2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS ECU

passenger front air bag both before and duringthe journey.
GWARNING
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is lit, the front-passenger front air bag
is disabled. It will not be deployed in the
event of an accident and cannot perform its
intended protective function. A person in the
front-passenger seat could then, for exam-
ple, come into contact with the vehicle's
interior, especially if the person is sitting too
close to the dashboard. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
When the front-passenger seat is occupied,
always ensure that:
Rthe classification of the person in the
front-passenger seat is correct and the
front-passenger front air bag is enabled or
disabled in accordance with the person in
the front-passenger seat
Rthe front-passenger seat has been moved
back as far back as possible.
Rthe person is seated correctly.
Make sure, both before and during the jour-
ney, that the status of the front-passenger
front air bag is correct.
GWARNING
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 air bag can deploy in the
event of an accident. The child could be
struck by the air bag. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Make sure that the front-passenger front air
bag has been deactivated. The PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit.
NEVER use a rearward-facing child restraint
on a seat protected by an ACTIVE FRONT
AIRBAG in front of it; DEATH or SERIOUS
INJURY to the child can occur.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lampstays off, do not install a rearward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat.You can find more information on OCS under"Problems with the Occupant ClassificationSystem" (Ypage 51).
GWARNING
If you secure a child in a forward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat
and you position the front-passenger seat
too close to the dashboard, in the event of
an accident, the child could:
Rcome into contact with the vehicle's inte-
rior if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indi-
cator lamp is lit, for example
Rbe struck by the air bag if the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
is off
This poses an increased risk of injury or
even fatal injury.
Always move the front-passenger seat as far
back as possible and fully retract the seat
cushion length. Always make sure that the
shoulder belt strap is correctly routed from
the vehicle seat belt guide to the shoulder
belt guide on the child restraint system. The
shoulder belt strap must be routed forwards
and downwards from the seat belt guide.
Always observe the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation instructions.
If OCS determines that:
RThe front-passenger seat is unoccupied, thePASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamplights up after the self-test and remains lit.This indicates that the front-passenger frontair bag is deactivated.
RThe front-passenger seat is occupied by achild of up to twelve months old, in a stand-ard child restraint system, the PASSENGERAIR BAG OFF indicator lamp lights up afterthe self-test and remains lit. This indicatesthat the front-passenger front air bag isdeactivated.
But even in the case of a twelve-month-oldchild, in a standard child restraint system,the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicatorlamp can go out after the self-test. This indi-cates that the front-passenger front air bagis activated. The result of the classificationis dependent on, among other factors, the
Occupant safety49
Safety
Z

Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
If a child younger than twelve years old andunder 5 ft (1.50 m) in height is traveling in thevehicle:
Ralways secure the child in a child restraintsystem suitable for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.The child restraint system must be appropri-ate to the age, weight and size of the child.
Rbe sure to observe the instructions andsafety notes in this section in addition to thechild restraint system manufacturer's instal-lation instructions.
Ralways observe the instructions and safetynotes on the "Occupant classification sys-tem (OCS)". (Ypage 48)
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of
the parking positionP.
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 persons, particularly children are subjec-
ted 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 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.
Protect it with a blanket, for example. If the
child restraint system has been exposed to
direct sunlight, let it cool down before secur-
ing the child in it. Never leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle.
Always ensure that all vehicle occupants havetheir seat belts fastened correctly and are sit-ting properly. Particular attention must be paidto children.
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt(Ypage 42) and the notes on correct use ofseat belts (Ypage 43).
A booster seat may be necessary to achieveproper seat belt positioning for children over40 lbs(18 kg)until they reach a height wherea three-point seat belt can be properly fas-tened without a booster seat.
Special seatbelt retractor
GWARNING
If the seat belt is released while driving, the
child restraint system will no longer be
secured properly. The special seat belt
retractor is disabled and the inertia real
draws in a portion of the seat belt. The seat
belt cannot be immediately refastened.
There is an increased risk of injury, possibly
even fatal.
Stop the vehicle immediately, paying atten-
tion to road and traffic conditions. Reacti-
vate the special seat belt retractor and
secure the child restraint system properly.
The seat belt on the front-passenger's side isequipped with a special seat belt retractor.When activated, the special seat belt retractorensures that the seat belt cannot slacken oncethe child seat is secured.
Children in the vehicle57
Safety
Z

