
Replacechild restrain tsystems whic hhav e
been damaged or subjecte dto aload in an
acciden tas soo nas possible. Hav eth esecur-
ing systems on th echild restrain tsystem
checke dat aqualified specialist workshop,
before you instal l achild restrain tsystem
again .
The securin gsystems of child restrain tsystems
are:
Rth eseat belt system
Rth eLATCH-type (ISOFIX) securin grings
Rth eTop Tether anchorage
iIf it is absolutely necessar yto instal l achild
restrain tsystem on th efront-passenger seat ,
always observ eth einformation on "Child
restrain tsystems on th efront-passenger
seat " (
Ypage 52) .
All child restrain tsystems mus tmee tth efol -
lowin gstandards :
RU.S. Federal Motor Vehicl eSafet yStandards
21 3and 22 5
RCanadian Motor Vehicl eSafet yStandards
21 3and 210. 2
Confirmation that th echild restrain tsystem cor-
responds to th estandards can be foun don an
instruction label on th echild restrain tsystem.
This confirmation can also be foun din th einstal -
lation instruction sthat are included wit hth e
child restrain tsystem.
Observ eth ewarning labels in th evehicl einte-
rio rand on th echild restrain tsystem.
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat secur-
ing system
GWARNIN G
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restrain tsystems
do no toffer sufficien tprotection for children
whos eweigh tcombined wit hth echild
restrain tsystem is greate rthan 65 lbs (29 kg)
and who are secured usin gth esafet ybelt
integrate din th echild restrain tsystem. In th e
event of an accident, achild might no tbe
restrained correctly. This poses an increased
ris kof injury or eve nfatal injury.
If th echild and th echild restrain tsystem
together weigh mor ethan 65 lbs (29 kg), only
use LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restrain tsys-
tems wit hwhic hth echild is also secured wit h
th evehicl eseat belt .Als osecure th echild
restrain tsystem wit hth eTop Tether belt ,if
available.
Always comply wit hth emanufacturer' sinstal -
lation and operating instruction sfor th echild
restrain tsystem used .
Befor eevery trip, mak esur ethat th eLATCH -
typ e(ISOFIX) child restrain tsystem is engage d
correctl yin bot hLATCH-type (ISOFIX) securin g
rings
!When installin gth echild restrain tsystem,
mak esur ethat th eseat belt for th emiddle
seat does no tget trapped .The seat belt could
otherwise be damaged.
XInstall th eLATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restrain t
system on bot hLATCH-type (ISOFIX) securin g
rings :.
ISOFIX is astandardize dsecurin gsystem for
specially designed child restrain tsystems on
th erear seats. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securin g
rings :for aLATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restrain tsystem are installed between th eseat
cushion and th eseat backrest :
Ron theouter lef tand right seat on rear bench
seat swit h 3 seat s
Ron th eouter lef tseat on rear bench seat swit h
2 seat s
Non-LATCH-typ e(ISOFIX) child seat smay also
be used and can be installed usin gth evehicle's
seat belt system. Install th echild seat according
to th emanufacturer' sinstructions.
Children in the vehicle51
Safety
Z

Top Tether
Introduction
Top Tether provides an additional connection
between the child restraint system secured with
a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) system and the vehicle.
This helps reduce the risk of injury even further.
If the child restraint system is equipped with a
Top Tether belt, this should always be used.
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 anchorages
Example: rear bench seat with three seats
Top Tether anchorages ;are on the bench seat
legs on the rear side of the respective rear bench
seat.
XMove head restraint :up.
XInstall the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint
system with Top Tether. Always comply with
the child restraint system manufacturer's
installation instructions when doing so.
XRoute Top Tether belt ?under head
restraint :between the two head restraint
bars.
XHook Top Tether hook =into Top Tether
anchorage ;.
Make sure that:
RTop Tether hook =is hooked into Top
Tether anchorage ;as shown.
RTop Tether belt ?is not twisted
XTension Top Tether belt ?. Always comply
with the child restraint system manufactur-
er's installation instructions when doing so.
XIf necessary, move the head restraint back
down again slightly (Ypage 78). Make sure
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
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-
52Children in the vehicle
Safety

