ESP MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 2014 User Guide

Center console, lower section (AMG vehicles)
FunctionPage
Cup holder284
Engages parking positionP168
Selector lever155
Ashtray287
Cigarettelighter288
Socket289
COMAND controller; see
theseparate operating
instructions
FunctionPage
Stowage compartment278
\rCalls up/saves the
suspension tuning191
Setsthesuspension
tuning191
 ESP®70
Drive program selector159
36Center console
At ag lance

RNo modifications of any kind may be made
to any components or wiring of the SRS.
RDo not change or remove any component
or part of the SRS.
RDo not install additional trim material,seat
covers, badges, etc. to the:
-padded steering wheel boss
-knee bag covers
-front-passenger air bag cover
-outer side of front seat bolsters
-side trim next to the rear seat backrest
-roof lining trim
RDo not install additional electrical/
electronic equipment on or near SRS
components and wiring.
RKeep area between air bags and occupants
free of objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).
RDo not hang items such as coat hangers
from the coat hooks or handles over the
door. These items may be thrown around in
the vehicle and cause head and other
injuries when the window curtain air bag is
deployed.
RAir bag system components willbehot after
an air bag has inflated. Do not touch them.
RNever place yourfeet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
RImproper repairwork on the SRS creates a
risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended air bag deployment.
Work on the SRS must thereforeonly be
performed by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
RFor your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit or
ETD, our safety instructions must be
followed. These instructions are available
from any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
RGiven the considerable deployment speed,
required inflation volume, and the material
of the air bags, there is the possibility of
abrasions or other, potentially more serious
injuries resulting from air bag deployment.
If you sell your vehicle, Mercedes-Benz
strongly recommends that you inform the
subsequent owner that the vehicle is
equipped with SRS. Also, refer them to the
applicablesection in the Operator's Manual.
Air bags
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you modify the air bag covers or affix objects
such as stickers to them, the air bags may not
function correctly. There is an increased risk
of injury.
Never modify the air bag covers or affix
objectstothem.
GWARNING
Using unsuitable seat covers could restrictor
even preventdeployment of the air bags
integrated into the seats. Consequently, the
air bags cannot protectvehicle occupantsas
they are designed to do. In addition, the
function of the air bag deactivation system
could be restricted. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
You should only use seat coversthat have
been approved for the respective seat by
Mercedes-Benz.
GWARNING
The air bag parts are hot after the airbag has
been deployed. There isarisk of injury.
Do not touch the air bag parts. Have the
deployed air bags replaced ataqualified
specialist workshop as soon as possible.
42Occupant safety
Safety

GWARNING
Air bagsare designed to reduce the incidence
of injuriesand fatalities in certain situations:
Rfrontal impacts (driver's and front-
passenger front air bagsand knee bags)
Rside impacts (sideimpact air bags, window
curtainair bags and pelvis air bags)
Rrollover (window curtain air bags)
However, no system available today can
completely eliminate injuries and fatalities.
When the air bags are deployed,asmall
amount of powder is released.The powder
generally does not constituteahealth hazard
and does not indicate that there isafire in the
vehicle. In order to prevent potential
breathing difficulties, you should leave the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you
have any breathing difficulty but cannot get
out of the vehicle after the air bag inflates,
then get fresh air by openingawindow or
door.
GWARNING
In order to reduce the potential danger of
injuries caused during the deployment of the
front air bags, the driver and front passenger
must always be correctly seated and wear
their seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision, you must always be in the normal
seat position with your back against the
backrest. Fasten your seat belt and make sure
that it is correctly positioned on your body.
As the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force,aproper seating position
and correct positioning of the hands on the
steering wheel will help to keep you atasafe
distance from the air bag. Occupants who are
not wearing their seat belt, are not seated
properly or are too close to the air bag can be
seriously injured or killed by an air bag, as it
inflates with great force instantaneously:
Rsit with the seat belt fastened correctly and
inaposition that is as upright as possible
with your back against the backrest.
Rmove the driver's seat as far back as
possible, still permittingproper operation
of vehicle controls. The distance from the
center of the driver's chest to the center of
the air bag cover on the steering wheel
must be at least 10 inches (25 cm). You
should be able to accomplish this by
adjusting the seat and steering wheel. If
you have any difficulties, please contact an
authorized Mercedes-BenzCenter.
Rdo not lean your head or chest close to the
steeringwheel or dashboard.
Ronly hold the steeringwheel on the outside.
Placing hands and arms inside the rim can
increase the risk and potential severityof
hand/arm injury if the driver frontair bag
inflates.
Radjust the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible from the dashboard when the
seat is occupied.
Roccupants, especially children,should
never place their bodies or lean their heads
in the area of the door where the side
impact air bag inflates.This could result in
serious or fatal injuries should the side
impact air bag be deployed. 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.
Failure to follow these instructions can result
in severe injuries to you or other occupants.
Occupant safety43
Safety
Z

