2010 Mercedes-benz C Class Owners Manual

be considerably more severe without your seat belt properly buckled. Without your seat belt buckled, you are much more likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, the possibility of injury or death is lessened if you are properly wearing your seat belt. The air bags can only protect as intended if the occupants are properly wearing their seat belts. G Warning! Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat backrest in an excessively reclined position as this can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the seat belt would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The seat backrest and

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seat belt provide the best restraint when the wearer is in a position that is as upright as possible and the seat belt is properly positioned on the body. G Warning! Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there are seat belts available. Make sure everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly restrained with a separate seat belt. Never use a seat belt for more than one person at a time. G Warning! Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have been subjected to stress in an accident must be replaced. Also, the seat belt anchoring points must be checked. Only use seat belts which have been approved by Mercedes-Benz. Do not make any modifications to the seat belts. This can lead to unintended activation of the ETDs or to their failure to activate when necessary. Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may severely weaken them. In a crash they may not be able to provide adequate protection. Have all work carried out only by qualified technicians. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Proper use of seat belts G Warning! USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY RSeat belts can only protect when used

properly. Never wear seat belts in any other way than as described in this section, as that could result in serious injuries in case of an accident.

REach occupant should wear their seat belt at all times, because seat belts help reduce the likelihood of and potential severity of injuries in accidents, including rollovers. The integrated restraint system includes

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49

SRS (driver front air bag, driver side knee bag, front passenger front air bag, side impact air bags, pelvis air bags, window curtain air bags for side windows), Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs), seat belt force limiters, and front seat knee bolsters. The system is designed to enhance the protection offered to properly belted occupants in certain frontal (front air bags, driver’s side knee bag, and ETDs) and side (side impact air bags, pelvis air bags, window curtain air bags, and ETDs) impacts which exceed preset deployment thresholds.

RNever wear the shoulder belt under your

arm, against your neck or off your shoulder. In a frontal crash, your body would move too far forward. That would increase the chance of head and neck injuries. The seat belt would also apply too much force to the ribs or abdomen, which could severely injure internal organs such as your liver or spleen. Adjust the seat belt so that the shoulder section is located as close as possible to the middle of the shoulder. It should not touch the neck. Never pass the shoulder portion of the seat belt under your arm.

RPosition the lap belt as low as possible on your hips and not across the abdomen. If the lap belt is positioned across your abdomen, it could cause serious injuries in a crash.

RNever wear seat belts over rigid or

breakable objects in or on your clothing, such as eyeglasses, pens, keys etc., as these might cause injuries.

RMake sure the seat belt is always fitted snugly. Take special care of this when wearing loose clothing.

RNever use a seat belt for more than one

person at a time. Do not fasten a seat belt

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around a person and another person or other objects at the same time.

RSeat belts should not be worn twisted. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the seat belt to distribute impact forces. The twisted seat belt against your body could cause injuries.

RPregnant women should also always use a

lap/shoulder belt. The lap belt portion should be positioned as low as possible on the hips to avoid any possible pressure on the abdomen.

RPlace the seat backrest in a position that is

as upright as possible.

RCheck your seat belt during travel to make

sure it is properly positioned.

RNever place your feet on the instrument panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always keep both feet on the floor in front of the seat.

RWhen using a seat belt to secure infant

restraints, toddler restraints, or children in booster seats, always follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions. G Warning! Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges. They could tear. Do not allow the seat belt to get caught in the door or in the seat adjustment mechanism. This could damage the seat belt. Never attempt to make modifications to seat belts. This could impair the effectiveness of the seat belts.

Fastening the seat belts G Warning! According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating position. Thus, we strongly recommend that children be placed in the rear seats whenever possible. Regardless of seating position,

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children 12 years old and under must be seated and properly secured in an appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat recommended for the size and weight of the child. For additional information, see “Children in the vehicle”. A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is significantly increased if the child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle and/ or the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. G Warning! Vehicles with BabySmart™ air bag deactivation system, Canada only: Children 12 years old and under must never ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart™ compatible child seat, which operates with the BabySmart™ system installed in the vehicle to deactivate the front passenger front air bag when it is installed properly. Otherwise they will be struck by the air bag when it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal injury will result.

X With a smooth motion, pull the seat belt out

of seat belt outlet :.

X Place the shoulder portion of the seat belt across the top of your shoulder and the lap portion across your hips.

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X Push latch plate ; into buckle = until it

clicks.

X If necessary, adjust the seat belt to the

correct height (Y page 51).

X If necessary, tighten the lap portion to a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion up.

All lap/shoulder belts except the driver’s seat belt have special seat belt retractors to secure child restraints properly. For more information on special seat belt retractors, see “Infant and child restraint systems” (Y page 55). To release the seat belt with seat belt release button ?, see (Y page 51).

Seat belt outlet height adjustment You can adjust the height of the seat belt outlet for the driver’s and front passenger seat.

