warning lights MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS HATCHBACK 2011 User Guide

You can also cancel the rear seat belt status
indicator immediately:
X
Press the aor% button on the steer-
ing wheel.
i The status indicator for the rear-compart-
men tseat belts is only available for certain
countries.
Belt tensioners, belt force limiters G
WARNING
If the seat belt tensioners have been trig-
gered, they provide no additional protection
in the event of another accident. Therefore,
have belt tensioners which have been trig-
gered replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Comply with safety regulations when dispos-
ing of belt tensioners. Any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre can provide details of these
regulations.
! If the front-passenger seat is not occu-
pied, do not engage the seat belt tongue in
the buckle on the front-passenger seat.
Otherwise, the belt tensioner could be trig-
gered in the event of an accident.
The fron tseat belts are equipped with belt
tensioners and belt force limiters. The outer
seat belts in the rear are equipped with seat
belt tensioners.
The belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in
an accident, pulling them close against the
body.
Belt tensioners do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
Belt tensioners do not pull vehicle occupants
back towards the backrest.
When triggered, seat belt force limiters help
to reduce the peak forc eexerted by the seat
belt on the vehicle occupant.
The front belt force limiters are synchronised
with the front airbags, which take on a part of
the deceleratio nforce. Thus, the force exer- ted on the occupant is distributed over a
greater area.
The belt tensioners can only be activated
when:
R the ignition is switched on.
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" (Y page 39).
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the three-point seat belts in the
front.
The belt tensioners on the outside seats in the
rear compartment are triggered independ-
ently of the lock status of the seat belts.
The belt tensioners are triggered depending
on the type and severity of an accident:
R in the event of a head-on or rear-end colli-
sion if the vehicle decelerates or acceler-
ates rapidly in a longitudinal direction dur-
ing the initial stages of the impact
R 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 is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard. The 6SRS warning lamp
lights up. Children in the vehicle
Child restraint systems
Important safety notes G
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious or even fatal
injury to the child in the event of a sudden
change in direction, braking or an accident:
R children less than 1.50 m tall and under
twelve years of age must always be secured
in special child restraint systems on a suit-
able vehicle seat. This is necessary Children in the vehicle
47Safety
Z

Proceed as follows:
R
do not use a rearward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
R fit a rearward-facing child restraint system
on a suitable rear seat.
or
R only use a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat and
move the front-passenger seat to the rear-
most position.
R have the automatic child seat recognition
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
To ensure that the automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat func-
tions/communicates correctly, never place
objects, e.g. a cushion, under the child
restraint system. The entire base of the child
restraint system must always rest on the seat
cushion. An incorrectly fitted child restraint
system cannot perform its intended protec-
tive function in the event of an accident, and
could lead to injuries. G
WARNING
Do not place electronic devices on the front-
passenger seat, e.g.:
R laptops, when switched on
R mobile phones
R cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes or
access cards
Signals from electronic equipment can cause
interference in the automatic child seat rec-
ognition sensor system. This can lead to a
system malfunction. This may cause the
4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp to light up without there being a child
seat with transponders for automatic child
seat recognition fitted. The front-passenger
airbag will not then deploy during an accident.
It is also possible that the 6SRS warning
lamp lights up and/or the 4PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp does not light up briefly when you turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 2. If your vehicle does not have automatic child
seat recognition 1
on the front-passenger
seat, this is indicated by a special sticker. The
sticker is affixed to the side of the dashboard
on the front-passenger side. The sticker is
visible when you open the front-passenger
door. The front-passenger seat sensor system for
child restraint systems detects whether a
special Mercedes-Benz child seat with a
transponder for automatic child seat recog-
nition has been fitted. In this case,
4
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp :
lights up. The front-passenger fronta irbag is
disabled.
1 Vehicles without automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenge rseat: if you turn the key to position
2int he ignition lock, the 4PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp lights up briefly but has no function.
It does not indicate that there is automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat. 50
Children in the vehicleSafety

