seats MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE 2004 User Guide

66 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
iFor information on child seats with
mounting fittings for tether anchorag-
es, see “Installation of infant and child
restraint systems” (
page 69).
For information on LATCH-type child
seat anchors, see “Child seat anchors –
LATCH-type” (
page 70).
Warning!
G
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.!The use of infant or child restraints is
required by law in all 50 states, the Dis-
trict 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 properly secured by a
lap-shoulder belt or, if so equipped, a
child restraint lower anchorage system
that complies 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 man-
ufacturer of compliance with this stan-
dard can be found on the instruction
label on the restraint and in the instruc-
tion manual provided with the restraint.
When using any infant or child restraint
system, be sure to carefully read and
follow all manufacturer’s instructions
for installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels
affixed to inside of vehicle and to infant
or child restraints.
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM1

compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in back seats and be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle’s
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automo-
tive Corp.

67
Safety and Security
Occupant safety
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system Special BabySmart
TM compatible child
seats, designed for use with the
Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are
required for use with the BabySmart
TM air-
bag deactivation system. With the special
child seat properly installed, the passenger
front airbag will not deploy.
The PASS. AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp lo-
cated in the center console will be illumi-
nated, except with the SmartKey removed
or in starter switch position 0.
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.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Children too big for child restraint systems
must ride in back 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
belt positioning for children from 41 lbs until
they reach a height where a lap/shoulder
belt fits properly without a booster.
When the child restraint is not in use, re-
m o v e i t f r o m t h e v e h i c l e o r s e c u r e i t w i t h t h e
seat belt to prevent the child restraint from
becoming a projectile in the event of an ac-
cident.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle; even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system. Unsupervised chil-
dren in a child restraint system may use ve-
hicle equipment and may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iThe system does not deactivate the
side impact airbag and the emergency
tensioning device.

68 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetySelf-test BabySmart
TM1
without special
child seat installed
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position 1 or 2, the
PASS. AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp located
in the center console comes on for approx.
six seconds and then goes out.
If the indicator lamp should not come on or
is continuously lit, the system is not func-
tioning. You must see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before seating any
child on the passenger seat.
For more information see “Practical hints”
section (
page 262).
1BabySmartTM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
Warning!
G
The BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation sys-
tem will ONLY work with a special child seat
designed to operate with it. It will not work
with child seats which are not BabySmart
TM
compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the deactivation sys-
tem. The bottom of the child seat must
make full contact with the passenger seat
cushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat
could cause injuries to the child in case of an
accident, instead of protecting the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.
Warning!
G
When using a BabySmart
TM compatible
child seat on the front passenger seat, the
passenger front airbag will not deploy only if
the PASS. AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp re-
mains illuminated.
Please be sure to check the indicator every
time you use the special system child seat.
Should the light go out while the restraint is
installed, please check installation. If the
light remains out, do not use the
BabySmart
TM restraint to transport children
on the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.

70 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Fold up anchorage ring1.

Securely fasten hook 2, which is part
of the tether strap, to anchorage
ring 1. Child seat anchors – LATCH-type
This vehicle is equipped with two LATCH
(L
ower A
nchors and T
ethers for CH
ildren)
type anchors (at each of the rear seats) for
the installation of a LATCH child seat with
the matching anchor fittings.
If a child seat is not installed, the LATCH
anchors can be folded back between the
seat cushion and the backrest.
1 Anchors
2 Button

Grip inner side of anchors 1 and fold
forward until they audibly lock in place.

Install child seat according to the man-
ufacturer’s instructions.
To fold anchors back

Press down button 2 on each anchor
and return anchor to its catch.
iFor safety, make sure the hook has at-
tached to the ring beyond the safety
catch, as illustrated.
iThe child seat must be firmly attached
in the right and left side anchors.iNon-LATCH-type 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.


71
Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!
G
Children too big for child restraint systems
must ride in back 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 belt positioning for children from
41 lbs until they reach a height where a
lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a
booster.
Before installing the child seat, make sure
anchors
1 are folded out and locked in
place.
Install child seat according to manufactur-
er’s instructions.
T h e c h i l d s e a t m u s t b e f i r m l y a t t a c h e d i n t h e
right and left side anchors 1.
An incorrectly mounted child seat may come
loose during an accident which could result
in serious injury or death to your child.
Damaged or impact-damaged child seats or
child seat anchors must be replaced.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system.

81
Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster Control system
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Audio system
Power windows
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof* Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

89
Controls in detail
Seats
 Seats
For information on seat adjustment, see
“Adjusting” (
page 32).
Easy-entry/exit feature*
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards and the
driver’s seat moves to the rear.
This allows easier entry into and exit from
the vehicle when the driver’s door is
opened. However, the engine must be
turned off.
When the SmartKey is inserted in the start-
er switch and the driver’s door is closed,
the steering wheel and the driver’s seat re-
turn to their last set position. You can activate the following functions:


Steering column:
Only the steering column is adjusted.


Steering column and seat:
The steering column and the seat are
adjusted.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be
switched on or off in the convenience sub-
menu of the control system (
page 130).
Warning!
G
You must make sure that no one can be-
come trapped or injured by the moving
steering wheel and driver’s seat when the
easy-entry / exit feature* is activated, the
driver’s door is being opened and the engine
is turned off or the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature*, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iTo cancel seat/steering wheel move-
ment, do one of the following:

Press the seat adjustment
switch*(
page 35).


Move the steering column stalk*
(page 38).


Press the memory button*
(page 96).

90 Controls in detailSeatsRemoving and installing front seat head restraints
For more information on head restraint ad-
justment, see “Adjusting” (
page 32).Front seat head restraints, manual seat
1 Release button Removing front seat head restraints

Pull head restraint to its highest posi-
tion.

Press release button
1 and pull out
head restraint.
Installing front seat head restraints

Insert head restraint and push it down
to the stop.

Press release button 1 and adjust
head restraint to desired position.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint 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 ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.
iTilt the backrest to the rear for easier
removal and installation of the head re-
straints.

91
Controls in detail
Seats
Front seat head restraints, power seat*
Removing front seat head restraints
Press switch
1 upwards and hold until
the head restraint is fully extended.

Pull out head restraint.
Installing front seat head restraints

Press switch 1 upwards and hold for
about five seconds.

Push the head restraint down until it
engages.

Adjust head restraint to desired posi-
tion.
Rear seat head restraints
Head restraint height
1 Release button
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
If the head restraint is fully retracted,
press release button 1 and pull the
head restraint out. Lowering:

To lower the head restraint, press re-
lease button
1 and press down on the
head restraint.Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint 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 ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.

92 Controls in detailSeatsFolding head restraints back
The rear seat head restraints can be folded
backward for increased visibility.1 Release button
Press release button 1.
The head restraints will fold backward. Placing head restraints upright

Pull the head restraint forward until it
locks into position.Head restraint tilt
Two different head restraint angle posi-
tions are available.

Press the release button and tilt the
head restraint to the desired position.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the
rear head restraints in the upright position
when the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.
!Make sure the head restraints engage
when placing them upright. Otherwise
their protective function cannot be as-
sured.