X Raising: Slide the seat belt outlet height

adjuster upward. The seat belt outlet height adjuster engages in different positions.

X Lowering: Press and hold release

button :.

X Slide the seat belt outlet height adjuster

downward.

X Release release button : and make sure the seat belt outlet height adjuster engages into place.

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51

Releasing the seat belts X Press seat belt release button ?

(Y page 50). Allow the retractor to completely rewind the seat belt by guiding latch plate ; (Y page 50).

! Make sure the seat belt retracts

completely. Otherwise the seat belt and/or latch plate could get caught or pinched in the door or in the seat mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and impair its effectiveness, and/or cause damage to the door and/or door trim panel. Such damage is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Damaged seat belts must be replaced. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Enhanced seat belt reminder system When the engine is started, the seat belt telltale 7 will always illuminate for 6 seconds to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts. If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened when the engine is started, an additional warning chime will sound. The warning chime goes out after approximately 6 seconds or once the driver’s seat belt is fastened. If after these 6 seconds the driver’s or the front passenger’s seat belt (with the front passenger seat occupied) is not fastened with front doors closed, Rthe seat belt telltale 7 remains

illuminated for as long as either the driver’s or front passenger’s seat belt is not fastened.

Rand if the vehicle speed once exceeds

15 mph (25 km/h), the seat belt telltale 7 starts flashing and a warning chime sounds with increasing intensity for a maximum of 60 seconds or until the driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt are fastened.

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If you and/or your passenger release the seat belt during driving, the seat belt telltale 7 starts flashing and the warning chime sounds as described before. If the driver’s or the front passenger’s seat belt remains unfastened after 60 seconds, the warning chime stops sounding, the seat belt telltale 7 stops flashing but continues to be illuminated. After a vehicle standstill, the warning chime is reactivated and the seat belt telltale 7 is flashing again if the vehicle speed once exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h).

The seat belt telltale 7 will only go out if both the driver’s and the front passenger’s seat belt (with the front passenger seat occupied) are fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a front door is opened. For more information, see “Practical hints” (Y page 301).

Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD), seat belt force limiter The seat belts for the front seats and rear outer seats are equipped with ETDs and seat belt force limiters. The ETDs are designed to activate in the following cases: Rin frontal or rear-end impacts exceeding

the system’s preset deployment threshold

Rin side impacts exceeding the system’s preset deployment threshold on the far side of the impact

Rif the restraint systems are operational and

functioning correctly, see “SRS indicator lamp” (Y page 36)

The ETDs for the front seats will only activate if the front seat belts are fastened (latch plate properly inserted into buckle). The ETDs for the rear seats will activate with or without the respective seat belts fastened. In an impact, the ETDs remove slack from the seat belts in such a way that the seat belts fit more snugly against the body. Seat belt force

limiters, when activated, are employed to help reduce the peak force exerted by the seat belts on occupants during a crash. i The ETDs do not correct an incorrect seat

position or incorrectly worn seat belts. The ETDs do not pull occupants back toward the seat backrest. G Warning! Pyrotechnic ETDs that were activated must be replaced. For your safety, when disposing of the pyrotechnic ETDs always follow our safety instructions. These are available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

NECK-PRO active front head restraints (except C 63 AMG) The NECK-PRO active front head restraints are intended to offer the driver and front passenger increased protection from whiplash-type injuries. In the event of a rear- end collision, the NECK-PRO active front head restraints on the front seats are designed to move forward in the direction of travel. They thus provide the head with increased support earlier on in the collision sequence. The NECK-PRO active front head restraints will move forward whether the seats are occupied or not. G Warning! Do not attach any objects (e.g. hangers) to the head restraint posts. Otherwise, the NECK- PRO active front head restraints may not be able to function properly or offer the intended degree of protection they were designed for in the event of a rear-end collision. G Warning! Only use seat or head restraint covers which have been tested and approved by Mercedes- Benz for your vehicle model. Using other seat or head restraint covers may interfere with or prevent the activation of the

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NECK-PRO active front head restraints and/ or the deployment of the front side impact air bags or pelvis air bags. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for availability. When the NECK-PRO active front head restraints have been triggered in an accident, the NECK-PRO active front head restraints must be reset. Otherwise, the NECK-PRO active front head restraints cannot offer any additional protection in the event of another rear-end collision. For information on resetting the activated NECK-PRO active front head restraints, see “Resetting activated head restraints” (Y page 311). You cannot remove the NECK-PRO active front head restraints. G Warning! For your protection, drive only with properly positioned head restraints. Adjust the head restraint so that it is as close to the head as possible and the center of the head restraint supports the back of the head at eye level. This will reduce the potential for injury to the head and neck in the event of an accident or similar situation. For information on head restraint adjustment, see “Head restraint height” (Y page 82), or see “Head restraint fore and aft adjustment” (Y page 82).

