Page 57 of 369

therefore cannot protect as intended. There is
an increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Have pyrotechnic belt tensioners which have
been triggered replaced at a qualified special-
ist workshop immediately.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the
vehicle towed to a qualified specialist workshop
after an accident. Take this into account, par-
ticularly if a seat belt tensioner was triggered or
an airbag was deployed.
An electric motor is used by PRE-SAFE ®
to trig-
ger the tightening of the seat belt in hazardous
situations. This procedure is reversible.
If the belt tensioners are triggered or an airbag is
deployed, you will hear a bang, and a small
amount of powder may also be released. The
6 restraint system warning lamp lights up.
Only in rare cases will the bang affect your hear-
ing. In general, the powder released is not haz-
ardous to health but may cause short-term
breathing difficulties to persons suffering from
asthma or other pulmonary conditions. Provided it is safe to do so, you should leave the vehicle
immediately or open the window in order to pre- vent breathing difficulties.
Operation During the first stage of a collision, the restraint
system control unit evaluates important physi-
cal data relating to vehicle deceleration or accel-
eration, such as:
R duration
R direction
R intensity
Based on the evaluation of this data, the
restraint system control unit triggers the seat
belt tensioners in the event of a head-on or rear
collision.
A seat belt tensioner can be triggered only if:
R the ignition is switched on
R the components of the restraint system are
operational. You can find further information
under: "Restraint system warning lamp"
(Y page 42)
R the seat belt buckle tongue has engaged in
the belt buckle of the respective front seat
The seat belt tensioners in the rear compart-
ment are triggered independently of the lock
status of the seat belts. If the restraint system control unit detects a
high-severity accident, in certain head-on colli-
sions, additional components of the restraint
system are deployed independently of each
other:
R front airbags and driver's kneebag
R windowbag, if the system determines that
deployment can offer additional protection to
that provided by the seat belt
On vehicles with the automatic front-passenger
front airbag deactivation system: depending on
the person in the front-passenger seat, the
front-passenger front airbag is either disabled or
enabled. The front-passenger front airbag can
be deployed in an accident only if the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is off. Observe the information on the PASSENGER AIR
BAG indicator lamps (Y page 42).
Your vehicle has two-stage front airbags. In the
first deployment stage, the front airbag is filled
with propellant gas. The front airbag is fully
deployed if the second deployment stage is acti-
vated within a few milliseconds.
The activation threshold for the seat belt ten-
sioners and airbags is determined based on the
evaluation of the vehicle's rate of deceleration
or acceleration at various points in the vehicle.
This process is pre-emptive in nature. The trig-
gering/deployment process should take place
in good time at the start of the collision.
The rate of vehicle deceleration or acceleration
and the direction of the force are essentially
determined by:
R the distribution of forces during the collision
R the collision angle
R the deformation characteristics of the vehicle
R the characteristics of the object with which
the vehicle has collided
Factors that can be seen and measured only
after a collision has occurred do not play a deci-
sive role in the deployment of an airbag. Nor do
they provide an indication of airbag deployment.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly with- out an airbag being deployed. This is the case if only parts that are relatively easily deformed are
affected and the rate of deceleration is not high. Conversely, an airbag may be deployed even
though the vehicle suffers only minor deforma-
tion. This is the case if, for example, very rigid
vehicle parts such as longitudinal body mem-
bers are hit, and sufficient deceleration occurs
as a result. 54
Occupant safetySafety
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If the restraint system control unit detects a side
impact, the applicable components of the
restraint system are activated independently of each other.
On vehicles with off-road comfort suspension, a
side impact or vehicle overturn can be detected. The applicable components of the restraint sys-
tem are activated independently of each other
depending on the apparent type of accident.
R Sidebags on the side on which an impact
occurs, independently of the seat belt ten-
sioner and seat belt usage
Vehicles with the automatic front-passenger
front airbag deactivation system: the sidebag on the front-passenger side deploys under the
following conditions:
- an occupant is detected in the front-
passenger seat or
- the seat belt buckle tongue is engaged in
the belt buckle of the front-passenger seat
R Windowbag on the side on which an impact
occurs, independently of seat belt usage and
regardless of whether the front-passenger
seat is occupied
R Seat belt tensioners, if the system determines
that deployment can offer additional protec-
tion for the vehicle occupants in this situation
R Vehicles with off-road comfort suspension:
windowbags on the driver's and front-
passenger side in certain situations if the
vehicle overturns and if the system deter-
mines that deployment can offer additional
protection to that provided by the seat belt
i Not all airbags are deployed in an accident.
The different airbag systems work independ-
ently of each other.