Installing a child restraint system:
XMake sure you observe the child restraintsystem manufacturer's installation instruc-tions.
XPull the seat belt smoothly out of the seatbelt guide.
XEngage seat belt tongue in belt buckle.
Activating the special seat belt retractor:
XPull the seat belt out fully and let the inertiareel retract it again.While the seat belt is retracting, you shouldhear a ratcheting sound. The special seatbelt retractor is enabled.
XPush the child restraint system down so thatthe seat belt is tight and does not loosen.
Removing the child restraint system and deac-tivating the special seat belt retractor:
XMake sure you observe the child restraintsystem manufacturer's installation instruc-tions.
XPress the release button of the seat beltbuckle and route the seat belt tongue backtowards the seat belt guide.The special seat belt retractor is deactiva-ted.
child restraint system
The use of seat belts and child restraint sys-tems is required by law in:
Rall 50 states
Rthe U.S. territories
Rthe District of Columbia
Rall Canadian provinces
You can obtain further information about thecorrect child restraint system from any author-ized Mercedes-Benz Center.
GWARNING
If the child restraint system is installed
incorrectly on a suitable seat, it cannot pro-
tect as intended. The child cannot then be
restrained in the event of an accident, heavy
braking or sudden changes of direction.
There is an increased risk of injury, possibly
even fatal.
Make sure that you observe the child
restraint system manufacturer's installation
instructions and the notes on use. Please
ensure, that the base of the child restraint
system is always resting completely on the
seat cushion. Never place objects, e.g. cush-
ions, under or behind the child restraint sys-
tem. Only use child restraint systems with
the original cover designed for them. Only
replace damaged covers with genuine cov-
ers.
GWARNING
If the child restraint system is installed
incorrectly 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, striking vehicle occupants. There is
an increased risk of injury, possibly even
fatal.
Always install child restraint systems prop-
erly, even if they are not being used. Make
sure that you observe the child restraint sys-
tem manufacturer's installation instructions.
Further information on stowing objects, lug-gage and loads securely can be found under“Stowing options/stowage compartments”(Ypage 249).
GWARNING
Child restraint systems or their securing sys-
tems which have been damaged or subjec-
ted to a load in an accident can no longer
protect as intended. The child cannot then
be restrained in the event of an accident,
heavy braking or sudden changes of direc-
tion. There is an increased risk of injury,
possibly even fatal.
Replace child restraint systems which have
been damaged or subjected to a load in an
accident as soon as possible. Have the
securing systems on the child restraint sys-
tem checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop, before you install a child restraint sys-
tem again.
The securing system of child restraint systemsis the seat belt system.
58Children in the vehicle
Safety

If you install a child restraint system on thefront passenger seat, be sure to observe theinstructions and safety notes on the "Occu-pant Classification System (OCS)" (Ypage 48).There you will also find information on disa-bling the front passenger front air bag.
All child restraint systems must meet the fol-lowing standards:
RU.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards213 and 225
RCanadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards213 and 210.2
Confirmation that the child restraint systemcorresponds to the standards can be found onan instruction label on the child restraint sys-tem. This confirmation can also be found inthe installation instructions that are includedwith the child restraint system.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-rior and on the child restraint system.
Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat
General notes
If you install a child restraint system on thefront-passenger seat, always observe theinstructions and safety notes on the "Occu-pant Classification System (OCS)" (Ypage 48).
You can thus avoid the risks that could ariseas a result of:
Ran incorrectly categorized person in thefront-passenger seat
Rdeactivating the front passenger front airbag unintentionally
Rthe unsuitable positioning of the childrestraint system, e.g. too close to the dash-board
Rearward-facing child restraint system
If circumstances require you to secure a childin a rearward-facing child restraint system onthe front-passenger seat, always make surethat the front passenger front air bag is deacti-vated. Only if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFFindicator lamp is lit continuously (Ypage 41),is the front passenger front air bag deactiva-ted.
Always observe the child restraint systemmanufacturer's installation and operatinginstructions.
Forward-facing child restraint system
If you secure a child in a forward-facing childrestraint system on the front-passenger seat,always move the front-passenger seat as farback as possible. Fully retract the seat cushionlength. The entire base of the child restraintsystem must always rest on the seat cushionof the front-passenger seat. The backrest ofthe child restraint system must lie as flat aspossible against the backrest of the front-passenger seat. The child restraint systemmust not touch the roof or be subjected to aload by the head restraint. Adjust the angle ofthe seat backrest and the head restraint posi-tion accordingly. Always make sure that theshoulder belt strap is correctly routed from thefront-passenger seat belt guide to the shoulderbelt guide on the child restraint system. Theshoulder belt strap must be routed forwardand down from the front-passenger seat beltguide. If necessary, adjust the front-passengerseat accordingly.
Always observe the child restraint systemmanufacturer's installation and operatinginstructions.
Pets in the vehicle
GWARNING
If you leave animals unsupervised or unse-
cured in the vehicle, they may press buttons
or switches, for instance.
In this way, animals may:
Ractivate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
Rswitch 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
maneuver, and thereby injure vehicle occu-
pants. There is a risk of accident and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle.
Pets in the vehicle59
Safety
Z

