2011 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class Owner's Manual

The twisted seat belt against your body
could cause injuries.
R Pregnant women should also always use a
lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible on
the hips to avoid any possible pressure on
the abdomen.
R Place the seat backrest in a position that is
as upright as possible.
R Check your seat belt during travel to make
sure it is properly positioned.
R Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
R When using a seat belt to secure infant
restraints, toddler restraints, or children in
booster seats, always follow the child seat
manufacturer's instructions.GWarning
Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the seat belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the seat belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to seat
belts. This could impair the effectiveness of
the seat belts.
Fastening seat belts
GWarning
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. Thus,
we strongly recommend that children be
placed in the rear seat whenever possible.
Regardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriately sized
child restraint system or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see the
"Children in the vehicle" section.
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.GWarning
Canada only: children 12 years old and under
may ride on the front seat if a BabySmart™
compatible child restraint system is installed
on the front-passenger seat. Use only
Mercedes-Benz approved BabySmart™
compatible child restraint systems. A
BabySmart™ compatible child restraint
system will deactivate the front-passenger
front air bag when installed properly. The
front-passenger front air bag will not be
deactivated if the child restraint systems that
are installed are not BabySmart™ compatible
or if BabySmart™ compatible child restraint
systems are not installed correctly. If the
front-passenger front air bag is deployed in a
collision, the child could be struck by the air
bag. This could lead to serious or fatal injury.
XAdjust the seat and move the backrest to
an almost vertical position ( Y page 92).XPull the seat belt smoothly through belt
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XWithout twisting it, place the shoulder
section of the seat belt over the center of
the shoulder and the lap section across the
hips.XEngage belt tongue ; in buckle =.
Seat belt adjustment: if necessary, the
driver's and front-passenger seat belts
automatically adjust to the upper body
( Y page 56).XIf necessary, adjust the seat belt to the
appropriate height ( Y page 56).XIf necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the seat belt to tighten the belt
across your body.
All seat belts in the vehicle, except the
driver's seat belt, are equipped with a special
seat belt retractor to secure child restraint
systems properly. For further information on
"Special seat belt retractors", see
( Y page 61).
For more information about releasing the seat
belt with release button ?, see "Releasing
seat belts" ( Y page 56).
Seat belt adjustment
The belt adjustment function adjusts the
driver's and front-passenger seat belt to the
upper body of the occupants. The belt strap
is tightened slightly when:
R you engage the belt tongue in the belt
buckle and you then turn the SmartKey to
position 2 in the ignition lock.
R the SmartKey is in position 2 in the ignition
lock and you then engage the belt tongue
in the buckle.
The seat-belt adjustment will apply a certain
tightening force if any slack is detected
between the occupant and the seat belt. Do
not hold on to the seat belt tightly while it is
adjusting. You can switch the belt adjustment
on and off in the on-board computer
( Y page 218).
Seat belt outlet height adjustment
You can adjust the seat belt height on the
driver's seat and the front-passenger seat.
Adjust the belt to a height that allows the
upper part of the seat belt to be routed across
the center of your shoulder.
XTo raise: slide the belt sash guide upwards.
The belt sash guide engages in various
positions.XTo lower: press and hold belt sash guide
release :.XSlide the belt sash guide downwards.XRelease belt sash guide release : and
make sure that the belt sash guide has
engaged.
Releasing seat belts
XPress release button ?(Y page 55) and
guide belt tongue ;(Y page 55) back
towards belt sash guide :(Y page 55).
!
Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled
up. Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue
will be trapped in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This could damage the door,
the door trim panel and the seat belt.
Damaged seat belts can no longer fulfill
their protective function and must be
replaced. Consult an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
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Belt warning for driver and front
passenger
Regardless of whether the driver's and front-
passenger seat belts have already been
fastened, the 7 seat belt warning lamp
lights up for six seconds each time the engine
is started. It then goes out once the driver and
the front passenger have fastened their seat
belts.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened after
the engine is started, an additional warning
tone will sound. The warning tone goes out
after approximately six seconds or once the
driver's seat belt is fastened.
If after six seconds the driver or front-
passenger have not fastened their seat belts
and the doors are closed:
R the 7 seat belt warning lamp remains
illuminated as long as either the driver's or
front-passenger seat belt is not fastened.
R if the vehicle speed once exceeds 15 mph
(25 km/h), the 7 seat belt warning
lamp lights up. Additionally, a warning tone
will sound with increasing intensity for a
maximum of 60 seconds or until the
driver's and front-passenger seat belt are
fastened.
If the driver/front passenger unfasten their
seat belt while the vehicle is in motion, the
7 seat belt warning lamp lights up and a
warning tone sounds again.
The warning tone ceases even if the driver or
front passenger have still not fastened their
seat belt after 60 seconds. The 7 seat belt
warning lamp stops flashing but continues to
be illuminated.
After the vehicle has come to a standstill, the
warning tone is reactivated and the 7 seat
belt warning lamp flashes again if the vehicle
speed has exceeded 15 mph (25 km/h).
