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Date of printing:
11/23/2009Interactive Owner's Manual [In depth | Occupant safety]
Owner's Manual version: RE 2009/03 a
Note: The online Owner's Manual is the latest version available. Deviations between this manual and items specific to your vehicle may occur since Mercedes-Benz constantly adapts its vehicles to the latest technology and modifies design and equipment. Please note that this online Owner's Manual does not under any circumstances replace the printed Owner's Manual which is supplied with the vehicle.
Quick access
| Notes on occupant safety |
| SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) |
| PRE-SAFE®* system |
| NECK-PRO head restraints (except C 63 AMG) |
| Children in the vehicle |
Seat belts, together with belt tensioners, belt force limiters and airbags, are complementary, coordinated restraint systems. They reduce the risk of injury in specific, pre-defined types of accident situations and, thereby, increase occupant safety. However, seat belts and airbags generally do not protect against objects penetrating the vehicle from the outside.
To ensure that the restraint systems can deliver their full potential protection, you should ensure that:
the seat and head restraint are adjusted properly more.
the seat belt has been fastened properly more.
the airbags can inflate properly if they are deployed more.
the steering wheel is adjusted properly more.
The SRS reduces the risk of occupants coming into contact with the vehicle's interior in the event of an accident. It can also reduce the forces to which occupants are subjected during an accident.
The SRS consists of:
SRS warning
lamp
The SRS functions are checked regularly when you turn on the ignition and when the engine is running. Therefore, malfunctions can be detected in good time.
The
warning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on. It goes
out no later than a few seconds after the engine is started.
In the event of a collision, the sensor in the airbag control unit evaluates important physical data such as duration, direction and force of the vehicle deceleration or acceleration. Based on the evaluation of this data and depending on the vehicle's rate of longitudinal deceleration in a collision, in the first stage the airbag control unit pre-emptively triggers the belt tensioners.
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The front belt tensioners can only be triggered if the belt tongue is correctly engaged in the seat belt buckle. |
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The front airbags are only deployed if there is an even higher rate of vehicle deceleration in a longitudinal direction.
Your vehicle has adaptive, dual stage front airbags. When the first activation threshold is reached, the front airbag is filled with enough propellant gas to reduce the risk of injuries. The front airbag is only fully inflated if a second threshold is reached within a few milliseconds, due to the control unit having detected further deceleration.
In the first stage of a collision, the airbag control unit evaluates the duration and direction of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in order to determine whether it is necessary to trigger the belt tensioner and/or airbag.
The belt tensioner and airbag triggering thresholds are variable and are adapted to the rate of deceleration of the vehicle. This process is pre-emptive in nature as the airbag must be deployed during - and not at the end of - the collision.
The rate of vehicle deceleration or acceleration and the direction of the force are basically determined by:
Factors which can only be seen and measured after a collision has occurred do not play a decisive role in the deployment of an airbag, nor do they provide an indication of it.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly, e. g. on the bonnet or the wing, without an airbag being deployed. This is the case if only parts which are relatively easily deformed are affected and the necessary deceleration does not occur. Conversely, airbags may be deployed even though the vehicle suffers only minor deformations. For example, this is the case if very rigid vehicle parts such as longitudinal body members are affected and sufficient deceleration occurs as a result.
The front seat belts and the outer seat belts in the rear are equipped with belt tensioners.
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Do not engage the seat belt tongue in the buckle on the front-passenger seat if the seat is not occupied. The belt tensioners could otherwise be triggered in an accident. |
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If the seat belt is also equipped with a belt force limiter, the force exerted by the seat belt on the seat occupant is reduced.
Belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in an accident, pulling them close against the body.
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Belt tensioners do not correct incorrect seat positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts. Belt tensioners do not pull occupants back towards the backrest. |
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The front belt force limiters are synchronised with the front airbags, which distribute the forces exerted by the belt force limiters on the occupant over a greater area.
The belt tensioners cannot be triggered when the ignition is switched on unless:
Depending on the type and severity of an accident, the belt tensioners may be triggered:
in the event of a head-on or rear-end collision if the vehicle decelerates or accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal direction during the initial stages of impact
in the event of a side impact if the vehicle is subjected to high lateral acceleration/deceleration
If the airbags are
