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All child restraint systems must meet the fol-
lowing standards:
R U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 225
R Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 210.2
Confirmation that the child restraint system
corresponds to the standards can be found on
an instruction label on the child restraint sys-
tem. This confirmation can also be found in
the installation instructions that are included
with the child restraint system.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-
rior and on the child restraint. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat
securing system
G
WARNING
For LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint sys-
tems in which the child is secured using the
safety belt integrated in the child restraint
system, the maximum permissible weight of
the child and child restraint system together
is 73 lbs (33 kg
).
If the child and the child restraint system
together weigh more than 73 lbs (33 kg), the
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint system
with integrated safety belt no longer offers
sufficient protection. The LATCH-type (ISO-
FIX) child seat securing system may be over-
loaded, and the child may not be restrained
in an accident, for example. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
If the child and the child restraint system
together weigh more than 73 lbs (33 kg),
use only a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system in which the child is also
secured with the vehicle seat belt. Also
secure the child restraint system with the
Top Tether belt, if available.
Regularly check that the permissible gross
weight of the child together with the child
restraint system is still maintained.
Always comply with the manufacturer's instal-
lation and operating instructions for the child
restraint system used. Before installing a child seat, move the rear
seat backrest to an upright position. Do not
adjust the backrest of a seat with a LATCH-
type (ISOFIX) child restraint system installed.
Before every trip, make sure that the LATCH-
type (ISOFIX) child restraint system is engaged
correctly in both LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing
rings
! When fitting the child restraint system in
vehicles with a rear bench seat, make sure
that the seat belt for the center seat does
not get trapped. Otherwise, the seat belt
could be damaged. :
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing rings (basic
illustration)
X Install the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system on both LATCH-type (ISO-
FIX) securing rings :.
ISOFIX is a standardized securing system for
specially designed child restraint systems on
certain rear seats. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) secur-
ing rings : for a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system are installed between the
seat cushion and the seat backrest.
Non-LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seats may also
be used and can be installed using the vehi-
cle's seat belt system. Install the child seat
according to the manufacturer's instructions. Top Tether
Introduction Top Tether provides an additional connection
between the child restraint system secured
with a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) system and the
vehicle. This helps reduce the risk of injury
even further. If the child restraint system is
equipped with a Top Tether belt, this should
always be used. Children in the vehicle
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Top Tether anchorages
Example: rear bench seat
Top Tether anchorage ; is located at the bot-
tom of the rear side of the rear seat on the
cross brace between the seat or bench seat
legs.
X Move head restraint : up.
X Install the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system with Top Tether. Always
comply with the child restraint system man-
ufacturer's installation instructions when
doing so. X
Route Top Tether belt ? under head
restraint : between the two head restraint
bars.
X Hook Top Tether hook = of Top Tether
belt ? into Top Tether anchorage ;.
Make sure that Top Tether belt ? is not
twisted.
X Tension Top Tether belt ?. Always comply
with the child restraint system manufactur-
er's installation instructions when doing so.
X Move head restraint : back down again
slightly if necessary (Y page 93). Make
sure that you do not interfere with the cor-
rect routing of Top Tether belt ?. Child restraint system on the co-driv-
er's seat
General notes Accident statistics show that children secured
in the rear seats are safer than children
secured in the front seats. For this reason,
Mercedes-Benz strongly advises that you
install a child restraint system on a rear seat.
If it is absolutely necessary to install a child
restraint system on the co-driver's seat, be
sure to observe the instructions and safety
notes on the "Occupant Classification System
(OCS)"
(Y page 54).
This will help to rule out any risks that may
arise due to:
R an incorrectly categorized person in the co-
driver's seat
R an unintentionally deactivated co-driver's air
bag
R an unfavorable positioning of the child
restraint system, e.g. too near to the dash-
board
Rearward-facing child restraint system If circumstances require you to install a rear-
ward-facing child restraint system on the co-
driver's seat, you must always make sure that
the co-driver's air bag is deactivated. The co-
driver's air bag is deactivated only when the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is lit
continuously ( Y page
54).
Always comply with the manufacturer's instal-
lation and operating instructions for the child
restraint system.
Forward-facing child restraint system If it is absolutely necessary to secure a child in
a forward-facing child restraint system on the
co-driver's seat, you must always move the co-
driver's seat as far back as possible. The base
of the child restraint system must always rest
on the seat cushion of the co-driver's seat. As
much as possible of the backrest of the child
restraint system must be resting on the back-
rest of the co-driver's seat. The child restraint
system may 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. Always make
sure the shoulder belt is correctly secured,64
Children in the vehicle
Safety
Page 67 of 320

running from the belt outlet to the belt guide
of the child restraint system. The shoulder belt
strap must be routed forward and down from
the vehicle belt outlet. Adjust the belt outlet
and co-driver's seat as required.
Always comply with the manufacturer's instal-
lation and operating instructions for the child
restraint system. Override feature/child-proof locks
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If children are traveling in the vehicle, 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.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always activate the child-proof locks and
override feature if children are traveling in
the vehicle. When leaving the vehicle,
always take the key with you and lock the
vehicle. Never leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
Child-proof lock/override feature for:
R Sliding doors ( Y page
66)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.
G
WARNING
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. 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.
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. Children in the vehicle
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Child-proof lock for sliding door
Sliding door (example: left side of the vehicle)
: Child safety bolt
2 Sliding door released
3 Sliding door secured – then make sure
that the child-proof locks are working
properly.
You can secure each sliding door individually
with the child-proof locks on the sliding doors.
A secured sliding door cannot be opened from
inside the vehicle. When the vehicle is
unlocked, the sliding door can be opened from
the outside. If the electric sliding door is
secured, only the sliding door rear controls are
deactivated. If the electric sliding door is
unlocked, you can open the electric sliding
door using the corresponding Å or Æ
sliding door button in the center console
(Y page
79). 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 maneuver, and thereby injure vehicle occu-
pants. There is a risk of accident and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle.
Always secure animals properly when driv-
ing, for instance with a suitable pet carrier. Driving safety systems
Overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R EBD ( Electronic Brake Force Distribution)
R ABS ( Anti-lock Braking System)
R BAS ( Brake A ssist System)
R ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program) Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you
are inattentive, the driving safety systems can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. Driving safety sys-
tems are merely aids designed to assist driv-
ing. You are responsible for the distance to the
vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, braking in
good time and for staying in your lane. Always
adapt your driving style to the prevailing road
and weather conditions and maintain a suffi-
cient, safe distance from other road users.
Drive carefully.
Please note that the driving safety systems
described only work optimally when the follow-
ing conditions are fulfilled:
R there is adequate contact between the tires
and the road surface.
R you use winter tires
(M+S tires) with snow
chains if necessary, when the road condi-
tions are wintry.
R the speed information determined by the
vehicle is within the legally prescribed dis-
play accuracy.
Pay particular attention to the information
regarding tires, tire tread and winter operation
under "Wheels and tires" (Y page 278). 66
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Safety
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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
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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
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Safety
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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
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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