SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Introduction Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with:
R The 0075 SRS warning lamp
R Air bags
R Air bag control unit (with crash sensors)
R Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD) for
seat belts
R Seat belt force limiters
SRS reduces the risk of vehicle occupants
coming into contact with parts of the vehi-
cle's interior in the event of an accident. It can also reduce the forces to which vehicle occu-
pants are subjected during an accident.
SRS warning lamp G
WARNING
If SRS is malfunctioning, restraint system
components may be triggered unintentionally
or might not be triggered at all in the event of
an accident with a high rate of vehicle decel-
eration. There is an increased risk of injury,
possibly even fatal.
Have SRS checked and repaired immediately
at a qualified specialist workshop.
SRS functions are checked regularly when
you switch on the ignition and when the
engine is running. Therefore, malfunctions
can be detected in good time.
The 0075 SRS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on. It goes out no later than a few seconds
after the engine is started.
The SRS components are in operational read-
iness when the 0075SRS warning lamp goes
out while the engine is running. There is a malfunction if:
R
the 0075 SRS warning lamp does not light
up when the ignition is switched on
R the engine is running and the 0075SRS
warning lamp does not go out after a few
seconds
R the engine is running and the 0075SRS
warning lamp lights up again
Safety guidelines for seat belts, Emer-
gency Tensioning Devices (ETDs) and
air bags G
WARNING
R Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been subjected to stress in an accident
must be replaced. Their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use seat belts
installed or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
R Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency Ten-
sioning Devices (ETDs) contain perchlorate
material, which may require special han-
dling and regard for the environment.
Check your national disposal guidelines.
California residents, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Perchlorate/index.cfm .
R Air bags and ETDs are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An air bag or ETDthat has deployed must be replaced.
R Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
R Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat belts.
R Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
R No modifications of any kind may be made
to any components or wiring of the SRS.
R Do not change or remove any component or
part of the SRS.
R Do not install additional trim material, seat
covers, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, front-passenger front air bag Occupant safety
43Safety
Z
cover, outer sides of the seat backrests,
door trim panels, or door frame trims.
R Do not install additional electrical/elec-
tronic equipment on or near SRS compo-
nents and wiring.
R Keep area between air bags and occupants
free of objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).
R Do not hang items such as coat hangers
from the coat hooks or handles over the
door. These items may be thrown around in the vehicle and cause head and other inju-
ries when the window curtain air bag is
deployed.
R Air bag system components will be hot after
an air bag has inflated. Do not touch them.
R Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
R Improper repair work on the SRS creates a
risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended air bag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefore only be
performed by qualified technicians. Con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
R For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit or
ETD, our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These instructions are available
from any authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
R Given the considerable deployment speed,
required inflation volume, and the material
of the air bags, there is the possibility of
abrasions or other, potentially more serious injuries resulting from air bag deployment.
If you sell your vehicle, Mercedes-Benz
strongly recommends that you inform the
subsequent owner that the vehicle is equip-
ped with SRS. Also, refer them to the appli-
cable section in the Operator's Manual. Air bags
Important safety notes The air bag installation locations are identi-
fied by the AIR BAG symbol.
G
WARNING
Using unsuitable seat covers could restrict or even prevent deployment of the air bags inte- grated into the seats. Consequently, the air
bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as
they are designed to do. In addition, the func-
tion 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.
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 cor-
rectly and therefore cannot provide the inten- ded protection in the event of an accident. G
WARNING
The air bag parts are hot after an air bag has
been deployed. There is a risk of injury.
Do not touch the air bag parts. Have a
deployed air bag replaced at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop as soon as possible. G
WARNING
Air bags are designed to reduce the incidence of injuries and fatalities in certain situations:
R frontal impacts (driver's and front-
passenger front air bags and driver's knee
bag)
R side impacts (side impact air bags, window
curtain air bags and pelvis air bags)
R rollover (window curtain air bags)
However, no system available today can com- pletely eliminate injuries and fatalities. 44
Occupant safetySafety
When the 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 breath-
ing 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 col- lision, 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 pos-
sible, still permitting proper operation of
vehicle controls. The distance from the cen- ter 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-Benz Center.