totalavailablepropellant gas, thereby
reducing the risk of injury.Ifthe airbag
control unitrecognizeswithinafew
milliseconds thatthe vehicle is being braked
or accelerated faster than originally
predicted, the front air bag is filled with the
maximum amount of propellant gas available.
The deployment of the front-passenger front
air bag is also influenced by the weight
category of the front passenger, which is
determined by the Occupant Classification
System (OCS) (Ypage 47).
The lighter the passenger-side occupant, the
higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
(predicted at the start of the impact) for
second-stage inflation of the front-passenger
front air bag. In the second stage, the front
air bags are inflated with the maximum
amount of propellant gas available.
The front air bags are not deployed in
situations wherealow impact severity is
predicted. You will then be protected by the
fastened seat belt.
The front-passenger front air bag will only
deploy if:
Rthe system, based on the OCS weight
sensor readings, detectsthat the front-
passenger seat is occupied
Rthe PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp on the center console is not lit
(Ypage 47)
Rthe air bag control unit predictsahigh
impact severity
Knee bags
Driver's knee bagdeploysunderneath the
steering column and front-passenger knee
bagunderneath the glove box. They
deploy together with the front air bags. They
are designed to operate together with the
front air bags in frontal impacts if certain
thresholds are exceeded. The knee bags
operate at best in conjunction with correctly
positioned and fastened seat belts.
Knee bags provide increased protection for
the driver and front passenger against the risk
of:
Rknee injuries
Rthigh injuries
Rlower leg injuries
Side impact air bags
GWARNING
Using unsuitable seat covers could restrict or
even prevent deployment of the air bags
integrated into the seats. Consequently, the
air bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as
they are designed to do. In addition, the
function of the air bag deactivation system
could be restricted. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
You should only use seat covers that have
been approved for the respective seat by
Mercedes-Benz.
GWARNING
Sensors to control the air bags are located in
the doors. Modifications or work not
performed correctly to the doors or door
paneling, as well as damaged doors, can lead
to the function of the sensors being impaired.
The air bags might therefore not function
properly any more. Consequently, the air bags
cannot protect vehicle occupants as they are
designed to do. There is an increased risk of
injury.
Never modify the doors or parts of the doors.
Always have work on the doors or door
paneling carried out ataqualified specialist
workshop.
Occupant safety45
Safety
Z

or if the front-passenger seat is classified as
being empty.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as
being up to or less than the weight ofatypical
12-month-old child inastandard child
restraint,theindicator lamp will
illuminate when the engine is started and
remain illuminated, indicating that the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat is classified as being empty,
theindicator lamp will illuminate
when the engine is started and remain
illuminated, indicating that the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as
being heavier than the weight ofatypical 12-
month-old child seated inastandardchild
restraint or as beingasmall individual (such
asayoung teenager orasmall adult), the
indicator lamp willilluminate for
approximately6seconds when the engine is
started and then,depending on occupant
weight sensor readings from the front-
passenger seat, remain illuminated or go out.
With theindicator lamp
illuminated, the front-passenger frontair bag
is deactivated. With theindicator
lamp out, the front-passengerfront air bag is
activated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classifiedasan
adult or someone larger thanasmall
individual, theindicator lamp will
illuminate for approximately6seconds when
the engine is started and then go out,
indicating that the front-passenger frontair
bag is activated.
If theindicator lamp is illuminated,
the front-passenger frontair bag and the
front-passenger knee bag are deactivated and
will not be deployed.
If theindicator lamp is not
illuminated, the front-passenger frontair bag
and the front-passengerknee bagare
activatedand will be deployed:
Rin the event of certain frontalimpacts
Rif impact exceedsapreset deployment
threshold
Rindependentlyofthe side impact airbag or
pelvis air bag
If thefront-passenger frontair bag is
deployed, therateofinflation will be
influenced by:
Rtherateofrelevantvehicle deceleration as
assessed by the air bag control unit
Rthe frontpassenger's weightcategoryas
identified by OCS
GWARNING
Accordingtoaccidentstatistics, childrenare
saferwhen properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. Thus,
we strongly recommendthat 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 infant
restraint,toddler restraint,orbooster 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 LATCH-
type (ISOFIX) child seat retaining loops and
Top Tether strap, fully in accordance with the
infant or 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,orbooster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag.
48Occupant safety
Safety

