
Briefly push the rocker button B into the RES/+ position in order to resume the
stored speed after the clutch or brake pedal is released.
START-STOP
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Starting/shutting down the engine
159
Operating conditions of the system
160
Manually activating/deactivating the system
160
Information messages
161
The START-STOP system helps you to save fuel while at the same time reducing
harmful exhaust emissions and CO 2 emissions.
The function is automatically activated each time the ignition is switched on. In the start-stop mode, the engine automatically switches to the vehicle's idle phase, e.g. when stopped at traffic lights. The engine restarts automatically
where necessary.
The system can work only if the following basic conditions are met. The driver's door is closed.
The driver has fastened the seat belt.
The bonnet is closed.The driving speed was higher than 4 km.h after the last stop.
No trailer is coupled.
WARNING■ The brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is run-
ning.■
Never let the vehicle roll with the engine switched off.
CAUTION
Always deactivate the START-STOP system before driving through wa-
ter » page 148 .Note■
If the driver's seat belt is removed for more than approx. 30 seconds or the driv-
er's door is opened during stop mode on vehicles with manual transmission or au- tomatic transmission (when the selector lever in position P), the engine must be
started manually » page 133.■
After manually starting the engine on vehicles with manual transmission, auto-
matic engine shut down is not possible until the vehicle has travelled the re-
quired minimum distance for START-STOP mode.
■
If, on vehicles with automatic transmission, the selector lever positions D, S or N
are selected after driving in reverse, the vehicle will first need to achieve a speed
of over 10 km/h before automatic engine shut down can take place again.
■
Changes to the outdoor temperature can have an effect on the internal temper-
ature of the vehicle battery even after several hours. If the vehicle remains out-
doors for a long time in minus temperatures or in direct sunlight, it can take sev-
eral hours until the internal temperature of the vehicle battery reaches a suitable temperature for proper operation of the START STOP system.
■
If Climatronic is running in automatic mode, the engine may not switch off auto-
matically under certain conditions.
Starting/shutting down the engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 159.
Vehicles with manual transmission
›
Stop the vehicle (where necessary, apply the handbrake).
›
Put the gear stick into Neutral.
›
Release the clutch pedal.
Automatic engine shut down (STOP phase) takes place. The warning symbol
appears in the instrument cluster display.
›
Depress the clutch pedal.
The automatic start procedure takes place again (START phase). The warning
symbol
goes out.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
›
Bring the vehicle to a stop and depress the brake pedal.
Automatic engine shut down takes place. The warning symbol
appears in the
instrument cluster display.
›
Release the brake pedal.
159Assist systems

Information messagesFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 159.
The messages and information are indicated in the instrument cluster display.
Start the engine manually!
START MANUALLY
The driver sees this message when the conditions for the automatic start proce-
dure are not met during the STOP phase. The engine must be started manual-
ly » page 135 .
Error: start-stop system
ERROR START-STOP
Error in the START-STOP system. Seek help from a specialist garage.
Fatigue detection (break recommendation)
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Function
161
Information messages
161WARNING■ For the driving ability is always the driver's responsibility. Never drive if you
feel tired.■
The system may not detect all cases where a break is needed.
■
Therefore, take regular, sufficient breaks during long trips.
■
There will be no system warning during the so-called micro-sleep.
Note
■ In some situations, the system may evaluate the driving incorrectly and thus
mistakenly recommend a break (e.g. sporty driving, adverse weather conditions or poor road conditions).■
The fatigue detection system is designed primarily for motorway driving.
Function
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 161.
The fatigue detection system advises the driver on the basis of information about
the steering behaviour, to take a break from driving. The system recommends a
break at speeds of 65-200 km/h.
After the ignition has been switched on, the system evaluates the steering be-
haviour for 15 minutes. This baseline analysis is constantly compared with the
current steering behaviour.
If the system detects deviations from normal steering behaviour due to possible
fatigue of the driver, it recommends to take a break from driving.
The system deletes the stored baseline analysis if one of the following condi-
tions is met.
› The vehicle is stopped and the ignition switched off.
› The vehicle is stopped, the seat belt removed and the driver's door opened.
› The vehicle is stopped for more than 15 minutes.
If none of these conditions are met or if the driving style is not changed, the sys-
tem recommends a driving break again after 15 minutes.
Activation/deactivation
The system can be activated/deactivated via the MAXI DOT display in the Wizards
menu option » page 28.
Information messages
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 161.
The symbol will appear in the MAXI DOT display for a few seconds, along with
the following message.
Fatigue detected. Take a break.
An audible signal is also emitted.
161Assist systems