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If AB Sis faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. This limits the steerability of the vehi-
cle when braking and the braking distance
may increase.
If ABS is deactivated due to a malfunction,
then BAS and ESP are also deactivated. There
is an increased risk of your vehicle skidding in
certain situations.
You should always adapty our driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.
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.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road-surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently.
The yellow !ABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition
is switched on. It goes out when the engine is
running.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
Brakes G
WARNING
Do not depress the brake pedal several times
in quick succession (pumping). Pumping the
brake pedal reduces the braking effect .You
might otherwise not be able to stop the vehi-
cle in time and could cause an accident.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and smoothly.
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. If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving.
BAS (Brake Assist)
G
WARNING
If BAS has malfunctioned, the braking system
remains available with full brake boosting
effect. However, braking force is not auto-
matically increased in emergency braking sit-
uations and the stopping distance may
increase.
X Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62). COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
General notes COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST consists of
the BAS PLUS system and the distance warn-
ing signal, which are described in the follow-
ing.
Distance warning
G
WARNING
The distance warning signal cannot always
clearly identify objects and complex traffic
situations. Driving safety systems
63Safety
Z

In such cases, the distance warning signal
may:
R
give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident. Always pay par-
ticula rattention to the traffi csituation and be
ready to brake, especially if the distance
warning signal alerts you. G
WARNING
The distance warning signal does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
Thus, the distance warning signal cannot pro-
vide a warning in all critical situations .There
is a risk of an accident. Always pay careful
attention to the traffic situation and be ready
to brake.
X To activate/deactivate: activate or deac-
tivate the distance warning signal in the on-
board computer (Y page 199).
When the distance warning signal is activa-
ted, the multifunction display shows the
Ä symbol as long as the HOLD function is
not activated (Y page 162). On vehicles with
Active Parking Assist, the Äsymbol is dis-
played when position Pis engaged or you are
driving faster than 35 km/h.
The distance warning signal can help you to
minimise the risk of a front-end collision with
a vehicle ahead or reduce the effects of such
a collision. If the distance warning signal
detects that there is a risk of a collision, you
will be warned visually and acoustically .The
distance warning signal cannot prevent a col-
lision without your intervention.
The distance warning signal will issue a warn-
ing at speeds of around 30 km/h or more if:
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too
short for the speed you are driving at for
several seconds. The ·distance warn- ing lamp then lights up in the instrument
cluster.
R you are rapidly approaching the vehicle in
front. An intermittent warning tone will
then sound and the ·distance warning
lamp will light up in the instrumentc luster.
X Brake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or
X Take evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
For the distance warnin gsignal to assist you
when driving, the function must be activated
in the on-board computer (Y page 199) and
be operational.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated driving conditions may cause the
system to display an unnecessary warning.
With the help of the radar sensor system, the
distance warning signal can detect obstacles
that are in the path of your vehicle for an
extended period of time.
At speeds up to approximately 70 km/h, the
distance warning signal may also detect sta-
tionary obstacles, for example, stopped or
parked vehicles.
If you approach an obstacle and the distance
warning signal detects a risk of a collision, the
system will initially alert you both visually and
acoustically.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else cover-
ing the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R the possibility of strong radar reflections,
for example, in multi-storey car parks
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle travelling in front on a different
line
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of 64
Driving safety systemsSafety

Adaptive brake lamps
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS
or BA SPLUS, the brake lamps flash rapidly.
In this way, traffic travelling behind you is
warned in an even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
lightu p continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/ h.You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning switch button (Y page 99).
i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
certain countries. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the ÷ warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
R do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weathe rconditions.
Otherwise, the vehicle could go into a skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident if
you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override the
laws of physics.
! Switch the ignition off when:
R the electric parking brake is being tested
using a brake dynamometer.
R the vehicle is being towed with the front/
rear axle raised.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system. If ESP
®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. If necessary, the engine output is also
modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Traction control Traction control is part of ESP
®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side.
Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate ESP ®
.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
Deactivating/activating ESP ® G
WARNING
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and åwarning
lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not availa-
ble due to a malfunction.
There is an increased risk of your vehicle skid-
ding in certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather condi-
tions. 66
Driving safety systemsSafety

