However, no system available today can
completely eliminate injuries and fatalities.
Whe nthe air bags are deployed, a small
amount of powder is released. The powder
generally does not constitute a health hazard
and does not indicate that there is a fire in the
vehicle. In order to prevent potential
breathing difficulties, you should leave the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you
have any breathing difficulty but cannot get
out of the vehicle after the air bag inflates,
then get fresh air by opening a window or
door. G
WARNING
In order to reduce the potential danger of
injuries caused during the deployment of the
front air bags, the driver and front passenger
must always be correctly seated and wear
their seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision, you must always be in the normal
seat position with your back against the
backrest. Fasten your seat belt and make sure
that it is correctly positioned on your body.
As the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating position
and correct positioning of the hands on the
steering wheel will help to keep you at a safe
distance from the air bag. Occupants who are
not wearing their seat belt, are not seated
properly or are too close to the air bag can be
seriously injured or killed by an air bag, as it
inflates with great force instantaneously:
R sit with the seat belt fastened correctly and
in a position that is as upright as possible
with your back against the backrest.
R move the driver's seat as far back as
possible, still permitting proper operation
of vehicle controls. The distance from the
center of the driver's chest to the center of
the air bag cover on the steering wheel
must be at least 10 inches (25 cm). You
should be able to accomplish this by
adjusting the seat and steering wheel. If you have any difficulties, please contact an
authorized Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
R do not lean your head or chest close to the
steering wheel or dashboard.
R only hold the steering wheel on the outside.
Placing hands and arms inside the rim can
increase the risk and potential severity of
hand/arm injury if the driver front air bag
inflates.
R adjust the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible from the dashboard when the
seat is occupied.
R occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their heads
in the area of the door where the side
impact air bag (Coupe) or the side impact
air bag and the head bag (Cabriolet) inflate.
This could result in serious injuries or death
should the side impact air bags (Coupe) or
side impact air bags and head bag
(Cabriolet) inflate. Always sit as upright as
possible, wear the seat belt properly and
use an appropriately sized child restraint
system, infant restraint system or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight
of the child.
Failure to follow these instructions can result
in severe injuries to you or other occupants.
If you sell your vehicle, it is important that you
make the buyer aware of this safety
information. Be sure to give the buyer this
Operator's Manual.
If the air bags are deployed, you will hear a
bang, and a small amount of powder may also
be released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard and does not indicate that there
is a fire in the vehicle. The dust might cause
some temporary breathing difficulty for
people with asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, you may wish to get out
of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
You can also open the window to allow fresh
air to enter the vehicle interior. The 001DSRS
warning lamp lights up. Occupant safety
45Safety Z
determined by the Occupant Classification
System (OCS) (Y
page 50).
The lighter the passenger-side occupant, the
higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
(predicted at the start of the impact) for
second-stage inflation of the front-passenger
front air bag. In the second stage, the front
air bags are inflated with the maximum
amount of propellant gas available.
The fron tair bags are not deployed in
situations where a low impac tseverity is
predicted. You will then be protected by the
fastened seat belt.
The front-passenger fron tair bag will only
deploy if:
R the system, based on the OCS weight
sensor readings, detects that the front-
passenger seat is occupied
R the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp on the center console is not lit
(Y page 50)
R the air bag control unit predicts a high
impac tseverity
Driver's knee bag Driver's knee bag
0002deploys under the
steering column. It is deployed together with
the fron tair bags. The driver's knee bag is
designed to operate together with the front
air bags in frontal impacts if certain
thresholds are exceeded. The driver's knee
bag operates best in conjunction with
correctly positioned and fastened seat belts. The driver's knee bag increases protection of
the drive
ragainst:
R knee injuries
R thigh injuries
R lower leg injuries
Side impact air bags G
WARNING
Using unsuitable seat covers could restric tor
even preven tdeployment of the air bags
integrated into the seats. Consequently, the
air bags cannot protec tvehicle occupants as
they are designed to do. In addition, the
function of the air bag deactivation system
could be restricted. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
You should only use seat covers that have
been approved for the respective seat by
Mercedes-Benz. G
WARNING
Sensors to control the air bags are located in
the doors. Modifications or work not
performed correctly to the doors or door
paneling, as well as damaged doors, can lead
to the function of the sensors being impaired.