Resetting triggeredNECK-PROhead
restraints/NECK-PROluxuryhead
restraints
NECK-PROheadrestraints
NECK-PRO head restraints
XTilt thetopof theNECK-PRO head restraint
cushion forwards in thedirection of
arrow.
XPush theNECK-PRO head restraint cushion
down in thedirection of arrowas far as
it will go.
XWithyour handflat,firmly push theNECK-
PRO head restraint cushion backwards in
thedirection of arrow$until it engages.
XRepeat this procedure for thesecond
NECK-PRO head restraint.
NECK-PROluxuryheadrestraints
NECK-PRO luxuryhead restraints
XRemoveresettingtoolfrom thevehicle
documentwallet.
XSlideresettingtoolintoguide
between theNECK-PRO luxuryhead
restraint and therear cover of thehead
restraint.
XPush resettingtooldownwards until you
hear thehead restraint deployment
mechanism engage.
XPull out resettingtool.
XWithyour handflat,firmly push theNECK-
PRO luxuryhead restraint cushion
backwards in thedirection of arrow$until
it engages.
XRepeat this procedure for thesecond
NECK-PRO luxuryhead restraint.
XPut resettingtoolback intothevehicle
documentwallet.
iIf you have difficultyresettingtheNECK-
PRO luxuryhead restraints, have this work
carried out ataqualified specialist
workshop.
PRE-SAFE®(anticipatoryoccupant
protection system)
!Makesure that there are no objectsinthe
footwell or behindtheseatswhen resetting
the seats. There isarisk that the seats
and/or the objectscould be damaged.
PRE-SAFE®takes preemptive measures to
protect occupants in certain hazardous
situations. Despite your vehicle being
equipped with the PRE-SAFE®system, the
possibility of personal injuries occurring as a
result of an accident cannot be eliminated.
Always adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditionsand
maintainasafe distance from the vehicle in
front.Drive carefully.
PRE-SAFE®intervenes:
Rif BAS intervenes, e.g. in emergency
braking situations.
Rif BAS PLUS intervenes powerfully—on
vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS.
54Occupant safety
Safety

health hazard and does not indicate that there
isafire in the vehicle. The dust might cause
some temporary breathing difficulty for
people with asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, you may wish to get out
of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
You can also open the window to allow fresh
air to enter the vehicle interior. TheSRS
warning lamp lights up.
If the seat belt is also equipped withaseat
belt force limiter and this is triggered, the
force exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle
occupant is reduced.
The seat belt force limiters for the front seats
are synchronized with the front air bags,
which take onapart of the deceleration force.
This results in the force exerted on the
occupant being distributed overagreater
area.
Children in the vehicle
Child restraint systems
Important safety notes
GWARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front seating
position. Thus, we strongly recommendthat
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
infant restraint,toddler restraint,orbooster
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,orbooster 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 placeachild in the front
passenger seat:
RYour 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 ofastandard appropriate
child restraint on the front passenger seat.
RFor children larger than the typical
12-month-old child, the front passenger
front air bag may or may not be activated.
Always make sure theindicator
lamp is illuminated, indicatingthat the front
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
RAchild inarear-facing child restraint on the
front passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the front passenger
front air bag inflates inacollision 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
placeachild inarear-facing child restraint
in the front seat. We therefore strongly
recommendthat you always placeachild
inarear-facing child restraint inabackseat.
RIf you must installarear-facing child
restraint on the front passenger seat
because circumstances require you to do
so, make sure theindicator
lamp is illuminated, indicatingthat the front
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
Should theindicator lamp not
illuminateorgoout while the restraint is
installed, please checkinstallation.
Periodically check theindicator
lamp while drivingtomake sure the
indicator lamp is illuminated. If the
indicator lamp goes out or
remainsout, do not transportachild on the
60Children in thevehicle
Safety

GWARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
Ropen the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
Rget out and disrupt traffic.
Roperate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children couldset the vehiclein
motion if, for example, they:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshifting the automatic transmission out of
park positionP
RStart the engine.
There isarisk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, alwaystake the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
GWARNING
If persons, particularlychildren are subjected
to prolonged exposure to extreme heator
cold,there isariskofinjury,possiblyeven
fatal. Never leave children unattendedinthe
vehicle.
GWARNING
If the child restraint system is subjected to
direct sunlight, parts may get very hot.
Children mayburn themselves on these parts,
particularly on the metal parts of the child
restraint system. There isarisk of injury.
If you leave the vehicle, takingthe child with
you, alwaysensure that the child restraint
system is not exposed to direct sunlight.
Protectitwithablanket,for example. If the
child restraint system has been exposed to
direct sunlight, let it cool down before
securing the child in it. Never leave children
unattended in the vehicle.
If an infantorchild is traveling in the vehicle:
RSecure the child withachild or infant seat
restraint system appropriate to the age and
weight of the child.
RMake sure that the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
Mercedes-Benzrecommends that you always
properly secure all infants and children with
achild or infantseat restraint system for the
trip.
The use of seat belts and infantand child
restraint systemsisrequired by lawin:
Rall50states
Rthe U.S. territories
Rthe District of Columbia
RallCanadianprovinces
Infants and children must alwaysbeseated in
an appropriate infant or child restraint system
recommendedfor the size and weight of the
child.The infant or child restraint system
must be properly secured in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions.
All infant or child restraint systems must meet
the following standards:
RU.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225
RCanadianMotor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 210.2
Confirmation that the child restraint system
corresponds to the standards can be found
on an instruction label on the child restraint
system. This confirmation can also be found
in the installation instructions that are
included with the child restraint system.
Always read and follow the manufacturer's
instructions when using an infant or child
restraint system or booster seat.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle
interior or on the infant or child restraint.
62Children in the vehicle
Safety