Correct driver seat adjustment G Warning! In order to avoid possible loss of vehicle control the following must be done before the vehicle is put into motion: Rseat adjustment Rhead restraint adjustment Rsteering wheel adjustment

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53

Rrear view mirror adjustment Rfastening of seat belts

Steering wheel G Observe Safety notes, see page 84. X Position steering wheel : properly. See (Y page 85) for manual adjustment and (Y page 85) for electrical adjustment.

Make sure: RYou can reach the steering wheel with your

arms slightly bent at the elbows.

RYou can move your legs freely. RAll displays (including malfunction and

indicator lamps) on the instrument cluster are clearly visible.

Seat belt G Observe Safety notes, see page 48. X Fasten and position your seat belt ;

correctly (Y page 50).

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Make sure: RThe seat belt is always fitted snugly. RAdjust the seat belt so that the shoulder section is located as close as possible to the middle of the shoulder.

RPlace the lap portion of the seat belt as low

as possible on your hips.

Children in the vehicle Safety notes If an infant or child is traveling with you in the vehicle: X Secure the child using an infant or child

restraint appropriate to the age and size of the child.

Seat and head restraint G Observe Safety notes, see page 79. X Position seat = and head restraint

properly. See (Y page 80) for seat and head restraint adjustment. Observe the following points: RAlways be in a properly seated position. RThe position should be as far rearward from

the front air bag in the steering wheel as possible, while still permitting proper operation of vehicle controls.

RAdjust the seat to a comfortable seating position that still allows you to reach the accelerator/brake pedal safely.

RThe seat must be adjusted so that you can correctly fasten and position your seat belt. RThe seat backrest must be in a position that

is as nearly upright as possible.

RAdjust the seat cushion so that the front edge of the seat cushion lightly supports your legs.

RAdjust the head restraint so that it is as

close to the head as possible and the center of the head restraint supports the back of the head at eye level.

RNever place hands under the seat or near any moving parts while the seat is being adjusted.

X Make sure the infant or child is properly secured at all times while the vehicle is in motion. G Warning! When leaving the vehicle, always remove the SmartKey from the starter switch. Always take the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child restraint system, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury. The children could Rinjure themselves on parts of the vehicle Rbe seriously or fatally injured through

excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold Rinjure themselves or cause an accident with

vehicle equipment that can be operated even if the SmartKey is removed from the starter switch or removed from the vehicle, such as seat adjustment, steering wheel adjustment, or the memory function

If children open a door, they could injure other persons or get out of the vehicle and injure themselves or be injured by following traffic. Do not expose the child restraint system to direct sunlight. The child restraint system’s metal parts, for example, could become very hot, and the child could be burned by these parts. G Warning! Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the passenger compartment or trunk unless they are firmly secured in place.

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Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo increases a child’s risk of injury in the event of Rstrong braking maneuvers Rsudden changes of direction Ran accident

Infant and child restraint systems G Observe Safety notes, see page 54. We recommend all infants and children be properly restrained at all times while the vehicle is in motion. Canada only: Only use a BabySmart™ compatible child restraint for the front passenger seat in this vehicle. All lap/shoulder belts except the driver’s seat belt have special seat belt retractors for secure fastening of child restraints. To fasten a child restraint, follow the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions for mounting. To activate the special seat belt retractor: X Pull the shoulder belt out completely and

let it retract. During seat belt retraction, a ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate that the special seat belt retractor is activated. The seat belt is now locked.

X Push down on child restraint to take up any

slack.

To deactivate the special seat belt retractor: X Release the seat belt buckle and let the

seat belt retract completely. The seat belt can then again be used in the usual manner.

To deactivate the special seat belt retractor for the front passenger seat, the front passenger seat must be in the most backward position.

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55

G Warning! Never release the seat belt buckle while the vehicle is in motion, since the special seat belt retractor will be deactivated.

i Information on child seats with mounting

fittings for tether anchorages (Y page 57). For information on LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat anchors (Y page 58).

The use of infant or child restraints is required by law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories and all Canadian provinces. Infants and small children should be seated in an appropriate infant or child restraint system. They must be properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for the child restraint. All infant or child restraint systems must comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2. A statement by the child restraint manufacturer of compliance with these standards can be found on the instruction label on the restraint and in the instruction manual provided with the restraint. When using any infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat, make sure to carefully read and follow all manufacturer’s instructions for installation and use. Please read and observe warning labels affixed to the inside of the vehicle and to infant or child restraints. G Warning! According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating position. Thus, we strongly recommend that children be placed in the rear seats whenever possible. Regardless of seating position, children 12 years old and under must be seated and properly secured in an appropriate

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infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat recommended for the size and weight of the child. The infant or child restraint must be properly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt, the seat belt and top tether strap, or lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in accordance with the child seat manufacturer’s instructions. Occupants, especially children, should always sit as upright as possible, wear the seat belt properly and use an appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat recommended for the size and weight of the child. Children can be killed or seriously injured by an inflating air bag. Note the following important information when circumstances require you to place a child in the front passenger seat: RUSA only: Your vehicle is equipped with air bag technology designed to deactivate the front passenger front air bag in your vehicle when the system senses the weight of a typical 12-month-old child or less along with the weight of a standard appropriate child restraint on the front passenger seat.