How the airbag system works is determined
by the severity of the accident detected,
especially the vehicle deceleration or accel-
eration, and the apparent type of accident:
R frontal collision
R side impact
R vehicles with off-road comfort suspension:
overturn PRE-SAFE
®
(anticipatory occupant
protection)
Introduction In certain hazardous situations, PRE-SAFE
®
takes pre-emptive measures to protect the vehi- cle occupants.
Important safety notes !
Make sure that there are no objects in the
footwell or behind the seats. There is a risk
that the seats and/or the objects could be
damaged when PRE-SAFE ®
is activated.
Although your vehicle is equipped with PRE-
SAFE ®
, the possibility of injury in the event of an
accident cannot be ruled out. 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 physi-
cal limits are exceeded and the vehicle under-
steers or oversteers severely
R when Active Brake Assist intervenes power-
fully
PRE-SAFE ®
takes the following measures
depending on the hazardous situation detected:
R the front seat belts are pre-tensioned
R if the vehicle skids, the side windows and the
panorama sliding sunroof are closed
R vehicles with the memory function: the front-
passenger seat is adjusted if it is in an unfav-
ourable position
If the hazardous situation passes without result- ing 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.
Seat belt pre-tensioning is reduced and the
locking mechanism is released.
Seat-belt adjustment is an integral part of the
PRE-SAFE ®
convenience function. Information Occupant safety
55Safety Z
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about the convenience function can be found
under "Belt adjustment" (Y page 45).Automatic measures after an acci-
dent
Immediately after an accident, the following
measures may be 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 engine is switched off and the fuel supply
is cut off
R vehicles with the Mercedes-Benz emergency
call system: automatic emergency call Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
Accident statistics show that children secured
on the rear seats are safer than children secured
on the front-passenger seat. For this reason,
Mercedes-Benz strongly advises that you install the child restraint system on a rear seat. Chil-
dren are generally better protected there.
If a child younger than twelve years old and
under 1.50 m in height is travelling in the vehi-
cle:
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 automatic front-passenger front
airbag deactivation system (Y page 49). G
WARNING
If you leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle, they may be able to set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake
R shift the automatic transmission out of park
position Por shift manual transmission into
neutral
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 key with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children unattended in the vehicle. G
WARNING
If persons (particularly children) are exposed
to heat or cold for a prolonged period, there is a risk of serious or even fatal injuries. Never
leave persons (particularly children) unatten-
ded in the vehicle. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is placed in direct sunlight, the parts could become very hot.
Children could be suffer burns by touching
these parts, in particular on the metallic parts
of the child restraint system. There is a risk of injury.
If you and your child leave the vehicle, always
make sure that the child restraint system is
not in direct sunlight. Cover it with a blanket, for example. If the child restraint system has
been exposed to direct sunlight, leave it to
cool down before securing the child in it.
Never leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle.
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
(Y page 43) and the information on the correct
use of the seat belt (Y page 44).56
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Child restraint system
If you fit a rearward-facing child restraint system
to the centre rear seat, the rear armrest must be folded back as far as possible.
Observe the instructions for correct use of the
child restraint system (Y page 61).
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use only a child restraint system recommended by Mercedes-Benz
(Y page 65). G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is incorrectly fit-
ted on the seat position suitable for this pur-
pose, it cannot perform its intended protec-
tive function. In the event of an accident,
sharp braking or a sudden change in direction, the child may not be held securely. There is an
increased risk of serious or even fatal injuries.
Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions and the correct use for the child
restraint system. Make sure that the entire
surface of the child restraint system is resting
on the seat surface. Never place objects
under or behind the child restraint system,
e.g. cushions. Only use child restraint sys-
tems with the original cover designed for
them. Only replace damaged covers with gen- uine covers. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is fitted incor-
rectly or is not secured, it can come loose in
the event of an accident, heavy braking or a
sudden change in direction. The child
restraint system could be thrown about, strik- ing vehicle occupants. There is an increased
risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Always fit child restraint systems properly,
even if they are not being used. Make sure
that you observe the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation instructions.
You will find further information on stowing
objects, luggage and loads securely under
"Loading guidelines" (Y page 288). G
WARNING
Child restraint systems or their securing sys-
tems that have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident cannot perform their
intended protective function. In the event of
an accident, sharp braking or a sudden
change in direction, the child may not be held securely. There is an increased risk of serious
or even fatal injuries.
Immediately replace child restraint systems
that have been damaged or subjected to a
load in an accident. Have the child restraint
securing systems checked in a qualified spe-
cialist workshop before fitting a child restraint
system again.
