2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS CABRIOLET tow

Comply with safety regulation
swhen dispos-
ing of belt tensioners. Any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre can provide details of these
regulations.
! If the front-passenger seat is not occu-
pied, do not engage the seat belt tongue in
the buckle on the front-passenger seat.
Otherwise, the belt tensioner could be trig-
gered in the event of an accident.
The seat belts are fitted with belt tensioners.
The belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in
an accident, pulling them close against the
body.
Belt tensioners do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
Belt tensioners do not pull vehicle occupants
back towards the backrest.
If the seat belt is also fitted with a belt force
limiter and this is triggered, the force exerted
by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant is
reduced.
The belt force limiters for the front seats are
synchronised with the front airbags, which
take on a part of the deceleration force. This
results in the force exerted on the occupant
being distributed over a greater area.
The belt tensioners can only be activated
when:
R the ignition is switched on.
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" (Y page 41).
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the three-point seat belts in front.
R
The belt tensioners on the seats in the rear
compartmenta re triggered independently of
the lock status of the seat belts.
The beltt ensioners are triggered depending
on the type and severity of an accident:
R if, in the event of a head-on or rear-end col-
lision the vehicle decelerates or acceler- ates rapidly in a longitudinal direction dur-
ing the initial stages of the impact
R if, in the event of a side impact, on the side
opposite the impact the vehicle deceler-
ates or accelerates rapidly in a lateral direc-
tion
R Cabriolet: in certain situations if the vehicle
overturns and the system determines that
it can provide additional protection.
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 is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard. The 6SRS warning lamp
lights up.
Automatic comfort-fit feature The fron
tseat belts have an automatic com-
fort-fit feature. The automatic comfort-fit fea-
ture reduces the retraction force of the seat
belts. This results in increased seat belt com-
fort. Children in the vehicle
Child restraint systems
Important safety notes G
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious or even fatal
injury to the child in the event of a sudden
change in direction, braking or an accident:
R children less than 1.50 m tall and under
twelve years of age must always be secured
in special child restraint systems on a suit-
able vehicle seat. This is necessary
because the seat belts are not designed for
children.
R Do not drive with a child secured in a rear-
ward-facing child restraint system on the
front-passenger seat. Exception: if the vehi-
cle is equipped with automatic child seat
recognition on the front-passenger seat Children in the vehicle
53Safety
Z

cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at slow speeds where there is no visible
damage to the front of the vehicle. Adaptive brake lamps
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS
or BAS PLUS, the brake lamps flash rapidly.
In this way, traffic travelling behind you is
warned in an even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously .The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h .You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning button (Y page 127). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 64). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Vehicles without 4MATIC: observe the notes
on ESP ®
if the vehicle is being towed with the
rear axle raised (Y page 334).
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarn-
ing lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction. Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y
page 278) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 250).
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to
keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehicle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X When pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
4ETS (Electronic Traction System) Traction control is part of ESP
®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate ESP ®
.
Deactivating/activating ESP ® G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident. Driving safety systems
67Safety
Z

For information on switching off the radar
senso rsystem using the on-board computer,
see (Y page 245).
Following damage to the fron tend of the vehi-
cle, have the configuratio nand operatio nof
the rada rsensors checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at slow speeds where there is no visible
damage to the fron tofthe vehicle. Anti-theft systems
Immobiliser
X To activate with the key: remove the key
from the ignition lock.
X To activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door.
X To deactivate: switch on the ignition.
The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Anyone can
start the engine if a valid key has been left
inside the vehicle.
i The immobiliser is always deactivated
when you start the engine. ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) X
To prime: lock the vehicle with the key or
KEYLESS-GO.
Indicator lamp :flashes. The alarm sys-
tem is primed after approximately
15 seconds.
X To switch off: unlock the vehicle with the
key or KEYLESS-GO.
Av isual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is primed and you open:
R a door
R the vehicle with the emergency key ele-
ment
R the boot lid
R the bonnet
X To turn th ealarm off with th ekey: press
the % or& button on the key.
The alarm is switched off.
or
X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
X To stop the alarm using KEYLESS-GO:
grasp the outside door handle. The key
must be outside the vehicle.
The alarm is switched off.
or
X Press the Start/Stop button on the dash-
board. The key must be inside the vehicle.
The alarm is switched off.
The alarm is not switched off, even if you
close the open door that has triggered it, for
example. Tow-away protection
Function An audible and visual alarm is triggered if your
vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while
tow-away protection is primed. This can occur
if the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for
example. Anti-theft systems
71Safety Z

Activating
X
Make sure that:
R
the doors are closed.
R the boot lid is closed.
Only then is the tow-away protection
primed.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-
GO.
Tow-away protection is primed after
approximately 30 seconds.
To deactivate X
To switch off: unlockthe vehicle with the
key or KEYLESS-GO.
Tow-away protection is switched off auto-
matically.
Deactivating X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up briefly.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-
GO.
Tow-away protection is deactivated.
Tow-away protection remains deactivated
until:
R the vehicle is unlocked again and
R a door is opened and closed again and
R the vehicle is locked again To prevent a false alarm, deactivate the tow-
away protection if you lock your vehicle and
it:
R
is being transported
R is being loaded onto a ferry or car trans-
porter, for example
R is parked on a movable surface, e.g. in a
split-level garage Interior motion sensor
Function When the interior motion sensor is primed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered if move-
ment is detected in the vehicle interior. This
can occur if someone reaches into the vehicle
interior, for example.
Activating
X
Make sure that:
R
the side windows are closed.
R the panorama sliding sunroof is closed
(Coupé).
This will prevent false alarms.
X Cabriolet: make sure that the roof is
closed.
X Make sure that:
R
the doors are closed.
R the panorama sliding sunroof is closed
(Coupé).
R the boot lid is closed.
Only then is the interior motion sensor
primed.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-
GO.
The interior motion sensor is primed after
approximately 30 seconds.
i Cabriolet: in some countries, the interior
motion sensor is primed even if the soft top
is open. You should only park the vehicle
when the soft top is closed. Otherwise, fall-
ing leaves or insects, for example, could
trigger a false alarm. 72
Anti-theft systemsSafety

