
i
For more information on the 7seat
bel tw arning lamp, see "Warning and
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster,
seat belts" ( Ypage 218).
Emergency Tensioning Devices, belt
force limiters G
WARNING
Pyrotechnic Emergency Tensioning Devices
that have been deployed must be renewed.
For your safety, when disposing of Emergency
Tensioning Devices, always observe the
safety instructions. These are available from
any authorized Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
The PRE-SAFE ®
system has electrically
operated reversible pre-tensioners that do
not require replacement after activation.
! 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 could be triggered in the
event of an accident.
The fron tseat belts and the outer seat belts
in the rear are equipped with Emergency
Tensioning Devices and belt force limiters.
The ETDs tighten the seat belts in an accident,
pulling them close against the body.
The ETDs do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
The ETDs do not pull vehicle occupants back
towards the backrest.
If the seat belt is also equipped with a seat
belt force limiter and this is triggered, the
force exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle
occupan tis reduced.
The belt force limiters for the front seats are
synchronized with the front air bags, 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 ETDs can only be activated when:
R
the ignition is switched on.
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" (Y page 37).
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the lap-shoulder belts in the front.
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 if, in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision, the vehicle decelerates or
accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal
direction during the initial stages of the
impact
R if, in the event of a side impact, the vehicle
is subjected to high lateral acceleration/
deceleration
If the ETDs are deployed, you will hear a bang,
and a small amount of powder may also be
released.O nly 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. Children in the vehicle
Child restraint systems
Important safety notes G
WARNING
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. Children in the vehicle
47Safety
Z

cannot perform its intended protective
function in the event of an accident, and could
lead to injuries.
G
WARNING
Do not place electronic devices on the front-
passenger seat, e.g.:
R laptops, whe nswitched on
R mobile phones
R cards with transponders, e.g .ski passes or
access cards
Signals from electronic equipment can cause
interference in the sensor system of the air
bag deactivatio nsystem. This can lead to a
system malfunction .This may cause the
4 PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp to light up even if no child seat with a
transponder for an air bag deactivation
system is installed. The front-passenger air
bag would not then deploy during an accident.
It is also possible that the 6SRS warning
lamp lights up and/or the 4PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp does not light up
briefly when you turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 2. The sensor system of the air bag deactivation
system on the front-passenger seat detects
whether a special Mercedes-Ben
zchild seat
has been installed there. To support
detection by the sensor system, the
Mercedes-Benzc hild seat is equipped with
transponders for the air bag deactivation
system. In this case, the 45:indicator lamp lights up. The front-passenger
air bag is deactivated.
i
If the front-passenger air bag is
deactivated by the air bag deactivation
system, the following remain enabled on
the front-passenger side:
R the side impact air bag
R the window curtain air bag
R the Emergency Tensioning Device
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat anchors
in the rear G
WARNING
Children that are too large for a child restraint
must travel in seats using normal seat belts.
Position the shoulder belt across the chest
and shoulder, not face or neck.
Ab ooster 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 the child restraint system in
accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions.
Attach the child restraint system to both
securing rings.
An incorrectly installed child restraint system
could come loose during an accident and
seriously or even fatally injure the child.
Child restraint systems or child seat securing
rings that are malfunctioning or damaged as
the result of a collision must be replaced.
! When installing the child restraint system,
make sure that the seat belt for the middle
seat does not get trapped. The seat belt
could otherwise be damaged. Children in the vehicle
51Safety Z

Problems with the air bag deactivation system
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The
45
indicator lamp on the
center console is lit. As
pecial Mercedes-Benz child seat with transponders for an air
bag deactivation system has been installed on the front-passenger
seat. The front-passenger air bag has therefore been deactivated
as desired. G
WARNING
There is no child seat installed on the front-passenger seat. The
air bag deactivation system is malfunctioning.
It is also possible that the 6SRS warning lamp lights up and/
or the 45 indicator lamp does not light up briefly when you
switch the ignition on.
There is a risk of injury.
X Remove electronic equipment from the front-passenger seat,
e.g.
R
Laptop
R Mobile phone
R Cards with transponders, such as ski passes or access cards
If the 45 indicator lamp remains lit:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Suitable positioning of the child restraint systems
Key to the letters used in the table:
XS
eat which is unsuitable for children in this weight category.
US uitable for child restraint systems in the Universal category that are approved for use in
this weigh tcategory.
UF Suitable for forward-facing child restraint systems that belong to the "Universal" category and are approved for use in this weigh tcategory.
LS uitable for child restraint systems as recommended, see the following table of
"Recommended child restraint systems" (Y page 56).54
Children in the vehicleSafety