Safety
Passive Safety
General information
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Safety equipment
169
Before setting off
169
What influences the driving safety?
170
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the subject
of passive safety in your vehicle.
We have combined everything here which you should be familiar with, for exam- ple, regarding seat belts, airbags, child seats and safety of children.
WARNING■ This chapter contains important information on how to use the vehicle for
the driver and his occupants.■
You can find further information on safety concerning you and those travel-
ling with you in the following chapters of this owner's manual.
■
The complete on-board literature should always be in the vehicle. This ap-
plies in particular, if you rent out or sell the vehicle.
Safety equipment
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 169.
The following list contains only part of the safety equipment in your vehicle.
› Three-point seat belts for all the seats.
› Belt force limiter for front and outer rear seats.
› Belt tensioner for front and outer rear seats.
› Seat belt height adjusters for the front seats.
›
Front airbag for the driver and the front passenger.
› Driver’s knee airbag.
› Front side airbags.
› Rear side airbags.
› Head airbags.
› Anchoring points for child seats using the ISOFIX system.
› Anchoring points for child seats using the TOP TETHER system.
› Head restraints adjustable for height.
› Adjustable steering column.
The specified safety equipment works together, in order to optimally protect you
and those travelling with you in accident situations.
The safety equipment does not protect you or the people travelling with you, if
you or your occupants adopt an incorrect seated position or the equipment is not correctly adjusted or used.
If the seat belt is not fastened properly, this may result in injuries if an airbag is
activated in the event of an accident.
Before setting off
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 169.
For your own safety and the safety of the people travelling with you, please pay
attention to the following points before setting off.
› Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning properly.
› Check the tyre inflation pressure.
› Ensure that all of the windows offer good visibility to the outside.
› Secure all items of luggage
» page 84, Luggage compartment .
› Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedals.
› Adjust the mirrors, the front seat and head restraint to your body size.
› Advise your passengers to adjust the head restraints to their body size.
› Protect children in suitable child seats with correctly fastened seat
belts » page 186 , Transporting children safely .
› Adopt the correct seated position
» page 170, Correct seated position . Tell your
passengers to assume the correct seated position.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt. Also inform passengers to fasten the seat belt
correctly » page 173 .
169Passive Safety

What influences the driving safety?First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 169.
The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants. If your driving safety is effected, you place yourself and the oncoming traffic at risk.
The following guidelines must therefore be observed. › Do not become distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, e.g. by
your passengers or mobile phone calls.
› Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, e.g. due to medication, alcohol
or drugs.
› Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
› Always adjust the driving speed to the road, traffic and weather conditions.
› Take regular breaks on long journeys – at least every two hours.
Correct seated position
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Correct seated position for the driver
171
Correct seated position for the front passenger
171
Correct seated position for the passengers in the rear seats
171
Examples of incorrect seated positions
171WARNINGGeneral information■The front seats and head restraints must be adjusted to match the body
size at all times and the seat belt must always be fastened properly to provide the most effective levels of protection to the passengers.■
If the occupant adopts an incorrect seated position, he is exposed to life-
threatening injuries, in case he is hit by a deployed airbag.
■
If the occupants on the rear seats are not sitting upright, the risk of injury is
increased due to incorrect routing of the seat belt.
■
The seat backrests must not be tilted too far back when driving, as this will
impair the function of the seat belts and of the airbag system – risk of injury!
WARNINGInformation for the driver■Always assume the correct seated position before setting off and do not
change this position while driving. Also advise your passengers to adopt the
correct seated position and not to change this position while the car is mov-
ing.■
Maintain a distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel, and a dis-
tance of at least 10 cm between the legs and the dash panel at the height of
the knee airbag. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
■
When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer
edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold the steering wheel in
the 12 o'clock position or in any other way (e.g. in the middle or inner edge of the steering wheel). In such cases, you could severely injure the arms, hands
and head when the driver airbag is deployed.
■
Ensure that there are no objects in the driver's footwell as they may get
caught behind the pedals when driving or applying the braking. You would
then no longer be able to operate the clutch, brake or accelerate.
WARNINGInformation for the front seat passenger■Maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the dash panel. Not maintaining this
minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to proper-
ly protect you - hazard!■
Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being driven - never
place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the surfaces of the seats. You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it becomes nec-
essary to apply the brake or in the event of an accident. If an airbag is de-
ployed, you may suffer fatal injuries when adopting an incorrect seated posi- tion!
170Safety