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 inflates. This could result in
serious or fatal injuries should the side
impact air bag be deployed. Always sit as
upright as possible, wear the seat belt prop-
erly and use an appropriately sized infant
restraint, toddler restraint 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 informa-
tion. 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 peo-
ple with asthma or other breathing trouble. To
avoid this, you may wish to get out of the
vehicle or open the windows as soon as it is
safe to do so. The 0075SRS warning lamp
lights up.
The air bags are deployed if the air bag control
unit detects the need for deployment. Only in the event of such a situation will the air bags
provide their supplemental protection.
If the driver and front passenger do not wear their seat belts, it is not possible for the air
bags to provide their supplemental protec-
tion. Occupant safety
45Safety Z
The front-passenger front air bag will only be
deployed if:
R the system, based on the OCS weight sen-
sor 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 49)
R the air bag control unit predicts a high-
impact severity
Driver's knee bag The driver's knee bag increases protection of
the driver against:
R knee injuries
R thigh injuries
R lower leg injuries Driver's knee bag
0043deploys under the steer-
ing column. If, during a frontal collision, the
system determines that air bag deployment
can offer additional protection to that provi-
ded by the seat belt, driver's knee bag 0043is
deployed along with the driver's air bag. Driv-
er's knee bag 0043operates best in conjunction
with correctly positioned and fastened seat
belts.
Side impact air bags G
WARNING
Using unsuitable seat covers could restrict or even prevent deployment of the air bags inte- grated into the seats. Consequently, the air
bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as they are designed to do. In addition, the func-
tion 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 per-
formed correctly to the doors or door panel-
ing, 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
protect vehicle 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 pan-
eling carried out at a qualified specialist work- shop.
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 cor-
rectly and therefore cannot provide the inten-
ded protection in the event of an accident.
When deployed, the side impact air bags offer additional protection for the thorax of the
vehicle occupants on the side of the vehicle
on which the impact occurs. However, they
do not protect the:
R head
R neck
R arms Occupant safety
47Safety Z
Side impact air bags
0043deploy next to the
outer seat cushions.
Side impact air bags 0043are deployed:
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate of
lateral vehicle deceleration or acceleration,
e.g. in a side impact
R independently of the use of the seat belt
R independently of the front air bags
R independently of the ETDs
If the vehicle rolls over, the side impact air
bags are generally not deployed. Side impact air bags are deployed if the system detects
high vehicle deceleration or acceleration in a
lateral direction and determines that side
impact air bag deployment can offer addi-
tional protection to that provided by the seat belt.
Side impact air bags 0043will not deploy in side
impacts which do not exceed the system's
preset deployment thresholds for lateral
acceleration/deceleration. You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belt.
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side is not deployed in the follow-
ing situations:
R OCS has detected that the front-passenger
seat is unoccupied.
R the front-passenger seat belt is not fas-
tened.
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side will deploy if the front-
passenger seat belt is fastened, regardless of whether the front-passenger seat is occupied
or not.
Pelvis air bags G
WARNING
Unsuitable seat covers could restrict or even
prevent the deployment of the air bags inte-
grated into the seats. Consequently, the air
bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as
they are designed to do. In addition, the func- tion of the Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 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.
Pelvis air bag deployment enhances the level of protection of the vehicle occupants on the
side of the vehicle on which the impact
occurs. Pelvis air bags
0043deploy next to and below
the outer seat cushions. They are deployed:
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate of
lateral vehicle deceleration or acceleration,
e.g. in a side impact
R independently of the use of the seat belt
R independently of the front air bags
R independently of the ETDs
If the vehicle rolls over, the pelvis air bags are
generally not deployed. Exception: if the sys- tem detects high vehicle deceleration or
acceleration in a lateral direction and deter- 48
Occupant safetySafety
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends 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 posi-
tioned correctly. Observe also the air bag dis- play messages that can be displayed in the
instrument cluster (Y page 242).G
WARNING
If the 00730074 indicator lamp illuminates
when an adult or someone larger than a small individual is in the front-passenger seat, havethe front passenger reposition himself or her-
self in the seat until the 00730074indicator
lamp goes out.
