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 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 7seat 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
7 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 7seat belt
warning lamp stops flashing but remains lit.
After the vehicle comes to a standstill, the
warning tone is reactivated and the 7seat
belt warning lamp flashes again if the vehicle
speed again exceeds 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 7seat
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
ProCarManuals.com
The smoke that is released generally does not
constitute a health hazard. The 6SRS
warning lamp lights up. G
WARNING
Pyrotechnic ETDs that were activated must be
replaced.
For your safety, when disposing of the
pyrotechnic ETDs always follow our safety
instructions. These are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Children in the vehicle
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 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. G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment 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:
X Secure the child with a child or infant seat
restraint system appropriate to the age and
weight of the child.
X Make sure that the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion. Child restraint systems
Important safety notes We recommend that 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 children must always be seated in
an appropriate infant or child restraint system
recommended 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 or child
restraint systems must comply with the U.S.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 210.2.
Confirmation that the child restraint system
corresponds to the standards can be found
on an instruction label on the child restraint Children in the vehicle
51Safety Z
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The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle. They cannot increase braking or
steering efficiency beyond that afforded by
the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires
or the traction afforded.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents.
The capabilities of a vehicle equipped with the
driving safety systems described in this
section must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user's safety or the safety of others.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
If a driving system malfunctions, other driving
safety systems may also switch off. Observe
indicator and warning lamps that may come
on as well as messages in the multifunction
display that may appear.
i 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-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm, steady
brake pedal pressure instead. Pumping the
brake pedal reduces the braking effect.
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
surfaces, even if you only brake gently.
The
! warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Braking If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal vigorously until the braking
situation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force. G
WARNING
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving systems
such as the BAS or the ESP ®
are also switched
off. Observe indicator and warning lamps that
may come on as well as messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.
If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing the steering
capability and extending the braking distance.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions, and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving. BAS (Brake Assist System)
Observe the "Important safety notes" section
(Y page 56).
BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake pedal
quickly, BAS automatically boosts the braking
force, thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. Driving safety systems
55Safety Z
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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
M warning lamp lights up in the instrument
panel.
When ESP ®
is deactivated, the åand
h 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 hESP®
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
ProCarManuals.com
You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R SPORT handling mode is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and
accidents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the
situations described in the following. 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.
In the following situations, it may be better to
activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R when driving on designated roads when the
vehicle's own oversteering and
understeering characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the
vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a
wheel starts to spin.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain. Deactivating/activating ESP
® X
To activate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button :.
The M warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up. The SPORT handling SPORT handling
mode
mode message appears in the multifunction
display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button :.
The M warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. ESP ®
is activated.
X To deactivate ESP ®
:press and hold down
button :until the handå warning
lamps in the instrument panel light up.
The OFF OFF message appears in the
multifunction display.
X To activate ESP ®
:when SPORT handling
mode is activated or ESP ®
is deactivated,
press button :briefly.
The h andå warning lamps in the
instrument cluster go out. The ON
ONmessage
appears in the multifunction display.
Characteristics of activated SPORT
handling mode
SPORT handling mode raises the intervention
threshold for stabilizing the vehicle. This
allows for a sportier driving style on
designated race circuits and may in certain
situations improve the traction in comparison
with ESP ®
.
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one
or more wheels start to spin, the h
warning lamp in the instrument cluster Driving safety systems
57Safety Z
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Keep batteries out of the reach of children.
Seek medical attention immediately if a
battery is swallowed. G
WARNING
The SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Observe
government disposal guidelines. California
residents, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm.
Checking the battery X
Press the &or% button.
The SmartKey battery is working properly if
battery check lamp :lights up briefly.
If battery check lamp :does not light up
briefly during the test, the SmartKey battery
is discharged.
X Changing the battery (Y page 64)
i The battery can be obtained from any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i If the SmartKey battery is checked within
the signal range of the vehicle, pressing the
& or% button locks or unlocks the
vehicle.
Replacing the battery X
Take the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (Y page 63).
You require a CR 2025 3 V cell battery. X
Press mechanical key ;into the opening
in the SmartKey in the direction of the
arrow until battery tray cover :opens. Do
not hold the cover closed while doing so. X
Remove the cover of the battery tray.
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.
X Insert the front tabs of the battery tray's
cover first, and then press to close it.
X Check the function of all SmartKey buttons
on the vehicle. 64
SmartKeyOpening and closing
ProCarManuals.com
Position of the steering wheel for
driving The steering wheel is moved to the last
selected position when:
R the driver's door is closed.
R you press the Start/Stop button once.
When you close the driver's door with the
ignition switched on, the steering wheel is
also automatically moved to the previously
set position.
The last position of the steering wheel is
stored after each manual setting or when you
store the setting with the memory function
(Y page 89).
Crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature If the crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
triggered in an accident, the steering column
will move upwards when the driver's door is
opened. This occurs irrespective of the
position of the SmartKey in the ignition lock.
This makes it easier to exit the vehicle and
rescue the occupants.
The crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
only operational if the EASY-EXIT/ENTRY
feature is activated in the on-board computer. Mirrors
Rear-view mirror
X
Anti-glare mode: flick anti-glare
switch :forwards or back. Exterior mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrors G
WARNING
Exercise care when using the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror. The mirror surface
is convex (outwardly curved surface for a
wider field of view). Objects in mirror are
closer than they appear. Check your interior
rear view mirror and glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
The convex exterior mirrors provide a larger
field of vision.
The exterior mirrors are heated automatically
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. X
Select SmartKey position 1or 2with the
Start/Stop button.
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 adjustment button =up, down, or
to the left or right until you have adjusted Mirrors
87Seats, steering wheel and mirrors Z
ProCarManuals.com
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).Exterior lighting
Important safety notes
For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you drive with the lights
switched on even during the daytime. In some
countries, operation of the headlamps varies
due to legal requirements and self-imposed
obligations. Notes on driving abroad
Converting to symmetrical low beam
when driving abroad: switch the headlamps
to symmetrical low beam in countries in
which traffic drives on the opposite side of the
road to the country where the vehicle is
registered. This prevents glare to oncoming
traffic. Symmetrical lights do not illuminate
as large an area of the edge of the road.
Have the headlamps converted at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, as close to the border
as possible before driving in these countries.
Converting to asymmetrical low beam
after returning: have the headlamps
converted back to asymmetrical low beam at
a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, as soon as
possible after crossing the border again. Setting the exterior lighting
Setting options Exterior lighting can be set using:
R
the light switch
R the combination switch (Y page 94)
R the on-board computer (Y page 154)
Light switch Operation
1W
Left-hand standing lamps
2X Right-hand standing lamps
3T Parking lamps, license plate and
instrument cluster lighting
4Ã Automatic headlamp mode,
controlled by the light sensor
5L Low-beam/high-beam headlamps
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X Turn the light switch to Ã.
The exterior lighting (except the parking/
standing lamps) switches off automatically if
you:
R remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the SmartKey
in position 0.
Automatic headlamp mode G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to Ã, the low-
beam headlamps may not be switched on
automatically if there is fog, snow or other 92
Exterior lightingLights and windshield wipers
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