The 7 seat belt warning lamp only goes
out if:
R both the driver and the front passenger
have fastened their seat belts
or
R the vehicle is stationary and a door is open
i For more information on the 7 seat
belt warning lamp, see "Indicator and
warning lamps in the instrument cluster,
seat belt" ( Y page 248).
Emergency Tensioning Devices and
seat belt force limiters
The front seat belts and the outer seat belts
in the rear are equipped with ETDs and belt
force limiters. In addition, the front seat belts
are installed with belt buckle tensioners.
! If the front-passenger seat is not
occupied, do not engage the seat belt
tongue in the buckle on the front-
passenger seat. Otherwise, the Emergency
Tensioning Device/belt buckle tensioner
could be triggered in the event of an
accident.
ETDs/belt buckle tensioners tighten the seat
belts in an accident, pulling them close
against the body.
ETDs/belt buckle tensioners do not correct
incorrect seat positions or incorrectly
fastened seat belts.
ETDs do not pull vehicle occupants back
towards the backrest.
Seat belt force limiters, when activated, are
employed to help reduce the force exerted by
the seat belts on occupants during a crash.
The front belt force limiters are synchronized
with the front air bags, which take on a part
of the deceleration force. Thus, the force
exerted on the occupant is distributed over a
greater area.
The ETDs/belt buckle tensioners can only be
activated when:
R the ignition is switched on
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" ( Y page 36)
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Rthe belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the three-point seat belts in the
front
R the front-passenger seat is occupied and
the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
the front-passenger side.
The ETDs on the outside seats in the rear
compartment are triggered independently of
the lock status of the seat belts.
The ETDs are triggered depending on the type
and severity of an accident:
R in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision if the vehicle decelerates or
accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal
direction during the initial stages of the
impact
R in the event of a side impact, on the side
opposite the impact if the vehicle
decelerates or accelerates rapidly in a
lateral direction
R in certain situations if the vehicle overturns
and the system determines that it can
provide additional protection.
If the ETDs/belt buckle tensioners are
triggered, 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 is released generally does
not constitute a health hazard. The + SRS
warning lamp lights up.
i If the belt buckle tensioners have been
triggered on the front seats, the buckle will
be pulled down and will be almost flush with
the upper edge of the seat. The + SRS
warning lamp is lit.GWarning
The belt buckle tensioners on the front seats
only function if the belt buckles can be pulled
down unobstructed. They must not be
restricted in any way. Therefore, do not grab
the belt buckles and do not place any objects
under the belt buckles. Otherwise, the
tensioning of the belt by the buckle is
restricted or will not function, and will not
provide any additional protection.
GWarning
Pyrotechnical ETDs/belt buckle tensioners
that were activated must be replaced.
For your safety, when disposing of the
pyrotechnic ETDs/belt buckle tensioners
always follow our safety instructions. These
instructions are available from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The PRE-SAFE ®
system is equipped with
electrically reversible pre-tensioners that do
not need replacing after deployment.
Children in the vehicle
Important safety guidelines
GWarning
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, 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. The children
could:
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
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.
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GWarning!
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or trunk unless they
are firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
If an infant or child is traveling in the vehicle:
XSecure the child using an infant or child
restraint system appropriate to the age and
weight of the child.XMake sure that the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
Child restraint systems
Important safety guidelines
GWarning
Observe "Important safety instructions"
( Y page 58).
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained using the child restraint
systems at all times while the vehicle is in
motion.
The use of infant or child restraints is required
by law in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, the U.S. territories and all
Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should always be
seated in an infant or child seat restraint
system appropriate for the size and weight of
the child. They must be properly secured in
accordance with the manufacturer's
installation instructions for the infant or child
seat restraint system. All infant and child seat
restraint systems must comply with the US
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 210.2.
A statement by the child restraint
manufacturer of compliance with these
standards can be found on the instruction
label on the child restraint system. You will
also find the statement in the instruction
manual provided with the child restraint
system.
When using an infant restraint system, child
restraint system or booster seat, make sure
to carefully read and follow all manufacturer's
instructions for installation and use.
Please read the warning labels affixed to the
interior of the vehicle or to the infant restraint
system or child restraint system.GWarning
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. 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 appropriately sized
child restraint system or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
The infant or child restraint system 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.
Occupants, especially children, should always
sit as upright as possible, wear the seat belt
properly and use an appropriately sized child
restraint system or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
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Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following
important information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the front-
passenger seat:
R USA only: Your vehicle is equipped with air
bag technology that is designed to
deactivate the front-passenger front air
bag, when the system on the front-
passenger seat detects the weight of a
typical 12-month old child in a standard
child restraint.
