AdjustingVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Sitting safely
The ideal seating position can make a vital
contribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving.
The seating position plays an important role in
an accident in combination with:▷Safety belts, refer to page 47.▷Head restraints, refer to page 49.▷Airbags, refer to page 86.
Seats
Note before adjusting Do not adjust the seat while driving
Never attempt to adjust the driver's seat
while driving. The seat could respond with un‐
expected movement and the ensuing loss of
vehicle control could lead to an accident.◀
Do not incline the backrest too far to the
rear
Do not incline the backrest on the front pas‐
senger side too far to the rear during driving.
Otherwise, there is the danger of sliding under
the safety belt in an accident. This would elimi‐
nate the protection normally provided by the
belt.◀
Adjusting manually
Forward/backward
Pull the lever and slide the seat into the de‐
sired position. After releasing the lever, move
the seat forward or back slightly to make sure it
engages properly.
Thigh support
Pull the lever and move the thigh support for‐
ward or back.
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2."Seat heating distribution"3.Turn the controller to adjust the distribu‐
tion.
The setting is applied.
Temperature distribution with active
seat ventilation
The heat output can be distributed variously in
the seat cushion and the backrest.
1.Press button 1.2."Seat heating distribution"3.Turn the controller to adjust the distribu‐
tion.
The setting is applied.
Heated rear seats Operation similar to front seat heating, without
temperature distribution, refer to page 46.
Active seat
The seat cushion is actively varied by alter‐
nately raising and lowering the right and left
half of the seat cushion. This reduces muscu‐
lar tension and fatigue to help prevent lower
back pain.
Press the button to switch on; the LED lights
up.
The action of the system is reduced and if
need be, switched off in order to reduce the
load on the battery. The LED remains lit.
When the active seat is switched off, it can
take up to 1 minute before the two halves of
the seat cushion have returned to their initial
position.
Safety belts
General information
Always make sure that safety belts are being
worn by all occupants before driving away.
Although airbags enhance safety by providing
added protection, they are not a substitute for
safety belts.
Number of safety belts
Your vehicle has been fitted with four or five
safety belts for the safety of you and your pas‐
sengers:
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NotesOne person per safety belt
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow infants or
small children to ride on a passenger's lap.◀
Putting on the belt
Lay the belt, without twisting, snugly
across the lap and shoulders, as close to the
body as possible. Make sure that the belt lies
low around the hips in the lap area and does
not press on the abdomen. Otherwise, the belt
can slip over the hips in the lap area in a frontal
impact and injure the abdomen.
The safety belt must not lie across the neck,
rub on sharp edges, be routed over solid or
breakable objects, or be pinched.◀
Reduction of restraining effect
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the
belt from fitting properly, and pull the shoulder
belt periodically to readjust the tension across
your lap; otherwise, the retention effect of the
safety belt may be reduced.◀
Using the middle safety belt
If the middle safety belt in the rear is
used, the larger section of the backrest must
be locked. Otherwise, the safety belt will not
have a restraining effect.◀
Buckling the belt
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in
the belt buckle.
Unbuckling the belt1.Hold the belt firmly.2.Press the red button in the belt buckle.3.Guide the belt back into its reel.
The shoulder strap's anchorage point will be
correct for adult seat occupants of every build
if the seat is correctly adjusted, refer to
page 44.
The two rear safety belt buckles integrated
into the rear seat are for passengers sitting on
the left and right. The belt buckle embossed
with the word CENTER is intended exclusively
for use by passengers riding in the center posi‐
tion.
Safety belt reminder for the driver's
and front passenger seat
The indicator lamp lights up and a
signal sounds. In addition, a message
appears on the Control Display.
Check whether the safety belt has been fas‐
tened correctly.
The safety belt reminder is active at speeds
above approx. 5 mph/8 km/h. It can also be ac‐
tivated if objects are placed on the front pas‐
senger seat.
Damage to safety belts In the case of strain caused by accidents or
damage:
Have the safety belts, including the safety belt
tensioners, replaced and have the belt anchors
checked.