ufacturer's installation and operating instruc-
tions.
Forward-facing child restraint system
If it isabsolute lynecessary to install a forward-
facing ch ildrestraint system on the front-
passenger seat, always move the front-
passenger seat as far back as possible. The
entire base of the ch ildrestraint system must
always rest on the seat cushion of the front-
passenger seat. The backrest of the ch ild
restraint system must lieas flat as possible
against the backrest of the front-passenger
seat. The ch ildrestraint system must not be
subjected to a load bythe head restraint. Adjust
the head restraint position accordingly. Always
make sure that the shoulder beltstrap iscor-
rectly routed from the veh icle beltoutlet to the
shoulder beltguide on the ch ildrestraint sys-
tem. The shoulder beltstrap must berouted
forward and downfrom the veh icle beltoutlet.If
necessary, adjust the veh icle beltoutlet and the
front-passenger seat accordingly.
Alwa ys observe the ch ildrestraint system man-
ufacturer's installation and operating instruc-
tions.
Override features/Child-proof locks
Important safety notes
GWAR NING
If ch ildr en are traveling inthe veh icle, they
co uld:
Ropen doors, thus endangering other people
or road users
Rexit the veh icleand becaught byoncoming
traff ic
Roperate veh icle equipment and become
trapped
There isa risk of an acc ident and injury.
Alwa ys activate the ch ild-proof locks and
overr idefeature ifch ildr en are traveling inthe
veh icle. When leaving the veh icle, always take
the key with you and lock the veh icle. Never
leave ch ildren unattended inthe veh icle.
Child- proof locks for rear doors (
Ypage 54).
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it inmotion 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
Sm artKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave ch ildren unsupervised in the vehicle.
GWARNING
If persons, particularly ch ildren 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 issubjected to
direct sunlight, parts may get very hot. Chil-
dren may burn thems elves on these parts,
particular lyon 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 isnot exposed to direct sunlight. Pro-
tect it wit h 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.
Children in the vehicle53
Safety
Z

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 (Electronic 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
Pay particular attention to the information
regarding tires, tire tread and winter operation
under "Wheels and tires" (
Ypage 248).
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes
Observe the important safety guidelines for the
driving safety system (Ypage 54).
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.
54Driving safety systems
Safety

XPull R-clips;on both rods :on the under-
side of the step out of their respective pins.
XRemove washers =and detach both rods :.
XFold rods:into the housing in the step.
XPush the step into its housing.
iWhen securing the step for the first time,
you must pierce a film with the R-clips.
XInsert R-clips ;into the step as far as they
will go through the holes on both sides of the
housing.
The step is secured in its housing.
Rear doors
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you open a rear door, you could:
Rendanger other people or road users
Rbe caught by oncoming traffic
This is particularly the case if you open the
rear door more than 90°. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Only open the rear doors when traffic condi-
tions permit. Always make sure that the rear
doors are properly locked.
GWARNING
If you open the rear doors 90°, the rear lights are no longer visible. The vehicle will then be
difficult for other road users to see or will not
be seen by them at all, particularly if it is dark
or visibility is poor. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
You should therefore ensure in this and simi-
lar situations that the vehicle is visible from
the rear in accordance with the relevant
national regulations, by using the warning tri-
angle, for instance.
!Make sure that there is sufficient clearance
when opening the rear doors. You could oth-
erwise damage the vehicle and objects in
close range of the rear doors.
You can lock the rear doors at an angle of 90°,
180° and 270°. Always make sure that the open
rear door is correctly engaged in the detent.
Rear doors69
Opening and closing
Z

Changing bulbs
Important safety notes
GDANGER
Xenon bulbs carry a high voltage. You can get an electric shock if you remove the cover of
the Xenon bulb and touch the electrical con-
tacts. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Never touch the parts or the electrical con-
tacts of the Xenon bulb. Always have work on
the Xenon bulbs carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
GWARNING
Bulbs, lamps and connectors can get very hot
when operating. If you change a bulb, you
could burn yourself on these components.
There is a risk of injury.
Allow these components to cool down before
changing a bulb.
!Make sure the bulbs are always securely
installed.
If your vehicle is equipped with Bi-Xenon bulbs,
you can recognize this by the following: the cone
of light from the Xenon bulbs moves from the
top to the bottom and back again when you start
the engine. For this to be observed, the low-
beam headlamps must be switched on before
starting the engine.
The bulbs and lamps are an essential compo-
nent of vehicle safety. You must therefore make
sure that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
RAlways switch off the vehicle's lighting sys-
tem before changing a bulb.
This will prevent a short circuit.
RDo not touch the glass tube of new bulbs with your bare hands. Always use a clean, lint-free
cloth or only touch the base of the bulb when
installing.
Even minor contamination can burn into the
glass surface and reduce the service life of the
bulbs.
RDo not use a bulb that has been dropped or
that has scratches on its glass tube.
The bulb could explode.
ROnly use bulbs in closed lamps which have
been designed for this purpose.
ROnly use spare bulbs of the same type and
with the prescribed voltage
RProtect the bulbs from moisture when in use.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
RHave the LEDs and bulbs of the following
lamps changed at a qualified specialist work-
shop:
-the additional turn signals in the exterior
mirrors
-the high-mounted brake lamp
-LED daytime running lamps (Bi-Xenon
headlamps)
-Bi-Xenon lamps (Bi-Xenon headlamps)
-front fog lamps
If you require assistance changing bulbs, con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop.
Front bulbs
Overview of bulb replacement – bulb
types
The following bulbs can be replaced. Bulb types can be found in the legend.
Vehicle swit hhalogen headlamps
:
Turn signal lamp, parking lamp, side marker
lamp: NAK 3457
;Daytime running lamps: W21W
=Low-beam headlamps: H7 55W
?High-beam headlamps: H7 55W
Changing bulbs89
Lights and windshield wipers
Z