Always secure animals properly when driv-
ing, for instance with a suitable pet carrier.
Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information aboutthe following driving safety systems:
RABS (Anti-lockBrakingSystem)(Ypage 60)
RBAS (BrakeAssistSystem) (Ypage 61)
RBrake Assist with cross-traffic function(Ypage 61)
RActive Brake Assist (Ypage 63)
RAdaptive brake lights (Ypage 65)
RESP®(ElectronicStabilityProgram)(Ypage 65)
REBD (ElectronicBrake forceDistribution)(Ypage 69)
RADAPTIVE BRAKE (Ypage 70)
RActive Brake Assist with cross-traffic func-tion (Ypage 70)
RSTEER CONTROL (Ypage 72)
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if youare inattentive, the driving safety systems canneither reduce the risk of an accident noroverride the laws of physics. Driving safetysystems are merely aids designed to assistdriving.
You are responsible for maintaining the dis-tance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed,for braking in good time, and for staying inlane. Always adapt your driving style to suitthe prevailing road and weather conditions andmaintain a safe distance from the vehicle infront. Drive carefully.
The driving safety systems described onlywork as effectively as possible when there isadequate contact between the tires and theroad surface. Pay particular attention to theinformation regarding tires, recommendedminimum tire tread depths etc. in the "Wheelsand tires" section (Ypage 293).
In wintry driving conditions, always use wintertires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will the driving safetysystems described in this section work aseffectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General information
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a waythat the wheels do not lock when you brake.This allows you to continue steering the vehi-cle when braking.
The%ABS warning lamp in the instrumentcluster lights up when the ignition is switchedon. It goes out when the engine is running.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph(8 km/h), regardless of road-surface condi-tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, evenwhen you only brake gently.
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-tion (Ypage 60).
GWARNING
If ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels could
lock when braking. The steerability and
braking characteristics would be severely
affected. There is an increased danger of
skidding 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 alsobecome inoperative. Observe the informationon the ABS warning lamp (Ypage 236) anddisplay messages which may be shown in theinstrument cluster (Ypage 206).
Brakes
XIf ABS intervenes:continue to depress thebrake pedal vigorously until the braking sit-uation is over.
XTo make a full brake application:depressthe brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel apulsing in the brake pedal.
60Driving safety systems
Safety

Automatic locking feature
XTo deactivate:press and hold buttonCforabout five seconds until a tone sounds.
XTo activate:press and hold buttonDforabout five seconds until a tone sounds.
If you press one of the two buttons and do nothear a tone, the relevant setting has alreadybeen selected.
The vehicle is locked automatically when theignition is switched on and the wheels areturning.
You could therefore lock yourself out if:
Rthe vehicle is being pushed.
Rthe vehicle is being towed.
Rthe vehicle is on a roller dynamometer.
You can also switch the automatic lockingfunction on and off using the on-board com-puter (Ypage 201).
Power closing
Power closing pulls the doors and trunk lidinto their locks automatically even if they areonly partly closed.
XPower closing feature (doors):push thedoor past the first detent position into thelock.Power closing will pull the door fully closed.
XTo power close the trunk lid:lightly pushthe trunk lid closed.The power closing function pulls the trunklid closed.
Unlocking/locking the driver's door
using the mechanical key
iIf you want to centrally lock the vehicleusing the mechanical key, begin by pressingthe locking button for the interior lockingmechanism while the driver's door is open.Then lock the driver's door using themechanical key.
XTo unlock:turn the mechanical key coun-ter-clockwise as far as it will go to positionG.
XTo lock:turn the mechanical key clockwiseas far as it will go to positionG.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock andopen the driver's door, the anti-theft alarmsystem will be triggered. Switch off the alarm(Ypage 72).
Trunk
Important safety notes
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,
particularly in the event of sudden braking
or a sudden 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 trunk lid swings upwards whenopened. Therefore, make sure that there issufficient clearance above the trunk lid.
Trunk81
Opening and closing
Z