R USA only: Children that weigh more than a
typical 12-month old child, the front-
passenger front air bag may be activated/
deactivated. Always make sure that the
42 indicator lamp is
illuminated indicating that the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
R Canada only: Children 12 years old and
under may ride on the front seat if a
BabySmart™ compatible child restraint
system is installed on the front-passenger
seat. Use only Mercedes-Benz approved
BabySmart™ compatible child restraint
systems. A BabySmart™ compatible child
restraint system will deactivate the front-
passenger front air bag when installed
correctly. The front-passenger front air bag
will not be deactivated if the child restraint
systems that are installed are not
BabySmart™ compatible or if BabySmart™
compatible child restraint systems are not
installed correctly. If the front-passenger
front air bag is deployed, the child could be
killed when it inflates in a crash. This could
lead to serious or fatal injury.
R A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
passenger seat will be seriously injured or
even killed if the passenger front air bag
inflates in a collision which could occur
under some circumstances, even with the
air bag technology installed in your vehicle.
The only means to eliminate this risk
completely is never to place a child in a
rear-facing child restraint in the front seat.We therefore strongly recommend that you
always place a child in a rear-facing child
restraint on the rear seat.
R If you must install a rear-facing child
restraint on the front-passenger seat
because circumstances require you to do
so, make sure the 42
indicator lamp is illuminated, indicating
that the front-passenger front air bag is
deactivated. Should the 42
indicator lamp not illuminate or go out while
the restraint is installed, please check
installation. Periodically check the
42 indicator lamp while
driving to make sure that the
42 indicator lamp is
illuminated. If the 42 indicator
lamp goes out or remains out, do not
transport a child on the passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
passenger seat will be seriously injured or
even killed if the passenger front air bag
inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing child
restraint on the passenger seat:
- move the seat as far back as possible
- use the proper child restraint
recommended for the age, size and
weight of the child
- secure child restraint with the vehicle's
seat belt according to the child seat
manufacturer's instructions
R For children larger than the typical 12-
month-old child, the passenger front air bag
may or may not be activated.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/
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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
the shoulder belt across the 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.
Special seat belt retractorGWarning
Observe "Important safety instructions"
( Y page 58).
All seat belts in the vehicle, except the
driver's seat belt, are equipped with a special
seat belt retractor. The activated special seat
belt retractor ensures that the seat belt
cannot slacken after being fastened.
Installing a child restraint system:
XAlways comply with the manufacturer's
installation instructions.XPull the seat belt smoothly from the inertia
reel.XEngage the seat belt tongue in the belt
buckle.
Activating the special seat belt retractor:
XPull the seat belt out fully and let the inertia
reel retract it again.
While the seat belt is retracting, you should
hear a ratcheting sound. The special seat
belt retractor is activated.XPush down on the child restraint system to
take up any slack.Removing a child restraint system/
deactivating the special seat belt retractor:XAlways comply with the manufacturer's
installation instructions.XPress the seat belt release button and
guide the belt tongue to the belt outlet.
The special seat belt retractor is
deactivated.GWarning
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat belt
retractor will be deactivated.
LATCH-type child restraint (ISOFIX) in
the rear
GWarning
Observe "Important safety instructions"
( Y page 58).
GWarning
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts. Position
the shoulder belt across the chest and
shoulder, not face or neck.
In order to attain the correct seating position
for children weighing over 41 lb (18 kg), it may
be necessary to use a booster seat until they
reach a height where a normal lap/shoulder
seat belt lies properly across their bodies
without the need for a booster seat.
Install the child restraint system according to
the manufacturer's instructions.
The child restraint system must be installed
firmly on both brackets.
An incorrectly installed child restraint system
can come loose in the event of an accident,
causing the child to be severely or fatally
injured.
Child restraint systems/child restraint
retaining brackets that are damaged or have
suffered damage due to an impact must be
replaced.
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ISOFIX is a standardized securing system for
specially-designed child restraint systems on
the rear seats. Securing rings for two ISOFIX
child restraint systems are installed on the
left and right of the rear seats.
Install child restraint systems without the
ISOFIX securing system using the vehicle's
seat belts. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions for installation of child restraint
systems.
! When installing the child restraint system,
make sure that the seat belt for the center
seat does not get trapped. Otherwise, the
seat belt could be damaged.XRemove covers :.;Securing ringsXInstall the ISOFIX child restraint system.
Comply with the manufacturer's
instructions when installing the ISOFIX
child restraint system.Top TetherGWarning
Observe "Important safety instructions"
( Y page 58).
GWarning
Always lock the rear seat backrests in their
upright position when the rear seats are
occupied by passengers. Lock the rear seat
backrests in their upright position before
installing the Top Tether straps or when the
cargo compartment is not in use. Make sure
that rear seat backrests are secured properly
by pushing and pulling on the seat backrests.
If the seat backrest is not locked properly, the
seat backrest could fold forward. The child
restraint system is no longer supported
properly or held in position and can no longer
fulfill its function. That could cause serious or
even fatal injuries.
Top Tether provides an additional connection
between the child restraint system secured
with ISOFIX and the rear seat. It helps reduce
the risk of injury even further.
The Top Tether anchorages are located on the
rear of the rear seat backrests.
XRemove respective covering cap : of the
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