
Problems with the BabySmart™ air bag deactivation system
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp
on the center console is
lit.A special Mercedes-Benz child restraint system with a transponder for
the BabySmart™ air bag deactivation system has been installed on the
front-passenger seat. The front-passenger air bag has therefore been
deactivated as desired.
GWARNING
There is no child restraint system installed on the front-passenger
seat. The BabySmart™ air bag deactivation system is malfunctioning,
for example due to electronic devices on the front-passenger seat.
There is a risk of injury.
XRemove electronic equipment from the front-passenger seat, for
example:
RLaptop
RMobile phone
RCard with a transponder, such as a ski pass or access pass
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains lit, the front-
passenger seat may not be used.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.
When you switch the
ignition on, the 6
restraint system warning
lamp lights up and/or
the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp
does not light up briefly.GWARNING
The BabySmart™ air bag deactivation system is malfunctioning.
Do not install a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat.
It is recommended that you install the child restraint system on a
suitable rear seat.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.
XPlease also refer to the notes about the restraint system warning
lamp (Ypage 198).
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.
Override feature for:
Rthe rear doors (Ypage 57)
Rthe rear side windows (Ypage 57)
56Children in the vehicle
Safety

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 of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
RABS ( Anti-lock Braking System)
(Ypage 58)
RBAS ( Brake Assist System) (Ypage 59)
RESP®(E lectronic StabilityProgram)
(Ypage 59)
REBD ( Electronic Brake force Distribution)
(Ypage 61)
RADAPTIVE BRAKE (Ypage 61)
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 an accident nor override
the laws of physics. Driving safety systems are
merely aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for maintaining the distance to the
vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time, and for staying in lane. 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.
The driving safety systems described only work as effectively as possible when there is ade-
quate contact between the tires and the road
surface. Pay particular attention to the informa-
tion regarding tires, recommended minimum tire tread depths etc. in the "Wheels and tires"
section (
Ypage 257).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow chains.
Only in this way will the driving safety systems
described in this section work as effectively as
possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General information
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.
The yellow !ABS warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up when the ignition is
switched on. It goes out when the engine is run- ning.
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.
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 58).
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.
When ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information
on the ABS warning lamp (
Ypage 194) and dis-
play messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (
Ypage 175).
58Driving safety systems
Safety

!Only operate the vehicle for a maximum of
ten seconds on a brake test dynamometer.
Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP
®may oth-
erwise destroy the brake 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.
If the å ESP
®OFF warning lamp lights up
continuously, ESP®is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®warning lamp lights up contin-
uously, ESP®is not available due to a malfunc-
tion.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(
Ypage 196) and display messages which may
be displayed in the instrument cluster
(
Ypage 175).
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP
®function properly.
If differential locks are switched on, ABS, BAS
and ESP
®switch off automatically.
Characteristics of ESP®
General information
If the ÷ ESP®warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP®is automatically
active.
If ESP
®intervenes, the ÷ESP®warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP
®intervenes:
XDo not deactivate ESP®under any circum-
stances.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
XAdapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle stops
moving. The engine starts automatically when
the driver wants to pull away again. ESP
®
remains in its previously selected status, e.g. if
ESP®was deactivated before the engine was
automatically switched off.
Deactivating/activating ESP®
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 58).
You can select between the following states of
ESP
®:
RESP®is activated.
RESP®is deactivated.
GWARNING
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.
It may be best to deactivate ESP
®in the follow-
ing situations:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
Roff-road
Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action
which provides better grip.
Activate ESP
®as soon as the situations descri-
bed above no longer apply. ESP®will otherwise
not be able to stabilize the vehicle 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®
60Driving safety systems
Safety