XTo activate/deactivate:press button.
If indicator lampis lit, operationofthe
rear side windows is disabled. Operation is
only possible using the switches in the
driver's door. If indicator lampis off,
operation is possible using the switches in
the rear compartment.
Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
RABS (Anti-lockBrakingSystem)
(Ypage 66)
RBAS (BrakeAssistSystem) (Ypage 67)
RBAS PLUS (BrakeAssistSystem Plus)
(Ypage 67)
RESP®(ElectronicStabilityProgram)
(Ypage 68)
REBD (ElectronicBrake forceDistribution)
(Ypage 71)
RADAPTIVE BRAKE (Ypage 72)
RPRE-SAFE®Brake (Ypage 72)
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or
become distracted, the driving safety
systems can neither reduce the risk of
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Driving safety systems are merely aids
designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front,for vehicle speed and for braking in
good time. Always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road, weather and traffic
conditionsand maintainasafe distancefrom
thevehicle in front. Drive carefully.
iThe driving safety systems describedonly
work as effectivelyaspossible when there
is adequatecontactbetween thetires and
theroad surface. Pleasepay special
attentiontothenotesontires,
recommendedminimumtire tread depths,
etc.(Ypage 334).
In wintry drivingconditions, always use
winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary,
snowchains. Only in this way will the
drivingsafetysystems described in this
section work as effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Importantsafetynotes"
section(Ypage 66).
GWARNING
If ABSisfaulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking
characteristics may be severely impaired.
Additionally, further driving safety systems
are deactivated. There is an increased danger
of skidding and accidents.
Drive on carefully.Have ABS checked
immediately ataqualified specialist
workshop.
When ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information
on the ABS warning lamp (Ypage 267) and
displaymessages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (Ypage 238).
ABS regulates brake pressure in suchaway
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
66Driving safety systems
Safety

Asaresult, BAS PLUS may not intervene in all
critical situations. There isarisk of an
accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
Rdirt on the sensorsoranythingelse
covering the sensors
Rsnow or heavy rain
Rinterference by other radar sources
Rthere are strong radar reflections, for
example in parking garages
Ranarrow vehicle travelinginfront, e.g. a
motorbike
Ravehicle travelinginfrontonadifferent line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Following damage to the frontend of the
vehicle, have the configurationand operation
of the radarsensorschecked ataqualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where thereisno
visible damage to the frontofthe vehicle.
Braking assistance
To preventacollision with the vehicle in front,
BAS PLUS calculates the brake force
necessary if:
Ryou approach an obstacle, and
RBAS PLUS has detectedarisk of collision
When driving ataspeed under 20 mph
(30 km/h):ifyou depress the brake pedal,
BAS PLUS is activated. The increase in brake
pressure will be carried out at the last
possible moment.
When driving ataspeed greater than
20 mph (30 km/h):ifyou depress the brake
pedal sharply, BAS PLUS automatically raises
the brake pressure toavalue adapted to the
traffic situation.
If BAS PLUS demands particularly high
braking force, preventative passenger
protection measures (PRE-SAFE®)are
activated simultaneously.
XKeep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergencybraking situation is over.
ABS preventsthe wheels from locking.
BAS PLUS is deactivated and the brakes
function as usual if:
Ryou release the brake pedal
Rthere is no longerarisk of collision
Rno obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle
ESP®(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes"
section (Ypage 66).
GWARNING
If ESP®is malfunctioning, ESP®is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further
driving safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP®checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC: switch off the
ignition when the parking brake is being
tested onabrake dynamometer.
Application of the brakes by ESP®may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
Vehicles without 4MATIC: observe the notes
on ESP®(Ypage 330) when towing the
vehicle witharaised rear axle.
ESP®is deactivated if the warning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up
continuously when the engine is running.
If thewarning lamp and the
warning lamp are lit continuously, ESP®is not
available due toamalfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Ypage 269) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Ypage 238).
68Driving safety systems
Safety