The air bags might therefore not function
properly any more. Consequently, the air bags
cannot protec tvehicle occupants as they are
designed to do. There is an increased risk of
injury.
Never modify the doors or parts of the doors.
Always have work on the doors or door
paneling carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
You should only use seat covers that have
been approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-
Benz .The seat covers must have a special
tear seam for side impact air bags. Otherwise,
the side impact air bags cannot deploy
correctly and therefore cannot provide the
intended protection in the event of an
accident. Occupant safety
47Safety Z
G
WARNING
If the red 001DSRS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and the 0018001A
indicator lamp light up simultaneously, the
OCS is malfunctioning. The front passenger
front air bag will be deactivated in this case.
Have the system checked by qualified
technicians as soon as possible.C ontactan
authorized Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
In order to ensure proper operation of the air
bag system and OCS:
R Sit with the seat belt properly fastened in a
position that is as upright as possible with
your back against the seat backrest.
R When seated, a passenger should not
position him/herself in such a way as to
cause the passenger's weight to be lifted
from the seat cushion as this may result in
the OCS being unable to correctly
approximate the passenger's weight
category.
R Read and observe all warnings in this
chapter. If the SmartKey is removed from the ignition
lock or is in position 0,PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lamp 0002does not light up.
The Occupant Classification System (OCS)
categorizes the occupant on the front-
passenge rseat using a weight sensor.
The front-passenger fron tair bag is
deactivated automatically for certain weight
categories. If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is lit, the passenger air bag is disabled.
The PASSENGER AI
RBAG OFF indicator lamp
shows you the current status.
The system does not deactivate:
R the side impact ai rbag
R the pelvis air bag
R the window curtain air bag (Coupe)
R the front-passenger head bag (Cabriolet)
R the Emergency Tensioning Devices
To be classified correctly, the fron tpassenger
must sit:
R with the seat belt fastened correctly
R in a positio nthat is as upright as possible
with their back against the seat backrest
R with their feet on the floor
The OCS weight sensor reading is affected if
the occupant's weight is transferred, e.g. by
leaning on the armrest.
If the front-passenger seat, the seat cover or
the seat cushion are damaged, have the
necessary repair work carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use seat
accessories that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Both the driver and the front passenger
should always observe the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp as an indication of
whether or not the front passenger is
positioned correctly. Observe also the air bag
display messages that can be displayed in the
instrument cluster (Y page 256).
If the driver's air bag deploys, this does not
mean that the front-passenger front air bag
will also deploy. 52
Occupant safetySafety
The OCS may have detected that the seat:
R is empty or occupied by the weight of a
typical child up to twelve months old,
seated in a child restraint system.
R is occupied by a small individual, such as a
young teenager or a small adult.
R is occupied by a child in a child restraint
system whose weight is greater than that
of a typical twelve month old child.
These are examples of when the OCS
deactivates the front-passenger fronta ir bag.
Deactivation takes place although the
collision fulfills the criteria for deploying the
driver's air bag.
For further information, see "Air bag display
messages" (Y page 256).
System self-test G
WARNING
If the 0018001Aindicator lamp does not
illuminate, the system is not functioning. You
must contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center before seating any child on the front
passenger seat. G
WARNING
Objects betwee nthe seat surface and the
child restraint system could affect the
function of the OCS. This could result in the
front-passenger front air bag not functioning
as intended during an accident. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Do not place any objectsb etween the seat
surface and the child restraint system. Make
sure that the bottom and back of the child
restraint system make full contact with the
front-passenger seat cushion and backrest.