ESP
®
is activated automaticall ywhen the
engine is started.
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrumentc luster flashes.Insuch situa-
tions, ESP ®
will no tstabilise the vehicle.
X To deactivate:( Ypage 198).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluste rlights up.
X To activate:(Y page 198).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrumen tcluster goes out.
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 G
WARNING
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited, and
the drive wheels can spin .The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
i Vehicles with ECO start/stop function:
the ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
comes to a stop. When pulling away again,
the engine starts automatically .ESP ®
remains in its previously selected status.
Example: if ESP ®
was deactivated before
the engine was switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
traile rstabilisation will not be able to prevent
the trailer fro mswerving and will thus be
unable to reduce the risk of an accident. Trail-
ers with a high centre of gravity can tip over
before ESP ®
can detect this.
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
lurch, you can only stabilise the vehicle/
trailer combination by depressing the brake
firmly.
In this situation, ESP ®
assists you and can
detect if the vehicle/trailer combination
begins to lurch. ESP ®
slows the vehicle down
by braking and limiting the engine output until
the vehicle/trailer combination has stabi-
lised.
Trailer stabilisation is active above speeds of
about 65 km/h.
Trailer stabilisation does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function. EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
G
WARNING
If EB Dhas malfunctioned, the braking system
remains available with full brake boosting
effect .However, the rear wheels can still lock,
e.g. under full braking. This could cause you
to lose control of your vehicle and cause an
accident .You should therefore adapt your
driving style to the different handling charac-
teristics. Driving safety systems
67Safety Z

The exterior lighting (except the side lamps/
parking lamps) switches off automatically if
you:
R remove the key from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the key in posi-
tion 0
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X Turn the light switch to Ã.
Dipped-beam headlamps X
To switch on the dipped-beam head-
lamps: turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to L.
The L indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
Daytime driving lights You can activate or deactivate the daytime
driving lights function using the on-board
computer (Y page 201).
X Daytime driving lights: activate the day-
time driving lights function using the on-
board computer.
X Turn the light switch to Ã.
When the engine is on: depending on the
ambient light conditions, the daytime driv-
ing lights or the parking and dipped-beam
headlamps are switched on.
When the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on, the Lindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
Automatic headlamp mode G
WARNING
If the light switch is set to Ã, the dipped-
beam headlamps will not come on automati-
cally if it is foggy. This could endanger you and
others. Therefore, turn the light switch to
L in fog. The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's
lighting at all times.
X To switch on automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to Ã.
Key in position 1in the ignition lock: the
side lamps are switched on or off automat-
ically depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
With the engine running: depending on the
brightness of the ambient light, the daytime
driving lights 5
or the dipped-beam head-
lamps are switched on or off automatically.
When the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on, the Lindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
Front foglamps and rear foglamp Foglamps
Only vehicles with frontf
oglamps have the
"Foglamps" function. G
WARNING
If you suspect that driving conditions will be
foggy, turn the light switch to Lbefore you
start your journey. Your vehicle may other-
wise not be visible and you could endanger
yourself and others.
X To switch on the foglamps: turn the key
in the ignition lock to position 2or start the
engine.
X Turn the light switch to T,Lor
Ã.
X Press the Nbutton.
The green Nindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
X To switch off the front foglamps: press
the N button.
The green Nindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
5 Only if daytime driving lights have been activated via the on-board computer. Exterior lighting
97Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Main-beam headlamps
X
To switch on the main-beam head-
lamps: turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to LorÃ.
X Press the combination switch beyond the
pressure point in the direction of
arrow :.
In the Ãposition, the main-beam head-
lamps are only switched on when it is dark
and the engine is running.
The K indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the main-beam head-
lamps are switched on.
X To switch off the main-beam head-
lamps: move the combination switch back
to its normal position.
The K indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Headlamp flasher X
To switch on: turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 1or 2, or start the engine.
X Pull the combination switch in the direction
of arrow =. Hazard warning lamps The hazard warning lamps automatically
switch on if:
R
an airbag is deployed.
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a
speed of more than 70 km/h and comes to
a standstill.
X To switch on the hazard warnin glamps:
press button :.
All turn signals flash. If you now switch on
a turn signal using the combination switch,
only the turn signal lamp on the corre-
sponding side of the vehicle will flash.
X To switch off the hazard warning
lamps: press button :.
The hazard warning lamps switch off auto-
matically if the vehicle reaches a speed of
over 10 km/h again after a full brake appli-
cation.
i The hazard warning lamps still operate if
the ignition is switched off. Intelligen
tLight System
Important notes The Intelligent Light System is a syste
mthat
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit
the prevailing driving and weather conditions.
It offers advanced functions for improved illu-
mination of the road surface, e.g. depending
on the vehicle speed or weather conditions.
The system includes the active light function,
cornering light function, motorway mode and
extended range foglamps. The system is only
active when it is dark.
You can activate or deactivate the "Intelligent
Light System" using the on-board computer
(Y page 201). Exterior lighting
99Lights and windscreen wipers Z

