occupant in the best position in relation to the
air bag.
The seat belt system comprises:
R Seat belts
R Emergency Tensioning Devices and seat belt
force limiters
If the seat belt is pulled quickly or sharply by the
seat belt guide, the inertia reel locks. The belt
strap cannot be extracted any further.
The Emergency Tensioning Device tightens the
seat belt in an accident, pulling the belt close
against the body. However it does not pull the
vehicle occupant back in the direction of the
backrest.
The Emergency Tensioning Device does not cor- rect an incorrect seat position or the routing of
an incorrectly fastened seat belt.
When triggered, a seat belt force limiter helps to
reduce the force exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant.
The seat belt force limiters are synchronized
with the front air bags which absorb part of the
deceleration force. This can reduce the force
exerted on the vehicle occupants during an acci-
dent.
! If the front-passenger seat is not occupied,
do not engage the seat belt tongue in the
buckle on the front-passenger seat. Other-
wise, in the event of an accident the Emer-
gency Tensioning Device and the side impact
air bag, in addition to other systems, may be
triggered and have to be replaced.
Important safety notes The use of seat belts and child restraint systems
is required by law in:
R all 50 states
R the U.S. territories
R the District of Columbia
R all Canadian provinces
Even where this is not required by law, all vehicle occupants should correctly fasten their seat
belts before starting the journey. G
WARNING
If the seat belt is not worn correctly, it cannot perform its intended protective function. An
incorrectly fastened seat belt can also cause
injuries, for example, in the event of an acci- dent or when braking or changing direction
abruptly. This poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Always ensure that all vehicle occupants have
their seat belts fastened correctly and are sit- ting properly.
The components of the restraint system work in
conjunction with each other. They can only
deploy their protective function if, at all times, all vehicle occupants:
R have fastened their seat belts correctly
(Y page 43)
R have the seat adjusted properly
(Y page 84)
Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the
head restraints must also be adjusted prop-
erly. G
WARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended level of protection if you have not moved the back-
rest to an almost vertical position. When brak-
ing or in the event of an accident, you could
slide underneath the seat belt and sustain
abdomen or neck injuries, for example. This
poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Adjust the seat properly before beginning
your journey. Always ensure that the backrest
is in an almost vertical position and that the
shoulder section of your seat belt is routed
across the center of your shoulder. G
WARNING
Persons less than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall cannot
wear the seat belt correctly without an addi-
tional and suitable restraint system. If the
seat belt is not worn correctly, it cannot per-
form its intended protective function. An
incorrectly fastened seat belt can also cause
injuries, for example, in the event of an acci-
dent or when braking or changing direction
abruptly. This poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
For this reason, always secure persons under
5 ft (1.50 m) tall in suitable additional restraint
systems. 42
Occupant safetySafety
Occupant Classification System
(OCS)
Introduction The Occupant Classification System (OCS) cat-
egorizes the person in the front-passenger seat.
Depending on that result, the front-passenger
front air bag and front-passenger knee bag are
either enabled or deactivated.
The system does not deactivate:
R the side impact air bag
R the headbag
R the Emergency Tensioning Devices
In vehicles with the AMG Performance seat, the sidebag and the seat belt tensioner are deacti-
vated in the following situation:
R OCS has not categorized the person on the
front-passenger seat as an adult or a person
of corresponding stature and
R the seat belt buckle tongue of the seat belt is
not inserted into the front-passenger seat beltbuckle
Requirements To be classified correctly, the front passenger
must sit:
R with the seat belt fastened correctly
R in an almost upright position with their back
against the seat backrest
R with their feet resting on the floor, if possible
If the front passenger does not observe these
conditions, OCS may produce a false classifica- tion, e.g. because the front passenger:
R transfers their weight by supporting them-
selves on a vehicle armrest
R sits in such a way that their weight is raised
from the seat cushion
If you install a child restraint system on the
front-passenger seat, be sure to observe the
correct positioning of the child restraint system. Never place objects under or behind the child
restraint system, e.g. a cushion. The entire base
of the child restraint system must always rest on the seat cushion of the front-passenger seat.
The backrest of the forward-facing child
restraint system must lie as flat as possible
against the backrest of the front-passenger
seat. The child restraint system must not touch the
roof or be subjected to a load by the head
restraint. Adjust the angle of the seat backrest
and the head restraint position accordingly.