The securing systems of child restraint systems
are:
R the seat belt system
R the ISOFIX or i-Size securing rings
R the Top Tether anchorages
If circumstances require you to fit a child
restraint system to the front-passenger seat, be
sure to observe the information on "Child
restraint systems on the front-passenger seat"
(Y page 60).
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-
rior and on the child restraint system.
i It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care
products to clean child restraint systems rec- ommended by Mercedes-Benz. Information
can be obtained at a qualified specialist work-
shop. ISOFIX and i-Size child seat securing
systems G
WARNING
ISOFIX child restraint systems or i-Size child
restraint systems do not offer sufficient pro-
tection for children whose weight is greater
than 22 kg, who are secured using the safety belt integrated in the child restraint system.
The child could, for example, not be restrained
correctly in the event of an accident. This
poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal
injury. Children in the vehicle
57Safety
Z
Page 61 of 369

If the child weighs more than 22 kg, only use
ISOFIX child restraint systems or i-Size child
restraint systems with which the child is also
secured with the vehicle seat belt. Also secure the child restraint system with the Top Tether
belt, if available.
When fitting a child restraint system, be sure to
observe the manufacturer's installation and
operating instructions and the instructions for
correct use of the child restraint system
(Y page 61).
Before every trip, make sure that the ISOFIX
child restraint system or the i-Size child restraint system is engaged correctly in both ISOFIX or i-
Size securing rings. This symbol indicates an ISOFIX position that is
suitable for attaching an ISOFIX child restraint
system. A similar symbol can be found on the
ISOFIX child restraint system. This symbol indicates an i
‑Size position that is
suitable for attaching an i-Size child restraint
system. A similar symbol can be found on the i- Size child restraint system.
! When fitting the child restraint system,
make sure that the seat belt for the centre seat does not get trapped. Otherwise, the
seat belt could be damaged. :
ISOFIX securing rings ;
i-Size securing rings
X Install the ISOFIX child restraint system on
both ISOFIX securing rings :or i-Size secur-
ing rings ;.
or
X Install the i-Size child restraint system on both
i-Size securing rings ;.
ISOFIX and i-Size are standardised securing sys-
tems for special child restraint systems. ISOFIX child restraint systems are approved in accord-
ance with ECE R-44. i-Size child restraint sys-
tems are approved in accordance with ECE
R-129.
Only child restraint systems that have been
approved in accordance with ECE R-44 may be
attached to ISOFIX securing rings. ISOFIX child
restraint systems in accordance with ECE R-44
and i‑ Size child restraint systems that have been
approved in accordance with ECE R-129 may be attached to i-Size securing rings. ISOFIX secur-
ing ring :or i-Size securing ring ;are instal-
led on the left and right sides of the rear seats. 58
Children in the vehicleSafety
Page 62 of 369

Top Tether
Introduction Top Tether provides an additional connection
between the child restraint system secured with
ISOFIX or i-Size and the vehicle. It helps reduce
the risk of injury even further. If the child
restraint system is fitted with a Top Tether belt,
this should always be used.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the rear seat backrests are not locked, they
could fold forwards in the event of an acci-
dent, heavy braking or sudden changes of
direction. As a result, child restraint systems
cannot perform their intended protective
function. Rear seat backrests that are not
locked can also cause additional injuries, e.g. in the event of an accident. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Always lock rear seat backrests after fitting a Top Tether belt. Observe the lock verificationindicator. Adjust the rear seat backrests so
that they are in an upright position.
If the rear seat backrest is not engaged and
locked, the red lock verification indicator will be
visible (Y page 292).
Top Tether anchorages The Top Tether anchorage points are located on
the rear side of the backrests on both outer rear seats.
Vehicles with adjustable head restraints:
X Move head restraint :upwards.
X Route Top Tether belt ?under head
restraint :between the two head restraint
bars.
Vehicles without adjustable head restraints:
X Top Tether belt with one belt strap: route
Top Tether belt ?centrally over head
restraint :.
or X Top Tether belt with two belt straps: route
one Top Tether belt ?to the left and one to
the right past the side of head restraint :.
All vehicles:
X Fit the ISOFIX or i-size child restraint system
with Top Tether. Always comply with the child
restraint system manufacturer's installation
instructions when doing so.
X Hook Top Tether hook =of Top Tether
belt ?into Top Tether anchorage ;.
Ensure that:
R Top Tether hook =is hooked into Top
Tether anchorage ;as shown
R Top Tether belt ?is not twisted
R Top Tether belt ?is routed between the
rear seat backrest and the luggage com-
partment cover if the luggage compart-
ment cover is fitted
X Tension Top Tether belt ?. Always comply
with the child restraint system manufactur-
er's installation instructions when doing so.