RUSA only: For children larger than the

typical 12-month-old child, the front passenger front air bag may or may not be activated. Always make sure the 45 indicator lamp is illuminated, indicating that the front passenger front air bag is deactivated.

RCanada only: Children 12 years old and under must never ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart™ compatible child seat, which operates with the BabySmart™ system installed in the vehicle to deactivate the front passenger front air bag when it is installed properly. Otherwise they will be struck by the air bag when it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal injury will result.

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RA child in a rear-facing child restraint on the

front passenger seat will be seriously injured or even killed if the front passenger front air bag inflates in a collision which could occur under some circumstances, even with the air bag technology installed in your vehicle. The only means to completely eliminate this risk is to never place a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat. We therefore strongly recommend that you always place a child in a rear-facing child restraint in a backseat.

RIf you must install a rear-facing child restraint on the front passenger seat because circumstances require you to do so, make sure the 45 indicator lamp is illuminated, indicating that the front passenger front air bag is deactivated. Should the 45 indicator lamp not illuminate or go out while the restraint is installed, please check installation. Periodically check the 45 indicator lamp while driving to make sure the 45 indicator lamp is illuminated. If the 45 indicator lamp goes out or remains out, do not transport a child on the front passenger seat until the system has been repaired. A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the front passenger seat will be seriously injured or even killed if the front passenger front air bag inflates.

RIf you have to place a child in a forward-

facing child restraint on the front passenger seat, move the seat as far back as possible, use the proper child restraint recommended for the age, size and weight of the child, and secure child restraint with the vehicle’s seat belt according to the child seat manufacturer’s instructions. G Warning! Infants and small children should never share a seat belt with another occupant. During an accident, they could be crushed between the occupant and seat belt.

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A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is significantly increased if the child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle and/ or the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Children too big for a toddler restraint must ride in seats using regular seat belts. Position shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve proper seat belt positioning for children over 41 lb (18 kg) until they reach a height where a lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a booster. When the child restraint is not in use, remove it from the vehicle or secure it with the seat belt to prevent the child restraint from becoming a projectile in the event of an accident.

Installation of infant and child restraint systems G Observe Safety notes, see page 54. G Warning! Always lock the seat backrests in their upright position when the rear seats are occupied by passengers. Lock the seat backrests in their upright position before installing top tether straps or when the extended cargo compartment is not in use. Make sure that seat backrests are secured properly by pushing and pulling on the seat backrests. If a seat backrest is not locked properly, the seat backrest could fold. The child seat would no longer be supported properly or positioned to provide its intended benefit. That could cause serious or even fatal injuries. This vehicle is equipped with tether anchorages for a top tether strap at each of the rear seating positions. Top tether straps enable an additional connection to be made between child restraint systems secured with LATCH-type (ISOFIX) anchors and rear seats. This can further reduce the risk of injury.

X Move the respective head restraint : to

its uppermost position (Y page 83). X Lift up anchorage ring cover ; from

anchorage ring =.

X Guide top tether strap A between head restraint : and top of the seat backrest. X Securely fasten hook ?, which is part of top tether strap A, to anchorage ring =.

Make sure Rhook ? is attached to anchorage ring =

beyond the safety catch, as illustrated

Rtop tether strap A is not twisted Rhead restraint : is installed (if removable) and positioned such that top tether strap A can pass freely between head restraint : and top of the seat backrest

X Lower head restraint : if necessary

(Y page 83).

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Vehicles with non-foldable rear bench seat: The LATCH-type (ISOFIX) anchors are blended with covers. Vehicles with split rear bench seat: The LATCH-type (ISOFIX) anchors are located between the seat cushion and the backrest.

Non-foldable rear bench seat Information sign : indicates the position of anchor =. X Remove anchorage ring covers ; from anchors = by pulling it in direction of arrow.

X Store anchorage ring covers ;, for

example in the storage compartment of the rear center armrest.

Split rear bench seat, child seat anchors

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Once hook ? is attached, the child restraint itself can be secured. X Install the child restraint system and

tighten top tether strap A according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions. After removing the child restraint system and top tether strap A: X Pull down and close anchorage ring

cover ; from respective anchorage ring =.

Child seat anchors – LATCH-type (ISOFIX) G Observe Safety notes, see page 54. G Warning! Children too big for a toddler restraint must ride in seats using regular seat belts. Position shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve proper seat belt positioning for children over 41 lb (18 kg) until they reach a height where a lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a booster. Install child seat according to manufacturer’s instructions. The child seat must be firmly attached to both anchors. An incorrectly mounted child seat may come loose during an accident which could result in serious injury or death to the child. Damaged or impact damaged child seats or child seat mounting fittings must be replaced. Each rear outer seat has two LATCH-type (ISOFIX) anchors for the installation of a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat with matching mounting fittings. Non-LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seats may also be used and can be installed using the vehicle’s seat belt system. Install child seat according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

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X Install a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat

according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A rigid connection between the child seat and the body of the vehicle is established.

