
•
Do not allow the belt webbing to become twisted or jammed, or to rub 
on any sharp edges.
•
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause injuries even in a minor collision 
or in sudden braking manoeuvres.
•
The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web is 
properly positioned  ⇒page 21, “Seat belts”.
•
Only one child may occupy a child seat  ⇒page 42, “Child seats”.WARNING (continued)
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Child safety
46Securing child seat with the “ISOFIX” system
The child seat with “ISOFIX” system can be secured quickly, 
easily and safely on the rear outer seats using the systemWhen removing or fitting the child seat, please be sure to follow the 
manufacturer's instructions.
– Move the seat as far to rear as it will go.
– Press the child seat onto the “ISOFIX” retaining rings until the 
child seat can be heard to engage securely. If the child seat is 
fitted with any other antirotation system, follow the manufacturer 
instructions carefully.
– Pull on both sides of the child se at to ensure that it is secure.Two “ISOFIX” retaining rings are fitted on  each rear seat. In some vehicles, the 
rings are secured to the seat frame and, in others, they are secured to the rear 
floor. The access to “ISOFIX” rings is between the rear back rest and the seat. Child seats with “ISOFIX” mountings are available in your Authorised Service 
Centres.
WARNING
•
The retaining rings are designed only to use them with “ISOFIX” child 
seats.
•
Never secure child seats without the “ISOFIX” system, retaining belts 
or objects to the fastening rings – this c an result in potentially fatal injuries 
to the child.
•
Ensure that the child seat is secured correctly by using the “ISOFIX” 
anchors.
Fig. 28  ISOFIX securing 
rings
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Cockpit
52Rev counter
The rev. counter displays the engine speed in revolutions per 
minute.The start of the red zone  ⇒page 51, fig. 30    indicates the maximum 
engine speed operating at service temperature. However, it is advisable to 
change up a into a higher gear, move the selector lever to D or lift your foot 
off the accelerator before the needle reaches the red zone.
Caution
The rev counter needle must never enter the red zone on the scale. Risk of 
engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Changing up into higher gears early will  help you to save fuel and minimise 
engine noise.SpeedometerThe speedometer is equipped with a digital odometer and a trip counter, in 
addition to a service intervals display.
During the running-in period, the instructions shown on  ⇒page 153 should 
be followed.
Digital display in the instrument panelFuel gauge 
 and reserve indicator
Instrument panel: fuel gauge
The fuel tank has a capacity of approx. 45 litres.
When the needle reaches the reserve zone  ⇒fig. 31  , the warning lamp will 
light and an acoustic signal will sound  reminding the driver to refuel. At this 
point there are still about 7 litres of fuel in the tank.Digital clock* – To alter the time, press button    ⇒page 51, fig. 30 . The option 
“hour” flashes on the digital display. Set the hour from button   “set” ⇒ page 51, fig. 30 .
A1
Fig. 31  Fuel gauge
A4
A5
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Cockpit
56Mileage display or Service Interval DisplayDistance display
The upper counter in the display registers the total mileage covered by the 
vehicle.
The lower counter registers the short journeys. The last digit indicates steps 
of 100 metres. The trip recorder counter may be reset by the reset button 
⇒ page 51, fig. 30  .
Service interval display
A  Service pre-warning  will appear in the mileage display if a service is due 
soon. A spanner symbol appears and the display “km” with the distance that 
can be driven until the next service appointment is due. The display will 
change after approximately 10 seconds. A clock symbol appears and the 
number of days until the next service appointment is due.
The following message appears on the instrument panel if a service is due:
INSP - Maintenance service The service message will disappear approximately 20 seconds after the igni-
tion is switched on or the engine is
 running. This may also be turned off 
pressing the short journey counter reset button for more than 0.5 seconds.
4)
The Service Centre which  carries out the maintenance service will reset the 
maintenance interval display once the service is finished.
We recommend you to carry out the re pair and maintenance work only in the 
Authorised Service Centres.
If you wish to find out how long before the inspection, press button   
⇒ page 51, fig. 30, and select the relevant option from the menu.
Fig. 35  Service interval 
display
A6
4)With “Ignition OFF” the mainte nance display remains visible.
A4
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