the illumination of the edge of the carriage-
way.
Active: if you are driving at speeds below
70 km/h and yo uswitch on the rear foglamp
Not active: if you are driving at speeds above
10 0k m/h or if you switch off the rear foglamp
following activation Adaptive Highbeam Assist
G
WARNING
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only an aid
designed to assist driving. The driver is
responsible for adjusting the vehicle's lighting
to the prevailing light, visio nand traffic con-
ditions.
The system may be impaired or deactivated:
R if there is poor visibility, e.g .due to snow,
rain, fog or spray
R if the area of the windscree naround the
optical sensor is dirty, misted up or covered
up, e.g. by a sticker
The system may not recognise the following
road users:
R road users that have no lighting, e.g. pedes-
trians
R road users that have poor lighting, e.g.
cyclists
R road users whose lighting is not clearly visi-
ble, e.g. road users behind a crash barrier
R on rare occasions: road users that have
lights that may be recognised too late or not
at all
The automatic main-beam headlamps will not
be deactivated, or they may be activated
despite road users travelling in front of or
approaching the vehicle.
Thus, you could cause an accident and injure
yourself and others. Always observe traffic
conditions and, if necessary, dip the lights
manually.
You can use this function to set the head-
lamps to change between dipped beama ndmain beam automatically. The system recog-
nises vehicles with thei
rlights on, either
approaching fro mthe opposite direction or
travelling in front of your vehicle, and conse-
quently switches the headlamps from main
beam to dipped beam.
The system automatically adapts the dipped-
beam headlamp range depending on the dis-
tance to the other vehicle. Once the system
no longer detects any other vehicles, it reac-
tivates the main-beam headlamps.
The system's optical sensor is located behind
the windscreen near the overhead control
panel. X
To activate: activate the Adaptive High-
beam Assist function using the on-board
computer (Y page 202).
X Turn the light switch to Ã.
X Press the combination switch beyond the
pressure point in the direction of
arrow :(Ypage 98).
The _ indicator lamp in the multifunc-
tion display lights up if it is dark and the
light sensor activates the dipped-beam
headlamps.
If you are driving at speeds above
45 km/h: Exterior lighting
101Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Interior lighting control
Important notes In order to preven
tthe vehicle's battery from
discharging, the interior lighting functions are
automatically deactivated after some time
except for when the key is in position 2in the
ignition lock.
Automatic interior lighting control X
To switch on: set the switch to centre
position B.
X To switch off: set the switch to the |
position.
The interior lighting automatically switches
on if you:
R unlock the vehicle
R open a door
R remove the key from the ignition lock
The interior lighting is activated for a short
time when the key is removed from the igni-
tion lock. You can activate this delayed
switch-off using the on-board computer
(Y page 202).
Manual interior lighting control X
To switch the front interior lighting on:
set the switch to the cposition.
X To switch the front interior lighting off:
set the switch to the |position.
X To switch the rear interior lighting on/
off: press the ubutton.
X To switch the reading lamps on/off:
press the pbutton. Crash-responsive emergency lighting
The interior lighting is activated automatically
if the vehicle is involved in an accident. X
To switch off the crash-responsive
emergency lighting: press the hazard
warning lamp button.
or
X Lock and then unlock the vehicle using the
key. Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes
Xenon bulbs G
DANGER
Xenon bulbs are under high voltage. If you
touch the electrical contacts of a xenon bulb,
you could suffer an electric shock and be seri-
ously or even fatally injured. For this reason,
do not remove the cover of xenon bulbs.
Do not change the xenon bulbs yourself, but
have them replaced at a qualified workshop.
If your vehicle is equipped with xenon bulbs,
you can recognise this by the following: the
cone of light from the xenon bulbs moves
from the top to the bottom and back again
when you start the engine. For this to be
observed, the lights must be switched on
before starting the engine.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
Other bulbs G
WARNING
Bulbs and lamps can be very hot. You should
therefore allow them to cool down before you
change them. Otherwise, you could be burned
if you touch them.
Keep bulbs out of the reach of children. Oth-
erwise, they could damage the bulbs, for
example, and injure themselves. Replacing bulbs
103Lights and windscreen wipers
Z