If the restraint system control unit detects a side
impact situation, the applicable components of
the restraint system are deployed independ-
ently of each other. If the system determines a
need for additional protection for the vehicle
occupants, the Emergency Tensioning Devices
are also deployed.
RSide impact air bag on the side on which the
impact occurs, independently of the Emer-
gency Tensioning Device and of the use of the
seat belt
RWindow curtain air bag on the side of the col-
lision, regardless of seat belt use and whether
front-passenger seat is occupied
iNot all air bags are deployed in an accident.
The various air bag systems work independ-
ently of each other.
How the air bag system works is determined
by the severity of the accident detected,
especially the vehicle deceleration or accel-
eration, and the apparent type of accident:
Rfrontal collision
Rside impact
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, we
strongly advise 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:
Ralways secure the child in a child restraint
system suitable for this vehicle. 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
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.
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 sitting
properly. Particular attention must be paid to
children.
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt
(
Ypage 40) and the notes on correct use of seat
belts (Ypage 41).
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
Children in the vehicle47
Safety
Z
ISOFIX is a standardized securing system for
specially designed child restraint systems on
the rear seats. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing
rings:for a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system are installed between the seat
cushion and the seat backrest:
Ron the outer left and right seat on rear bench
seats with 3 seats
Ron the outer left seat on rear bench seats with
2 seats
Non-LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seats may also
be used and can be installed using the vehicle's
seat belt system. Install the child seat according
to the manufacturer's instructions.
Top Tether
Introduction
Top Tether provides an additional connection
between the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint
system and the vehicle. This helps reduce the
risk of injury even further. If the child restraint
system has a Top Tether belt, this should be
used at all times.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the Top Tether belt has been incorrectly
secured, e.g. to an eyelet in the cargo com-
partment, the child restraint system is not
correctly kept in place. It therefore cannot
perform its intended protective function in the
event of an accident. There is an increased
risk of injury.
Only secure the Top Tether hook to the Top
Tether anchorage intended for this purpose.
Top Tether anchorage points
Example: rear bench seat with 3 seats
Top Tether anchorages ;are on the bench seat
legs on the rear side of the respective rear bench
seat.
XSlide head restraint :upwards.
XInstall the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint
system with Top Tether. Make sure you
observe the child restraint system manufac-
turer's installation instructions.
XRoute the Top Tether belt ?under head
restraint :between the two head restraint
bars.
XHook Top Tether hook =into Top Tether
anchorage ;.
Make sure that:
Rthe Top Tether hook =is hooked into Top
Tether anchorage ;, as shown
RTop Tether belt?is not twisted
XTighten Top Tether belt ?. Make sure you
observe the child restraint system manufac-
turer's installation instructions.
XIf necessary, push the head restraint back
down slightly (Ypage 76). Make sure that
you do not interfere with the correct routing of
Top Tether belt ?.
50Children in the vehicle
Safety
Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat
General 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
the child restraint system on a rear seat.
Rearward-facing child restraint system
The front-passenger front air bag cannot be
deactivated. Always install a rearward-facing
child restraint system on a suitable rear seat.
Always observe the child restraint system man-
ufacturer's installation and operating instruc-
tions.
Forward-facing child restraint system
If it is absolutely necessary to install a forward-
facing child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat, always move the front-
passenger seat as far back as possible. The
entire base of the child restraint system must
always rest on the seat cushion of the front-
passenger seat. The backrest of the child
restraint system must lie as flat as possible
against the backrest of the front-passenger
seat. The child restraint system must not be
subjected to a load by the head restraint. Adjust
the head restraint position accordingly. Always
make sure that the shoulder belt strap is cor-
rectly routed from the vehicle belt outlet to the
shoulder belt guide on the child restraint sys-
tem. The shoulder belt strap must be routed for-
wards and downwards from the vehicle belt out-
let. If necessary, adjust the vehicle belt outlet
and the front-passenger seat accordingly.
Always observe the child restraint system man-
ufacturer's installation and operating instruc-
tions.
Override features/Child-proof locks
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If children are traveling in the vehicle, they
could:
Ropen doors, thus endangering other people
or road users
Rexit the vehicle and be caught by oncoming
traffic
Roperate vehicle equipment and become
trapped
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always activate the child-proof locks and
override feature if children are traveling in the vehicle. When leaving the vehicle, always take
the key with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unattended in the vehicle.
Child-proof locks for rear doors (
Ypage 52).
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.
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-
Children in the vehicle51
Safety
Z
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 door
Rear door
:
Child safety bolt
2Door secured – then make sure that the
child-proof locks are working properly.
3Door released
The child-proof lock on the doors enable you to
secure each door individually.