Correct seated position for the driverFig. 143
Correct driver seating position / properly adjusted headrest
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings
on page 170.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident,
we recommend the following setting.
› Position the steering wheel so that there is a gap of at least 25 cm between the
steering wheel and the chest
A
» Fig. 143 , and that the distance between the
legs and the dash panel at the height of the knee airbag is at least 10 cm
B
.
› Adjust the driver’s seat in the forward/back direction so that the pedals can be
fully depressed with slightly bent legs.
› Adjust the seat backrest so that the highest point of the steering wheel can be
reached with your arms at a slight angle.
› Adjust the head restraint so that the top edge of the head restraint is at the
same level as the upper part of your head
C
.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt
» page 173.
Manual driver seat adjustment » page 67.
Electrical driver seat adjustment » page 67.
Correct seated position for the front passenger
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 170.
For the safety of the front passenger and to reduce the risk of injury in the event
of an accident, we recommend the following setting.
› Position the front passenger seat back as far as possible. The front passenger
must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the dash panel so that the airbag
offers the greatest possible safety if it is deployed.
› Adjust the head restraint so that the top edge of the head restraint is at the
same level as the upper part of your head
C
» Fig. 143 on page 171.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt
» page 173.
In exceptional cases the front passenger airbag can be deactivated » page 183,
Deactivating airbags .
Manual front passenger adjustment » page 67.
Electrical front passenger seat adjustment » page 67.
Correct seated position for the passengers in the rear seats
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 170.
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or an ac-
cident, the occupants on the rear seats must observe the following.
› Adjust the head restraint so that the top edge of the head restraint is at the
same level as the upper part of the head
C
» Fig. 143 on page 171.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt
» page 173.
› Use a suitable child restraint system if transporting children in the vehi-
cle » page 186 , Transporting children safely .
Examples of incorrect seated positions
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 170.
Maximum seat belt protection is only achieved if seat belts are fastened correctly.
171Passive Safety

Incorrect seated positions considerably reduce the protective functions of the
seat belts and therefore increase the risk of injury due to an incorrect routing of
the seat belt.
The driver is fully responsible for himself and passengers, especially children.
Never allow a passenger to adopt an incorrect seated position when the car is
moving.
The following list contains instructions which, if not observed, may cause serious injuries or death. This list is not complete, however we would like you to familiar-
ise yourself with this subject.
Observe the following instructions while driving. › Do not stand up.
› Do not stand on the seats.
› Do not kneel on the seats.
› Do not tilt the seat backrest too far back.
› Do not lean against the dash panel.
› Do not lie on the rear seats.
› Do not sit only on the front part of the seat.
› Do not sit facing to the side.
› Do not lean out of the window.
› Do not put your feet out of the window.
› Do not put your feet on the dash panel.
› Do not put your feet on the seat cushion.
› Do not allow anybody to travel in the footwell.
› Do not drive without fastening your seat belt.
› Do not delay in the luggage compartment.
172Safety

