Rif the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
Rdepending on whether the seat belt is in
use
Rindependently of the window curtain air
bags
The air bags will not deploy in impacts which
do not exceed the system’s preset
deployment thresholds. You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belts.
The front air bags will not deploy in the event
of a rollover unless the vehicle’s rate of
longitudinal deceleration or acceleration
exceeds the preset deployment threshold for
the front air bags.
The front passenger front air bag will only be
deployed if
Rthe front passenger seat is occupied
Rthe 4/ indicator lamp in the center
console is not lit (Y page 36)
Rthe impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
! Do not place objects heavier than 20 lb
(9 kg) on the front passenger seat. This
could cause the front air bag on the front
passenger side to deploy in a crash which
exceeds the system’s deployment
threshold.
Window curtain air bags
GObserve Safety notes, see page 33.When deployed, window curtain air bags :
are designed to provide increased protection
for the head (but not the chest or arms) of the
occupants on the side of the vehicle on which
the impact occurs.
Window curtain air bags : are deployed
Ron the impacted side of the vehicle
Rin side impacts exceeding a preset
deployment threshold
Rindependently of the front air bags
Rregardless of whether the front passenger
seat is occupied
Rregardless of whether the seat belt is in use
Rin certain vehicle rollovers, if the system
determines that air bag deployment can
offer additional protection to that provided
by the seat belt
Window curtain air bags : are not deployed
in impacts which do not exceed the system’s
deployment threshold.
Window curtain air bags : deploy in the area
indicated by the arrows.
BabySmart™ air bag deactivation
system
Your vehicle is equipped with the
BabySmartTM air bag deactivation system.
GWarning!
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front seating
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 restraint, toddler restraint, or booster
seat 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
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Special BabySmartTM compatible child seats,
designed for use with the Mercedes-Benz
system, are required for use with the
BabySmartTM air bag deactivation system.
Please contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for information on availability. With
the special child seat installed properly, the
front passenger front air bag will not deploy.
The 4/ indicator lamp : will be
illuminated, except with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch or with the
starter switch in position 0.
The system does not deactivate the window
curtain air bag and the Emergency Tensioning
Device (ETD).
Self-test BabySmart™ without special
child seat installed
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position 1 or 2 the 4/
indicator lamp comes on for approximately
6 seconds and then goes out.
If the 4/ indicator lamp should not
come on or is continuously lit, the system is
not functioning. You must see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before seating any
child on the front passenger seat. More
information can be found in the “Practical
hints” section (Y page 220).
GWarning!
Do not place powered-on laptops, mobile
phones, electronic tags such as those used in
ski passes and like electronic devices on the
front passenger seat. Signals from such
devices may interfere with the BabySmartTM
air bag deactivation system. Such signal
interference may cause the 4/
indicator lamp not to come on during self-test
or be continuously lit, indicating that the
system is not functioning.
GWarning!
The BabySmartTM air bag deactivation system
will ONLY work with a special child seat
designed to operate with it. It will not work
with child seats which are not BabySmartTM
compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness off the BabySmartTM air bag
deactivation system. The bottom of the child
seat must make full contact with the front
passenger seat cushion. An incorrectly
mounted child seat could cause injuries to the
child in case of an accident, instead of
protecting the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.
Seat belts
Safety notes
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, the U.S.
territories and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts
fastened whenever the vehicle is in motion.
For information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and restraint
systems for infants and children, see
“Children in the vehicle” (Y page 44).
GWarning!
Always fasten your seat belt before driving off.
Always make sure all of your passengers are
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of the child, and secure child restraint with
the vehicle’s seat belt according to the child
seat manufacturer’s instructions.
GWarning!
Infants and small children should never share
a seat belt with another occupant. During an
accident, they could be crushed between the
occupant and seat belt.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and/
or the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts. Position
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not
face or neck. A booster seat may be
necessary to achieve proper seat belt
positioning for children over 41 lb (18 kg) until
they reach a height where a lap/shoulder belt
fits properly without a booster.
When the child restraint is not in use, remove
it from the vehicle or secure it with the seat
belt to prevent the child restraint from
becoming a projectile in the event of an
accident.
Installation of infant and child restraint
systems
GObserve Safety notes, see page 44.GWarning!
