
Deployment of Emergency Tensioning
Device s an d air bags
Important safet y notes
G WARNING
The air bag parts are hot after an air bag has
bee n deployed . There is a ris k of injury.
Do no t touch th e air bag parts . Hav e a
deployed air bag replaced at a qualified spe -
cialis t workshop as soo n as possible.
G WARNING
A deployed air bag no longer offers any pro -
tection and canno t provid e th e intended pro -
tection in an accident. There is an increase d
ris k of injury.
Hav e th e vehicle towed to a qualified special-
ist workshop in order to hav e a deployed air
bag replaced.
It is important fo r your safet y and that of your
passenger to hav e deployed air bags replaced
and to hav e any malfunctionin g air bags
repaired. Thi s will hel p to mak e sur e th e air
bags continue to perform their protective
function fo r th e vehicle occupant s in th e
event of a crash .
G WARNING
Pyrotechnic Emergency Tensioning Devices
that hav e bee n deployed are no longer opera-
tional and are unable to perform their inten-
ded protective function . Thi s poses an
increase d ris k of injury or eve n fatal injury.
Therefore, hav e pyrotechni c Emergency Ten -
sioning Devices whic h hav e bee n triggere d
immediately replaced at a qualified specialis t
workshop .
If Emergency Tensioning Devices are trig-
gered or air bags are deployed , you will hear a
bang, and a small amount of powder may also
be released. The u restrain t system warn -
in g lamp lights up.
Only in rar e cases will th e ban g affec t your
hearing. The powder that is release d gener-
ally doe s no t constitute a health hazard , but it may caus e short-term breathin g difficulties in
people wit h asthm a or other respirator y prob-
lems. Provided it is saf e to do so, you should
leav e th e vehicle immediately or ope n th e
window in order to preven t breathin g difficul-
ties.
Ai r bags and pyrotechni c Emergency Tension-
in g Devices (ETDs) contain perchlorat e mate-
rial , whic h may require special handlin g and
regard fo r th e environment. National guide-
lines mus t be observed durin g dis posa l. In
C alifornia, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm .
Method of operation Durin g th e first stage of a collision , th e
restrain t system contro l uni t evaluates impor -
tant physical dat a relatin g to vehicle deceler -
ation or acceleration , suc h as:R
duration R
direction R
intensit y
Based on th e evaluation of this data, th e
restrain t system contro l uni t triggers th e
Emergency Tensioning Devices durin g a fron -
ta l or rea r collision .
An Emergency Tensioning Devic e can only be
triggered, if: R
th e ignition is switched on R
th e component s of th e restrain t system are
operational. You can fin d further informa-
tion under: "Restrain t system warnin g
lamp " ( Y
page 43) R
th e belt tongue is engage d in th e buckl e on
th e respective front-passenger seat
The Emergency Tensioning Devices in th e
rea r compartmen t are triggere d independ -
entl y of th e loc k status of th e seat belts.
If th e restrain t system contro l uni t detects a
more severe accident, further component s of
th e restrain t system are activated independ -
entl y of eac h other in certain fronta l collision
situations:56
Occupant safety
Safety

Drivin g safet y systems
Overview of drivin g safet y systemsIn this section , you will fin d information about
th e following drivin g safet y systems :R
AB S ( A nti-loc k B rakin g S ystem)
( Y
page 65) R
BA S ( B rake A ssist S ystem) ( Y
page 66 )R
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLU S
( Y
page 66 )R
ES P ®
( E lectronic S t ability P rogram)
( Y
page 69 )R
EB D ( E lectroni c B r ak e forc e D i stribution )
( Y
page 72) R
ADAPTIV E BRAKE ( Y
page 73 )R
STEE R CONTROL ( Y
page 73 )
Important safet y notesIf you fail to adapt your drivin g style or if you
are inattentive , th e drivin g safet y systems can
neither reduce th e ris k of an acciden t no r
override th e laws of physics. Driving safet y
systems are merely aids designed to assist
driving. You are responsible fo r maintainin g
th e distanc e to th e vehicle in front, fo r vehicle
speed, fo r braking in goo d time, and fo r stay-
in g in lane. Always adapt your drivin g style to
suit th e prevailin g road and weather condi-
tion s and maintain a saf e distanc e from th e
vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The drivin g safet y systems described only
wor k as effectively as possible when there is
adequat e contact between th e tires and th e
road surface. Please pay special attention to
th e note s on tires , recommended minimum
tire tread depths, etc. ( Y
page 340).
In wintr y drivin g conditions, always use winte r
tires (M+ S tires ) and if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will th e drivin g safet y
systems described in this section wor k as
effectively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General information AB S regulates brake pressure in suc h a way
that th e wheels do no t loc k when you brake .
Thi s allow s you to continue steerin g th e vehi-
cl e when braking .
The % AB S warnin g lamp in th e instrumen t
cluster lights up when th e ignition is switched
on . It goe s out when th e engin e is running .
AB S works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h), regardles s of road-surfac e condi-
tions. AB S works on slipper y surfaces, eve n
when you only brake gently.
Important safet y notes
i Observ e th e "Important safet y notes" sec -
tion ( Y
page 65).
G WARNING
If AB S is faulty, th e wheels could loc k when
braking . The steerability and braking charac -
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition -
ally, further drivin g safet y systems are deac -
tivated. There is an increase d danger of skid-
din g and accidents .
Drive on carefully. Hav e AB S checke d imme-
diately at a qualified specialis t workshop .
Whe n AB S is malfunctioning, other systems ,
includin g drivin g safet y systems , will also
becom e inoperative . Observ e th e information
on th e AB S warnin g lamp ( Y
page 269) and
display message s whic h may be shown in th e
instrumen t cluster ( Y
page 236).
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress th e
brake peda l vigorousl y until th e braking sit -
uation is over. X
To make a full brak e application:
depress th e brake peda l wit h full force.
If AB S intervenes when braking , you will feel a
pulsin g in th e brake pedal.Driving safety systems 65
Safety Z

You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:R
ESP ®
is activated.R
SPORT handling mode is activated. R
ESP ®
is deactivated.
G WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit-
uations described in the following.
G WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
In the following situations, it may be better to
activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
: R
when using snow chains R
in deep snow R
on sand or gravel R
on specially designated roads when the
vehicle's own oversteering and understeer-
ing characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain. Deactivating/activating ESP ®
X
To activate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button C .
The t SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
The SPORT handling mode message
appears in the multifunction display. X
To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button C .
The t SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out. X
To deactivate ESP ®
: press button C until
the