2009 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS ESTATE steering

G
Risk of injury
If the seat belt tensioners have been trig-
gered, they provide no additional protection
in the event of another accident. Therefore,
have belt tensioners which have been trig-
gered replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Comply with safety regulations when dispos-
ing of belt tensioners. Any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre can provide details of these
regulations.
Airbags Airbag deployment slows down and restricts
the movement of the vehicle occupant.
If the airbags are deployed, you will hear a
bang and a small amount of powder may also
be released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that escapes
does not generally constitute a health hazard.
The SRS warning lamp 6lights up.
The AIRBAG identification indicates the loca-
tion of the airbags. G
Risk of injury
Airbags provide additional protection; they
are not, however, a substitute for seat belts.
Observe the following notes to reduce the risk
of serious or even fatal injury if an airbag is
deployed:
R all vehicle occupants ― in particular, preg-
nant women ― must wear their seat belt
correctly at all times and lean back against
the backrest, which should be positioned
as close to the vertical as possible. The
head restraint must support the back of the
head at about eye level.
R always secure children less than 1.50 m tall
or under 12 years of age in suitable child
restraint systems.
R all vehicle occupants must select a seat
position that is as far away from the airbag
as possible. The driver's seat position must
allow the vehicle to be driven safely. The driver's chest should be as far away from
the middle of the driver's front airbag cover
as possible.
R move the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible, especially if a child is secured
in a child restraint system on the seat.
R vehicle occupants – in particular, children
– must not lean their head into the area of
the window in which the sidebag/head air-
bag is deployed.
R rearward-facing child restraint systems
must not be fitted to the front-passenger
seat unless the front-passenger front air-
bag has been disabled. The front-passenger
front airbag of a vehicle fitted with auto-
matic child seat recognition* is only disa-
bled when a child restraint system with
automatic child seat recognition is fitted to
the front-passenger seat. The 4
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp
must be continuously lit.
If the front-passenger seat of your vehicle
does not have automatic child seat recog-
nition*, or your rearward-facing child
restraint system does not have automatic
child seat recognition, children must be
secured in a child restraint system on a
suitable seat in the rear. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint system to the
front-passenger seat, you must move the
front-passenger seat as far back as possi-
ble.
R make sure there are no heavy or sharp-
edged objects in pockets of clothing.
R do not lean forwards, e.g. over the cover of
the driver's/front-passenger front airbag,
particularly when the vehicle is in motion.
R do not put your feet on the dashboard.
R only hold the steering wheel by the rim. This
allows the airbag to deploy fully. You could
be injured if the airbag is deployed and you
are holding the inside of the steering wheel. Occupant safety
39Safety
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R
do not lean on the doors from inside the
vehicle.
R make sure that there are no people, ani-
mals or objects between the vehicle occu-
pants and the area of deployment of the
airbag.
R do not place any objects between the seat
backrest and the door.
R do not hang any hard objects, for example,
coat hangers, on the grab handles or coat
hooks.
R do not attach accessories, e.g. cup holders,
to the doors.
It is not possible to rule out a risk of injuries
caused by an airbag due to the high speed at
which the airbag is required to deploy. G
Risk of injury
The airbag's functionality can only be guaran-
teed if the following parts are not covered and
no badges or stickers are attached to them:
R padded steering wheel boss
R knee airbag cover below the steering col-
umn
R front-passenger front airbag cover
R outer side of front seats
R side panel next to the rear seat backrest G
Risk of injury
When an airbag deploys, a small amount of
powder is released. The powder may cause
short-term breathing difficulties to persons
suffering from asthma or other pulmonary
conditions.
In order to prevent potential breathing diffi-
culties, you should leave the vehicle as soon
as it is safe to do so. You can also open the
window to allow fresh air to enter the interior.
The powder generally does not constitute a
health hazard and does not indicate that there
is a fire in the vehicle. G
Risk of injury
The airbag parts are hot after the airbag has
been deployed. Do not touch them; other-
wise, you may burn yourself.
Have the airbags checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Otherwise, occupants are
not protected by the airbags in the event of
another accident.
Front airbags
The front airbags are designed to increase
protection for the driver's and front passeng-
er's head and chest. Driver's front airbag
:deploys in front of the
steering wheel; front-passenger front air-
bag ;deploys in front of and above the glove
compartment. They are deployed:
R at the start of an accident with a high rate
of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in a
longitudinal direction
R if the system determines that airbag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R if the seat belt is fastened
R independently of other airbags in the vehi-
cle
R if the vehicle overturns, but only if the sys-
tem detects high vehicle deceleration in a
longitudinal direction
On vehicles with automatic child seat recog-
nition in the front-passenger seat*, front-
passenger front airbag ;is only deployed if
the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning
lamp in the centre console is not lit 40
Occupant safetySafety
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(Y
page 45). This means that there is not a
child restraint system with automatic child
seat recognition* fitted to the front-
passenger seat or that a child restraint sys-
tem with automatic child seat recognition*
has been fitted to the front-passenger seat
incorrectly.