Always lock the seat backrests in their upright
position when the rear seats are occupied by
passengers, before installing top tether
straps, or the extended cargo compartment is
not in use. Make sure that seat backrests are
secured properly by pushing and pulling on
the seat backrests. If a seat backrest is not
locked properly, the seat backrest could fold.
The child seat would no longer be supported
properly or positioned to provide its intended
benefit. That could cause serious or even fatal
injuries.
This vehicle is equipped with tether
anchorages for a top tether strap at each of
the rear seating positions. The anchorage
rings are located on the floor behind each rear
seat.
Top tether straps enable an additional
connection to be made between child
restraint systems secured with LATCH-type
anchors and rear seats. This can further
reduce the risk of injury.
XRemove the cargo compartment cover
blind, if installed (Y page 129).
XGuide the top tether strap between head
restraint and top of the seat backrest.
The head restraint must be installed and
positioned such that the top tether strap
can pass freely between the head restraint
and top of the seat backrest.
XMake sure the top tether strap is not
twisted.
XFold up anchorage ring :.XSecurely fasten hook ;, which is part of
top tether strap, to anchorage ring :.
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XFor safety, make sure hook ; is attached
to anchorage ring : beyond the safety
catch, as illustrated.
Once hook ; is attached, the child restraint
itself can be secured.
XInstall the child restraint system and
tighten the top tether strap according to
the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions.
GWarning!
Only use the described top tether anchorage
rings for the respective child seat. Other
lashing eyelets could tear in case of an
accident. Make sure the top tether straps are
not crossed or twisted and the hook is
attached and closed properly.
Child seat anchors – LATCH-type
GObserve Safety notes, see page 44.GWarning!
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts. Position
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not
face or neck.
A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper seat belt positioning for children over
41 lb (18 kg) until they reach a height where
a lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a
booster.
Install child seat according to manufacturer’s
instructions.
The child seat must be firmly attached to the
right and left side anchors.
An incorrectly mounted child seat may come
loose during an accident which could result in
serious injury or death to the child.
Damaged or impact damaged child seats or
child seat mounting fittings must be replaced.
This vehicle is equipped with two LATCH-type
anchors (at each of the rear outer seats) for
the installation of a LATCH-type child seat
with matching mounting fittings.
Non-LATCH-type child seats may also be used
and can be installed using the vehicle’s seat
belt system. Install child seat according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
LATCH-type anchors : are located between
the seat cushion and the backrest.
XInstall a LATCH-type child seat according
to the manufacturer’s instructions.
A rigid connection between the child seat
and the body of the vehicle is established.
XMake sure the seat belt for the rear center
seat can operate freely with a child seat
installed.
Child safety
Child safety locks
GObserve Safety notes, see page 44.GWarning!
Children could open a rear door from the
inside. This may cause serious personal injury
or an accident. Therefore, secure the rear
doors with the child safety locks whenever
children are riding in the back seats of the
vehicle.
The child safety locks on the rear doors
enable you to secure each rear door
individually. You cannot open a secured rear
door from the inside. You can open the rear
door from the outside when the vehicle is
unlocked.
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XSecuring: Press the lever up in direction of
arrow :.
XCheck to make sure the child safety locks
are working properly.
XReleasing: Press the lever down in
direction of arrow ;.
Override switch
GObserve Safety notes, see page 44.
With the override switch you can disable the
rear door window switches in the rear door
panels.
GWarning!
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle. The
children may otherwise injure themselves,
e.g. by becoming trapped in the rear door
window opening.
XActivating: Slide override switch : to the
right.
Symbol # becomes visible.
The rear door windows can no longer be
operated using the respective switch
located in the rear doors.
It is still possible to operate the rear door
windows using the switches located on the
door control panel of the driver’s door.
XDeactivating: Slide override switch : to
the left.
The rear door windows can again be
operated using the respective switch
located in the rear doors.
For more information on power windows, see
the “Controls in detail” section
(Y page 81).
Panic alarm
XActivating: Press and hold !
button : for at least 1 second.
An audible alarm and flashing turn signal
lamps will operate briefly.
