2014 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class light

PRE-SAFE
®
(anticipatory occupant
protection system)
Introduction PRE-SAFE
®
takes preemptive measures to
protect occupants in certain hazardous
situations.
Important safety notes !
Make sure that there are no objects in the
footwell or behind the seats when resetting
the seats. There is a risk that the seats
and/or the objects could be damaged.
Despite your vehicle being equipped with the
PRE-SAFE ®
system, the possibility of
personal injuries occurring as a result of an
accident cannot 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.
Function PRE-SAFE
®
intervenes:
R in emergency braking situations, e.g. when
BAS is activated.
R in critical driving situations, e.g. when
physical limits are exceeded and the
vehicle understeers or oversteers severely.
R vehicles with the Driving Assistance
package: when a driver assistance system
intervenes powerfully or the radar sensor
system detects an imminent danger of
collision in certain situations
PRE-SAFE ®
takes the following measures
depending on the hazardous situation
detected:
R the front seat belts are pre-tensioned.
R if the vehicle skids, the panorama roof with
power tilt/sliding panel and the side
windows are closed so that only a small gap
remains.
R the front-passenger seat is adjusted if it is
in an unfavorable position. R
vehicles with electrically adjustable
rear seats: the outer rear seats are
adjusted if they are in an unfavorable
position.
R vehicles with a multicontour seat: the
air pressure in the side bolsters of the
backrest is increased.
R vehicles with seat belt extenders: the
seat belts of the outer rear seats are pre-
tensioned.
If the hazardous situation passes without
resulting in an accident, PRE-SAFE ®
slackens
the belt pre-tensioning. On vehicles with
multicontour seats, the air pressure in the
side bolsters 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.
The seat-belt adjustment is an integral part of
the PRE-SAFE ®
convenience function. More
information about seat-belt adjustment can
be found under "Seat-belt adjustment"
(Y page 60).
More information about PRE-SAFE ®
PLUS
(Y page 56). PRE-SAFE
®
PLUS (anticipatory
occupant protection system PLUS)
General information PRE-SAFE
®
PLUS is only available in vehicles
with the Driving Assistance package.
Using the radar sensor system, PRE-SAFE ®
PLUS is able to detect that a head-on or rear-
end collision is imminent. In certain
hazardous situations, PRE-SAFE ®
PLUS takes
pre-emptive measures to protect the vehicle
occupants. 56
Occupant safetySafety

Important safety notes
The intervention of PRE-SAFE
®
PLUS cannot
prevent an imminent collision.
The driver is not warned when PRE-SAFE ®
PLUS intervenes.
PRE-SAFE ®
PLUS does not intervene:
R if the vehicle is backing up
R when the vehicle is towing a trailer and
there is a risk of a rear-end collision
PRE-SAFE ®
PLUS does not perform braking
actions while the vehicle is in motion or when
Parking Guidance is active.
Function PRE-SAFE
®
PLUS intervenes in certain
situations if the radar sensor system detects
an imminent head-on or rear-end collision.
PRE-SAFE ®
PLUS takes the following
measures depending on the hazardous
situation detected:
R If the radar sensor system detects that a
head-on collision is imminent, the seat
belts are pre-tensioned.
R If the radar sensor system detects that a
rear-end collision is imminent:
-the brake pressure is increased if the
driver applies the brakes when the
vehicle is stationary.
- the seat belts are pre-tensioned.
The PRE-SAFE ®
PLUS braking application is
canceled in the following situations:
R if the accelerator pedal is depressed when
a gear is engaged
R if the risk of a collision passes or is no
longer detected
R if DISTRONIC PLUS indicates an intention
to pull away
If the hazardous situation passes without
resulting in an accident, the original settings
are restored. Automatic measures after an
accident
Immediately after an accident, the following
measures are implemented, depending on
the type and severity of the impact:
R by activating the hazard warning lamps
R the emergency lighting is activated
R the vehicle doors are unlocked
R the front side windows are lowered
R the electrically adjustable steering wheel is
raised
R the engine is switched off
R vehicles with seat belt extenders: the
seat-belt buckles for the outer rear seats
are illuminated and extend forwards
R vehicles with mbrace: automatic
emergency call
R vehicles with the hybrid drive system:
the hybrid system is deactivated Seat belts
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Objects next to the front seat that block the
belt buckle or the moving belt anchorage on
the front seat impair the function of the
Emergency Tensioning Devices. The
Emergency Tensioning Devices may not
function as intended and the seat belt may no
longer provide the intended protection. This
poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal
injury.
Before starting the journey, make sure that
there are no objects around the belt buckle or
between the front seat and door. 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 Occupant safety
57Safety
Z