Only then can OCS be guaranteed to function
correctly. Always observe the child restraint sys-
tem manufacturer's installation and operating
instructions.
Occupant Classification System opera-
tion (OCS) 0043
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp
0044 PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
The indicator lamps inform you whether the
front-passenger front air bag is deactivated or
enabled.
X Press the Start/Stop button once or twice, or
turn the SmartKey to position 0047or0048 in the
ignition lock.
The system carries out self-diagnostics.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and PASSENGER
AIR BAG ON indicator lamps must light up simul- taneously for approximately six seconds.
The indicator lamps display the status of the
front-passenger front air bag.
R PASSENGER AIR BAG ON lights up for 60 sec-
onds, subsequently both indicator lamps are
off (PASSENGER AIR BAG ON and OFF): the
front-passenger front air bag is able to deploy
in the event of an accident.
R PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF lights up: the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated. It will
then not be deployed in the event of an acci-
dent.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp is off, only the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp shows the status of the front-passenger
front air bag. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp may be lit continuously or be off. 48
Occupant safetySafety
If the seat belt pre-tensioning is not reduced:
X Move the seat backrest or seat back slightly
when the vehicle is stationary.
The seat belt pre-tensioning is reduced and
the locking mechanism is released.
The seat-belt adjustment is an integral part of
the PRE-SAFE ®
convenience function. Informa-
tion about the convenience function can be
found under "Belt adjustment" (Y page 44).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 switched on
R the emergency lighting is activated
R the vehicle doors are unlocked
R the front side windows are lowered
R vehicles with a memory function: the electri-
cally adjustable steering wheel is raised when
the driver's door is opened
R the engine is switched off and the fuel supply
is cut off
R vehicles with Mercedes me connect: auto-
matic emergency call Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
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 always observe the instructions and safety
notes on the "Occupant classification system
(OCS)". (Y page 48) G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion, for example by:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the transmission to the neutral
position
R starting 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.
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt
(Y page 42) and the notes on correct use of seat
belts (Y page 43).
A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper seat belt positioning for children over
40 lbs (18 kg) until they reach a height where a Children in the vehicle
55Safety Z
Pets in the vehicle
G
WARNING
If you leave animals unsupervised or unse-
cured in the vehicle, they may press buttons
or switches, for instance.
In this way, animals may:
R activate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
R switch systems on or off and thereby
endanger other road users
Furthermore, unsecured animals may be flung
around inside the vehicle in the event of an
accident or abrupt steering or braking maneu- ver, and thereby injure vehicle occupants.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle.
Always secure animals properly when driving,
for instance with a suitable pet carrier. Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems: R ABS ( Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
(Y page 58)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System) (Y page 59)
R Active Brake Assist (Y page 59)
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
(Y page 62)
R EBD ( Electronic Brake force Distribution)
(Y page 64)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 64)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. Please pay special attention to the
notes on tires, recommended minimum tire
tread depths, etc. (Y page 263).
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 0025 ABS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
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 i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 58). G
WARNING
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 (Y page 201) and dis-58
Driving safety systemsSafety
play messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (Y page 175).
Brakes X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal vigorously until the braking sit-
uation is over.
X To make a full brake application: depress
the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing 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. BAS (Brake Assist System)
General information BAS operates in emergency braking situations.
If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS
automatically boosts the braking force, thus
shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 58). G
WARNING
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.
Braking X
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. Active Brake Assist
General information i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 58).
Active Brake Assist consists of a distance warn-
ing function with an autonomous braking func-
tion and a situation-dependent brake boosting
effect.
Active Brake Assist can help you to minimize the risk of a collision with the vehicle traveling in
front or reduce the effects of such a collision.
If Active Brake Assist detects that there is a risk
of collision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically. If you do not react to the visual
collision warning or the warning tone, autono-
mous braking can be initiated in critical situa-
tions. If you apply the brake yourself in a critical situation, Active Brake Assist supports you with
a situation-dependent brake boosting effect.
Important safety notes In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if:
R There is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R There is snow or heavy rain
R There is interference by other radar sources
R There are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple in parking garages
R A narrow vehicle is traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R A vehicle is traveling in front on a different line
R You are driving a new vehicle or servicing on
the Active Brake Assist system has just been
carried out
Observe the important safety notes in the
"Breaking-in notes" section. (Y page 109)
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle, have the configuration and operation of the
radar sensor checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. This also applies to collisions at slow speeds where there is no visible damage to thefront of the vehicle.