Checking and replacing safety belts
Have the work performed only by your
service center; otherwise, it cannot be ensured
that this safety feature will function properly.◀
Belt-force limiter
The effect of the belt-force limiter on the driv‐
er's seat is dependent on the position of the
driver's seat.
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Transporting children safelyVehicle equipmentThis chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
The right place for children
Note Children in the vehicle
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger them‐
selves and other persons, e.g., by opening the
doors.◀
Children should always be in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is on the rear seat.
Transporting children in the rear
Transport children younger than
13 years of age or shorter than 5 ft/150 cm on
the rear seats only, using child restraint fixing
systems suitable for the age, weight, and
height of the child. Otherwise, there is the in‐
creased danger of injury in an accident.
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
fixing system can no longer be used, due to
their age, weight and size.◀
Children on the front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child restraint
fixing system on the front passenger seat,
make sure that the front and side airbags onthe front passenger side are deactivated. Auto‐
matic deactivation of front passenger airbags,
refer to page 87.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there
is an increased risk of injury to the child when
the airbags are triggered, even with a child re‐
straint fixing system.◀
Installing child restraint
fixing systems
Notes Manufacturer's information for child re‐
straint fixing systems
To select, mount and use child restraint fixing
systems, observe the information provided by
the system manufacturer; otherwise, the pro‐
tective effect can be impaired.◀
On the front passenger seat After installing a child restraint fixing system
on the front passenger seat, ensure that the
front and side airbags on the front passenger
side are deactivated.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there
is an increased risk of injury to the child when
the airbags are triggered, even with a child re‐
straint fixing system.◀
Seat position and height
Before installing a child restraint fixing system,
move the front passenger seat as far back asSeite 54ControlsTransporting children safely54
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possible and adjust its height to the highest
position to obtain the best possible position for
the belt and to offer optimal protection in the
event of an accident.
Do not change the seat position and height af‐
ter this.
Backrest width Before mounting a child restraint fixing system
on the front passenger seat, open the backrest
width, refer to page 45, completely. Do not
change the backrest width after this.
Backrest width for the child seat
Before installing a child restraint fixing
system in the front passenger seat, the back‐
rest width must be opened completely. Do not
change the adjustment after this; otherwise,
the stability of the child seat will be reduced.◀
Child seat security
The rear safety belts and the safety belt for the
front passenger can be locked to prevent ex‐
tension in order to permit attachment of child
restraint fixing systems.
Locking the safety belt
1.Pull out the belt webbing completely.2.Secure the child restraint fixing system
with the belt.3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in and
pull it taut against the child restraint fixing
system. The safety belt is locked.Unlocking the safety belt1.Open the belt buckle.2.Remove the child restraint fixing system.3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in com‐
pletely.
LATCH child restraint fixing
system
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tether for Chil‐
dren.
Note Manufacturer's information for LATCH
child restraint fixing systems
To mount and use the LATCH child restraint
fixing systems, observe the operating and
safety information from the system manufac‐
turer; otherwise, the level of protection may be
reduced.◀
Mounts for the lower LATCH anchors The lower anchors may be used to attach the
CRS to the vehicle seat up to a combined child
and CRS weight of 65 lb/30 kg when the child
is restrained by the internal harnesses.
Correctly engage the lower LATCH an‐
chors
Make sure that the lower LATCH anchors have
properly engaged and that the child restraint
fixing system is resting snugly against the
backrest; otherwise, the degree of protection
offered may be reduced.◀
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Releasing manually
Press the button with the brake depressed.The LED and indicator lamp go out.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Take the remote control with you Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for exam‐
ple, cannot release the parking brake.◀
Automatic Hold
The concept This system assists the driver by automatically
setting and releasing the brake, such as when
moving in stop-and-go traffic.
The vehicle is automatically held in place when
it is stationary.
On inclines, the system prevents the vehicle
from rolling backward when driving away.
