Fastening and adjusting seat belts
Observe the safety notes on seat belts
(Y page
48) and the notes on the correct use
of the seat belt (Y page 49). Basic diagram
X Adjust the seat (Y page
87).
The seat backrest must be in an almost ver-
tical position.
X Pull the seat belt out smoothly from the belt
outlet and engage belt tongue ; into belt
buckle :.
The shoulder section of the belt must
always be routed across the center of the
shoulder. If necessary, adjust the belt out-
let.
X If necessary, pull upwards on the seat belt
in front of your chest so that the belt sits
tightly across your body.
The shoulder section of the belt must always
be routed across the center of the shoulder. If
necessary, adjust the belt outlet. X To raise: slide the belt outlet upwards.
The belt outlet engages in a number of dif-
ferent positions.
X To lower: slide the belt outlet downwards
while pressing belt outlet release =.
X Let go of belt outlet release = in the
desired position and make sure that the belt
outlet engages.
All seat belts in the vehicle, with the exception
of the driver's seat belt, are equipped with a
child seat lock, to which a child restraint sys-
tem can be secured safely. You can find fur-
ther information under "Child seat lock"
(Y page
61). Releasing seat belts !
Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled
up. Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue
will be trapped in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This could damage the door,
the door trim panel and the seat belt. Dam-
aged seat belts can no longer fulfill their
protective function and must be replaced.
Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
X Press the release button in the belt buckle,
hold the belt tongue firmly and guide the
belt back.
Belt warning for drivers and co-drivers The 7 seat belt warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster is a reminder that all vehicle
occupants must wear their seat belts cor-
rectly. It may light up continuously or flash. In
addition, there may be a warning tone.
Regardless of whether the driver's seat belt
has already been fastened, the 7 seat belt
warning lamp lights up for six seconds each
time the engine is started. If the front doors
are closed and the driver's or front-passenger
seat belt has not been fastened, the 7 seat
belt warning lamp lights up again after the six
seconds. As soon as the driver's and front-
passenger seat belts are fastened or a front
door is opened again, the 7 seat belt warn-
ing lamp goes out.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened when
the engine is started, an additional warning
tone will sound. This warning tone stops after
a maximum of six seconds or once the driver's
seat belt is fastened.
If the vehicle's speed exceeds
15 mph
(25 km/h) once and the driver's and front-
passenger seat belts are not fastened, a warn-
ing tone sounds. A warning tone also sounds
with increasing intensity for 60 seconds or
until the driver or front passenger have fas-
tened their seat belts.
If the driver or front passenger unfasten their
seat belts during the journey, the seat belt
warning is activated again. 50
Occupant safety
Safety
ation is not high. Conversely, air bags may be
deployed even though the vehicle suffers only
minor deformation. This is the case if, for
example, very rigid vehicle parts such as longi-
tudinal body members are hit, and sufficient
deceleration occurs as a result.
If the restraint system control unit detects a
side impact or if the vehicle rolls over, the
applicable components of the restraint system
are deployed independently of each other
depending on the apparent type of accident.
R Side impact air bag and pelvis air bag on the
side on which an impact occurs, independ-
ent from the Emergency Tensioning Device
and seat belt usage
The side impact air bag on the front
passenger side deploys under the following
conditions:
- the OCS system detects that the front
passenger seat is occupied or
- the seat belt buckle tongue is engaged in
the belt buckle of the front passenger
seat
R Window curtain air bag on the side of
impact, independently of the use of the seat
belt and independently of whether the front-
passenger seat is occupied
R Emergency Tensioning Devices, if the sys-
tem determines that deployment can offer
additional protection in this situation
R Window curtain air bags on the driver's and
front-passenger side in certain situations
when the vehicle rolls over, if the system
determines that deployment can offer addi-
tional protection to that provided by the
seat belt
i Not all air bags are deployed in an acci-
dent. The various air bags work independ-
ently of each other.
How the air bag works is determined by the
severity of the accident detected, especially
the vehicle deceleration or acceleration and
the apparent type of accident:
R Head-on collision
R Side impact
R Rollover 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 in the interior is acti-
vated
R the vehicle doors are unlocked
R the front side windows are lowered
R air-recirculation mode is activated
R climate control is switched off
R the engine is switched off and the fuel sup-
ply is cut off Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
Accident statistics show that children secured
on the rear seats are safer than children
secured on the front seats. For this reason,
Mercedes-Benz strongly advises that you fit
the child restraint system to a rear seat. The
child is generally better protected there.
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 always observe the instructions and safety
notes in this section in addition to the child
restraint system manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
R always observe the instructions and safety
notes on the "Occupant Classification Sys-
tem (OCS)" ( Y page 54). G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could, in particular:
R open doors, thereby endangering other
persons or road users.
R get out and be struck by oncoming traffic.
R operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example.60
Children in the vehicle
Safety
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General notes ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
The ò warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter lights up when the ignition is switched on.
The lamp goes out when the engine starts run-
ning.
Important safety notes Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (
Y page
66).
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h), regardless of road-surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently. 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
skidding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, the ò warning
lamp
(Y page 230) lights up while the engine
is running and the display shows a message:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 196)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 210)
BAS, Hill Start Assist and ESP ®
and its driving
safety systems and other driving systems also
fail. Observe the notes on the ò warning
lamp and the display messages.
Braking If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsating 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. X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over.
X To make a full brake application: depress
the brake pedal with full force. BAS (Brake Assist System)
General notes 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 Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system
(Y page 66). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking dis-
tance 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.
If BAS is malfunctioning, the ÷ warning
lamp lights up while the engine is running
(Y page
230) and the display shows a mes-
sage:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 200)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 214)
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. Driving safety systems
67
Safety Z
EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General notes EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
to the rear wheels. This enables EBD to
improve handling during braking.
Important safety notes Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system
(Y page 66).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 characteris-
tics. Have the brake system checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If EBD is malfunctioning, the $ warning
lamp
(Y page 229) lights up while the engine
is running and the display shows a message:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 199)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 213)
Other driving systems and driving safety sys-
tems then also fail. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes ESP
®
monitors driving stability and detects a
tendency of the vehicle to understeer or over-
steer (skidding) in good time. 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 out-
put is also modified to keep the vehicle on the
desired course within physical limits. ESP ®
can
also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ESP ®
also monitors traction, i.e. power trans-
mission between the tires and the road sur-
face. The integrated traction control supports
you when pulling away or accelerating on wet,
slippery or slick roads. Should the drive
wheels spin, traction control brakes them indi- vidually. In addition, greater drive torque is
transmitted to the wheel or wheels with trac-
tion. If traction on the road surface is not suffi-
cient, even ESP
®
will not allow you to pull
away without difficulty. The type of tires and
total weight of the vehicle as well as the gradi-
ent of the road also play a crucial role. Trac-
tion control remains active if you deactivate
ESP ®
.
If the h warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out before beginning the journey,
ESP ®
is automatically active.
The h warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter flashes when ESP ®
intervenes:
X do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X when driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
X adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Important safety notes Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (
Y page
66). G
WARNING
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.
! Do not run the vehicle on a roller dyna-
mometer (e.g. for performance tests). If you
must operate the vehicle on a roller dyna-
mometer, please consult a qualified special-
ist workshop in advance. You could other-
wise damage the drive train or the brake
system.
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, the h warning
lamp
(Y page 230) lights up continuously
while the engine is running and the display
shows a message.
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 200)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 214) 68
Driving safety systems
Safety
ESP
®
is deactivated if the å warning lamp
in the instrument cluster is lit when the engine
is running.
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Deactivating or activating ESP ®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
described in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations descri-
bed above no longer apply. Otherwise, ESP ®
assistance for stabilizing the vehicle will
remain significantly reduced, even if the vehi-
cle starts to skid.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R the å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up
R the ÷ warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes if the wheels are spinning
R ESP ®
assistance for stabilizing the vehicle in
the lower speed range up to approximately
37 mph (60 km/h
) is significantly reduced
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin. The spinning
of the wheels results in a cutting action for
better traction on loose surfaces
R traction control is still activated
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
Depending on the equipment in the vehicle,
you can activate or deactivate ESP ®
when the
engine is running by using the å button or
by using the on-board computer:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 179)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 190) å button (equipment-dependent)
X To activate/deactivate: when the engine
is running, press the å button.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when ESP ®
is deactivated.
Trailer stabilization Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (
Y page
66). G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not be able to pre-
vent the vehicle/trailer combination from
swerving. Trailers with a high center of grav-
ity can tip over before ESP ®
can detect this.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
ESP ®
trailer stabilization counteracts critical
driving situations in good time and thereby
provides considerable assistance when driving
with a trailer. Trailer stabilization is part of
ESP ®
.
If the sensor system and evaluation logic
detect trailer swinging movements, ESP ®
trailer stabilization firstly brakes individual
vehicle wheels in a targeted manner. It thus
counteracts swinging movements. If the
swinging movements do not stop, the vehicle
is braked until the vehicle/trailer combination
is stabilized. If necessary, the vehicle's engine
output is limited.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer com-
bination) starts to swerve, you will be able to
stabilize the vehicle/trailer combination only
by braking. ESP ®
trailer stabilization helps you Driving safety systems
69
Safety Z
to stabilize the vehicle/trailer combination in
this situation.