Protection against theft
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey.
XTo activate:remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock.
XTo deactivate: switch on the ignition.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.
iThe immobilizer is always deactivated when
you start the engine.
In the event that the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle's battery is charged), the sys-
tem is not operational. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA) or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
ATA (anti-theft alarm system)
XTo arm: lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
Indicator lamp :flashes. The alarm system
is armed after approximately 15 seconds.
XTo disarm: unlock the vehicle with the Smart-
Key.
iIf you then do not open a side door or the
rear door, the alarm system switches back on
again after approximately 40 seconds.
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed and you open:
Ra door
Rthe vehicle with the mechanical key
Rthe rear door
Rthe hood The alarm is also triggered if:
Rthe position of the vehicle is changed.
Ra window is smashed.
The alarm is not switched off, even if you close the open door that triggered it, for example.
XTo stop the alarm: press the%or&
button on the SmartKey.
The alarm is stopped.
or
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
The alarm is stopped.
iIf the alarm continues for more than
30 seconds, the mbrace emergency call sys-
tem automatically notifies the Customer
Assistance Center. This is done either by text
message or data connection.
The emergency call system sends the mes-
sage or data provided that:
Ryou have subscribed to the mbrace service.
Rthe mbrace service has been activated
properly.
Rthe necessary mobile phone network is
available.
62Protection against theft
Safety

SmartKey
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
Ropen the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
Rget out and disrupt traffic.
Roperate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
RStart the engine.
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 or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
GWARNING
If you attach heavy or large objects to the
SmartKey, the SmartKey could be uninten-
tionally turned in the ignition lock. This could
cause the engine to be switched off. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not attach any heavy or large objects to the
SmartKey. Remove any bulky key rings before
inserting the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
!Keep the SmartKey away from strong mag-
netic fields. Otherwise, the remote control
function could be affected.
Strong magnetic fields can occur in the vicin-
ity of powerful electrical installations.
Do not keep the SmartKey:
Rwith electronic devices, e.g. a mobile phone
or another SmartKey.
Rwith metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal foil.
Rinside metallic objects, e.g. a metal case.
This can affect the functionality of the Smart- Key. A check which periodically establishes a radio
connection between the vehicle and the Smart-
Key determines whether a valid SmartKey is in
the vehicle. This occurs, for example:
Rwhen starting the engine
Rwhile driving
SmartKey functions
:&
Locks the vehicle
;%Unlocks the vehicle
The SmartKey centrally locks/unlocks:
Rthe doors
Rthe rear door
Rthe fuel filler flap
XTo unlock centrally: press the%button.
If you do not open the vehicle within approx-
imately 40 seconds of unlocking:
Rthe vehicle is locked again.
Rprotection against theft is reactivated.
XTo lock centrally: press the&button.
The turn signals flash once when unlocking and
three times when locking.
You can also set an audible signal to confirm
that the vehicle has been locked. The audible
signal can be activated and deactivated using
the on-board computer (
Ypage 170).
You will receive visual and acoustic locking con-
firmation if all components were able to be
locked.
When the surround lighting is activated via the
on-board computer, it lights up when it is dark
after the vehicle is unlocked with the SmartKey (
Ypage 169).
SmartKey63
Opening and closing
Z

Changing the settings of the locking
system
You can change the settings of the locking sys-
tem. This means that only the driver's door and
the fuel filler flap are unlocked when the vehicle
is unlocked. This is useful if you frequently travel
alone.
XTo change the setting:press and hold down
the % and& buttons simultaneously
for approximately six seconds until the bat-
tery check lamp (
Ypage 65) flashes twice.
If the setting of the locking system is changed
within the signal range of the vehicle, pressing
the & or% button:
Rlocks or
Runlocks the vehicle
The SmartKey now functions as follows:
XTo unlock the driver's door and fuel filler
flap: press the %button once.
XTo unlock centrally: press the%button
twice.
XTo lock centrally: press the&button.
XTo restore the factory settings: press and
hold the %and& buttons simultane-
ously for approximately six seconds until the
battery check lamp (
Ypage 65) flashes
twice.
Mechanical key
General notes
If the vehicle can no longer be unlocked with the
SmartKey, use the mechanical key.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door, the anti-theft alarm sys-
tem will be triggered. Switch off the alarm
(
Ypage 62).
If you unlock the vehicle using the mechanical
key, the fuel filler flap will not be unlocked auto-
matically.
XTo unlock the fuel filler flap: insert the
SmartKey into the ignition lock.
Removing the mechanical key
XPush release catch :in the direction of the
arrow and at the same time remove mechan- ical key ;from the SmartKey.
Further information on locking/unlocking the
driver's door (
Ypage 68).
Inserting the mechanical key
XPush mechanical key ;completely into the
SmartKey until it engages and release
catch :is back in its basic position.
SmartKey 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 separately
64SmartKey
Opening and closing