Operation is only possible using the
switches in the driver's door. If the
indicator lamp is off, operation is possible
using the switches in the rear
compartment.
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System)
R COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST (adaptive
Brake Assist and distance warning signal)
R Adaptive brake lamps
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
R EBD ( Electronic Brake force Distribution)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 64)
R STEER CONTROL Important safety notes
If you fail to adapty our driving style or
become distracted, the driving safety
systems can neither reduce the risk of
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Driving safety systems are merely aids
designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed and for braking in
good time. Always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road, weather and traffic
conditions and maintain asafe distance from
the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
i The driving safety systems described only
work as effectively as possible when there
is adequate contact between the tires and
the road surface. Pay particular attention
to the informatio nregarding tires,
recommended minimum tire tread depths
etc.int he "Wheels and tires" section
(Y page 292). In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the
driving safety systems described in this
section work as effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lockB
raking System)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
sectio n(Ypage 59). G
WARNING
If ABSi s faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking
characteristics may be severely impaired.
Additionally, further driving safety systems
are deactivated. There is an increased danger
of skidding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked
immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
When ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information
on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 220) and
display messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (Y page 194).
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h) upwards, regardless of road-surface
conditions. ABS works on slippery roads,
even if you only brake gently.
The yellow !ABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition
is switched on. It goes out when the engine is
running. Driving safety systems
59Safety Z

Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
Adaptive brake lamps
If you brake sharply fro maspeed of more
than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS
or Adaptive Brake Assist, the brake lamps
flash rapidly. In this way, traffic traveling
behind you is warned in an even more
noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply to a standstill from a
speed of more than 70 km/h, the hazard
warning 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 99).
i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
certain countries. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 59). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further
driving safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! When testing the electric parking brake
on a braking dynamometer, switch off the
ignition. Application of the brakes by
ESP ®
may otherwise destroy the brake
system. When towing your vehicle with the front axle
raised, pay attention to the notes about
ESP
®
(Y page 286).
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up
continuously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the å
warning lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 222) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 194).
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize 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 stabilize 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
circumstances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 59).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually 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. Driving safety systems
63Safety Z

Traction control remains active if you
deactivate ESP
®
.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®i
Observe the "Importan tsafety notes"
sectio n(Ypage 59). G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
X To deactivate:(Y page 187).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: (Ypage 187).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip. EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 59). G
WARNING
If EBDh as malfunctioned, the rear wheels can
still lock, e.g .unde rfull braking .This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps (Y page 220) as well as
display messages (Y page 196).
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking. ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety
and offers increased braking comfort. In
addition to the braking function, ADAPTIVE
BRAKE also has the HOLD function
(Y page 160) and hill start assist
(Y page 128). For further information, see
Driving tips (Y page 146). STEER CONTROL
STEER CONTROL helps you by transmitting a
noticeable steering force to the steering
wheel in the direction required for vehicle
stabilization.
This steering assistance is provided in
particular if:
R both right wheels or both left wheels are on
a wet or slippery road surface when you
brake
R the vehicle starts to skid
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, you will not receive
steering support from STEER CONTROL. 64
Driving safety systemsSafety

SmartKey battery
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Batteries contain toxic and caustic
substances. For this reason, keep batteries
out of the reach of children.
If a battery has been swallowed, seek medical
help immediately. G
WARNING
The SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Observe
governmen tdisposal guidelines. California
residents, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm.
Mercedes-Ben zrecommends that you have
the batteries replaced at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Checking the battery X
Press the &or% button.
The battery is working properly if battery
chec klamp :lights up briefly.
The battery is discharged if battery check
lamp :does no tlight up briefly.
X Change the battery (Y page 70).i
If the SmartKey battery is checked within
the signal receptio nrange of the vehicle,
pressing the &or% button:
R locks or
R unlocks the vehicle
i You can get a battery in any qualified
specialist workshop.
Replacing the battery You require a CR 2025 3 V cell battery.
X
Take the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (Y page 69). X
Press mechanical key ;into the opening
in the SmartKey in the direction of the
arrow until battery tray cover :opens.
When doing so, do no thold cover :shut.
X Remove battery tray cover :. X
Repeatedly tap the SmartKey against your
palm until battery =falls out.
X Insert the new battery with the positive
terminal facing upwards. Use a lint-free
cloth to do so. 70
SmartKeyOpening/closing

X
Push release lever :down completely.
The steering column is unlocked.
X Adjust the steering wheel to the desired
position.
X Push release lever :up completely.
The steering column is locked.
X Check if the steering column is locked.
When doing so, try to push the steering
wheel up or down or try to move it in the
fore-and-aft direction. Mirrors
Rear-view mirror
X
Anti-glare mode: flick anti-glare lever :
forwards or back. Exterior mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrors G
WARNING
The exterior mirrors reduce the size of the
image. Objects are actually closer than they
appear. You could misjudge the distance from
vehicles driving behind and cause an
accident, e.g. when changing lane. For this
reason, make sure of the actual distance from
the vehicle driving behind by glancing over
your shoulder. X
Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
1or 2in the ignition lock.
X Press button :for the left-hand exterior
mirror or button ;for the right-hand
exterior mirror.
The indicator lamp in the corresponding
button lights up in red.
The indicator lamp goes out again after
some time. You can adjust the selected
mirror using adjustment button =as long
as the indicator lamp is lit.
X Press adjustmen tbutton =up, down, or
to the left or right until you have adjusted
the exterior mirror to the correct position.
You should have a good overview of traffic
conditions.
The exterio rmirrors are automatically heated
after starting the vehicle if the rear window
defroster is switched on and the outside
temperature is low. Mirror heating lasts up to
10 minutes.
i You can also heat up the exterior mirrors
manually by switching on the rear window
defroster. 90
MirrorsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors