2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS tow

ing interference that may cause undesiredoperation of the device."
Diagnostics connection
The diagnostics connection is used for con-necting diagnostic equipment at a qualifiedspecialist workshop.
GWARNING
If you connect equipment to a diagnostics
connection in the vehicle, it may affect the
operation of vehicle systems. As a result,
the operating safety of the vehicle could be
affected. There is a risk of an accident.
Only connect equipment to a diagnostics
connection in the vehicle, which is approved
for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.
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 foot-
well. 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.
!If the engine is switched off and equip-ment on the diagnostics connection is used,the starter battery may discharge.
Connecting equipment to the diagnostics con-nection can lead to emissions monitoringinformation being reset, for example. This maylead to the vehicle failing to meet the require-ments of the next emissions test during themain inspection.
Qualified specialist workshop
An authorized Mercedes-Benz Center is aqualified specialist workshop. It has the neces-sary specialist knowledge, tools and qualifica-tions to correctly carry out the work required
on your vehicle. This is especially the case forwork relevant to safety.
Observe the notes in the Maintenance Book-let.
Always have the following work carried out atan authorized Mercedes-Benz Center:
Rwork relevant to safety
Rservice and maintenance work
Rrepair work
Ralterations, installation work and modifica-tions
Rwork on electronic components
Correct use
If you remove any warning stickers, you or oth-ers could fail to recognize certain dangers.Leave warning stickers in position.
Observe the following information when driv-ing your vehicle:
Rthe safety notes in this manual
Rtechnical data for the vehicle
Rtraffic rules and regulations
Rlaws and safety standards pertaining tomotor vehicles
Information about the REACH decree
The REACH regulation (Regulation (EC) no.1907/2006, Article 33) lays down an informa-tion obligation for substances of very high con-cern (SVHC).
Daimler AG acts in good faith to avoid usingthese SVHCs and to allow the customer tohandle these substances safely. In accordancewith supplier information and internal productinformation from Daimler AG, SVHCs thataccount for more than 0.1 percent by weightof individual products in this vehicle areknown.
More detailed information can be found at thefollowing addresses:
Rhttp://www.daimler.com/reach(Germanversion)
Rhttp://www.daimler.com/reach/en(English version)
28Operating safety
Introduction

Center console, lower section (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
FunctionPage
CStowage compartment250
Cup holder252
Ashtray254
DCOMAND controller

Center console, lower section (Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
FunctionPage
CStowage compartment250
Cup holder252
Ashtray254
DCOMAND controller

If a child younger than twelve years old andunder 5 ft (1.50m)in height is traveling in thevehicle:
Ralways secure the child in a child restraintsystem suitable for this Mercedes-Benzvehicle. The child restraint system must beappropriate to the age, weight and size ofthe child.
Ralways observe the instructions and safetynotes on "Children in the vehicle"(Ypage 57) in addition to the childrestraint system manufacturer's installationand operating instructions
Ralways observe the instructions and safetynotes on the "Occupant Classification Sys-tem (OCS)" (Ypage 48)
GWARNING
The seat belts may not perform their inten-
ded protective function if:
Rthey are damaged, modified, extremely
dirty, bleached or dyed
Rthe seat belt buckle is damaged or
extremely dirty
Rthe Emergency Tensioning Devices, belt
anchorages or inertia reels have been
modified.
Seat belts may be damaged in an accident,
although the damage may not be visible, e.g.
due to splinters of glass. Modified or dam-
aged seat belts may tear or fail, e.g. in an
accident. Modified Emergency Tensioning
Devices could accidentally trigger or fail to
deploy when necessary. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Never modify the seat belts, Emergency Ten-
sioning Devices, belt anchorages and inertia
reels. Make sure that the seat belts are
undamaged, not worn out and clean. Follow-
ing an accident, have the seat belts checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Only use seat belts that have been approvedfor your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.
Proper use of the seat belts
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt(Ypage 42).
Every vehicle occupant must observe the fol-lowing notes to ensure a properly worn seatbelt can provide full protection. Also makesure that all vehicle occupants are alwayswearing the seat belt correctly while the vehi-cle is in motion.
When fastening the seat belt, always makesure that:
Rthe seat belt buckle tongue is inserted onlyinto the belt buckle belonging to that seat
Rthe seat belt is pulled tight across your body
Avoid wearing bulky clothing, e.g. a wintercoat.
Rthe seat belt is not twisted
Only then can the forces which occur be dis-tributed over the area of the belt.
Rthe shoulder section of the belt is routedacross the center of your shoulder
The shoulder section of the seat belt shouldnot touch your neck or be routed under yourarm or behind your back.
Rthe lap belt is taut and passes across yourlap as low down as possible
The lap belt must always be routed acrossyour hip joints and not across your abdo-men. This applies particularly to pregnantwomen. If necessary, push the lap belt downto your hip joint and pull it tight using theshoulder section of the belt.
Rthe seat belt is not routed across sharp,pointed or fragile objects
If you have such items located on or in yourclothing, e.g. pens, keys or eyeglasses,store these in a suitable place.
Ronly one person is using a seat belt
Infants and children must never travel sit-ting on the lap of a vehicle occupant. In theevent of an accident, they could be crushedbetween the vehicle occupant and seat belt.
Robjects are never secured with a seat belt ifthe seat belt is also being used by one ofthe vehicle's occupants
Also ensure that there are never objectsbetween a person and the seat, e.g. cush-ions.
Seat belts are only intended to secure andrestrain vehicle occupants. Always observe thenotes in the "Stowage options/compartments"
Occupant safety43
Safety
Z

