If after six seconds the driver or front
passenger have not fastened their seat belts
and the doors are closed:
R the 0076 seat belt warning lamp remains lit
as long as either the driver's or front-
passenger's seat belt is not fastened
R and if a vehicle speed of 15 mph
(25 km/h) is exceeded, the 0076seat belt
warning lamp lights up and a warning tone
also sounds with increasing intensity for a
maximum of 60 seconds or until the driver
or front-passenger seat belt has been
fastened
If the driver or front-passenger seat belt is
unfastened while the vehicle is in motion, the
0076 seat belt warning lamp lights up and a
warning tone sounds again.
The warning tone ceases even if the driver or
front-passenger seat belt has still not been
fastened after 60 seconds. The 0076seat belt
warning lamp stops flashing but remains lit.
After the vehicle comes to a standstill, the
warning tone is reactivated and the 0076seat
belt warning lamp flashes again if the vehicle
speed again exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h).
The 0076 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 0076seat
belt warning lamp, see "Warning and
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster,
seat belt" (Y page 187).
Emergency Tensioning Devices and belt
force limiters The seat belts are equipped with Emergency
Tensioning Devices and seat belt force
limiter.
!
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 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.
When triggered, the seat belt force limiters
help to reduce the peak force exerted by the
seat belt on the vehicle occupant.
The seat belt force limiter 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.
When the ignition is switched on, the ETDs
cannot be triggered unless:
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp". (Y page 36)
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the three-point seat belts.
R the front-passenger seat is occupied and
the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
the front-passenger side.
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, if the vehicle
is subjected to high lateral acceleration/
deceleration
R Coupe: in certain situations if the vehicle
rolls over, and the system determines that
it can provide additional protection
R Roadster: if the vehicle rolls over
If the Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
are triggered, you will hear a bang, and a small
amount of smoke may also be released. Only
in rare cases will the bang affect your hearing. 50
Occupant safetySafety
G
WARNING
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system still
functions, but without the additional brake
boost available that the BAS would normally
provide in an emergency braking maneuver.
Therefore, the braking distance may increase. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 56).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tires and
the road surface.
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.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 56).
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.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Important safety notes 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.
! Switch the ignition off when:
R the electric parking brake is being tested
using a brake dynamometer.
R the vehicle is being towed with the rear
axle raised.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
When SPORT handling mode is activated, the
0074 warning lamp lights up in the instrument
panel.
When ESP ®
is deactivated, the 00BBand
0089 warning lamps light up in the instrument
panel.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 190) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 166).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Characteristics of ESP ® ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the 0089ESP®
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.
Deactivating/activating ESP ® Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 54). 56
Driving safety systemsSafety
R
the hood
R Roadster: the glove box
R Roadster: a compartment in the center
console
R the vehicle with the mechanical key
The alarm is not switched off, even if you
close the open door that triggered it, for
example.
i If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, the mbrace emergency call
system 1
automatically initiates a call to the
Customer Assistance center. The mbrace
emergency call system initiates the call if:
R you have subscribed to the mbrace
service
R the mbrace service has been activated
properly
R the required mobile phone, power supply
and GPS are available. X
To arm: lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash three times and
an acoustic warning sounds three times to
indicate that the vehicle is locked. Flashing
indicator lamp 0043indicates that the alarm
system is armed.
i If the turn signal lamps do not flash three
times and the warning tone does not sound
three times, a door or the trunk lid may not
be properly closed. It may be necessary to close the affected
door or trunk lid.
X To disarm: unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash once and a
warning tone sounds once, indicating that
the alarm system is disarmed.
i Unless you open a door or the trunk within
approximately 40 second safter unlocking:
R the vehicle will be locked again
R the alarm system will be rearmed
X To stop the alarm: press the Start/Stop
button in the center console. The SmartKey
must be inside the vehicle.
or
X Press the 0036or0037 button on the
SmartKey.
or
X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off. Tow-away alarm
An audible and visual alarm is triggered if your
vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while
the tow-away alarm is armed. This occurs if
the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for
example.
i If the alarm stays on for more than 30
seconds, the mbrace 2
system initiates a
call to the Customer Assistance Center
automatically. The emergency call system
initiates the call provided that:
R you have subscribed to the mbrace
service
R the mbrace service has been activated
properly
R the required mobile phone, power supply
and GPS are available.
1 The system is called Tele Aid in Canada.
2 TELEAID in Canada. Theft deterrent locking system
59Safety Z
X
To arm: lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is armed after
approximately 30 seconds.
X To deactivate: unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is deactivated
automatically.
To prevent a false alarm, deactivate the tow-
away alarm manually if your vehicle:
R is being transported
R is being loaded onto a ferry or car
transporter, for example
R is parked on a movable surface, e.g. in a
split-level garage
X To deactivate: use the Start/Stop button
to set SmartKey position 0.
or
X Remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock. X
Press button 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up briefly.
X Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is deactivated.