deployed, you will hear a bang and a small amount of powder may also be
released. Only in rare cases will the bang affect your hearing. The powder that
escapes generally does not constitute a health hazard. The
warning lamp
lights up.
Airbag deployment slows down and restricts the movement of the vehicle occupant.
If the airbags are
deployed, you will hear a bang and a small amount of powder may also be
released. Only in rare cases will the bang affect your hearing. The powder that
escapes generally does not constitute a health hazard. The
warning lamp
lights up.
The AIRBAG identification indicates the location of the airbags.
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Risk of injury |
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The airbag's functionality can only be guaranteed if the following parts are not covered and no badges or stickers are attached to them: |
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The front airbags are designed to increase protection for the driver's and front-passenger head and chest.
Driver's front
airbag
deploys in front of the steering wheel; front-passenger front airbag
deploys in
front of and above the glove compartment. They are deployed:
at the start of an accident with a high rate of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in a longitudinal direction
if the system determines that airbag deployment can offer additional protection to that provided by the seat belt
if the vehicle overturns, but only if the system detects high vehicle deceleration in a longitudinal direction
On vehicles with automatic child seat recognition in the
front-passenger's seat*,
front-passenger front airbag
is only
deployed if PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp
in the
centre console is not lit
more. This means that there is not a child restraint system with
automatic child seat recognition* fitted to the front-passenger's
seat or that a child restraint system with automatic child seat recognition*
has been fitted to the front-passenger's seat incorrectly.
The driver's knee airbag can help reduce the risk of injury to the knees, thighs and lower legs.
Driver's knee
airbag
is
always deployed along with the driver's front airbag and inflates underneath
the steering column.
The purpose of sidebag deployment is to enhance the level of protection for the thorax (but not the head, neck or arms) of the vehicle occupants on the side of the vehicle on which the impact occurs.
Front sidebags
and rear
sidebags*
deploy next to the
outer seat cushion. They are deployed:
at the start of an accident with a high rate of lateral vehicle deceleration or acceleration, e.g. in a side impact
The purpose of the windowbags is to enhance the level of protection for the head (but not chest or arms) of the vehicle occupants on the side of the vehicle on which the impact occurs.
The windowbags are integrated into the side of the roof frame and run from the front door (A-pillar) to the rear door (C-pillar).
Windowbags are deployed:
at the start of an accident with a high rate of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in a lateral direction
regardless of whether the front-passenger's seat is occupied
if the vehicle overturns and the system determines that windowbag deployment can offer additional protection to that provided by the seat belt
PRE-SAFE® system takes pre-emptive measures to protect you in certain hazardous situations.
PRE-SAFE® intervenes in the event of:
emergency braking situations, e.g. if the BAS Brake Assist intervenes
critical situations involving driving dynamics, e.g. if the vehicle oversteers or understeers significantly due to physical limits being exceeded
If you are driving faster than approximately 30 km/h and ESP® is not switched off on the C 63 AMG, PRE-SAFE® may take the following measures in these situations:
Vehicles with memory functions*: it adjusts the front-passenger seat if this is in an unfavourable position.
If the vehicle skids, it closes the sliding/tilting sunroof* or panorama sliding sunroof* and the side windows so that only a small gap remains.
If the hazardous situation passes without resulting in an accident, PRE-SAFE® slackens the belt pretensioning. You can then reverse all settings made by PRE-SAFE® again.
If the seat belts are not released:
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Move the backrest or the seat back slightly until the belt tension is reduced. |
NECK-PRO head restraints are designed to increase protection to the driver's and front-passenger's head and neck. To this end, the head restraints on the driver's and front-passenger seats are moved forwards and upwards in the event of a rear-end collision when viewed in the direction of travel. This provides better head support.
If the NECK-PRO head restraints are triggered in an accident, you must reset the head restraints on the driver's and front-passenger seats more. Head restraints that have been triggered are tilted forwards.
If a child is travelling in your vehicle, secure the child using a child restraint system which is appropriate to the size and age of the child and is recommended for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. You should fit the restraint system to a suitable rear seat. You can also secure the child on the integrated child seat*more. Ensure that the child is secured throughout the trip.
You can obtain information about the correct child restraint system from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
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It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care products to clean child restraint systems. Information about this can be obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. |
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Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use the child restraint systems listed on.more