Driver's knee airbag
i The driver's knee airbag is only available
in certain countries.
The driver's knee airbag can help reduce the
risk of injury to the knees, thighs and lower
legs. Driver's knee airbag
:is always deployed
along with the driver's front airbag and
inflates underneath the steering column.
Sidebags G
Risk of injury
If you wish to use seat covers, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that, for safety reasons, you
only use seat covers that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The seat covers must have a special tear seam
for sidebags/pelvisbags. Otherwise, the side-
bags/pelvisbags cannot deploy correctly and
would fail to provide the intended protection
in the event of an accident. Appropriate seat
covers can be obtained from a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre. G
Risk of injury
Sensors to control the airbags are located in
the doors. Therefore, do not make any modi- fications to the doors or door trim, e.g. retro-
fitting loudspeakers. Damage to the doors
can affect operation of the sidebags.
The purpose of sidebag deployment is to
enhance the level of protection for the thorax
(but not the head, neck or arms) of the vehicle
occupants on the side of the vehicle on which
the impact occurs. Example: Saloon
Front sidebags
:or rear-compartment side-
bags* ;deploy next to the outer seat cush-
ions. They are deployed:
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate
of lateral vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion, e.g. in a side impact
R independently of the seat belt use
R independently of the front airbags
R independently of the belt tensioners
Pelvisbags
i Pelvisbags are only available in certain
countries. G
Risk of injury
If you wish to use seat covers, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that, for safety reasons, you
only use seat covers that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The seat covers must have a special tear seam
for sidebags/pelvisbags. Otherwise, the side-
bags/pelvisbags cannot deploy correctly and
would fail to provide the intended protection Occupant safety
41Safety
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X
To activate: press button ;.
Indicator lamp :lights up. The rear side
windows can only be operated using the
switches on the driver's door.
X To deactivate: press button;.
Indicator lamp :goes out. You can oper-
ate the rear side windows using the
switches in the rear compartment. Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock Braking System)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System)
R BAS PLUS* ( Brake Assist System Plus*)
R Adaptive brake lamps
R ESP ®
( Electronic Stability Program)
R EBV (electronic brake-power distribution)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE
R PRE-SAFE Brake* (vehicles with Distronic
Plus*)
i In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tyres (M+S tyres) and if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-
ing safety systems described in this section
work as effectively as possible. G
Risk of accident
The risk of an accident is significantly
increased by driving too fast. This is particu-
larly the case when cornering as well as on
wet or slippery roads or when driving too close
to the vehicle in front.
The driving safety systems described in this
section can neither reduce this risk nor over-
ride the laws of physics.
For this reason, always adapt your driving
style to suit prevailing road and weather con-
ditions. Maintain sufficient distance from
other road users and objects on the road. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road-surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently. G
Risk of accident
Do not depress the brake pedal several times
in quick succession (pumping). Depress the
brake firmly and evenly. Pumping the brake
pedal reduces the braking effect.
Braking If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
the brake pedal pulsating.
X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force. G
Risk of accident
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. This limits the steerability of the vehi- 58
Driving safety systemsSafety
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Opening and closing
...........................70
Boot/luggage compartment ..............72
Key positions ....................................... 75
Seats .................................................... 76
Steering wheel .................................... 84
Mirrors ................................................. 86
Memory functions* .............................87
Seat belts ............................................. 89
Lights ................................................... 93
Windscreen wipers .............................99
Side windows .................................... 100
Driving and parking ..........................103
Transmission ..................................... 110
Instrument cluster ............................117
On-board computer ..........................118
Driving systems ................................ 137
Air conditioning ................................. 171
Sliding sunroof .................................. 184
Loading and stowing ........................187
Features ............................................. 207 69Controls
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!
To prevent damage, you must insert the
head restraints fully into their guides and
engage the belt buckles in their guides. X
Press release catch :and push the head
restraints in fully.
X Fold backrest ;of the folding bench seat
into its original position until it engages. Steering wheel
Points to remember
Depending on the vehicle equipment, you can
adjust the steering wheel either manually or
electrically*. G
Risk of injury
The electrically adjustable steering wheel*
can be adjusted when the key is removed
from the ignition lock. Therefore, do not leave
children unsupervised in the vehicle as they
could become trapped as the steering wheel
is adjusted. G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the steering wheel when the vehi-
cle is stationary and do not pull away until the
steering wheel adjustment mechanism is
locked in position. Otherwise, you might drive
without the steering wheel adjustment mech-
anism being locked in position and be distrac-
ted from road and traffic conditions by an
unexpected movement of the steering wheel
and cause an accident. However, the steerability of the vehicle is not
affected.
