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
You can activate or deactivate Active Brake
Assist (Y page 168) in the on-board computer.
When deactivated, the distance warning func-
tion and the autonomous braking function are
also deactivated.
If Active Brake Assist is deactivated, the 00D4
symbol appears in the assistance graphic dis-
play.
Distance warning function General information
The distance warning function can help you to
minimize the risk of a front-end collision with a
vehicle ahead or reduce the effects of such a
collision. If the distance warning function
detects that there is a risk of a collision, you will
be warned visually and acoustically.
Important safety notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 58).G
WARNING
The distance warning function does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
The distance warning function may not give
warnings in all critical situations. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
Always adapt your speed to suit the prevailing
road and traffic conditions. G
WARNING
The distance warning function cannot always
clearly identify objects and complex traffic
situations.
In such cases, the distance warning function
may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident. Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and do not rely solely on the distance
warning function.
Function
Starting at a speed of approximately 4 mph
(7 km/h), the distance warning function warns
you if you rapidly approach a vehicle in front. An intermittent warning tone will then sound, and
the 00BA distance warning lamp will light up in
the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or
X Take evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause the system to display a warning. With the help of the radar sensor system, the
distance warning function can detect obstacles
that are in the path of your vehicle for an exten-
ded period of time.
Up to a speed of approximately 44 mph
(70 km/h), the distance warning function can
also react to stationary obstacles, such as stop-
ped or parked vehicles.
Autonomous braking function If the driver does not react to the distance warn-
ing signal in a critical situation, Active Brake
Assist can assist the driver with the autonomous braking function.
The autonomous braking function:
R gives the driver more time to react to critical
driving situations
R can help the driver to avoid an accident or
R reduces the effects of an accident
Vehicles without Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC: the autonomous braking function
is available in the following speed ranges:
R 4 - 65 mph (7 - 105 km/h) for moving objects
R 4 - 31 mph (7 - 50 km/h) for stationary
objects 60
Driving safety systemsSafety
ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 58).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction, i.e.
power transmission between the tires and the
road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating from
the direction desired by the driver, one or more
wheels are braked to stabilize the vehicle. The
engine output is also modified to keep the vehi- cle on the desired course within physical limits.
ESP ®
assists the driver when pulling away on
wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize
the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 58).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 58). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv- ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
ESP ®
is only deactivated if the 00BBwarning
lamp is lit continuously.
When SPORT handling mode is activated, the
0074 warning lamp lights up in the instrument
panel. When the
00BBand0089 warning lamps light up
continuously, ESP ®
is not available due to a mal-
function.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 201) and display messages which may
be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 175).
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Characteristics of ESP ® General information
If the 00E5 ESP®
warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the 00E5ESP®
warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt 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. Exam-
ple: if ESP ®
was deactivated before the engine
was switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated
when the engine is switched on again.
Deactivating/activating ESP ® Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 58).
You can select between the following states of
ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated
R SPORT handling mode is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated 62
Driving safety systemsSafety
G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit- uations described in the following.
In the following situations, it may be better to
activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on specially designated roads when the vehi-
cle's own oversteering and understeering
characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and expe-
rienced driver.
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 ® X
To activate SPORT handling mode: briefly
press button 0043.
The 0074 handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The SPORT SPORThan‐
han‐
dling mode
dling mode message appears on the multi-
function display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button
0043.
The 0074 handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. ESP ®
is activa-
ted
X To deactivate ESP ®
:press button 0043.
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The 00E5OFF OFF
message appears on the multifunction dis-
play.
X To activate ESP ®
:when SPORT handling
mode is activated or ESP ®
is deactivated,
press button 0043.
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. The 00E5ON ON
message appears on the multifunction dis-
play.
Characteristics of activated SPORT han-
dling mode
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one or more wheels start to spin, the 00E5ESP®
warn-
ing lamp in the instrument cluster flashes. ESP ®
only stabilizes the vehicle to a limited degree.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a limi-
ted degree
R traction control is still activated
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut for better traction on loose surfaces.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the 00E5ESP®
warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin Driving safety systems
63Safety Z
SmartKey
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R Start 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. G
WARNING
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: R with electronic devices, e.g. a mobile phone
or another SmartKey
R with metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal foil
R inside metallic objects, e.g. a metal case
This can affect the functionality of the Smart-
Key. Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO start function:
do
not keep the SmartKey in the trunk. Otherwise, the SmartKey may not be detected, e.g. when
starting the engine using the Start/Stop button.