Warning on the front-passenger sun visor

Warning symbol for a rearward-facing child restraint system
If your vehicle does not have automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger's seat, this is indicated by a special sticker. The sticker is affixed to the side of the dashboard on the front-passenger side. It is visible when you open the front-passenger door.
The sensors for the
automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger's seat detects whether
a special Mercedes-Benz child seat with automatic child seat recognition has
been fitted. In such cases,
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
lights up.
The front-passenger airbag is disabled.
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Example of an approval label on the child restraint system
Suitable seat positions for ISOFIX child restraint systems
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(X: this position is unsuitable.) |
(IL: as recommended, see the following table of "Recommended ISOFIX child seat securing systems".) |
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(IL: as recommended, see the following table of "Recommended ISOFIX child seat securing systems".) |
(IUF: suitable for forward-facing ISOFIX child seat securing systems that belong to the Universal category and are approved for use in this weight category.) |
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( For child restraint systems without automatic child seat recognition, move the front-passenger's seat to the rearmost position.) |
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Recommended ISOFIX child seat securing system
ISOFIX is a standardised securing system for specially-designed child restraint systems on the rear seats. Securing rings for two child restraint systems are fitted on the left and right rear seats.
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When fitting the child restraint system, make sure that the seat belt for the centre seat does not become trapped. Otherwise, it could be damaged. |
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Illustration showing a vehicle with through-loading feature in the rear bench seat*
TopTether provides an additional connection between the child restraint system secured with ISOFIX and the rear seat. It helps reduce the risk of injury even further.
The TopTether anchorage points in the rear compartment are located behind the outer head restraints.

Saloon

Estate
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Guide TopTether
belt* |
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All: move
head restraints |
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Fit the ISOFIX child restraint system with TopTether*. Comply with the manufacturer's installation instructions. Make sure that the TopTether belt* is tight. |
The child seats are integrated into the right and left-hand sides of the seats of the rear bench seat. In conjunction with the components listed in the following table, they comply with the legal requirements of ECE R 44.04.
Mercedes-Benz recommends the integrated child seat for children with a body weight of 12.5 to 36 kg.
For children weighing between approximately 12.5 kg and 18 kg, you must always also use an additional padded table* and a side head restraint which have been specially approved for the integrated child seat.
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Side head restraints |
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Seat belt guide |
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Integrated child seat |
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Release handle |
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If integrated child
seat |
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Adjust the head restraint more. |
Use the padded table according to the specifications in the table more.
Do not use the integrated child seat with padded table as a direct attachment to a baby car seat for which a body weight of up to 10 kg is permitted.
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Side head restraints |
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Padded table |
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Seat belt guide points |
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Left leg |
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Integrated child seat |
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Right leg |
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Fold out integrated
child seat |
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Attach the lower
and upper sections of the belt in left seat belt guide point
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Guide both sections
of the belt to right seat belt guide point
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Pull both parts of the belt tight. Ensure that the belt is not twisted. |
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Adjust the head restraint more. |
Use the side head restraints according to the specifications in the table more.
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Should another side head restraint be required for the second integrated child seat*, they can be ordered at any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. |
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Slide side head
restraints |
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Right-hand and
left-hand lock verification indicator
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Make sure that side
head restraint |
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Slide head
restraints |
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Guide the seat belt
through seat belt guide
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Secure the child using the seat belt more. |
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Press left or right
release button |
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Left and right lock
verification indicators
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Adjust head
restraints |
On vehicles with TIREFIT kit, the side head restraints can be stored in the stowage compartment under the boot/luggage compartment floor more/more.
If children are travelling in the vehicle, you can activate the child-proof locks for the rear doors.
The child-proof locks on the rear doors enable you to secure each door individually. A locked door cannot be opened from the inside. The door can be opened from the outside if the vehicle is unlocked.

Saloon shown as an example
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Indicator lamp
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Date of printing:
11/23/2009Interactive Owner's Manual [In depth | Occupant safety]
Owner's Manual version: RE 2009/03 a
Note: The online Owner's Manual is the latest version available. Deviations between this manual and items specific to your vehicle may occur since Mercedes-Benz constantly adapts its vehicles to the latest technology and modifies design and equipment. Please note that this online Owner's Manual does not under any circumstances replace the printed Owner's Manual which is supplied with the vehicle.