Page 57 of 418
child restraint system manufacturer's instal-
lation instructions.
After the system self-test, the PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF or PASSENGER AIR BAG ON
indicator lamp displays the status of the front-
passenger front air bag (
Ypage 52).
For more information about the OCS, see
"Problems with the Occupant Classification
System" (
Ypage 56).
Occupant safety55
Safety
Z
Page 58 of 418

Problems with the Occupant Classification System (OCS)
Be sure to observe the notes on "System self-test" (Ypage 54).
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator
lamp lights up and
remains lit, even
though the front-
passenger seat is occu-
pied by an adult or a
person of a stature cor-
responding to that of an
adult.The classification of the person on the front-passenger seat is
incorrect.
XMake sure the conditions for a correct classification of the per-
son on the front-passenger seat are met (
Ypage 51).
XIf the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains lit, the
front-passenger seat may not be used.
XHave OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator
lamp does not light up
and/or does not stay
on.
The front-passenger
seat is:
Runoccupied
Roccupied with the
weight of a child up
to twelve months old
in a child restraint
system
OCS is malfunctioning.
XMake sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and the
child seat.
XMake sure that the entire base of the child restraint system rests on the seat cushion of the front-passenger seat. The backrest of
the forward-facing child restraint system must lie as flat as pos-
sible against the backrest of the front-passenger seat. If nec-
essary, adjust the position of the front-passenger seat.
XMake sure that the seat cushion length is fully retracted.
XWhen installing the child restraint system, make sure that the
seat belt is tight. Do not pull the seat belt tight using the front-
passenger seat adjustment. This could result in the seat belt and
the child restraint system being pulled too tightly.
XCheck for correct installation of the child restraint system.
Make sure that the head restraint does not apply a load to the
child restraint system. If necessary, adjust the head restraint
accordingly.
XMake sure that no objects are applying additional weight onto
the seat.
XIf the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains off and/
or the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp lights up, do notinstall a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat. It is
recommended that you install the child restraint system on a
suitable rear seat.
XHave OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
56Occupant safety
Safety
Page 59 of 418

Deployment of Emergency Tensioning
Devicesan dair bags
Important safet ynotes
GWARNING
The air bag parts are hot after an air bag has
bee ndeployed .There is aris kof injury.
Do no ttouch th eair bag parts .Hav e a
deployed air bag replaced at aqualified spe -
cialis tworkshop as soo nas possible.
GWARNING
A deployed air bag no longer offers any pro -
tection and canno tprovid eth eintended pro -
tection in an accident. There is an increase d
ris kof injury.
Hav eth evehicle towed to aqualified special-
ist workshop in order to hav e adeployed air
bag replaced.
It is important fo ryour safet yand that of your
passenger to hav edeployed air bags replaced
and to hav eany malfunctionin gair bags
repaired. Thi swill help to mak esur eth eair
bags continue to perform their protective
function fo rth evehicle occupant sin th e
event of acrash .
GWARNING
Pyrotechnic Emergency Tensioning Devices
that hav ebee ndeployed are no longer opera-
tional and are unable to perform their inten-
ded protective function .Thi sposes an
increase dris kof injury or eve nfatal injury.
Therefore, hav epyrotechni cEmergency Ten -
sioning Devices whic hhav ebee ntriggere d
immediately replaced at aqualified specialis t
workshop .
An electric moto ris used by PRE-SAF E®to
trigger th etightenin gof th eseat belt in haz -
ardous situations. Thi sprocedur eis reversi-
ble.
If Emergency Tensioning Devices are trig-
gered or air bags are deployed ,you will hear a
bang, and asmall amount of powder may also be released. The
6restrain tsystem warn -
in g lamp lights up.
Only in rar ecases will th eban gaffec tyour
hearing. The powder that is release dgener-
ally doe sno tconstitute ahealth hazard ,but it
may caus eshort-term breathin gdifficulties in
people wit hasthm aor other respirator yprob-
lems. To avoid this, you may wish to get out of
th evehicle or ope nth ewindows as soo nas it
is saf eto do so.
Ai rbags and pyrotechni cEmergency Tension-
in gDevices (ETDs) contain perchlorat emate-
rial ,whic hma
y require special handlin gand
regard fo rth eenvironment. National guide-
lines mus tbe observed durin gdisposal. In
California, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm .
Method of operation
Duringth efirst stage of acollision ,th e
restrain tsystem contro luni tevaluates impor -
tant physical dat arelatin gto vehicle deceler -
ation or acceleration ,suc has:
Rduration
Rdirection
Rintensit y
Based on th eevaluation of this data, th e
restrain tsystem contro luni ttriggers th e
Emergency Tensioning Devices durin g afron -
ta lor rea rcollision .
An Emergency Tensioning Devic ecan only be
triggered, if:
Rth eignition is switched on
Rth ecomponent sof th erestrain tsystem are
operational; see "Restrain tsystem warnin g
lamp " (
Ypage 43)
Rthebelt tongue is engage din th ebuckl eon
th erespective front-passenger seat
The Emergency Tensioning Devices in th e
rea rcompartmen tare triggere dindepend -
entl yof th eloc kstatus of th eseat belts.
If th erestrain tsystem contro luni tdetects a
more severe accident, further component sof
Occupant safety57
Safety
Z
Page 60 of 418