XTo deactivate:press and hold button :for
approximately five seconds until a tone
sounds.
XTo activate: press and hold button ;for
approximately five seconds until a tone
sounds.
If you press one of the two buttons and do not
hear a tone, the relevant setting has already
been selected.
The vehicle is locked automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels are turn-
ing.
You could therefore be locked out if:
Rthe vehicle is being pushed.
Rthe vehicle is being towed.
Rthe vehicle is being tested on a dynamometer.
You can also switch the automatic locking func-
tion on and off using the on-board computer
(
Ypage 170).
Locking/unlocking the driver's door
with the mechanical key
XInsert the mechanical key into the lock of the driver's door as far as it will go.
XTo unlock: turn the mechanical key counter-
clockwise as far as it will go to position 1.
XTo lock:turn the mechanical key clockwise as
far as it will go to position 2.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door, the anti-theft alarm sys-
tem will be triggered. Switch off the alarm
(
Ypage 62).
Rear door
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the rear
door is open when the engine is running, par-
ticularly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust
fumes could enter the passenger compart-
ment. There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the rear
door. Never drive with the rear door open.
GWARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or
not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury, particu-
larly in the event of sudden braking or a sud-
den change in direction.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey.
!The tailgate swings out to the side when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance.
Do not leave the SmartKey in the cargo com-
partment. Otherwise, you could lock yourself
out.
You should preferably place luggage or loads in
the cargo compartment. Observe the loading
guidelines (
Ypage 209).
Opening
The rear door must be unlocked before it can be opened.
XPress the %button on the SmartKey.
68Rear door
Opening and closing

XPress release button:and pull door han-
dle ;.
XOpen the rear door.
Closing
XPush the rear door closed from outside the
vehicle.
XLock the vehicle with the &button on the
SmartKey.
Side windows
Important safety notes
GWARNING
While opening the side windows, body parts
could become trapped between the side win-
dow and the door frame as the side window
moves. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody touches the side win-
dow during the opening procedure. If some-
body becomes trapped, release the switch or
pull the switch to close the side window again.
GWARNING
While closing the side windows, body parts in
the closing area could become trapped. There is a risk of injury.
When closing make sure that no parts of the
body are in the closing area. If somebody
becomes trapped, release the switch or press
the switch to open the side window again.
GWARNING
If children operate the side windows they
could become trapped, particularly if they are left unsupervised. There is a risk of injury.
Activate the override feature for the rear side
windows. When leaving the vehicle, always
take the SmartKey with you and lock the vehi-
cle. Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle.
Opening and closing the side win-
dows
The switches for all side windows are located on
the driver's door. There is also a switch on each
door for the corresponding side window.
The switches on the driver's door take prece-
dence.
:Front left
;Front right
=Rear right
?Rear left
XTurn the SmartKey to position 1or2 in the
ignition lock.
XTo open manually: press and hold the cor-
responding switch.
XTo open automatically: press the corre-
sponding switch beyond the point of resist-
ance and release it.
Automatic operation is started.
XTo interrupt automatic operation: press/
pull the corresponding switch again.
XTo close manually: pull the corresponding
switch and hold it.
You can continue to operate the side windows
after you switch off the engine or remove the
Side windows69
Opening and closing
Z