Vehicles with adjustable head restraints:
X If necessary, move the head restraint :back
down again slightly (Y page 109). Make sure Children in the vehicle
59Safety Z
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that you do not interfere with the correct rout-
ing of Top Tether belt ?.Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat
General notes Accident statistics show that children secured
on the rear seats are safer than children secured on the front-passenger seat. For this reason,
Mercedes-Benz strongly advises that you install
a child restraint system on a rear seat.
Vehicles with the automatic front-
passenger front airbag deactivation system:
if it is absolutely necessary to fit a child restraint
system to the front-passenger seat, always
observe the information on the "Automatic
front-passenger front airbag deactivation sys-
tem" (Y page 49).
You can thus avoid the risks that could arise as a result of:
R a child restraint system that is not detected
by the automatic front-passenger front airbag
deactivation system
R unintentional disabling of the front-passenger
front airbag
R unsuitable positioning of the child restraint
system, e.g. too close to the dashboard Please observe the warning notice on the
front-passenger sun visor; see illustration. G
WARNING
If you secure a child in a rearward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat
and the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is off, the front-passenger front airbag
can deploy in the event of an accident. The child could be struck by the airbag. This poses
an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Make sure that the front-passenger front air-
bag has been disabled. The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit.
NEVER use a rearward-facing child restraint
on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in
front of it; DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the
child can occur.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
goes out, the front-passenger front airbag is
enabled (Y page 42).
Vehicles without the automatic front-
passenger front airbag deactivation
system If the front-passenger seat of your vehicle is not
equipped with the automatic front-passenger
front airbag deactivation system, this is indica-
ted by a special sticker. The sticker is affixed to
the side of the dashboard on the front-
passenger side. The sticker is visible when you
open the front-passenger door.
If you turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps light
up briefly. However, they have no function and
do not indicate that there is an automatic front- passenger front airbag deactivation system.
In this case, never fit a rearward-facing child
restraint system on the front passenger seat
(Y page 61).
Observe the following information under "Rear-
ward-facing child restraint system"
(Y page 61) and "Forward-facing child
restraint system" (Y page 61) as well as infor-
mation on the suitable positioning of the child
restraint system (Y page 61).60
Children in the vehicleSafety
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Rearward-facing child restraint system
If it is absolutely necessary to fit a rearward-
facing child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat, always make sure that the
front-passenger front airbag is disabled. Only if
the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
lit continuously (Y page 42) is the front-
passenger front airbag disabled.
Always observe the information on suitable
positioning of the child restraint system
(Y page 61) in addition to the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation and operat-
ing instructions.
Forward-facing child restraint system If it is absolutely necessary to fit a forward-
facing child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat, always move the front-
passenger seat as far back as possible. Fully
retract the seat cushion length. 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,
as far as possible, lie flat against the backrest of the front-passenger seat. The child restraint sys-tem must not touch the roof or be put under
strain by the head restraint. Adjust the angle of
the seat backrest and the head restraint posi-
tion accordingly. Always make sure that the
shoulder belt strap is correctly routed from the
vehicle belt outlet to the shoulder belt guide on
the child restraint system. The shoulder belt
strap must be routed forwards and downwards
from the vehicle belt outlet. If necessary, adjust
the vehicle belt outlet and the front-passenger
seat accordingly.
Always observe the information on suitable
positioning of the child restraint system
(Y page 61) in addition to the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation and operat-
ing instructions. Suitable positioning of the child
restraint system
Introduction Only child restraint systems approved in accord-
ance with ECE standards ECE R44 or ECE R129 (i-Size child restraint systems) are permitted for use in the vehicle. For certain child restraint systems in weight cat-
egories II or III, this can mean that the area of
use is restricted. The maximum size setting of
the child restraint system may not be possible
due to possible contact with the roof.
"Universal" category child restraint systems can
be recognised by their orange approval label and
the text "Universal" or an "i-Size" label. Example: approval label on the child restraint
system
ISOFIX or i-Size child restraint systems of the
“Universal“ category can be used on seats label- led U, UF, IUF or i-U in accordance with the fol-
lowing tables:
R suitability of the seats for attaching belt-
secured child restraint systems
R Suitability of the seats for attaching ISOFIX
child restraint systems
R Suitability of the seats for attaching an i-Size
child restraint system
Semi-universal child restraint systems are indi-
cated by the text "semi-universal" on the
approval label. These can be used if the vehicle and the seat are listed in the child restraint sys-
tem manufacturer's vehicle model list. For more
information, contact the child restraint system
manufacturer or visit their website. Children in the vehicle
61Safety Z