the restraint system are activated independ-
ently of each other in certain frontal collision
situations:
RFront air bags and driver's knee bag
RWindow curtain air bag, if the system deter-
mines that deployment can offer additional
protection to that provided by the seat belt
The front-passenger front air bag is activated
or deactivated depending on the person on
the front-passenger seat. The front-
passenger front air bag can only deploy in an
accident if the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indi-
cator lamp is lit. Observe the information on
the PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamps
(
Ypage 43).
Your vehicle has two-stage front air bags.
During the first deployment stage, the front
air bag is filled with propellant gas to reduce
the risk of injuries. The front air bag is fully
deployed with the maximum amount of pro-
pellant gas if a second deployment threshold
is reached within a few milliseconds.
The activation threshold of the Emergency
Tensioning Devices and the air bag are deter-
mined by evaluating the rate of vehicle decel-
eration or acceleration which occurs at vari-
ous points in the vehicle. This proce
ss is pre-
emptive in nature. Deployment should take
place in good time at the start of the collision.
The rate of vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion and the direction of the force are essen-
tially determined by:
Rthe distribution of forces during the colli-
sion
Rthe collision angle
Rthe deformation characteristics of the vehi-
cle
Rthe characteristics of the object with which
the vehicle has collided
Factors which can only be seen and measured
after a collision has occurred do not play a
decisive role in the deployment of an air bag.
Nor do they provide an indication of air bag
deployment. The vehicle can be deformed considerably,
without an air bag being deployed. This is the
case if only parts which are relatively easily
deformed are affected and the rate of decel-
eration is not high. Conversely, air bags may
be deployed even though the vehicle suffers
only minor deformation. This is the case if, for
example, very rigid vehicle parts such as lon-gitudinal body members are hit, and sufficient
deceleration occurs as a result.
If the control unit of the restra int s
ystem
detects a side impact or a vehicle rollover, the
relevant components of the restraint system
are activated separately depending on the
anticipated type of accident.
RSide impact air bags on the side of impact, independently of the Emergency Tension-
ing Device and the use of the seat belt on
the driver's seat and outer seats in the sec-
ond row
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side (front) deploys under the
following conditions:
-the OCS system detects that the front-
passenger seat is occupied or
-the belt tongue is engaged in the belt
buckle of the front-passenger seat
RWindow curtain air bag on the side of
impact, independently of the use of the
seat belt and independently of whether the front-passenger seat is occupied
RFront Emergency Tensioning Devices, if the
system determines that deployment can
offer additional protection for the vehicle
occupants in this situation
RRear Emergency Tensioning Devices in cer-
tain situations if the vehicle rolls over
RWindow curtain air bags on the driver's and
front-passenger side in certain situations
when the vehicle rolls over, if the system
determ ines th
at deployment can offer addi-
tional protection to that provided by the
seat belt
iNot all air bags are deployed in an acci-
dent. The different air bag systems work
independently of each other.
58Occupant safety
Safety
Page 61 of 418