A brief radio connection between the vehicle
and the SmartKey determines whether a valid
SmartKey is in, or in the direct vicinity of, the
vehicle.
This occurs, for example:
R when starting the engine
R while driving
R when using the trunk lid unlocking sensor
R when the external door handles are touched
R during convenience closing SmartKey functions
0043
0037 Locks the vehicle
0044 0054 Opens the trunk lid
0087 0036 Unlocks the vehicle
X To unlock centrally: press the0036button.
If you do not open the vehicle within approx-
imately 40 seconds of unlocking:
R the vehicle is locked again
R the anti-theft alarm system is armed again.
X To lock centrally: press the0037button.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks the
doors, the glove box and the fuel filler flap.
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 via the
multimedia system; see the Digital Operator's
Manual.
When the locator lighting is activated via the
multimedia system, it lights up when it is dark 66
SmartKeyOpening and closing
after the vehicle is unlocked with the SmartKey.
Information on activating and deactivating the
locator lighting can be found in the Digital Oper-
ator's Manual.
X To open the trunk lid: press and hold the
0054 button until the trunk lid opens. KEYLESS-GO
General notes Bear in mind that the engine can be started by
any of the vehicle occupants if there is a Smart-
Key in the vehicle (Y page 112).
Locking/unlocking centrally You can start, lock or unlock the vehicle using
KEYLESS-GO. To do this, you only need carry the
SmartKey with you. You can combine the func-
tions of KEYLESS-GO with those of a conven-
tional SmartKey. Unlock the vehicle by using
KEYLESS-GO, for instance, and lock it using the 0037 button on the SmartKey.
The driver's door and the door at which the han- dle is used, must both be closed. The SmartKey
must be outside the vehicle. When locking or
unlocking with KEYLESS-GO, the distance
between the SmartKey and the corresponding
door handle must not be greater than 3 ft (1 m).
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:
R when starting the engine
R while driving
R when using the remote trunk lid opening sen-
sor
R when the external door handles are touched
R during convenience closing X
To unlock the vehicle: touch the inner sur-
face of the door handle.
X To lock the vehicle: touch sensor surface 0043
or 0044.
Make sure that you do not touch the inner
surface of the door handle.
X Convenience closing feature: touch
recessed sensor surface 0044for an extended
period.
Further information on the convenience clos-
ing feature (Y page 78).
Deactivating and activating If you do not intend to use the vehicle for a lon-
ger period of time, you can deactivate KEYLESS-
GO. The SmartKey will then use very little power, thereby conserving battery power. For the pur-
poses of activation/deactivation, the vehicle
must not be nearby.
X To deactivate: press the0037button on the
SmartKey twice in rapid succession.
The indicator light on the SmartKey flashes
twice briefly then one long flash, then KEY-
LESS-GO is deactivated (Y page 69).
X To activate: press any button on the Smart-
Key.
or X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
KEYLESS-GO and all of its associated features
are available again. KEYLESS-GO start function
Bear in mind that the engine can be started by
any of the vehicle occupants if there is a Smart- Key in the vehicle (Y page 112). SmartKey
67Opening and closing Z
H
Environmental note Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately
and 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 SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. National guide-
lines must be observed during disposal. In Cal-
ifornia, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the
batteries replaced at a qualified specialist work- shop.
Checking the battery X
Press the 0037or0036 button.
The battery is working properly if battery
check lamp 0043lights up briefly.
The battery is discharged if battery check
lamp 0043does not light up briefly.
X Change the battery (Y page 69). If the SmartKey battery is checked within the
signal reception range of the vehicle, pressing
the 0037 or0036 button:
R locks or
R unlocks the vehicle
i You can get a battery at any qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Replacing the battery You require a CR 2025 3 V cell battery.
X Take the mechanical key out of the SmartKey
(Y page 68). X
Press mechanical key 0044into the SmartKey
opening in the direction of the arrow until bat- tery compartment cover 0043opens. Do not
hold battery compartment cover 0043closed
while doing so.
X Remove battery compartment cover 0043. X
Repeatedly tap the SmartKey against your
palm until battery 0087falls out.
X Insert the new battery with the positive ter-
minal facing upwards. Use a lint-free cloth to
do so.
X Make sure that the surface of the battery is
free of lint, grease and other contaminants. SmartKey
69Opening and closing Z