X Make sure that the seat belt for the rear

center seat can operate freely with a child seat installed.

Child safety Child safety locks G Observe Safety notes, see page 54. G Warning! Children could open a rear door from the inside. This may cause serious personal injury or an accident. Therefore, secure the rear doors with the child safety locks whenever children are riding in the back seats of the vehicle. The child safety locks on the rear doors enable you to secure each rear door individually. You cannot open a secured rear door from the inside. You can open the rear door from the outside when the vehicle is unlocked.

X Securing: Press the lever up in direction of

arrow :.

X Check to make sure the child safety locks

are working properly.

X Releasing: Press the lever down in

direction of arrow ;.

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59

Override switch G Observe Safety notes, see page 54. With the override switch you can disable the rear door window switches in the rear door panels. This can be useful, for instance, when you have children riding in the rear passenger compartment. G Warning! Activate the override switch when children are riding in the back seats of the vehicle. The children may otherwise injure themselves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the rear door window opening.

X Activating: Press override switch :.

Indicator lamp ; comes on. The rear door windows can no longer be operated using the respective switch located in the rear doors.

You can still operate the rear door windows using the switches located on the door control panel of the driver’s door. X Deactivating: Press override switch :

again. The rear door windows can be operated again using the respective switch located in the rear doors.

For more information on power windows, see the “Controls in detail” section (Y page 98).

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60 Driving safety systems

Panic alarm

X Activating: Press and hold ! button : for at least 1 second. An audible alarm and flashing exterior lamps will operate.

X Deactivating: Press ! button : again. or X Insert the SmartKey into the starter switch. or X Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button. The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be inside the vehicle.

i USA only:

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause harmful

2.

interference, and this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Any unauthorized modification to this device could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

i Canada only:

This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause interference,

and this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

2.

Any unauthorized modification to this device could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

Driving safety systems Introduction This section contains information about the following driving safety systems: RABS (Antilock Brake System) RAdaptive Brake RBAS (Brake Assist System) REBP (Electronic Brake Proportioning) RESP® (Electronic Stability Program) i In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of most of the driving systems described in this section is only achieved with winter tires, or snow chains as required.

Safety notes G Warning! The following factors increase the risk of accidents: RExcessive speed, especially in turns RWet and slippery road surfaces RFollowing another vehicle too closely The driving safety systems described in this section cannot reduce these risks or prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the

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vehicle. They cannot increase braking or steering efficiency beyond that afforded by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the traction afforded. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents. The capabilities of a vehicle equipped with the driving safety systems described in this section must never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner which could jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of others. Always adjust your driving style to the prevailing road and weather conditions and keep a safe distance to other road users and objects on the street. If a driving system malfunctions, other driving safety systems may also switch off. Observe indicator and warning lamps that may come on as well as messages in the multifunction display that may appear.

ABS G Observe Safety notes, see page 60. G Warning! Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm, steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pumping the brake pedal defeats the purpose of the ABS and significantly reduces braking effectiveness. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates the brake pressure so that the wheels do not lock during braking. This allows you to maintain the ability to steer your vehicle. The ABS is functional above a speed of approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent of road surface conditions. On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will respond even to light brake pressure. The ABS indicator lamp ! in the instrument cluster comes on when you switch on the ignition. It goes out when the engine is running.

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61

Braking At the instant one of the wheels is about to lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the brake pedal. The pulsation indicates that the ABS is in the regulating mode. X Keep firm and steady pressure on the brake

pedal while you feel the pulsation.

Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure yields the advantages provided by the ABS, namely braking power and the ability to steer the vehicle. The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication of hazardous road conditions and functions as a reminder to take extra care while driving.

Emergency brake maneuver X Keep continuous full pressure on the brake

pedal. G Warning! If the ABS malfunctions, other driving safety systems such as the BAS or the ESP® are also switched off. Observe indicator and warning lamps that may come on as well as messages in the multifunction display that may appear. If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock during hard braking, reducing steering capability and extending the braking distance.

BAS G Observe Safety notes, see page 60. The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in emergency situations. If you apply the brakes very quickly, the BAS provides full brake boost automatically, thereby potentially reducing the braking distance. X Apply continuous full braking pressure until

the emergency braking situation is over. The ABS will prevent the wheels from locking.

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When you release the brake pedal, the brakes function again as normal. The BAS is then deactivated. G Warning! If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system still functions, but without the additional brake boost available that the BAS would normally provide in an emergency braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking distance may increase.

