2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS steering

Cockpit
Function Page
C
Steering wheel paddle shift-
ers 174
D
Combination switch 131

Multifunction steering wheel
Function Page
C
Multifunction display 258
D
Sets the brightness of the
instrument cluster and the
multimedia system display 256

i In vehicles with multimedia system
COMAND you can find further information: R
on the multimedia system in the Digital
Operator's Manual R
on the DVD changer or single DVD drive in
the Digital Operator's Manual R
on the Voice Control System in the sepa-
rate operating instructions36
Multifunction steering wheel
At a glance

X
Remove th e Start/Sto p butto n from th e igni-
tion loc k ( Y
page 162).
or X
If th e SmartKey is inserted in th e ignition lock:
remove th e SmartKey from th e ignition lock.X
Observ e th e warning note s on th e ris k of elec -
tric shock ( Y
page 42) .X
Observ e th e warning notice s about th e hoo d
( Y
page 352).
RBS driving safety system (Recupera-
tive Brake System) The Recuperative Brake Syste m support s you
when braking wit h an electronically-controlled
brak e boos t mod e and enables th e recovery of
kinetic energ y (recuperation).
G WARNIN G
If th e Recuperative Braking Syste m malfunc -
tions, braking resistanc e may be reduce d and
brak e pedal travel may be longer than usual. If
you subsequentl y depress th e brak e pedal as
usual, th e braking effec t may no t be sufficient.
There is a ris k of an accident.
In th e event of this malfunction , continue to
depress th e brak e pedal . Stop th e vehicl e in
accordanc e wit h th e traffic conditions. If nec-
essary, contact a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Further information about th e Recuperative
Brake Syste m ( Y
page 240).
Panic alarm X
To activate: press 3 butto n C for at
least on e second.
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if th e
alarm system is armed. X
To deactivate: press 3 butto n C again .
or X
Press th e Start/Sto p button.
The SmartKey mus t be in th e vehicle.
Occupant safety
Introduction to the restraint system The restrain t system can reduce th e ris k of vehi-
cle occupant s comin g int o contact wit h part s of
th e vehicle's interior in th e event of an accident.
The restrain t system can also reduce th e force s
to whic h vehicl e occupant s are subjecte d during
an accident.
The restrain t system comprises :R
seat belt system R
air bags R
child restrain t system R
child seat securin g systems
The component s of th e restrain t system wor k in
conjunction wit h eac h other . The y can only
deplo y their protective function if, at all times , all
vehicl e occupants: R
hav e fastene d their seat belt s correctl y
( Y
page 48) R
hav e adjusted their seat and head restrain t
properly ( Y
page 105).
As th e driver, you also hav e to mak e sur e that
th e steering whee l is adjusted correctly.
Observ e th e information relating to th e correc t
driver' s seat position ( Y
page 104).
You also hav e to mak e sur e that an air bag can
inflat e properly if deployed ( Y
page 50).
An air bag supplement s a correctl y wor n seat
belt . As an additional safet y device , th e air bag
increases th e level of protection for vehicl e
occupant s in th e event of an accident. Fo r exa m-
p
le, if, in th e event of an accident, th e protection
offere d by th e seat belt is sufficient, th e air bags
are no t deployed. When an acciden t occurs, only
th e air bags that increas e protection in that par-
ticular acciden t situation are deployed. How-
ever, seat belt s and air bags generally do no t
protect against objects penetrating th e vehicl e
from th e outside .44
Occupant safety
Safety

To avoid hazardous situations, always make
sure that all of the vehicle's occupants: R
have fastened their seat belts correctly,
including pregnant women R
are sitting correctly and maintain the great-
est possible distance to the air bags R
follow the following instructions
Always make sure that there are no objects
between the air bag and the vehicle's occu-
pants. R
Adjust the seats properly before beginning
your journey. Always make sure that the seat
is in an almost upright position. The center of
the head restraint must support the head at
about eye level. R
Move the driver's and front-passenger seats
as far back as possible. The driver's seat posi-
tion must allow the vehicle to be driven safely. R
Only hold the steering wheel on the outside.
This allows the air bag to be fully deployed. R
Always lean against the backrest while driv-
ing. Do not lean forwards or lean against the
door or side window. You may otherwise be in
the deployment area of the air bags. R
Always keep your feet in the footwell in front
of the seat. Do not put your feet on the dash-
board, for example. Your feet may otherwise
be in the deployment area of the air bag. R
For this reason, always secure persons less
than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall in suitable restraint sys-
tems. Up to this height, the seat belt cannot
be worn correctly.
If a child is traveling in your vehicle, also
observe the following notes: R
Always secure children under twelve years of
age and less than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall in suitable
child restraint systems. R
Child restraint systems should be installed on
the rear seats. R
Only secure a child in a rearward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat
when the front-passenger front air bag is
deactivated. If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp is permanently lit, the fro nt-
p a
ssenger front air bag is deactivated
( Y
page 46). R
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes on the "Occupant Classification System
(OCS)" ( Y
page 53) and on "Children in the vehicle" ( Y
page 61 )i n addition to the child
restraint system manufacturer's installation
and operating instructions.
Objects in the vehicle interior may prevent
an air bag from functioning correctly. Before
starting your journey and to avoid risks resulting
from the speed of the air bag as it deploys, make
sure that: R
there are no people, animals or objects
between the vehicle occupants and an air
bag. R
there are no objects between the seat, door
and B-pillar. R
no hard objects, e.g. coat hangers, hang on
the grab handles or coat hooks. R
no accessories, such as cup holders, are
attached to the vehicle within the deployment
area of an air bag, e.g. to doors, side windows,
rear side trim or side walls. R
no heavy, sharp-edged or fragile objects are in
the pockets of your clothing. Store such
objects in a suitable place.
G WARNING
If you modify the air bag cover or affix objects
such as stickers to it, the air bag can no longer
function correctly. There is an increased risk
of injury.
Never modify an air bag cover or affix objects
to it.
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
anymore. 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.Occupant safety 51
Safety Z