A door with an activated child-proof lock cannot
be opened from the inside. If the vehicle is
unlocked, the door can be opened from the out-
side.
Pets in the vehicle
GWARNING
If you leave animals unattended or unsecured
in the vehicle, they could press buttons or
switches, for example.
As a result, they could:
Ractivate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
Ractivate 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- cle occupants. There is a risk of an accident
and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle. Always secure animals properly during
the journey, e.g. use a suitable animal trans-
port box.
Driving safety systems
Overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
RABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
RASR (Acceleration SkidControl)
RBAS (B rakeAssist System)
REBD (E lectronic Brake Force Distribution)
RESP®(Electronic StabilityProgram)
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are
inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-
ther reduce the risk of accident nor override the
laws of physics. Driving safety systems are
merely aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, braking in good time
and for staying in your lane. Always adapt your
driving style to the prevailing road and weather
conditions and maintain a sufficient, safe dis-
tance from other road users. Drive carefully.
Please note that the driving safety systems
described only work optimally when:
Rthere is adequate contact between the tires
and the road surface
Ryou use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary, when the road conditions
are wintry.
52Driving safety systems
Safety
Pay particular attention to the information
regarding tires, tire tread and winter operation
under "Wheels and tires" (
Ypage 247).
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes
Observe the important safety guidelines for the
driving safety system (Ypage 52).
GWARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems will also
fail, including driving safety systems. Observe
the information relating to the !warning
lamp (
Ypage 195).
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that
the wheels do not lock when you brake. This
allows you to continue steering the vehicle when
braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h), regardless of road-surface conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even when you
only brake gently.
The yellow !warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. The lamp goes out when the engine starts
running.
Braking
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsating in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication
of hazardous road conditions and functions as a
reminder to take extra care while driving.
XIf ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over.
XTo make a full brake application: depress
the brake pedal with full force.
ASR (acceleration skid control)
General notes
Important safety notes
Observe the important safety guidelines for the
driving safety system (Ypage 52).
ASR can neither reduce the risk of an accident
nor suspend the laws of physics if the driver
does not pay attention when pulling away or
accelerating. ASR is only an aid. Always adapt
your driving style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions.
If you activate or deactivate the all-wheel drive
in a vehicle with this option, ASR will be deacti- vated for the duration of the activation/deacti-
vation process.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if ASR
is malfunctioning, the :indicator lamp lights
up while the engine is running and the engine
power may be reduced (
Ypage 195).
ASR significantly improves traction, i.e. the
transmission of power from the tires to the road surface, and thus increases the vehicle's driving
stability. If the driving wheels start to spin, ASR
brakes individual drive wheels and limits the
engine torque. ASR thus significantly assists you
when pulling away and accelerating, especially
on wet or slippery roads.
If traction on the road surface is not sufficient,
even ASR will not allow you to pull away without
difficulty. The type of tires and total weight of the
vehicle as well as the gradient of the road also
play a crucial role.
If ASR intervenes, the dwarning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes.
Activating/deactivating ASR
GWARNING
If deactivated, ASR will not attempt to stabi-
lize the vehicle during pulling away and accel- eration. There is an increased risk of skidding
and of an accident.
Only deactivate ASR in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
!If you deactivate ASR, ESP®will still inter-
vene to stabilize the vehicle. Frequent braking
automatically triggered by ESP
®can damage
the brake system.
Driving safety systems53
Safety
Z
For this reason, deactivate ASR only briefly
and when absolutely necessary.
When ESP®is intervening and thedwarning
lamp in the instrument cluster is flashing, leave
ASR on. In this case, only depress the acceler-
ator pedal as far as required when pulling away.
XPress the àbutton.
If ASR is deactivated, the dwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up.
ASR is automatically activated when the engine
is started.
It may be best to deactivate ASR briefly in the
following situations:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
If you deactivate ASR:
Rengine torque is not limited and the drive
wheels are able to spin. The spinning wheels
will then achieve a cutting effect for better
traction.
Rtraction control remains active through brake
intervention. If a drive wheel attains its tire
traction limit because one side of the road is
slippery, for example, that wheel is braked.
The traction is then increased in this situation.
Ractive brake intervention by ESP®to increase
driving stability remains active. The d
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes when ESP
®is intervening.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
GWARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if the
BAS driving safety system is malfunctioning,
the : warning lamp lights up while the
engine is running (
Ypage 195).
BAS operates in emergency braking situations.
If you depress the brake quickly, BAS automat-
ically increases the brake pressure, thereby
reducing the stopping distance.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
GWARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the
risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
to the rear wheels. This enables EBD to improve
handling during braking.