XDeactivating: Press ! button : again.
or
XInsert the SmartKey in the starter switch.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. this device must accept any
interference received, including
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If one or more of the indicator lamps in
respective seat heating button : are
flashing, there is insufficient voltage available
since too many electrical consumers are
turned on. The seat heating switches off
automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.
Rear seat heating
:Normal heating;Rapid heating
The red indicator lamps in the switch come
on to show which heating level you have
selected.
The seat heating switches from level 2 (rapid
seat heating) to level 1 (normal seat heating)
after approximately 5 minutes.
The seat heating switches off automatically
from level 1 after approximately 30 minutes.
XSwitch on the ignition.XSwitching on seat heating: Press upper
switch position :.
A red indicator lamp in the switch comes
on.
XSwitching off seat heating: Press upper
switch position : once more.
XSwitching on rapid seat heating: Press
lower switch position ;.
Both red indicator lamps in the switch
come on.
XSwitching off rapid seat heating: Press
lower switch position ; once more.
If one or both of the indicator lamps in the
seat heating switch are flashing, there is
insufficient voltage available since too many
electrical consumers are turned on. The seat
heating switches off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.
Multifunction steering wheel
Safety notes
GWarning!
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of the
vehicle.
The steering wheel adjustment feature can be
operated when the driver’s door is open.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Make sure
Ryou can reach the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent at the elbows
Ryou can move your legs freely
Rall displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument cluster
are clearly visible
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Steering wheel adjustmentXSwitch on the ignition.
or
XOpen the driver’s door.XAdjusting steering wheel in or out: Move
stalk in direction of arrows :.
XAdjusting steering wheel up or down:
Move stalk in direction of arrows ;.
iThe memory function (Y page 70) lets
you store the settings for the steering
wheel together with the settings for the
seat position and the exterior rear view
mirrors.
Easy-entry/exit feature
This feature allows the driver an easier entry
into and exit from the vehicle. When entering
and exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is
in its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activated
or deactivated in the Convenience submenu
of the control system (Y page 108).
GWarning!
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement do one of
the following:
RMove steering wheel adjustment stalk.
RPress one of the memory position buttons.
RPress the memory button.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel will return to its last set
position when you close the driver’s door with
the ignition switched on. The steering wheel
will also return to its last set position when
you insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch with the driver’s door closed.
iThe last set steering wheel position is
stored when the ignition is switched off or
the position is stored in memory
(Y page 71).
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you
remove the SmartKey from the starter switch.
The steering wheel also tilts upwards when
you open the driver’s door with the SmartKey
in starter switch position 0 or 1.
iWhen the current position for the steering
wheel is in the uppermost tilt position, the
steering wheel will no longer be able to
move upward when the easy-entry/exit
feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly
interrupted when the engine is started.
GWarning!
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in
motion. All steering wheel adjustment must
be completed before setting the vehicle in
motion. Driving off with the steering wheel
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XLowering: While holding brush guard
firmly, open quick lock ; using locking and
unlocking handle :.
XGently lower brush guard until it reaches its
fully lowered position.
XRaising and securing: Flip up brush guard
until it contacts end stop joint ?.
Quick lock stop pin must engage the cross
slot recess in lock =.
XNow turn quick lock ; so that quick
lock ; makes contact with end stop
joint ?.
XLock quick lock ; on both sides of brush
guard using locking and unlocking
handle :.
! Make sure both quick stop pins are
seated fully in lock.
Replacing SmartKey batteries
If the batteries in the SmartKey are
discharged, the vehicle can no longer be
locked or unlocked. It is recommended to
have the batteries replaced at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
GWarning!
Batteries contain poisonous and corrosive
substances. Therefore, keep the batteries out
of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
GWarning!
SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Check with
your local government’s disposal guidelines.
California residents, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm.
Batteries contain materials that can harm the
environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred method
of disposal. Many states/provinces require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries for
recycling.
When inserting the batteries, make sure they
are clean and free of lint.
When replacing batteries, always replace
both batteries.
iThe required replacement batteries are
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.
XRemove the mechanical key from the
SmartKey (Y page 221).
XInsert mechanical key : in direction of
arrow in side opening.
XUsing mechanical key :, push slide ; to
unlatch battery compartment =.
XPull battery compartment = out of the
SmartKey housing in direction of arrow.
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