How the air bag system works is deter-
mined by the severity of the accident detec-
ted, especially the vehicle deceleration or
acceleration and the apparent type of acci-
dent:
Rfrontal collision
Rside impact
Rrollover
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 or behind the seats. There is a dan-
ger that the seats and/or objects could be
damaged when PRE-SAFE
®is activated.
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 dis-
tance from the vehicle in front. Drive care-
fully.
Function
PRE-SAFE®intervenes:
Rin emergency braking situations, e.g. when
BAS is activated
Rin critical driving situations, e.g. when phys-
ical limits are exceeded and the vehicle
understeers or oversteers severely
Rvehicles with the Driving Assistance pack-
age: when a driver assistance system inter-
venes powerfully or the radar sensor sys-
tem detects an imminent danger of colli-
sion in certain situations PRE-SAFE
®takes the following measures
depending on the hazardous situation detec-
ted:
Rthe front seat belts are pre-tensioned.
Rif the vehicle skids, the side windows and
the panorama roof with power tilt/sliding
panel are closed.
Rvehicles with the memory function for the
front-passenger seat: the front-passenger
seat is adjusted if it is in an unfavorable
position.
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:
XMove 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. You
will find information on the convenience func-
tion under "Belt adjustment" (
Ypage 47).
PRE-SAFE®PLUS (anticipatory occu-
pant protection system PLUS)
Introduction
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 hazard-
ous situations, PRE-SAFE
®PLUS takes pre-
emptive measures to protect the vehicle
occupants.
Important safety notes
The intervention of PRE-SAFE®PLUS cannot
prevent an imminent collision.
The driver is not warned about the interven-
tion of PRE-SAFE
®PLUS.
Occupant safety59
Safety
Z
Page 62 of 418

PRE-SAFE®PLUS does not intervene if the
vehicle is backing up.
When driving, or when parking or exiting a
parking space with assistance from Active
Parking Assist, PRE-SAFE
®PLUS will not
apply the brakes.
Function
PRE-SAFE®PLUS intervenes in certain situa-
tions if the radar sensor system detects an
imminent head-on or rear-end collision.
PRE-SAFE
®PLUS takes the following meas-
ures depending on the hazardous situation
detected:
Rif the radar sensor system detects that a
head-on collision is imminent, the seat
belts are pre-tensioned.
Rif 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 vehi-
cle is stationary.
-the seat belts are pre-tensioned.
The PRE-SAFE
®PLUS braking application is
canceled:
Rif the accelerator pedal is depressed when
a gear is engaged
Rif the risk of a collision passes or is no lon- ger detected
Rif 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 acci-
dent
Immediately after an accident, the following
measures are implemented, depending on
the type and severity of the impact:
Rthe hazard warning lamps are activated
Rthe emergency lighting is activated
Rthe vehicle doors are unlocked
Rthe front side windows are lowered
Rvehicles with a memory function: the elec-
trically adjustable steering wheel is raised
Rthe engine is switched off and the fuel sup- ply is cut off
Rvehicles with mbrace: automatic emer-
gency call
Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
Accident statistics show that children
secured in the rear seats are safer than chil-
dren secured in the front-passenger seat. For
this reason, Mercedes-Benz strongly advises
that you install a child restraint system on a
rear seat. Children are generally better pro-
tected there.
If a child younger than twelve years old and
under 5 ft (1.50 m) in height is traveling in the
vehicle:
Ralways secure the child in a child restraint
system suitable for Mercedes-Benz vehi-
cles. The child restraint system must be
appropriate to the age, weight and size of
the child
Rbe sure to observe the instructions and
safety notes in this section in addition to
the child restraint system manufacturer's
installation instructions
Rbe sure to observe the instructions and
safety notes on the "Occupant Classifica-
tion System (OCS)" (
Ypage 51)
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
Rstart the engine.
60Children in the vehicle
Safety
Page 63 of 418