Front air bags
Driver's air bag C deploys in fron t of th e steer -
ing wheel. Front-passenger fron t air bag D
deploys in fron t of and abov e th e glov e box .
When deployed, th e fron t air bags offer addi-
tional head and thorax protection for th e occu-
pants in th e fron t seats.
The PASSENGER AI R BA G OF F and PASSENGER
AI R BA G ON indicator lamp s inform you about
th e status of th e front-passenger air bag
( Y
page 46).
The front-passenger fron t air bag will only
deplo y if:R
th e system, based on th e OCS weigh t sensor
readings, detect s that th e front-passenger
seat is occupied ( Y
page 53) . The
PASSENGER AI R BA G ON indicator lamp is lit
( Y
page 54)R
th e restrain t system control unit predicts a
high acciden t severit y
Driver's knee bag
Driver's knee bag C deploys under th e steering
column . The driver' s knee bag is always
deployed alon g wit h th e driver' s fron t air bag. The driver' s knee bag offers additional thigh,
knee and lower leg protection for th e occupant
in th e driver' s seat .
Side impact air bags
G WARNIN G
Unsuitable seat cover s could restrict or eve n
preven t th e deploymen t of th e air bags inte-
grated int o th e seats. Consequently, th e air
bags canno t protect vehicl e occupant s as
they are designed to do. In addition , th e func-
tion of th e Occupant Classification Syste m
(OCS ) could be restricted. This poses an
increased ris k of injury or eve n fatal injury.
You should only use seat cover s that have
been approve d for th e respective seat by
Mercedes-Benz.
Fron t side impac t air bags C and rear side
impact air bags D deplo y next to th e outer bol-
ster of th e seat backrest .
When deployed, th e side impac t air bag offers
additional thorax protection . It also offers addi-
tional pelvis protection for occupant s in th e
fron t seats. However, it does no t protect the:R
head R
neck R
arm s
In th e event of a side impact, th e side impac t air
bag is deployed on th e side on whic h th e impac t
occurs.52
Occupant safety
Safety

If the hazardous situation passes without result-
ing 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: R
the hazard warning lamps are activated 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 and the fuel supply
is cut off R
vehicles with seat belt extenders: the seat-
belt buckles for the outer rear seats are illu-
minated and extend forwards R
vehicles with mbrace: automatic emergency
call R
vehicles with the hybrid drive system: the
hybrid system and the high-voltage electrical
system are deactivated
Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes Accident statistics show that children secured
in the rear seats are safer than children 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 protected there.
If a child younger than twelve years old and
under 5 ft (1.50 m) in height is traveling in the
vehicle: R
always secure the child in a child restraint
system suitable for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The child restraint system must be appropri-
ate to the age, weight and size of the child R
be sure to observe the instructions and safety
notes in this section in addition to the child restraint system manufacturer's installation
instructions R
be sure to observe the instructions and safety
notes on the "Occupant classification system
(OCS)" ( Y
page 53)
G WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example: R
release the parking brake. R
shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P . R
start the engine.
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.
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. 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 sitting
properly. Particular attention must be paid to
children.Children in the vehicle 61
Safety Z

G WARNING
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.
Child-proof locks for the rear doors
You secure each door individually with the child-
proof locks on the rear doors. A door secured
with a child-proof lock cannot be opened from
inside the vehicle. When the vehicle is unlocked,
the door can be opened from the outside. X
To activate: press the child-proof lock lever
up in the direction of arrow C .X
Make sure that the child-proof locks are work-
ing properly. X
To deactivate: press the child-proof lock
lever down in the direction of arrow D . Override feature for the rear side win-
dows X
To activate/deactivate: press button D .
If indicator lamp C is lit, operation of the rear
side windows is disabled. Operation is only
possible using the switches in the driver's
door. If indicator lamp C is off, operation is
possible using the switches in the rear com-
partment.
When the override feature is activated, the con-
trols in the rear compartment are disabled for: R
the rear side windows R
adjustment of the front-passenger seat from
the rear compartment R
the sunblinds: -
of the rear side windows -
of the rear window -
in the roof
Pets in the vehicle
G WARNING
If you leave animals unattended or unsecured
in the vehicle, they could press buttons or
switches, for example.
As a result, they could: R
activate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example R
activate or deactivate systems, thereby
endangering other road users
Unsecured animals could also be flung around
the vehicle in the event of an accident or sud-
den steering or braking, thereby injuring vehi-Pets in the vehicle 67
Safety Z