ESP
®
trailer stabilization is activated above
speeds of about
40 mph (65 km/h).
If ESP ®
is switched off or deactivated because
of a malfunction, the trailer stabilization sys-
tem will not function.
Crosswind Assist Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (Y page
66).
Strong crosswind gusts can impair the road-
holding of your vehicle when driving straight
ahead. The Crosswind Assist function integra-
ted in ESP ®
reduces these impairments.
Depending on the direction and intensity of
the side wind, Crosswind Assist intervenes
automatically. ESP ®
intervenes with stabilizing
braking to assist you in keeping the vehicle in
the lane. When Crosswind Assist intervenes,
the display shows the traffic sign for strong
side winds and the Crosswind Assist mes-
sage.
Crosswind Assist is activated automatically
above a vehicle speed of approx. 50 mph
(80 km/h) when the vehicle is driving straight
ahead or cornering gently.
Crosswind Assist does not react in the follow-
ing situations:
R in the event of severe jolts and vibrations,
e.g. when driving over uneven surfaces or
potholes
R when road adhesion is reduced, e.g. on
snow or ice or when hydroplaning
Crosswind Assist does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a malfunc-
tion. Theft deterrent locking system
Immobilizer
X To activate: remove the key from the igni-
tion lock.
X To deactivate: turn the key to position 2 in
the ignition lock.
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
Always take the key with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving the vehicle. If you leave the key in the vehicle, anyone can start the
engine.
i The immobilizer is always deactivated
when you start the engine. ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
X
To arm: lock the vehicle with the key.
Indicator lamp : in the overhead control
panel flashes.
X To disarm: unlock the vehicle with the key.
or
X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
If the alarm system is armed, a visual and
audible alarm is triggered when the following
are opened:
R a door
R the vehicle with the mechanical key
R the tailgate/rear door
R the hood
X To stop the alarm: press the % or &
button on the key.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
The alarm stops.
The alarm is not switched off, even if you close
the open door that triggered it, for example. 70
Theft deterrent locking system
Safety
Useful information
This Operator's Manual describes all models
as well as standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle that were available at the time of
going to print. Country-specific variations are
possible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the described functions.
This also applies to systems and functions rel-
evant to safety.
Read the information on qualified specialist
workshops (Y page
32).Key
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, 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 shift 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 igni-
tion lock.
! Keep the key away from strong magnetic
fields. The remote control function may oth-
erwise be damaged.
Strong magnetic fields can occur in the
vicinity of powerful electrical installations.
Do not keep the key:
R with electronic devices, e.g. a mobile phone
or another key
R with metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal foil
R in metallic objects, e.g. metal cases
This can affect the key's functionality. Key functions
:
Battery check lamp
; & To lock the vehicle centrally
= 5 To unlock the sliding doors and the
tailgate or rear-end door or to unlock and
open or close the electric sliding door
? Mechanical key
A % To unlock the vehicle centrally or
unlock the front door(s) only
The vehicle's equipment includes two keys.
There is a mechanical key in each key.
The key can be used to unlock the vehicle
from some distance. To prevent theft, only use
the key in the immediate vicinity of the vehi-
cle.
Change the batteries immediately if battery
check lamp : does not light up briefly with
every press of a button (Y page
73).
X To unlock centrally: press the % but-
ton.
The turn signals flash once. Key
71
Opening and closing Z
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsIt is no longer possible
to lock or unlock the
vehicle using the Smart-
Key. The SmartKey battery is weak or discharged.
X Point the tip of the SmartKey at the driver's door handle from
very close range and press the % or & button.
If this does not work:
X Replace the SmartKey battery ( Y page 73).
or
X Lock or unlock the vehicle using the mechanical key ( Y page
73).The SmartKey is faulty.
X Lock the vehicle with the mechanical key (Y page
73).
X Have the SmartKey checked at a qualified specialist workshop. The engine cannot be
started using the Smart-
Key. The on-board voltage is too low.
X Switch off all non-essential consumers, such as interior lighting,
and try to start the engine again.
If this does not work:
X Check the starter battery and charge it if necessary
(Y page
262).
or
X Jump-start the vehicle ( Y page
272).
or
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. You have lost a Smart-
Key. X
Have the SmartKey deactivated at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
X Report the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
X If necessary, have the mechanical locks replaced. You have lost the
mechanical key. X
Report the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
X If necessary, have the mechanical locks replaced. Central locking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could, in particular:
R open doors, thereby endangering other
persons or road users.
R get out and be struck by oncoming traffic.
R operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example. In addition, children could set the vehicle in
motion, for example, if they:
R release the parking brake.
R change the transmission position.
R start the vehicle.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Keep the SmartKey out of the reach of chil-
dren. Central locking
75
Opening and closing Z