X
Engage belt tongue 0044in buckle 0087.
Seat-belt adjustment: if necessary, the
driver's and front-passenger seat belts
automatically adjust to the upper body
(Y page 60).
X If necessary, adjust the seat belt to the
appropriate height (Y page 60).
X If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the seat belt to tighten the belt
across your body.
All seat belts except the driver's seat belt are
equipped with a special seat belt retractor to
securely fasten child restraint systems in the
vehicle. Further information on the "Special
seat belt retractor" (Y page 66).
Information on releasing the seat belt with
release button 0085(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.
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. Information on activating and
deactivating the seat-belt adjustment
function can be found in the separate
COMAND operating instructions.
The seat-belt adjustment is an integral part of
the PRE-SAFE ®
convenience function. More
information about PRE-SAFE ®
(Y page 56). Belt height adjustment
You can adjust the seat belt height on the
front seats. Adjust the belt to a height that
allows the upper part of the seat belt to be
routed across the center of your shoulder.
X To raise: slide the belt sash guide upwards.
The belt sash guide engages in various
positions.
X To lower: press and hold belt sash guide
release 0043.
X Slide the belt sash guide downwards.
X Release belt sash guide release 0043and
make sure that the belt sash guide has
engaged.
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

X
Press release button 0085on belt buckle 0087.
X Guide belt tongue 0044to belt sash
guide 0043.
Seat belt extender General information
The seat belt extender is used on the outer
rear seats. As the height can be adjusted
automatically, it offers various comfort and
safety functions.
Important safety notes
Ensure that no objects impair the movement
of the seat belt buckle.
Function
To assist you in finding and fastening the seat
belt buckle:
R the belt buckle moves forwards to a
convenient position
R the belt buckle is illuminated
i After fastening, the belt buckle returns to
its normal position. The seat belt is
therefore no longer loose over the lap or
thorax.
Incorporation into the PRE-SAFE ®
system:
The belt buckle is quickly lowered in
hazardous situations to pre-tension the seat
belt. Incorporation into the measures after an
accident:
If a rear door is opened after an accident:
R
the belt buckle moves forwards
R the belt buckle is illuminated
Belt warning for the driver and front
passenger Regardless of whether the driver's and front-
passenger seat belts have already been
fastened, the
0076seat belt warning lamp
lights up for six seconds each time the engine
is started. It then goes out if the driver and
the front passenger have already fastened
their seat belts.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened when
the engine is started, an additional warning
tone will sound. This warning tone stops after
a maximum of six seconds or once the
driver's seat belt is fastened.
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 the driver's or front-passenger's
seat belt is not fastened
and
R if a vehicle speed of 15 mph (25 km/h) is
exceeded, the 0076seat belt warning lamp
begins to flash. A warning tone also sounds
with increasing intensity for a maximum of
60 seconds or until the driver or front
passenger have fastened their seat belts.
If the driver/front passenger unfasten their
seat belt 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
illuminated.
After the vehicle comes to a standstill, the
warning tone is reactivated and the 0076seat Occupant safety
61Safety Z

If the ETDs 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 0075SRS
warning lamp lights up.
Belt bags i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 46). G
WARNING
In an accident, the belt bag may damage a
non-approved child restraint system. As a
result, the child restraint system may not be
able to provide the intended level of
protection. There is an increased risk of
injury.
For safety reasons, we recommend that you
only use a child restraint system which has
been tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz
in combination with a belt bag.
i Further information on child restraint
systems (Y page 63). The rear seat belts are equipped with belt
bags
0043. These are triggered depending on
the type and severity of the accident. When triggered, the belt bags open, increasing the
protected area of the occupants' ribcages. Children in the vehicle
Child restraint systems
Important safety notes G
WARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front seating
position. Thus, we strongly recommend that
children be placed in the rear seats whenever
possible. Regardless of seating position,
children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an appropriate
infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight of
the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle's seat belt, the seat
belt and top tether strap, or lower anchors and
top tether strap, fully in accordance with the
child seat manufacturer's instructions.
Occupants, especially children, should always
sit as upright as possible, wear the seat belt
properly and use an appropriately sized infant
restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following
important information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the front
passenger seat:
R Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to deactivate the front
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the system senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard appropriate
child restraint on the front passenger seat.
R For children larger than the typical
12-month-old child, the front passenger Children in the vehicle
63Safety
Z