Preparing for a journey
Visual check of the vehicle exterior
XIn particular, check the following components
on the vehicle, and on the trailer as necessary:
Rlicense plates, vehicle lighting, turn signals,
brake lamps and wiper blades for dirt and
damage
Rtires and wheels for firm seating, correct
tire pressure and general condition
Rtrailer tow hitch for play and security
The trailer coupling is one of the most
important vehicle parts with regard to road safety. The separate instructions issued by
the manufacturer pertaining to operation,
care and maintenance should be observed.
Rthat contour markings on attachments and
bodies are in good condition
XRectify any noticeable defects before com-
mencing the journey.
Checks in the vehicle
Emergency equipment and first-aid kit
XCheck the equipment to make sure that it is
accessible, complete and ready for use.
The first aid and breakdown assistance equip-
ment is in the front door stowage compartments
and behind the driver's seat.
Vehicle lighting
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
XCheck the lighting system with the aid of a
second person.
XReplace defective bulbs (Ypage 89).
Before driving off
GWARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardizes the oper-
ating and road safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so that
they do not get into the driver's footwell.
When using floormats or carpets, make sure
that they are properly secured so that they do
not slip or obstruct the pedals. Do not place
several floormats or carpets on top of one
another.
GWARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
Rshoes with thick soles
Rshoes with high heels
Rslippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals.
XSecure the load as per the loading guidelines
(Ypage 213).
XStow luggage items securely. Secure the load
as per the loading guidelines (Ypage 213).
XMake sure that the floormats and carpets are
properly secured so that they cannot slip and
obstruct the pedals.
XClose all doors.
Starting the engine
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
!Do not depress the accelerator pedal when
starting the engine.
XBefore starting the engine, make sure that:
Rall the doors are closed.
Rall the vehicle occupants are wearing their
seat belts correctly.
Rthe parking brake is applied.
iIf you depress the brake pedal before start-
ing the engine, the pedal travel is short and
pedal resistance is high.
If you depress the brake pedal again after
starting the engine, pedal travel and resist-
ance will be back to normal again.
120Driving
Driving and parking

Always park your vehicle safely and according to
legal requirements and secure it against rolling
away.
To ensure that the vehicle is properly secured
against rolling away unintentionally:
Rthe parking brake must be firmly applied
Rthe selector lever must be in positionPand
the key must be removed from the ignition
lock
Ron steep uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb
Rthe rear axle must be secured, e.g. with a
wheel chock, on steep uphill or downhill gra-
dients
Use the wheel chock (
Ypage 131) to do so.
If you leave the vehicle parked for more than
three weeks:
Rconnect the batteries to a trickle charger or
Rdisconnect the vehicle's starter battery or
Rswitch off the electrical system using the bat-
tery main switch (Ypage 118) and
Rdisconnect the vehicle's auxiliary battery
Otherwise, you need to check the battery's con-
dition of charge every 3 weeks, since standby
power consumption can drain the battery. If the
battery voltage is lower than 12.2 V,the battery
must be charged. Otherwise, the battery may be damaged by exhaustive discharging.
Be sure to observe the notes on disconnecting
and charging the batte
ries under "Bat-
tery“ (Ypage 228). You can obtain information
about trickle chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop.
Parking brake
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 you must brake the vehicle with the parking brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the vehi-
cle when the service brake is faulty. Do not
apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
As a rule, you may only apply the parking brake
when the vehicle is stationary.
XTo apply the parking brake: pull brake
lever :up as far as the last possible detent.
The c warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
iOn vehicles with a folding brake lever, you
can then press lever :down to the stop.
XTo release the parking brake: on vehicles
with a folding brake lever, first pull brake
lever :up to the stop.
XRaise brake lever :slightly and press
release knob ;.
XGuide brake lever :down to the stop.
The c indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
130Parking
Driving an d parking