The seats can still be adjusted when there isno SmartKey in the ignition lock.
GWARNING
When you adjust a seat, you or other vehicle
occupants could become trapped, e.g. on
the seat guide rail. There is a risk of injury.
When adjusting a seat, make sure that no
one has any body parts in the sweep of the
seat.
GWARNING
If the driver's seat is not engaged, it could
move forwards as far as the next catch dur-
ing movement such as braking or abrupt
changes of direction. As a result, you would
be pushed against your seat belt by the
unsecured driver's seat.
This could cause you to lose control of the
vehicle. The seat belt cannot protect as
intended and could result in additional
injury.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Before every journey, make sure that the
driver's seat is fully engaged.
Observe the safety notes on "Air bags"(Ypage 45) and "Children in the vehicle"(Ypage 57).
GWARNING
If you adjust the seat height carelessly, you
or other vehicle occupants could be trapped
and thereby injured. Children in particular
could accidentally press the electrical seat
adjustment buttons and become trapped.
There is a risk of injury.
While moving the seats, make sure that your
hands or other body parts do not get under
the lever assembly of the seat adjustment
system.
GWARNING
If the head restraints are not installed or not
adjusted correctly, they cannot provide pro-
tection as intended. There is an increased
risk of injury in the head and neck area, e.g.
in the event of an accident or when braking.
Always drive with the head restraints instal-
led. Before driving off, make sure for every
vehicle occupant that the center of the head
restraint supports the back of the head at
about eye level.
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you
do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel and mirror and fasten your
seat belt before starting the engine.
!To prevent damage to the seats and theseat heating, observe the following notes:
RDo not spill liquids onto the seats. Dry theseats as soon as possible if liquid doesget spilled on the seats.
RIf the seat covers are damp or wet, do notswitch on the seat heating. Also, do notuse the seat heating to dry the seats.
RClean the seat covers as recommended;see the "Interior care" section.
RDo not transport heavy loads on theseats. Do not place pointed objects onthe seat cushions such as knives, nails ortools. Where possible, use the seats onlyfor carrying passengers.
RWhen operating the seat heating, do notcover the seats with insulating materials,e.g. blankets, coats, bags, protective cov-ers, child seats or booster seats.
RWhen the seat heating is switched on, theseat surface can be damaged as a resultof objects being placed on the seats, forexample, seat cushions, child seats andprotective covers not approved byMercedes-Benz.
!Make sure that there are no objects in thefootwell under or behind the seats whenmoving the seats back. There is a risk thatthe seats and/or the objects could be dam-aged.
iThe head restraints cannot be removed.
98Seats
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

If somebody becomes trapped:
Rpress one of the memory function posi-
tion buttons, or
Rmove the switch for steering wheel
adjustment in the opposite direction to
that in which the steering wheel is mov-
ing.
The adjustment process is stopped.
GWARNING
When the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature adjusts
the steering wheel and the driver's seat, you
and other vehicle occupants – particularly
children – could become trapped. There is a
risk of injury.
While the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is mak-
ing adjustments, make sure that no one has
any body parts in the sweep of the seat and
the steering wheel.
If somebody becomes trapped:
Rpress one of the memory function posi-
tion buttons, or
Rpress one of the memory function mem-
ory buttons, or
Rmove the switch for steering wheel
adjustment in the opposite direction to
that in which the steering wheel is moving
The adjustment process is stopped.
GWARNING
If you use openings in the bodywork or
detachable parts as steps, you could:
Rslip and/or fall
Rdamage the vehicle and cause yourself to
fall.
There is a risk of injury.
Always use secure climbing aids, e.g. a suit-
able ladder.
The EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature makes gettingin and out of your vehicle easier.
You can activate and deactivate the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature in the on-board computer(Ypage 201).
Position of the steering wheel when
the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is active
The steering wheel swings up when you:
Rremove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
Ropen the driver's door with KEYLESS-GO inposition1
Ropen the driver's door and the SmartKey isin position