Always comply with the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation instructions. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
lights up:
R
if you turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock
to position 1or 2
R if you press the KEYLESS-GO Start/Stop
button once or twice on vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO
R if an adult is seated properly on the front-
passenger seat and the OCS classifies the
occupant as an adult
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp goes out again after approximately six
seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the OCS
detects that the front-passenger seat is
empty, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp will continue to light up. The
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
will not go out.
For more information about the OCS, see
"Problems with the Occupant Classification
System" (Y page 54). Occupant safety
53Safety Z
Problems with the Occupant Classification System
G
WARNING
If the 0018001A indicator lamp illuminates and remains illuminated when the weight of a typical
adult or someone larger than a small individual has been detected on the passenger seat, do not
allow any occupant to use the passenger seat until the system has been repaired. G
WARNING
If the 0018001A indicator lamp does not illuminate or remains out with the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child restraint or less, or is unoccupied, on the front-passenger
seat, do not transport achild on the front-passenger seat until the system has been repaired. Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator
lights up and remains
on.
The person on the
front-passenger seat:
R
has the weight of a
typical adult
R has been determined
by the system not to
be a child The OCS is malfunctioning.
X
Make sure that the front passenger is sitting in a correct, upright
position.
X Have the OCS checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display (Y page 256). 54
Occupant safetySafety
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator
lamp does not light up
and/or stays on.
The front-passenger
seat is:
R
unoccupied
R occupied with the
weight of a child up
to twelve months old
in a child restraint
system The OCS is malfunctioning.
X
Make sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and the
child seat.
X Make sure that the backrest and base of the child restraint
system are resting securely on the front-passenger seat. If
necessary, adjust the position of the front-passenger seat.
X When installing the child restraint system, make sure that the
seat belt is tight. Do not pull the seat belt tight with the front-
passenger seat adjustment .This could result in the seat belt
being pulled too tightly.
X Check the installation of the child restraint system.
X Make sure that no objectsa re applying additional weight onto
the seat.
X If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains off, have
the OCS checked immediatel yataqualified specialist
workshop. Do not transport a child on the front-passenger seat
until the OCS has been repaired.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display ( Ypage 256). Roll bar (Cabriolet)
G
DANGER
If the roll bar is malfunctioning, the 0013
Malfunction Service Required message
appears in the multifunction display. The roll
bars will then possibly not be extended in the
event of an accident. This could result in
severe or even fatal injuries to you and other
occupants. In this case, visit a qualified
specialist workshop immediately and have
the roll bar checked. G
WARNING
Ensure that the area around the roll bars/rear
head restraints is kept clear. Otherwise,
someone could be injured by the roll bars
when they are triggered.
The roll bars are under the rear head
restraints. They are extended if systems
detec tthat the vehicle is in danger of
overturning. When the roll bars are extended, the rear
head restraints also extend automatically.
Once the roll bars are extended, you can no
longer lower the rear head restraints. The soft
top can no longer be closed. In this case, visit
the nearest qualified specialist workshop. NECK-PRO head restraints
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not secure any objects (e.g. coat hangers)
on the NECK-PRO head restraints. Otherwise,
the NECK-PRO head restraints may not
function properly, or in the event of a rear-end
collision may not be able offer the level of
protection they are designed to provide. G
WARNING
Seat or head restraint covers can cause a
malfunction when the NECK-PRO head Occupant safety
55Safety
Z
possibility of personal injuries occurring as a
result of an acciden tcannot be eliminated.
Always adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions and
maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in
front. Drive carefully.
PRE-SAFE ®
intervenes:
R if BAS intervenes, e.g. in emergency
braking situations.
R if BAS PLUS intervenes powerfully — on
vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS.
R if, on vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS, the
radar sensor system detect sanimminent
dange rofcollision in certain situations.
R in critical driving situations, e.g. when
physical limits are exceeded and the
vehicle understeers or oversteers severely.