In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. 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 unsupervised in the vehicle.
GWARNING
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.
GWARNING
If the child restraint system is subjected to
direct sunlight, parts may get very hot. Chil-
dren 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. Pro- tect 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.
Always ensure that all vehicle occupants have
their seat belts fastened correctly and are sit- ting properly. Particular attention must be
paid to children.
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt
(
Ypage 44) and the notes on correct use of
seat belts (
Ypage 45).
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 three-point seat belt can be properly fas-
tened without a booster seat.
Special seat belt retractor
GWARNING
If the seat belt is released while driving, the
child restraint system will no longer be
secured properly. The special seat belt retrac- tor is disabled and the inertia real draws in a
portion of the seat belt. The seat belt cannot
be immediately refastened. There is an
increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Stop the vehicle immediately, paying atten-
tion to road and traffic conditions. Reactivate
the special seat belt retractor and secure the
child restraint system properly.
All seat belts in the vehicle, except the driv-
er's seat belt, are equipped with a special seat belt retractor. When activated, the special
seat belt retractor ensures that the seat belt
cannot slacken once the child seat is secured.
Installing a child restraint system:
XMake sure you observe the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation instruc-
tions.
XPull the seat belt smoothly from the belt
outlet.
XEngage seat belt tongue in belt buckle.
Activating the special seat belt retractor:
XPull the seat belt out fully and let the inertia
reel retract it again.
While the seat belt is retracting, you should
hear a ratcheting sound. The special seat
belt retractor is enabled.
XPush the child restraint system down so
that the seat belt is tight and does not
loosen.
Children in the vehicle61
Safety
Z
Page 64 of 418

Removingth echild restrain tsystem and
deactivatin gth especial seat belt retractor:
XMak esur eyou observ eth echild restrain t
system manufacturer' sinstallation instruc -
tions.
XPress th erelease butto nof th eseat belt
buckl eand guide th eseat belt tongue bac k
toward sth ebelt sash guide .
The special seat belt retracto ris deactiva-
ted.
Chil drestraint system
The use of seat belt sand child restrain tsys-
tems is require dby law in :
Rall 50 state s
RtheU.S. territories
Rth eDistric tof Columbia
Rall Canadian province s
You can obtain further information about th e
correc tchild restrain tsystem from any
authorize dMercedes-Ben zCenter.
GWARNIN G
If th echild restrain tsystem is installed incor-
rectl yon asuitable seat ,it canno tprotect as
intended. The child canno tthen be restrained
in th eevent of an accident, heav ybrakin gor
sudden changes of direction .There is an
increase dris kof injury, possibl yeve nfatal.
Mak esur ethat you observ eth echild restrain t
system manufacturer' sinstallation instruc -
tion sand th enote son use. Pleas eensure,
that th ebase of th echild restrain tsystem is
always resting completely on th eseat cush-
ion .Never plac eobjects ,e.g. cushions, under
or behin dth echild restrain tsystem. Only use
child restrain tsystems wit hth eoriginal cover
designed for them. Only replac edamaged
cover swit hgenuin ecovers.
GWARNIN G
If th echild restrain tsystem is installed incor-
rectl yor is no tsecured ,it can come loos ein
th eevent of an accident, heav ybrakin gor a
sudden chang ein direction .The child
restrain tsystem could be throw nabout ,strik -
in g vehicl eoccupants. There is an increase d
ris kof injury, possibl yeve nfatal.
Always install child restrain tsystems prop-
erly, eve nif they are no tbein gused .Mak e
sur ethat you observ eth echild restrain tsys-
te m manufacturer' sinstallation instructions.
You will fin dfurther information on stowin g
objects ,luggag eor loads under "Loadin g
guidelines" (
Ypage 306).
GWARNING
Child restrain tsystems or their securin gsys-
tems whic hhav ebeen damaged or subjecte d
to aload in an acciden tcan no longer protect
as intended. The child canno tthen be
restrained in th eevent of an accident, heav y
brakin gor sudden changes of direction .There
is an increase dris kof injury, possibl yeve n
fatal.
Replac echild restrain tsystems whic hhav e
been damaged or subjecte dto aload in an
acciden tas soo nas possible. Hav eth esecur-
in g systems on th echild restrain tsystem
checke dat aqualified specialist workshop ,
before you install achild restrain tsystem
again .
The securin gsystems of child restrain tsys-
tems are:
Rth eseat belt system
Rth eLATCH-type (ISOFIX) securin grings
Rth eTop Tether anchorages
If it is absolutely necessar yto carry achild on
th efront-passenger seat ,be sur eto observ e
th einformation on th e"Occupant Classifica-
tion Syste m(OCS)" (
Ypage 51). There you
will also fin dinformation on deactivatin gth e
front-passenger fron tair bag.
62Children in the vehicle
Safety