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow front-passenger front air
bag deployment when the OCS has classified
the front-passenger seat occupant as weigh-
ing as much as or less than a typical 12-
month-old child in a standard child restraint or if the front-passenger seat is classified as
being empty.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as
being up to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the 00730074indicator lamp will
illuminate when the engine is started and
remain illuminated, indicating that the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat is classified as being empty,
the 00730074 indicator lamp will illuminate
when the engine is started and remain illumi-
nated, indicating that the front-passenger
front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as
being heavier than the weight of a typical 12-
month-old child seated in a standard child
restraint or as being a small individual (such
as a young teenager or a small adult), the
00730074 indicator lamp will illuminate for approximately 6 seconds when the engine is
started and then, depending on occupant
weight sensor readings from the front-
passenger seat, remain illuminated or go out. With the 00730074 indicator lamp illumina-
ted, the front-passenger front air bag is deac-
tivated. With the 00730074indicator lamp
out, the front-passenger front air bag is acti-
vated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as an
adult or someone larger than a small individ-
ual, the 00730074 indicator lamp will illumi-
nate for approximately 6 seconds when the
engine is started and then go out, indicating
that the front-passenger front air bag is acti-
vated.
If the 00730074 indicator lamp is illuminated,
the front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-
ted and will not be deployed.
If the 00730074 indicator lamp is not illumi-
nated, the front-passenger front air bag is
activated and will be deployed:
R in the event of certain frontal impacts
R if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
R independently of the side impact air bags
If the front-passenger front air bag is
deployed, the rate of inflation will be influ-
enced by:
R the rate of relevant vehicle deceleration as
assessed by the air bag control unit
R the front passenger's weight category as
identified by OCS G
WARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. 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 prop- erly secured in an appropriate infant restraint, 50
Occupant safetySafety
If the SmartKey is removed from the ignition
lock or is in position 0, the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp does not light up. G
WARNING
If the red 0075SRS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and the 00730074indica-
tor 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. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
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 posi-
tion him/herself in such a way as to cause the passenger's weight to be lifted from theseat 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 chap-
ter. System self-test The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
lights up if you:
R turn the SmartKey to position 1or 2in the
ignition lock
R press the KEYLESS-GO Start/Stop button
once or twice on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO
When an adult is sitting correctly on the front-
passenger seat and is categorized by the OCS system as an adult, the PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lamp lights up and goes off
again after approximately six seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the OCS sys-
tem classifies the front-passenger seat as
being empty, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp will continue to light up and not go out. G
WARNING
If the 00730074indicator lamp does not illu-
minate, the system is not functioning. You
must contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center before seating any child on the front
passenger seat.
For more information about the OCS, see
"Problems with the Occupant Classification
System" (Y page 53). G
WARNING
Objects between the seat surface and the
child restraint system could affect OCS oper- ation. This could result in the front-passengerair bag not functioning as intended during an
accident. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
Do not place any objects between the seat
surface and the child restraint system. The
entire base of the child restraint system must
always rest on the seat cushion of the front-
passenger seat. The backrest of the forwards- facing child restraint system must, as far as
possible, be resting on the backrest of the
front-passenger seat. Always comply with thechild restraint system manufacturer's instal-
lation instructions. 52
Occupant safetySafety
Problems with the Occupant Classification System
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions 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 spe-
cialist workshop.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display (Y page 242). G
WARNING
If the 00730074 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. Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050 0050Solutions 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 a
weight up to that of a typical twelve-
month-old child in a
standard 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 sys-
tem are resting securely on the front-passenger seat. If neces-
sary, 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 objects are applying additional weight onto
the seat.
X If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains off, have
the OCS system checked as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist 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 (Y page 242). Occupant safety
53Safety Z