ProblemPossible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamplights up and remainslit, even though thefront-passenger seat isoccupied by an adult ora person of a staturecorresponding to that ofan adult.
The classification of the person on the front-passenger seat is incor-rect.
XMake sure the conditions for a correct classification of the per-son on the front-passenger seat are met (Ypage 48).
XIf the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains lit, thefront-passenger seat may not be used.
XHave OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorizedMercedes-Benz Center.
The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lampdoes not light upand/or does not stayon.
The front-passengerseat is:
Runoccupied
Roccupied by theweight of a child upto twelve months oldin a child restraintsystem
OCS is malfunctioning.
XMake sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and thechild seat.
XMake sure that the entire base of the child restraint system restson the seat cushion of the front-passenger seat. The backrest ofthe forward-facing child restraint system must lie as flat as possi-ble against the backrest of the front passenger seat. If necessary,adjust the position of the front-passenger seat.
XMake sure that the seat cushion length is fully retracted.
XWhen installing the child restraint system, make sure that theseat belt is tight. Do not pull the seat belt tight using the front-passenger seat adjustment. This could result in the seat belt andthe child restraint system being pulled too tightly.
XCheck for correct installation of the child restraint system.
Make sure that the head restraint does not apply a load to thechild restraint system. If necessary, adjust the head restraintaccordingly.
XMake sure that no objects are applying additional weight onto theseat.
XIf the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains offand/or the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp lights up, donot install a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat.
XHave OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorizedMercedes-Benz Center.
Roll bar
GDANGER
If the roll bar has developed a malfunction, it
may not function, e.g. in the event of an
accident. The roll bars may then not protect
the vehicle occupants as intended. This
poses an increased risk of injury or even
fatal injury.
Have roll bars checked immediately at a
qualified specialist workshop.
GWARNING
If you place objects or clothing on the roll
bar covers, these could impair roll bar exten-
sion. The roll bars may then not protect the
vehicle occupants as intended. In addition,
objects could endanger the vehicle occu-
pants when the roll bar is extending. This
poses an increased risk of injury or even
fatal injury.
Ensure that the movement area of the roll
bar covers is kept clear. Always stow all
objects in the vehicle correctly.
52Occupant safety
Safety

The roll bars are located in the rear area of thevehicle under the two outer rear compartmenttrim covers.
They extend if systems detect that the vehicleis in danger of rollover. The two outer rearcompartment trim covers are opened and theroll bars are extended within fractions of asecond.
Once the roll bars are extended, you can nolonger lower them. An open roof can no longerbe closed. In this case, visit the nearest quali-fied specialist workshop.
Deployment of Emergency Tension-
ing Devices and air bags
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The air bag parts are hot after an air bag has
been deployed. There is a risk of injury.
Do not touch the air bag parts. Have a
deployed air bag replaced at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop as soon as possible.
GWARNING
A deployed air bag no longer offers any pro-
tection and cannot provide the intended pro-
tection in an accident. There is an increased
risk of injury.
Have the vehicle towed to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop in order to have a deployed
air bag replaced.
For your own safety and that of your frontpassenger, it is important that you havedeployed air bags replaced and defective airbags repaired. This will help to make sure the
air bags continue to perform their protectivefunction for the vehicle occupants in the eventof a crash.
GWARNING
Emergency Tensioning Devices that have
deployed pyrotechnically are no longer
operational and are unable to perform their
intended protective function. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Have pyrotechnically triggered Emergency
Tensioning Devices replaced immediately at
a qualified specialist workshop.
An electric motor is used by PRE-SAFE®totrigger the tightening of the seat belt in haz-ardous situations. This procedure is reversible.
If Emergency Tensioning Devices are triggeredor air bags are deployed, you will hear a bang,and some powder may also be released. Theurestraint system warning lamp lights up.
Only in rare cases will the bang affect yourhearing. The powder that is released generallydoes not constitute a health hazard, but it maycause short-term breathing difficulties in peo-ple with asthma or other respiratory problems.Provided it is safe to do so, you should leavethe vehicle immediately or open the window inorder to prevent breathing difficulties.
Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency Tension-ing Devices (ETDs) contain perchlorate mate-rial, which may require special handling andregard for the environment. National guide-lines must be observed during disposal. In Cal-ifornia, seewww.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm.
Method of operation
During the first stage of a collision, therestraint system control unit evaluates impor-tant physical data relating to vehicle decelera-tion or acceleration, such as:
Rduration
Rdirection
Rintensity
Based on the evaluation of this data, therestraint system control unit triggers the Emer-gency Tensioning Devices during a head-on orrear-end collision.
Occupant safety53
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

the vehicle on the desired course within physi-
cal limits. ESP®assists the driver when pulling
away on wet or slippery roads. ESP®can alsostabilize the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System)
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-tion (Ypage 60).
ETS traction control is part of ESP®.
ETS brakes the drive wheels individually if theyspin. This enables you to pull away and accel-erate on slippery surfaces, for example if theroad surface is slippery on one side. In addi-tion, more drive torque is transferred to thewheel or wheels with traction.
ETS remains active when you deactivate ESP®.
iMercedes-AMG vehicles:your vehiclemay be equipped with 20-inch tires on therear axle. After changing to 19 inch wheels,ETS may intervene noticeably earlier duringthe first few kilometers. After approximately10 km ETS will function as usual again.Information on the dimensions and types ofwheels and tires for your vehicle can befound in the "Wheel/tire combinations" sec-tion (Ypage 318).
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If ESP®is malfunctioning it will not provide
any vehicle stabilization. There is an
increased risk of skidding or of an accident.
Exercise caution when continuing to drive.
Have ESP®checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
When towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised, observe the notes on ESP®
(Ypage 290).
If the