Observe the information on warning and indica-
tor lamps (
Ypage 195).
ESP®(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If ESP
®is malfunctioning it will not provide
any vehicle stabilization. There is an increased
risk of skidding or of an accident.
Exercise caution when continuing to drive.
Have ESP
®checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
!Do not run the vehicle on a roller dynamom-
eter (e.g. for performance tests). If you must
operate the vehicle on a roller dynamometer,
54Driving safety systems
Safety
please consult a qualified specialist workshop
in advance. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
If you activate or deactivate the all-wheel drive
in a vehicle with this option, ESP
®will be deac-
tivated for the duration of the activation/deac-
tivation process.
If ESP
®is malfunctioning, the hindicator
lamp lights up while the engine is running and
the engine power may be reduced
(
Ypage 194).
iOnly use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP®function properly.
4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
!A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a two-axle dynamometer.
Before you operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
workshop. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
4ETS is only active when all-wheel drive is acti-
vated (
Ypage 148).
4ETS ensures permanent drive for all four
wheels, and together with ESP
®it improves the
vehicle's traction.
If a driven wheel spins due to lack of traction:
RWhen pulling away, make use of the traction
control integrated in ESP®. Depress the
accelerator pedal as far as necessary.
RWhile driving, slowly take your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow chains
(
Ypage 249). This is the only way to get the full
benefit from the all-wheel drive system.
Crosswind Assist
Crosswind Assist does not work if ESP®is deac-
tivated or disabled because of a malfunction.
Crosswind Assist does not react:
Rin the event of severe jolts and vibrations, e.g.
as a result of uneven surfaces or potholes
Rif the vehicle loses traction, e.g. on snow or
ice or when aquaplaning
Rto large and sudden steering movements by
the driver Crosswind Assist is operational again as soon as
the driving conditions return to normal.
Crosswind Assist detects strong crosswind
gusts that can impair the road holding of your
vehicle when driving straight ahead. Crosswind
Assist intervenes depending on the direction
and strength of the crosswind.
A stabilizing brake application helps you to keep
the vehicle on track.
Information appears in the instrument cluster In the event that Crosswind Assist intervenes
noticeably.
On vehicles without steering wheel buttons:
the d indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter flashes.
On vehicles with steering wheel buttons: the
d indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes and the message Crosswind Assist
Activeappears in the multifunction display.
Crosswind Assist is active above a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h) when the vehicle is driving
straight ahead or cornering gently.
Emergency exit
Emergency exit window
GWARNING
The emergency exit window cannot be locked in place. You risk injury if you exit the vehicle
through the emergency exit window.
RMake sure that nobody becomes trapped,
both when closing and when opening the
emergency exit window.
RThe opened emergency exit window must
be held in place by another person.
Pay attention to traffic conditions.
GWARNING
If the emergency exit window is unlocked
while driving, it could open and slam shut and consequently fall down. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Before starting off, make sure that the emer-
gency exit window is locked and the locking
pins are undamaged.
!Make sure there is sufficient clearance
when opening the emergency exit window.
Emergency exit55
Safety
Z
XTo unlock the driver's or rear door:press
the key release button on the remote control.
The key folds out.
XInsert the key fully into the door lock and turn it to position 2.
The door is unlocked.
XTo lock the vehicle: lock all doors except the
driver's door and, if necessary the rear door,
from inside. To do this, press down the door
locking buttons.
XPress the key release button on the remote
control.
The key folds out.
XInsert the key fully into the driver's door lock
and turn it to position 1.
The driver's door is locked.
Remote control battery
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Batteries contain toxic and corrosive substan- ces. If batteries are swallowed, it can result in
severe health problems. There is a risk of fatalinjury.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children. If
a battery is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately.
HEnvironmental note
Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separatelyand recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
The key batteries contain perchlorate material,
which may require special handling and regard for the environment. Check with your local gov-
ernment’s disposal guidelines. California resi-
dents, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm .
We recommend that you have batteries
changed at a qualified specialist workshop.
Checking the batteries
XPress the %or& button for longer than
two seconds.
If battery indicator lamp (
Ypage 59 )lights up
briefly, the batteries in the remote control still
have sufficient charge. Otherwise, change the
batteries immediately.
iIf the remote control is checked within the
signal reception range of the vehicle, pressing
the & or% button:
Rlock or
Runlock the vehicle
Changing batteries
You need a CR 2025 2 3 V cell battery, which can
be obtained from any qualified specialist work-
shop.
When changing the batteries, do not press any
of the buttons on the remote control.
XPress release button ;.
The key folds out.
XRemove battery compartment cover :in the
direction of the arrow.
Key61
Opening and closing
Z