system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop, before you install a child restraint
system again. G
WARNING
Infants and small children should never share
a seat belt with another occupant. In the event
of an accident, they could be crushed
between the occupant and seat belt.
A child's risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and/
or the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Children that are too large for a child restraint
must travel in seats using normal seat belts.
Position the shoulder belt across the chest
and shoulder, not the face or neck. A booster
seat may be necessary to achieve proper seat
belt positioning for children over 41 lbs
(18 kg) until they reach a height where a lap/
shoulder belt fits properly without a booster
seat.
When the child restraint is not in use, remove
it from the vehicle or secure it with the seat
belt to prevent the child restraint from
becoming a projectile in the event of an
accident. G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R Start the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury. When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
G
WARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected
to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is subjected to
direct sunlight, parts may get very hot.
Children may burn themselves on these parts,
particularly on the metal parts of the child
restraint system. There is a risk of injury.
If you leave the vehicle, taking the child with
you, always ensure that the child restraint
system is not exposed to direct sunlight.
Protect it with a blanket, for example. If the
child restraint system has been exposed to
direct sunlight, let it cool down before
securing the child in it. Never leave children
unattended in the vehicle.
If an infant or child is traveling in the vehicle:
R Secure the child with a child or infant seat
restraint system appropriate to the age and
weight of the child.
R Make sure that the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you always
properly secure all infants and children with
a child or infant seat restraint system for the
trip.
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in:
R all 50 states
R the U.S. territories
R the District of Columbia
R all Canadian provinces Children in the vehicle
65Safety Z

seat according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
Top Tether
Top Tether provides an additional connection
between a child restraint system, secured
with a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat mount,
and the rear seat. This helps reduce the risk
of injury even further. If the child restraint
system is equipped with a Top Tether belt,
this should always be used. G
WARNING
If the rear seat backrests are not locked, they
could fold forwards in the event of an
accident, heavy braking or sudden changes of
direction. As a result, child restraint systems
cannot perform their intended protective
function. Rear seat backrests that are not
locked can also cause additional injuries, e.g.
in the event of an accident. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Always lock rear seat backrests after
installing a Top Tether belt. Observe the lock
verification indicator. Adjust the rear seat
backrests so that they are positioned
vertically.
If the rear seat backrest is not engaged and
locked, this will be shown in the multifunction
display in the instrument cluster. A warning
tone also sounds. G
WARNING
Vehicles with electrically adjustable rear
bench seats:
If you adjust the seat after installing a child
restraint system:
R the seat belt could slacken or become too
tight
R the child restraint system could become
loose, incorrectly positioned or damaged
As a result, the child restraint system may not
be able to provide the intended level of
protection. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury. Never adjust the seat after installing the child
restraint system.
Top Tether anchorage points
0043are installed
in the rear compartment behind the head
restraints on the parcel shelf.
X Move head restraint upwards
(Y page 113).
X Fold up cover 0043of Top Tether anchorage. X
Route Top Tether belt 0085under the head
restraint between the two head restraint
bars.
X Hook Top Tether hook 0087into Top Tether
anchorage 0044.
X Make sure that Top Tether belt 0085is not
twisted.
X Fold down cover 0043of Top Tether
anchorage.
X Move head restraint back down again
slightly if necessary (Y page 123).68
Children in the vehicleSafety

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)
General information 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.
The 0025 ABS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 70). G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking
characteristics may be severely impaired.
Additionally, further driving safety systems
are deactivated. There is an increased danger
of skidding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked
immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
When ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information
on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 304) and
display messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (Y page 266).
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h), regardless of road-surface
conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces,
even when you only brake gently. Braking 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.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
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)
General information BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake pedal
quickly, BAS automatically boosts the braking
force, thus shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 70). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Braking 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
71Safety Z