Page 49 of 386

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
Page 50 of 386

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
Page 51 of 386

mines that deployment can offer additional
protection to that provided by the seat belt.
Pelvis 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 pelvis air bag on the front-passenger side is not deployed in the following situations:
R OCS has detected that the front-passenger
seat is unoccupied.
R the front-passenger seat belt is not fas-
tened.
The pelvis 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.
Window curtain air bags The window curtain air bags enhance the level
of protection for the head, but not chest or
arms, of the vehicle occupants on the side ofthe vehicle on which the impact occurs.
The window curtain air bags are integrated
into the side of the roof frame and deploy in
the area from the A-pillar to the C-pillar. Window curtain 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 regardless of whether the front-passenger
seat is occupied
R independently of the use of the seat belt R
if the vehicle rolls over and the system
determines that window curtain air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R independently of the front air bags
Window curtain air bags 0043will not deploy in
the event of impacts which do not exceed the system's preset deployment thresholds for
vehicle acceleration/deceleration. You will
then be protected by the fastened seat belt. Occupant Classification System
(OCS)
How the Occupant Classification Sys-
tem works The Occupant Classification System (OCS)
categorizes the occupant on the front-
passenger seat using a weight sensor. The
front-passenger front air bag is deactivated
automatically for certain weight categories.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
shows you the current status. If the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
lit, the passenger air bag is disabled.
The system does not deactivate:
R the side impact air bag
R the pelvis air bag
R the window curtain air bag
R the Emergency Tensioning Devices
To be classified correctly, the front passenger
must sit:
R with the seat belt fastened correctly
R in a position that 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 nec- essary repair work carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Occupant safety
49Safety Z
Page 52 of 386

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
Page 53 of 386

toddler restraint, or booster seat recommen-
ded 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 impor-
tant information when circumstances require you to place a child in the front-passenger
seat:
R Your vehicle is equipped with air bag tech-
nology 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 A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
front-passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the front-passenger front air bag inflates in a collision which
could occur under some circumstances,
even with the air bag technology installed in your vehicle. The only means to eliminate
this risk completely is never to place a child
in a rear-facing child restraint in the front-
passenger seat. We therefore strongly rec- ommend that you always place a child in a
rear-facing child restraint on the rear seat.
R If you install a rear-facing child restraint on
the front-passenger seat, make sure the
00730074 indicator lamp is illuminated,
indicating that the front-passenger front air
bag is deactivated. Should the 00730074
indicator lamp not illuminate or go out while the restraint is installed, please check
installation. Periodically check the
00730074 indicator lamp while driving to make sure that the
00730074indicator
lamp is illuminated. If the 00730074indi-
cator lamp goes out or remains out, do not transport a child on the front-passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint on thefront-passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the front-passenger front air bag inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing child
restraint on the front-passenger seat:
- move the seat as far back as possible
- use the proper child restraint recommen-
ded for the age, size and weight of the
child
- secure child restraint with the vehicle's
seat belt according to the child seat man-
ufacturer's instructions
R For children larger than the typical 12-
month-old child, the front-passenger front
air bag may or may not be activated.
If the driver's air bag deploys, this does not
mean that the front-passenger front air bag
will also deploy.
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 deacti-
vates the front-passenger front air bag. Deac- tivation takes place although the collision ful-
fills the criteria for deploying the driver's air
bag. Occupant safety
51Safety Z
Page 54 of 386

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
Page 55 of 386

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
Page 56 of 386

G
WARNING
If the 00730074 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 a child on the front-passenger seat until the system has been repaired. PRE-SAFE
®
(anticipatory occupant
protection system)
Introduction PRE-SAFE
®
takes preemptive measures to
protect occupants in certain hazardous sit-
uations.
Important safety notes !
Make sure that there are no objects in the
footwell under or behind the seats when
moving the seats back. There is a risk that
the seats and/or the objects could be dam-
aged.
Despite your vehicle being equipped with the PRE-SAFE ®
system, the possibility of per-
sonal injuries occurring as a result of an acci-
dent 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 phys-
ical limits are exceeded and the vehicle
understeers or oversteers severely.
R vehicles with the Driving Assistance
package: when BAS PLUS intervenes pow-
erfully or the radar sensor system detects
an imminent danger of collision in certain
situations. If you are driving faster than approximately
20 mph (30 km/h) PRE-SAFE
®
may take the
following measures in these situations:
R the front seat belts are pre-tensioned.
R vehicles with the memory function for
the front-passenger seat: the front-
passenger seat is adjusted if it is in an
unfavorable position.
R if the vehicle skids, the side windows are
closed so that only a small gap remains.
The panorama roof with power tilt/sliding
panel is completely closed.
If the hazardous situation passes without
resulting in an accident, PRE-SAFE ®
slackens
the belt pre-tensioning. All settings made by
PRE-SAFE ®
can then be reversed.
If the seat belt pre-tensioning is not reduced:
X Move the seat backrest or seat back
slightly when the vehicle is stationary.
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 59). NECK-PRO head restraints/NECK-
PRO luxury head restraints
G
WARNING
The function of the head restraint may be
impaired if you:
R attach objects such as coat hangers to the
head restraints, for example
R use head restraint covers 54
Occupant safetySafety