Activating/deactivating Active Brake Assist is automatically active after
switching on the ignition. Driving safety systems
59Safety Z
Vehicles with Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC: the autonomous braking function
is available in the following speed ranges:
R 4 - 124 mph (7 - 200 km/h) for moving
objects
R 4 - 31 mph (7 - 50 km/h) for stationary
objects
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause the autonomous braking func-
tion to intervene.
If the autonomous braking function requires a
particularly high braking force, preventative
passenger protection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
)
are activated simultaneously (Y page 54).
Situation-dependent brake boosting
effect General information
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 58).
With the help of the radar sensor system, Active Brake Assist can detect obstacles that are in the
path of your vehicle for an extended period of
time.
If Active Brake Assist detects a risk of collision
with the vehicle in front, it calculates the brake
pressure necessary to avoid a collision. If you
apply the brakes forcefully, the situation-
dependent brake boosting effect automatically
increases the brake pressure to a degree appro- priate to the traffic situation.
The situation-dependent brake boosting effect
provides braking assistance in hazardous situa-
tions at speeds above 4 mph (7 km/h). It uses
radar sensor technology to assess the traffic
situation.
The situation-dependent brake boosting effect
is capable of reacting to moving objects that
have already been detected as such at least
once over the period of observation, up to a
speed of around 155 mph (250 km/h).
The situation-dependent brake boosting effect
reacts to stationary obstacles up to a speed of
approximately 44 mph (70 km/h).
If the situation-dependent brake boosting effect demands particularly high brake pressure, pre-
ventative passenger protection measures (PRE-
SAFE ®
) are triggered simultaneously
(Y page 54). X
Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will work normally again if: R you release the brake pedal
R there is no longer any danger of a collision
R no obstacle is detected in front of your vehicle
The situation-dependent brake boosting effect
is then deactivated.
Important safety notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 58). G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
As a result, Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic situa-
tions.
In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist might:
R intervene unnecessarily
R not intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation.
Due to the nature of the system, complex but
non-critical driving conditions may also cause
Active Brake Assist to intervene.
Even if Active Brake Assist is not available due to a malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system is still available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS. Driving safety systems
61Safety Z
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut for
better traction on loose surfaces.
R traction control is still activated
R Adaptive Brake Assist is unavailable
Active Brake Assist is also not activated if you
brake firmly with assistance from ESP ®
.
R PRE-SAFE ®
is unavailable
PRE-SAFE ®
is also not activated if you brake
firmly with assistance from ESP ®
.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General information EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
on the rear wheels to improve driving stability
while braking.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 58). G
WARNING
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.
Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps (Y page 201) as well as display
messages (Y page 177). ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety and
offers increased braking comfort. In addition to
the braking function, ADAPTIVE BRAKE also fea-
tures the hill start assist function (Y page 112). Protection against theft
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey. X To activate with KEYLESS-GO start-func-
tion or KEYLESS-GO:
switch the ignition off
and open the driver's door.
X To activate with the SmartKey: remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X To deactivate: switch on the ignition.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Anyone
can start the engine if a valid SmartKey has been
left inside the vehicle.
i The 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)
X
To arm: lock the vehicle with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO.
Indicator lamp 0043flashes. The alarm system
is armed after approximately 15 seconds.
X To disarm: unlock the vehicle with the Smart-
Key or KEYLESS-GO.
or X With KEYLESS-GO start function or vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO:
press the Start/
Stop button.
The SmartKey must be in the vehicle. 64
Protection against theftSafety
or
X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed and you open:
R a door
R the vehicle with the mechanical key
R the trunk lid
R the hood
R the glove box
X To turn the alarm off with the SmartKey:
press the
0036or0037 button on the Smart-
Key.
The alarm is stopped.
or
X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
The alarm is stopped.
X To stop the alarm using KEYLESS-GO:
grasp the outside door handle. The SmartKey must be outside the vehicle.
The alarm is stopped.
or
X Press the Start/Stop button. The SmartKey
must be inside the vehicle.
The alarm is stopped.
The alarm is not switched off, even if you close
the open door that triggered it, for example.
i If 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 a message
or establishes a data connection provided
that:
R you have subscribed to the mbrace service.
R the mbrace service has been activated
properly.
R the necessary mobile phone network is
available. Protection against theft
65Safety Z