If the vehicle has been locked using the lock-
ing button for the central locking, or has been
locked automatically, and
adoor is opened
from the inside:
R the vehicle will be fully unlocked if it had
previously been fully unlocked.
R only the door which has been opened from
the inside is unlocked if only the driver's
door had been previously unlocked. Automatic locking feature
X
To deactivate: press and hold button :
for about five seconds until a tone sounds.
X To activate: press and hold button ;for
about five seconds until a tone sounds.
i If you press one of the two buttons and
do not hear a tone, the relevant setting has
already been selected.
The vehicle is locked automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels are
turning.
You could therefore be locked out if:
R the vehicle is being pushed.
R the vehicle is being towed.
R the vehicle is being tested on a dynamom-
eter.
You can also switch the automatic locking
function on and off using the on-board com-
puter (Y page 245). Unlocking the driver's door (emer-
gency key element)
If the vehicle can no longer be unlocked with
the key, use the emergency key element.
X Take the emergency key element out of the
key (Y page 78).
X Insert the emergency key element into the
lock of the driver's door as far as it will go. 1
To unlock
X Turn the emergency key element anti-
clockwise to position 1.
The door is unlocked.
i On right-hand-drive vehicles, turn the
emergency key element clockwise.
X Turn the emergency key element back and
remove it.
X Insert the emergency key element into the
key.
If you use the emergenc ykey element to
unlock and open the driver's door, the anti-
thef talarm system will be triggered
(Y page 71). Locking the vehicle (emergency key
element)
If the vehicle can no longer be locked with the
key, use the emergency key element.
X Open the driver's door.
X Close the front-passenger door and the
boot lid.
X Press the locking button (Y page 83).84
DoorsOpening and closing

R
no objects are on the soft-top compart-
ment cover
R the fabric is not dirty, wet or frozen.
You could otherwise damage the sof ttop,
boot and other parts of the vehicle.
i Make sure that the soft top is dry and
clean before closing it. Otherwise, water or
dirt could enter the vehicle interior or boot.
You can open or close the soft top:
R when the vehicle is stationary or
R when driving up to a speed of 40 km/h
If there is a strong head wind, it may not be
possible to close the soft top fully. In this
case, reduce speed or stop in order to close
the soft top fully.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only open or close the soft
top when the vehicle is stationary. Opening and closing with the soft-top
switch
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Make sure nobody can be trapped or injured
by moving parts, such as the soft-top linkage
or soft-top compartment cover, when opening
or closing the soft top.
Release the soft-top switch in the event of
danger. The soft-top mechanism stops imme-
diately. G
WARNING
If the vehicle speed exceeds 40km/h, the soft
top stops the opening or closing movement
and remains in that position. This could impair
your rear view. At high speeds the soft top
may be damaged.
Reduce your speed to below 40km/h or stop
the vehicle in accordanc ewith the traffic con-
ditions. Press the soft-top switch again in
order to open or close the soft top fully. Opening and closing X
Make sure that the boot separator is closed
(Y page 99).
X Close the boot lid.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Open the cover on the lower centre con-
sole. X
To open: pull soft-top switch :until the
entire soft top is stowed away in the boot.
The Top in operation message appears
in the multifunction display.
If, when opening, you drive at speeds above
40 km/h, the opening procedure is stop-
ped and you see the Open/close top completely message in the multifunction
display. In order to open the soft top fully,
reduce your speed again to below
40 km/h and pull the soft-top switch again.
i The side windows close if you keep on
pulling the soft-top switch.
X To close: press and hold soft-top
switch :until the soft top is fully closed.
The Top in operation message appears
in the multifunction display.
If, when closing, you drive at speeds above
40 km/h, the closing procedure is stopped
and you see the Open/close top com‐ pletely message in the multifunction dis-
play. In order to close the soft top fully,
reduce your speed again to below
40 km/h and push the soft-top switch
again. Soft top (Cabriolet)
93Opening and closing Z

Parking lamps
1W
Left-hand parking lamps
2X Right-hand parking lamps
3T Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4Ã Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5L Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
BR Rear foglamp
CN Foglamps (only vehicles with front
foglamps).
Switching on the parking lamps ensures the
corresponding side of the vehicle is illumina-
ted.
X To switch on the parking lamps: the key
is not in the ignition lock or it is in posi-
tion 0.
X Turn the light switch to W(left-hand side
of the vehicle) or X(right-hand side of
the vehicle).
Adjusting the headlampr ange (halogen
headlamps) The headlamp range control allows you to
adjust the cone of light from the headlamps
to sui tthe vehicle load. g
Driver's seat and front-passenger seat
occupied
1 Driver's seat, front-passenger seat and
rear seats occupied
2 Driver's seat, front-passenger seat and
rear seats occupied, boot laden
3 Driver's and front-passenger seats occu-
pied and maximum permissible rear axle
load utilised, e.g. when towing a trailer
X Start the engine.
X Turn the headlamp range control to the
position which corresponds to the load in
your vehicle. Combination switch
Turn signals :
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left 126
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

Useful information
............................158
Running-in notes ............................... 158
Driving ............................................... 158
Manual transmission ........................166
Automatic transmission ...................167
Refuelling ........................................... 173
Parking ............................................... 177
Driving tips ........................................ 179
Driving systems ................................ 182
Towing atrailer ................................. 220 157Driving and parking