Seat belts
Using seat belts
Introduction
Fig. 144
Driver wearing seat belt
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
The physical principle of a frontal collision
174
Fastening and unfastening seat belts
175
Seat belt height adjuster on the front seats
176
Seat belts that are fastened correctly offer good protection in the event of an ac-
cident. They reduce the risk of an injury and increase the chance of survival in the
event of a major accident.
Correctly fastened seat belts hold occupants of the car in the correct seated posi-
tion » Fig. 144 .
The seat belts reduce the kinetic energy (energy of motion) to a considerable ex-
tent. They also prevent uncontrolled movements which, in turn, may well result in
severe injuries.
Occupants of a vehicle who have correctly fastened their seat belts have the ma-
jor benefit of the fact that the kinetic energy is absorbed as effectively as possi-
ble by the belts.
The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other passive safety measures,
such as the airbag system, also contribute to the kinetic energy being reduced as
effectively as possible. The energy produced is thus absorbed and there is less
risk of injury.
Particular safety aspects must be observed when transporting children in the ve-
hicle » page 186 .WARNING■
Fasten your seat belt before each journey - even when driving in town! This
also applies to the passengers seated at the rear – risk of injury!■
Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the only way of
ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child » page 175, Fastening and
unfastening seat belts .
■
Maximum seat belt protection is only achieved if you are correctly seat-
ed » page 170 , Correct seated position .
■
The seat backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the rear
otherwise the seatbelts can lose their effectiveness.
WARNINGObserve the following instructions for the correct routing of the seat belt.■Always ensure that the webbing of the seat belts is properly routed. Seat
belts which are not correctly adjusted can themselves cause injuries even in
minor accidents.■
Adjust the height of the belt in such a way that the shoulder part of the belt
is roughly positioned across the middle of your shoulder - on no account across your neck.
■
A seat belt which is hanging too loose can result in injuries as your body is
moved forward by the kinetic energy produced in an accident and is then sud-
denly held firm by the belt.
■
The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects (e.g. specta-
cles, ball-point pens, bunches of keys etc.). Such objects can cause injury.
WARNINGObserve the following instructions for handling the seat belts.■The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point or twisted,
or chafe against any sharp edges.■
Make sure you do not catch the seat belt in the door when closing it.
173Seat belts

WARNINGObserve the following instructions for the proper use of the seat belts.■Never use one seat belt to secure two persons (including children). The
seatbelt must not be placed over a child who is sitting on the lap of another
passenger.■
The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will reduce its capacity to pro-
tect and the risk of injury increases.
■
The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked, otherwise the belt tongue
will not lock in place properly.
■
Many layers of clothing and loose clothing (e. g. a winter coat over a jacket)
do not allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of the
seat belts.
■
It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat belts (e. g. for
shortening the belts for smaller persons).
■
The seat belts for the rear seats can only fulfil their function reliably when
the seat backrests are correctly locked into position » page 73.
WARNINGObserve the following instructions for proper maintenance of the seat belts.■The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belt webbing may im-
pair proper operation of the inertia reel » page 203.■
The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not attempt
to repair the seat belts yourself.
■
Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis. If any damage to
the seat belts, seat belt connections, inertia reel or the lock is detected, the
relevant seat belt must be replaced by a specialist garage.
■
Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident and
were therefore stretched, must be replaced – this is best done by a specialist
garage. The anchorage points of the belts must also be inspected. The an-
chorage points for the belts should also be checked.
Note
The national legal requirements must be observed when using seat belts.
The physical principle of a frontal collisionFig. 145
Driver without a fastened seat belt/rear passenger without a fas-
tened seat belt
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 173.
Motion energy, so-called kinetic energy, is produced as soon as the vehicle is
moving, both for the vehicle and its occupants.
The magnitude of this kinetic energy depends essentially on the speed at which
the vehicle is travelling and on the weight of the vehicle including the occupants.
The greater the speed and weight increase, the greater the amount of energy
which has to be absorbed in the event of an accident.
The speed of the vehicle is the most important factor. Doubling the speed of the
vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy four times.
The idea that it is possible to support your body with your hands in a minor acci- dent is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces acting on the
body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed of 30-50 km/h, the forces that your body is ex-
posed to in the event of an accident can exceed a metric ton (1000 kg).
For example, a person's weight of 80 kg “increases” to 4.8 tons (4800 kg) at
50 km/h.
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the car not wearing a seat belt, are thrown forward and strike in an uncontrolled way parts of the interior of the car,
such as steering wheel, dash panel or windscreen » Fig. 145 -
. In certain circum-
stances you could even be thrown out of the vehicle, which could cause life threatening or even fatal injuries.
174Safety