For your safety
Automatic Hold is deactivated automatically
and the parking brake is set when:
▷The engine is switched off.▷A door is opened and the driver's safety
belt is unbuckled.▷The vehicle is braked to a standstill with
the parking brake while driving.The indicator lamp switches from
green to red and the letters AUTO H go out.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Before driving away:▷Release the parking brake manually.▷Reactivate Automatic Hold.
Leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning, engage position P of the automatic trans‐
mission and ensure that the parking brake is
set. Otherwise, the vehicle may begin to roll.◀
Activating
Press the button. The LED in the button lights
up and the indication AUTO H appears in the
instrument panel.
Automatic Hold is activated.
If the vehicle is being held by Auto‐
matic Hold, the indicator light in the in‐
strument panel also lights up in green.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Deactivating Press the button again, the LED in the button
and the indication AUTO H in the instrument
panel go out.
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Washer fluid reservoirAdding washer fluid
Only add washer fluid when the engine is
cool, and then close the cover completely to
avoid contact between the washer fluid and
hot engine parts.
Otherwise, there is the danger of fire and a risk
to personal safety if the fluid is spilled.◀
All washer nozzles are supplied from one res‐
ervoir.
The recommended minimum filling quantity is
0.2 US gal/1 liter.
Fill with a mixture of window washing concen‐
trate and tap water; if needed, add antifreeze
according to the manufacturer instructions.
Mix the washer fluid before adding to maintain
the correct mixing ratio.
Do not fill in undiluted window washing con‐
centrate and antifreeze and do not fill in pure
water; this could damage the washer system.
Do not mix window washing concentrate from
different manufacturers; this could cause the
washer nozzles to clog.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
Transmission positions
D Drive, automatic position Position for normal vehicle operation. All for‐
ward gears are available.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con‐
sumption is lowest when you are driving in po‐
sition D.
Kickdown
Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving
performance. Press on the accelerator beyond
the resistance point at the full throttle position.
R is Reverse Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N is Neutral The vehicle can roll.
N remains engaged after the engine is
switched off if the remote control remains in
the ignition lock. This function can be used in
an automatic car wash, refer to page 291, for
example. P is automatically engaged after ap‐
prox. 30 minutes.
P ParkThe drive wheels are blocked.
P is engaged automatically when the following
conditions are met:▷The driver's door is opened while the en‐
gine is running, the safety belt is not fas‐
tened and neither the brake pedal nor the
accelerator is activated.▷The engine is switched off unless N is en‐
gaged and the remote control is in the igni‐
tion lock.▷The remote control is removed from the ig‐
nition lock.
Before leaving the vehicle, ensure that the
transmission position P is engaged; otherwise,
the vehicle may begin to roll.
Engaging transmission position
▷Transmission position P can only be disen‐
gaged if the engine is running and the
brake pedal is pressed.Seite 67DrivingControls67
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SafetyVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it alsodescribes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Airbags
1Front airbags2Head airbags3Side airbagsFront airbags
Front airbags help protect the driver and front
passenger by responding to frontal impacts in
which safety belts alone cannot provide ade‐
quate restraint.
Side airbags
In a lateral impact, the side airbag supports the
side of the body in the chest and lap area.
Head airbags
In a lateral impact, the head airbag supports
the head.
Protective action
Airbags are not triggered in every impact situa‐
tion, e.g., in less severe accidents or rear-end
collisions.
Information on how to ensure the optimal
protective effect of the airbags▷Keep at a distance from the airbags.▷Always grasp the steering wheel on the
steering wheel rim, holding your hands at
the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, to
keep the danger of injury to your hands or
arms as low as possible if the airbag is trig‐
gered.▷There should be no people, animals, or ob‐
jects between an airbag and a person.▷Do not use the cover of the front airbag on
the front passenger side as a storage area.▷Keep the dashboard and window on the
front passenger side clear, i.e., do not
cover with adhesive labels or coverings,
and do not attach holders such as for navi‐
gation instruments and mobile phones.Seite 86ControlsSafety86
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