PRE-SAFE ®
takes the following measures
depending on the hazardous situation
detected:
R the front seat belts are pre-tensioned.
R the front-passenger seat is adjusted if it is
in an unfavorable position.
R the air pressure in the side bolsters of the
seat cushion and seat backrest of the front
multicontour seats is increased.
R Coupe: if the vehicle skids, the panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel and the
front side windows are closed so that only
a small gap remains.
R Cabriolet: if the vehicle skids, the front side
windows are closed so that only a small gap
remains.
If the hazardous situation passes without
resulting in an accident, PRE-SAFE ®
slackens
the belt pre-tensioning. The air pressure in
the side bolsters on the multicontour seat is
reduced again. All settings made by PRE-
SAFE ®
can then be reversed.
If the seat belts are not released:
X When the vehicle is stationary, move the
backrest or seat back slightly.
The seat belt pre-tensioning is reduced and
the locking mechanism is released. Information about seat belt adjustment, a
convenience function integrated into PRE-
SAFE
®
, can be found in the "Seat belt
adjustment" section (Y page 60). Seat belts
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended level
of protection if the backrest is not in the
upright position. When braking or in the event
of an accident, you could slide underneath the
seat belt and sustain abdomen or neck
injuries, for example. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Adjust the seat properly before beginning
your journey. Always make sure that the seat
is in the upright position. G
WARNING
Seat belts cannot protect as intended, if:
R they are damaged, extremely dirty,
bleached or dyed
R the seat belt buckle is damaged or
extremely dirty
R the Emergency Tensioning Devices or the
belt anchorage has been modified.
Damage caused to seat belts in an accident
may not be visible, e.g. by splinters of glass.
Modified or damaged seat belts can tear or
fail, for example in the event of an accident.
Modified Emergency Tensioning Devices may
be deployed unintentionally or fail to be
deployed when required. There is an
increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Never modify seat belts, Emergency
Tensioning Devices, seat belt anchorages and
inertia reels. Ensure that seat belts are not
damaged or worn and are clean.
Only use seat belts that have been approved
for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. Occupant safety
57Safety Z
If you press seat-bel
textender button 0020
afte rthis, seat-belt extender 0002will not
extend. Seat belt (example: Coupe)
X
Adjust the seat and move the backrest to
an almost vertical position (Y page 116).
X Pull the seat belt smoothly out of seat-belt
extender 0002.
X Without twisting it, guide the shoulder
section of the seat belt across the middle
of your shoulder and the lap section across
your pelvis.
X Engage belt tongue 0003in buckle 0023.
Seat-belt adjustment:ifn ecessary, the
driver's and front-passenger seat belts
automatically adjust to the upper body
(Y page 60).
X If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the seat belt to tighten the belt
across your body.
Information on releasing the seat belt with
release button 0022(Ypage 60).
Seat belt adjustment The seat-belt adjustment function adjusts the
driver's and front-passenger seat belt to the
upper body of the occupants. The belt strap is tightened slightly when:
R
you engage the belt tongue in the belt
buckle and you then turn the SmartKey to
position 2in the ignition lock.
R the SmartKey is in position 2in the ignition
lock and you then engage the belt tongue
in the buckle once the seat-belt extender
has retracted.
The seat-belt adjustment will apply a
retraction force if any slack is detected
between the occupant and the seat belt. Do
not hold on to the seat belt tightly while it is
adjusting. You can switch the seat-belt
adjustment on and off in the on-board
computer (Y page 246).
The seat-belt adjustment is an integral part of
the PRE-SAFE ®
convenience function. More
information about PRE-SAFE ®
can be found
under "PRE-SAFE ®
(preventative occupant
protection)" (Y page 56).
Releasing seat belts !
Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled
up. Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue
will be trapped in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This could damage the door,
the door trim panel and the seat belt.
Damaged seat belts can no longer fulfill
their protective function and must be
replaced. Visit a qualified specialist
workshop. 60
Occupant safetySafety