When you adjust the steering wheel, make
sure that:
R the steering wheel can be reached with
your arms slightly bent
R you can move your legs freely
R you can see all the displays in the instru-
ment cluster clearly Adjusting the steering wheel man-
ually
:
Release lever
; Height adjustment
= Fore-and-aft adjustment
X Push release catch :down completely.
The steering column is unlocked.
X Adjust the steering wheel to the desired
position.
X Push release lever :up completely.
The steering wheel is locked in position. 84
Steering wheelControls
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Adjusting the steering wheel electri-
cally*
:
Height adjustment
; Fore-and-aft adjustment
You can find more information under:
R EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature (Y page 85)
R storing settings (Y page 87) Steering wheel heating*
X
To switch on or off: make sure that the
key is in position 2in the ignition lock.
X Turn the lever in direction of arrow :
or ;.
Indicator lamp =lights up or goes out.
i The steering-wheel heating does not
switch off automatically. Easy-entry/exit feature*
The EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature makes getting
in and out of your vehicle easier.
The steering wheel swings upwards when
you:
R remove the key from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door when the key is in
position 0or 1in the ignition lock
When the key is inserted into the ignition lock
with the driver's door closed, the steering
wheel is automatically moved to the previ-
ously set position. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
when you activate the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT fea-
ture.
If there is a risk of someone becoming trap-
ped, stop the adjustment procedure. To halt
the procedure:
R move the steering column adjustment
switch in the opposite direction to that in
which the steering wheel is moving
R press one of the memory function position
buttons
Never leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle. They could open the driver's door and,
thereby, unintentionally activate the EASY-
ENTRY feature and become trapped.
The last position of the steering wheel is
stored after you manually adjust it or when
you store a memory position (Y page 87).
You can activate and deactivate the EASY-
ENTRY/EXIT feature via the on-board com-
puter (Y page 136).
i The crash-responsive EASY-EXIT fea-
ture* can only be activated after an acci-
dent if the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is
activated in the on-board computer.
If the crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature
is triggered in an accident, the steering
wheel column will move upwards when the
driver's door is opened, irrespective of the Steering wheel
85Controls
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i
Make sure that the exterior mirrors are
always folded out fully while the vehicle is
in motion; otherwise, they may vibrate.
Resetting the exterior mirrors If the battery has been disconnected or has
become discharged, the exterior mirrors
must be reset. Otherwise, the exterior mirrors
will not fold in when you select the "Fold in
mirrors when locking" function in the on-
board computer (Y page 136).
X Make sure that the key is in position 1in
the ignition lock.
X Briefly press button :.
Automatically folding exterior mirrors
in or out* If the "Fold in mirrors when locking" function
is activated in the on-board computer
(Y
page 136):
R the exterior mirrors fold in automatically as
soon as you lock the vehicle from the out-
side.
R the exterior mirrors fold out again automat-
ically as soon as you unlock the vehicle and
then open the driver's or front-passenger
door.
i If you have activated this function and fold
in the exterior mirrors using button :, they
will not be folded out automatically. You
can only fold out the exterior mirrors again
using button :. Automatic anti-dazzle mirrors*
The rear-view mirror and the exterior mirror
on the driver's side automatically go into anti-
dazzle mode if the ignition is switched on and
incident light from headlamps strikes the sen-
sor in the rear-view mirror.
The mirrors do not go into anti-dazzle mode if
reverse gear is engaged or the interior lighting
is switched on. G
Risk of accident
If the incident light from headlamps cannot
strike the sensor in the rear-view mirror, for
instance, when the rear window blind* is
extended, the mirror's automatic anti-dazzle
function will not operate.
Incident light could then dazzle you. This may
distract you from the traffic conditions, and
you may, thereby, cause an accident. In this
case, adjust the rear-view mirror manually. Memory functions*
Storing settings
Using the memory button you can store up to
three different settings, e. g. for three differ-
ent people.
The following settings are stored as a single
memory preset:
R position of the seat, backrest and head
restraint
R active multicontour seat*: dynamic func-
tion level
R driver's side: steering wheel position
R driver's side: position of the exterior mir-
rors on the driver's and front-passenger
sides G
Risk of injury
The memory function can still be used when
the key has been removed. For this reason,
children should never be left unsupervised in
the vehicle. Otherwise, they could become
trapped when moving the seat or the steering
wheel. G
Risk of accident
Only use the memory function on the driver’s
side when the vehicle is stationary. Other-
wise, you could be distracted from the traffic
conditions by the steering wheel and seat
moving of their own accord, and as a result
cause an accident. Memory functions*
87Controls
* optional
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