Adaptive Brake Adaptive Brake provides a high level of braking safety as well as increased braking comfort. Adaptive Brake takes driver and vehicle characteristics into consideration, thus achieving an optimal braking effect. In addiditon, Adaptive Brake provides the hill- start assist system (Y page 183). For more information on the brake system, see (Y page 255).

EBP G Observe Safety notes, see page 60. The Electronic Brake Proportioning (EBP) enhances braking effectiveness by allowing the rear brakes to supply a greater proportion of the braking effort in straight-line braking without a loss of vehicle stability. G Warning! If the EBP malfunctions, the brake system will still function with full brake boost. However, the rear wheels could lock up during emergency braking situations, for example. You could lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. Adapt your driving style to the changed driving characteristics.

ESP® G Observe Safety notes, see page 60. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) is operational as soon as the engine is running. It monitors the vehicle’s traction (force of adhesive friction between the tires and the road surface) and handling. The ESP® recognizes that the vehicle deviates from the direction of travel as intended by the driver. By applying brakes to individual wheels and by limiting the engine output, the ESP® works to stabilize the vehicle. The ESP® is especially useful while driving off and on wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP® also stabilizes the vehicle during braking and steering maneuvers. The ESP® warning lamp d in the instrument cluster comes on when you switch on the ignition. It goes out when the engine is running. The ESP® warning lamp d in the instrument cluster flashes when the ESP® is engaged. G Warning! Never switch off the ESP® when you see the ESP® warning lamp d flashing in the instrument cluster. In this case proceed as follows: RWhen driving off, apply as little throttle as

possible.

RWhile driving, ease up on the accelerator

pedal.

RAdapt your speed and driving style to the

prevailing road conditions.

Failure to observe these guidelines could cause the vehicle to skid. The ESP® cannot prevent accidents resulting from excessive speed.

i Vehicle status messages in the

multifunction display (Y page 270) will refer to the ESP® as ESC.

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! Vehicles with 4MATIC:

Only conduct operational or performance tests on a two-axle dynamometer. If such tests are necessary, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. You could otherwise seriously damage the brake system or the transfer case which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

! Vehicles with 4MATIC:

Because the ESP® operates automatically, the engine and ignition must be shut off (SmartKey in starter switch position 0 or 1 or KEYLESS-GO start/stop button in position 0 or 1) when the parking brake is being tested on a brake test dynamometer. Active braking action through the ESP® may otherwise seriously damage the brake system which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

! Vehicles without 4MATIC:

Because the ESP® operates automatically, the engine and ignition must be shut off (SmartKey in starter switch position 0 or 1 or KEYLESS-GO start/stop button in position 0 or 1) when the parking brake is being tested on a brake test dynamometer or the vehicle is being towed with the front axle raised. Active braking action through the ESP® may otherwise seriously damage the brake system which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

! The ESP® will only function properly if you use wheels of the recommended tire size as specified in the “Technical data” section of this Operator’s Manual.

i The cruise control switches off

automatically when the ESP® engages.

Electronic Traction System (ETS/4-ETS) G Observe Safety notes, see page 60. The ETS (Electronic Traction System) and 4-ETS (four-wheel Electronic Traction System, vehicles with 4MATIC only) are components of the ESP®. The ETS/4-ETS improves the vehicle’s ability to utilize available traction, especially under slippery road conditions by applying the brakes to a spinning wheel. Vehicles with 4MATIC also transfer more power to the wheel(s) with traction. When you switch off the ESP®, the ETS/4-ETS is still enabled.

Switching the ESP® off or on (except C 63 AMG) G Warning! The ESP® should not be switched off during normal driving other than in the circumstances described below. Disabling the system will reduce vehicle stability in driving maneuvers. Do not switch off the ESP® when a spare wheel is mounted. To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch off the ESP®. This allows the drive wheels to spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip, for example Rwhen driving with snow chains Rin deep snow Rin sand or gravel G Warning! Switch on the ESP® immediately if the aforementioned circumstances do not apply anymore. Otherwise the ESP® will not stabilize the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a wheel is spinning.

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When you switch off the ESP®, Rthe ESP® will not stabilize the vehicle Rthe engine output is not limited, which

allows the drive wheels to spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip

Rthe ETS/4-ETS will still apply the brakes to

a spinning wheel

Rthe ESP® continues to operate when you

are braking

Rthe cruise control cannot be activated Rthe cruise control switches off if activated i When the ESP® is switched off and one or more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP® warning lamp d in the instrument cluster flashes. However, the ESP® will then not stabilize the vehicle.

X Switching off: With the engine running,

press ESP® switch : until the ESP® warning lamp d in the instrument cluster comes on. The ESP® is switched off. G Warning! When the ESP® warning lamp d is illuminated continuously, the ESP® is switched off or is not operational due to a malfunction. Vehicle stability in standard driving maneuvers is reduced. Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road conditions and to the non-operating status of the ESP®.

! Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended period with the ESP® switched off. This may cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

X Switching on: Press ESP® switch : until

the ESP® warning lamp d in the instrument cluster goes out. You are now again in normal driving mode with the ESP® switched on.

C 63 AMG Switching ESP® SPORT on or off G Warning! ESP® SPORT should not be switched on during normal driving. Switching ESP® SPORT on will result in the following: Rno restriction to engine torque Rsystem-supported traction control is

limited

ESP® SPORT is designed for driving on closed tracks when the vehicle’s natural oversteer and understeer characteristics are desired and requires a highly skilled and experienced driver able to handle these critical driving situations. You could lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident. Please be aware of these limits when you switch on ESP® SPORT. Do not switch on ESP® SPORT when a spare wheel is mounted. To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch on ESP® SPORT. This allows the drive wheels to spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip, for example Rwhen driving with snow chains Rin deep snow Rin sand or gravel

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G Warning! Switch off ESP® SPORT and switch on the ESP® immediately if the aforementioned circumstances do not apply anymore. Otherwise ESP® SPORT will only stabilize the vehicle to a limited extent when it is starting to skid or a wheel is spinning.

When you switch on ESP® SPORT Rthe ESP® stabilizes the vehicle only to a

limited extent

Rthe engine output is limited, but only to the extent that allows the drive wheels to spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip

Rthe ETS will still apply the brakes to a

spinning wheel

Rthe ESP® continues to operate when you

are braking hard

Rthe cruise control cannot be activated Rthe cruise control switches off if activated i When ESP® SPORT is switched on and

one or more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP® warning lamp d in the instrument cluster flashes. However, the ESP® will then stabilize the vehicle only to a limited extent.

X Switching on: With the engine running,

press ESP® SPORT switch : briefly. The ESP® warning lamp d in the instrument cluster comes on. The message

65

Driving safety systems ESC-SPORT appears in the multifunction display.

X Switching off: With the engine running,

press ESP® SPORT switch : briefly. The ESP® warning lamp d in the instrument cluster goes out. The message ESC-ON appears in the multifunction display.

ESP® SPORT switches off automatically when you turn off the engine. When starting the engine, the ESP® is activated automatically. i Vehicle status messages in the

multifunction display (Y page 270) will refer to the ESP® as ESC.

Switching the ESP® off or on G Warning! The ESP® should not be switched off during normal driving. Disabling of the system will result in the following: Rno restriction to engine torque Rloss of system-supported traction control “ESP® OFF” is designed for driving on closed tracks when the vehicle’s natural oversteer and understeer characteristics are desired and requires a highly skilled and experienced driver able to handle these critical driving situations. You could lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident. Please be aware of these limits when you switch off the ESP®. Do not switch off the ESP® when a spare wheel is mounted. To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch off the ESP®. This allows the drive wheels to spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip, for example Rwhen driving with snow chains Rin deep snow Rin sand or gravel

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G Warning! Switch on the ESP® immediately if the aforementioned circumstances do not apply anymore. Otherwise the ESP® will not stabilize the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a wheel is spinning.

When you switch off the ESP®, Rthe ESP® will not stabilize the vehicle Rthe engine output is not limited, which

allows the drive wheels to spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip

Rthe ETS will still apply the brakes to a

spinning wheel

Rthe ESP® continues to operate when you

are braking hard

Rthe cruise control cannot be activated Rthe cruise control switches off if activated i When the ESP® is switched off and one or more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP® warning lamp d in the instrument cluster does not flash. The ESP® will then not stabilize the vehicle.

X Switching off: With the engine running,

press ESP® SPORT switch : until the ESP® warning lamp d and the ESP OFF warning lamp åin the instrument cluster come on. The message ESC-OFF appears in the multifunction display.

i Vehicle status messages in the

multifunction display (Y page 270) will refer to the ESP® as ESC. G Warning! When the ESP® warning lamp d and the ESP® OFF warning lamp å are illuminated continuously, the ESP® is switched off. Vehicle stability in standard driving maneuvers is reduced. Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road conditions and to the non-operating status of the ESP®.

! Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended period with the ESP® switched off. This may cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

X Switching on: With the engine running,

press ESP® SPORT switch : briefly. The ESP® warning lamp d and the ESP® OFF warning lamp å in the instrument cluster go out. The message ESC-ON appears in the multifunction display.

Anti-theft systems Immobilizer The immobilizer prevents unauthorized persons from starting your vehicle. When leaving the vehicle, always take the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The engine can be started by anyone with a valid SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.

Activating X With SmartKey: Remove the SmartKey

from the starter switch.

X With KEYLESS-GO: Turn off the engine and

open the driver’s door.