The tow-away alarm remains deactivated
until the vehicle is unlocked and locked
again. 60
Theft deterrent locking systemSafety
Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops (Y page 22).SmartKey
Key function
General notes i
USA 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 interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
The Product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
i Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. 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 interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device. Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
The Product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
Locking/unlocking centrally The SmartKey centrally locks/unlocks:
R
the doors
R the trunk lid
R the fuel filler flap
R Roadster only: the glove box
R Roadster only: the stowage compartment
under the armrest G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open a door locked from inside the vehicle
R start the vehicle using a key which has been
left in the vehicle
R release the parking brake
They could thereby endanger themselves and
others. Never leave children unsupervised in
the vehicle. Always take the key with you
when leaving the vehicle, even if you are only
leaving it for a short time. 0043
0037 To lock the vehicle
0044 0054 To unlock the trunk lid
0087 0036 To unlock the vehicle
The turn signals flash once when unlocking
and three times when locking. 62
SmartKeyOpening and closing
Doors
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
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 unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, and do not give them access
to an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. They could:
R injure themselves on vehicle parts
R be seriously or fatally injured by extreme
heat or cold
R injure themselves or have an accident with
vehicle equipment that may still be in
operation even after the SmartKey has
been removed from the ignition, such as the
seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment or memory function.
If children open a door, they could cause
severe or even fatal injury to other persons; if
they get out of the vehicle, they could injure
themselves when doing so or be seriously or
even fatally injured by any passing 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 a child could be burned on these
parts. G
WARNING
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 Unlocking and opening the doors
from the outside
Coupe !
The doors swing upwards and out when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance above the vehicle. X
To open the door: point the SmartKey
towards door handle 0043.
X Press the 0036button on the SmartKey.
Door handle 0043moves out.
X Lift the door by door handle 0043and swing
it up as far as it will go.
X To close the door: pull the door
downwards by the outer edge or the interior
door handle. Swing the door down gently
and allow it to engage in the lower position.
X Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey if
necessary (Y page 62).
Roadster X
To open the door: point the SmartKey
towards door handle.
X Press the 0036button on the SmartKey.
The door is unlocked and can be opened.
X Pull the door handle. Doors
67Opening and closing Z
Unlocking and opening doors from
the inside
Coupe You can only open a door from the inside if it
is unlocked.
The vehicle locks the doors automatically,
when you drive faster than 9 mph
(15 km/h).
The doors are automatically unlocked after a
journey if you switch off the engine.
! The doors swing upwards and out when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance above the vehicle. X
To unlock the door manually: press
the 0036 button of central locking 0087.
or
X Pull locking knob 0043upwards.
X To open the door: pull handle0044.
X Swing the door upwards as far as it will go.
X To close the door: pull the door down by
handle 0085.
X Allow the door to engage in the lower
position.
X To lock the door manually: press
the 0037 button of central locking 0087.
or
X Push locking knob 0043downwards.
Roadster You can open a door from inside the vehicle
even if it has been locked. Only open the door when the traffic situation
permits.
X
Pull door handle 0044.
If the door is locked, locking knob 0043pops
up. The door is unlocked and can be
opened.
i When a door is opened, the side window
on that side opens slightly. When the door
is closed, the triangular window closes
again.
! The side windows will not open/close if
the battery is discharged or if the side
windows have iced up. It will then not be
possible to close the door. Do not attempt
to force the door closed. You could
otherwise damage the door or the side
window. Centrally locking and unlocking the
vehicle from the inside
You can centrally lock or unlock the vehicle
from the inside. This feature may be useful if,
for example, you wish to unlock the front-
passenger door from the inside or lock the
vehicle before you pull away.
Coupe: the central locking/unlocking button
does not lock or unlock the fuel filler flap.
Roadster: the central locking/unlocking
button does not lock or unlock the fuel filler
flap or the stowage compartments, such as
the glove box. 68
DoorsOpening and closing
X
To lock: press button 0044.
If both doors are closed, the vehicle locks.
X To unlock: press button 0043.
You can open a door from inside the vehicle
even if it has been locked. Only open the door
when the traffic situation permits.
If the vehicle has been locked with the central
locking button:
R and the SmartKey is set to its factory
setting, the entire vehicle is unlocked if a
door is opened from the inside
R and the SmartKey is set to an individual
setting, only the door that is opened from
inside the vehicle is unlocked. Automatic locking feature
Coupe You can only open a door from the inside if it
is unlocked.
The vehicle locks the doors automatically,
when you drive faster than 9 mph
(15 km/h).
The doors are automatically unlocked after a
journey if you switch off the engine.
Roadster The vehicle locks automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels of the
vehicle are moving at a speed of more than
9 mph (15 km/h). There is therefore a risk of
being locked out when the vehicle is being
pushed, towed or tested on a dynamometer. X
To deactivate: press and hold button 0043
for about five seconds until a tone sounds.
X To activate: press and hold button 0044for
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.
You can also switch the automatic locking
function on and off using the on-board
computer (Y page 155). Unlocking the driver's door
(mechanical key)
If the vehicle can no longer be unlocked with
the SmartKey, use the mechanical key.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door, the anti-theft alarm
system will be triggered (Y page 58).
X Take the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (Y page 63).
X Insert the mechanical key into the lock of
the driver's door as far as it will go. Doors
69Opening and closing Z