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Deactivating X Switch on the ignition. i Starting the engine will also deactivate

the immobilizer. In the event that the engine cannot be started (yet the vehicle’s battery is charged), the system is not operational. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA) or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

Anti-theft alarm system Once the alarm system has been armed, a visual and audible alarm is triggered when someone opens Ra door Rthe trunk Rthe hood The alarm will stay on even if the activating element, a door, for example, is closed immediately. The alarm system will also be triggered when Rthe vehicle is opened with the mechanical

key

Ra door is opened from the inside Rthe trunk is opened with the emergency

release button

To cancel the alarm after it has been triggered, see “Canceling the alarm” (Y page 68).

i If the alarm stays on for more than

30 seconds, the Tele Aid system initiates a call to the Customer Assistance Center automatically. The Tele Aid system will initiate the call provided that Ryou have subscribed to the Tele Aid

service

Rthe Tele Aid service has been activated

properly

Rthe necessary mobile phone, power

supply and GPS coverage are available

X Arming: Lock the vehicle with the

SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO. The turn signal lamps flash three times and an acoustic warning sounds three times to indicate that the vehicle is locked. Indicator lamp : flashes to indicate that the alarm system is armed.

i If the turn signal lamps do not flash three

times and the acoustic warning does not sound three times, a door or the trunk may not be properly closed. Close the respective element.

X Disarming: Unlock the vehicle with the

SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO. The turn signal lamps flash once and an acoustic warning sounds once to indicate that the alarm system is disarmed.

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i Unless you open a door or the trunk within approximately 40 seconds after unlocking the vehicle: RThe vehicle will be locked again. RThe anti-theft alarm system will be

rearmed.

Canceling the alarm To cancel the alarm, do one of the following: X Insert the SmartKey into the starter switch. X Press button % or & on the

SmartKey.

In vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: X Grasp an outside door handle.

The SmartKey must be within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.

X Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button. The SmartKey must be inside the vehicle.

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Vehicle equipment .............................. 70
Locking and unlocking ....................... 70
Starter switch positions ..................... 77
Seats .................................................... 79
Multifunction steering wheel ............. 84
Mirrors ................................................. 86
Memory function ................................. 89
Lighting ................................................ 90
Wipers .................................................. 96
Power windows ................................... 98
Driving and parking .......................... 101
Manual transmission ........................ 107
Automatic transmission ................... 108
Transfer case .................................... 116
Instrument cluster ............................ 116
Control system .................................. 118
Audio system .................................... 136
Driving systems ................................ 180
Climate control system .................... 189
Rear window defroster ..................... 196
Power tilt/sliding sunroof ............... 196
Panorama roof with power tilt/ sliding panel ...................................... 199
Loading and storing .......................... 202
Useful features ................................. 207

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Locking and unlocking

Vehicle equipment

i This Operator’s Manual describes all

features, standard or optional, potentially available for your vehicle at the time of purchase. Please be aware that your vehicle might not be equipped with all features described in this manual.

Locking and unlocking Notes G Observe Safety notes, see page 54. When unlocking or locking the vehicle with the SmartKey an acoustic signal sounds. The acoustic signal is activated at the factory. If you wish to deactivate the feature, or adjust its signal volume, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. When unlocking the vehicle, all turn signal lamps flash once. An acoustic signal sounds once, and the locking knobs in the doors move up. The anti-theft alarm system is disarmed. When locking the vehicle, all turn signal lamps flash three times. An acoustic signal sounds three times, and the locking knobs in the doors move down. The anti-theft alarm system is armed. All doors and the trunk must be closed. If you cannot lock or unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey, the batteries in the SmartKey are discharged, the SmartKey is malfunctioning, or the vehicle battery is drained. X Check the batteries in the SmartKey

(Y page 73) and replace them if necessary.

X Use the mechanical key to unlock the

driver’s door and the trunk (Y page 309).

X Use the mechanical key to lock the vehicle

(Y page 310).

X Have the vehicle battery and the vehicle

battery connections checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

If the SmartKey is malfunctioning, contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

SmartKey Your vehicle comes supplied with two SmartKeys, each with remote control and a removable mechanical key. The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks Rthe doors Rthe trunk lid Rthe fuel filler flap

: & Lock button ; F Unlock button for trunk lid = % Unlock button

i USA only:

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause harmful

2.

interference, and this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

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Any unauthorized modification to this device could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

i Canada only:

This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause interference,

and this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

2.

Any unauthorized modification to this device could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

Factory setting X Global unlocking: Press button %. Unless you open a door or the trunk within approximately 40 seconds after unlocking the vehicle: RThe vehicle will be locked again. RThe anti-theft alarm system will be

rearmed.

X Global locking: Press button &.

Selective setting If you frequently travel alone, you may wish to reprogramm the SmartKey. Pressing button % will then only unlock the driver’s door and the fuel filler flap. X Switching on/off: Press and hold buttons

% and & simultaneously for approximately 6 seconds until the battery check lamp (Y page 73) flashes twice.

The SmartKey will then function as follows:

Locking and unlocking

71

X Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler

flap: Press button % once.

X Global unlocking: Press button %

twice.