steering MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 2014 User Guide

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

If you sell yourvehicle, it is important that you
make the buyer aware of this safety
information.Besure to give the buyer this
Operator's Manual.
If the air bags are deployed, you will hear a
bang, andasmall 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 and does not indicatethat there
isafire in the vehicle. The dust might cause
some temporary breathingdifficulty 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.
The air bag installation locationsare
identified by the AIR BAG symbol.
The air bags are deployed if the air bag control
unit detects the need for deployment. Only in
the event of suchasituation will the air bags
provide their supplemental protection.
If the driver and frontpassenger do notwear
their seat belts, it is not possible for the air
bags to provide their supplemental
protection.
In the event of other types of impacts and
impacts below air bag deployment
thresholds, the air bags will not deploy. The
driver and passenger will then be protected
to the extent possible byaproperly fastened
seat belt.Aproperlyfastened seat beltisalso
needed to provide the best possible
protection inarollover.
Air bags provide additional protection; they
are not, however,asubstitute for seat belts.
All vehicle occupants must fasten their seat
belts regardless of whether your vehicle is
equipped with air bags or not.
It is important for your safety and that of your
passenger to have deployed air bags replaced
and to have any malfunctioning air bags
repaired. This will help to make sure the air
bags continue to perform their protective
function for the vehicle occupants in the
event ofacrash.
iAfter an air bag has been deployed, have
the vehicle towed to the nearest qualified
specialist workshop, even if your vehicle is
ready to drive.
Front air bags
Driver's air bagdeploysinfront of the
steering wheel; front-passenger front air
bagdeploysinfront of and above the glove
box.
The front air bags increase protection for the
driver's and front passenger's head and
chest.
They are deployed:
Rat the start of an accident withahigh rate
of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in a
longitudinal direction
Rin the event of certain frontal impacts
Rif the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
Rdepending on whether the seat belt is being
used
Rindependently of other air bags in the
vehicle
If the vehicle rolls over, the front air bags are
generally not deployed.
Your vehicle has adaptive, two-stage front air
bags. The air bag control unit evaluates
vehicle deceleration or acceleration in the
event ofacollision. In the first deployment
stage, the front air bag is filled with part of the
44Occupant safety
Safety

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

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

Deactivating/activating ESP®(AMG
vehicles)
Activating/deactivating SPORT handling
mode
GWARNING
WhenSPORT handling mode is activated,
there isagreater risk of skidding and
accidents.
Only activateSPORT handling mode in the
situations described in the following.
XTo activate:briefly press button.
TheSPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
TheSPORT handling modemessage
appears in the multifunction display.
SPORT handling mode is designed for
driving on designated roads when the
vehicle's own oversteering and
understeering characteristics are desired.
DrivinginSPORT handling mode requires
an extremely qualified and experienced
driver who is able to cope with these critical
driving conditions.
XTo deactivate:briefly press button.
TheSPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
ESP®is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
It may be best to activateSPORT handling
mode in the following situations:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one
or more wheels start to spin, theESP®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. ESP®only stabilizes the vehicle to a
limited degree.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
RESP®only improves driving stability to a
limited degree.
Rtraction control is still activated.
RESP®still provides support when you
brake.
Rengine torque is only restricted toalimited
degree, and the drive wheels are able to
spin. The spinningwheels produce a
cutting effect for better traction.
Vehicles with ECO start/stop function: the
ECO start/stop function switches the engine
off automatically when the vehicle comes to
astop. The engine startsautomatically when
the driver wants to pull away again. ESP®
remains in its previously selected status. For
example, if ESP®was deactivated before the
engine was switched off, ESP®remains
deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
Deactivating/activating ESP®
GWARNING
If you deactivate ESP®,ESP®no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP®in the situations
described in the following.
!Avoid spinningthe driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP®deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
70Driving safety systems
Safety

XTo deactivate:press buttonuntilthe
ESP®OFF warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster.
TheOFFmessage appearsinthe
multifunctiondisplay.
Deactivate ESP®when drivingon
designated roads when the vehicle's own
oversteeringand understeering
characteristics are desired. Drivingwithout
ESP®requiresanextremely qualified and
experienced driverwho is able to cope with
these critical driving conditions.
XTo activate:briefly press button.
The ESP®OFF warning lamp in the
instrumentcluster goes out. TheON
message appears in the multifunction
display.
ESP®is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
If ESP®is deactivated and one or morewheels
start to spin,theESP®warninglamp in
the instrumentcluster does not flash. In such
situations, ESP®will not stabilize the vehicle.
It may be best to deactivateESP®in the
followingsituations:
Rwhen using snowchains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
If you deactivateESP®:
RESP®no longer improves drivingstability.
Rtraction control is still activated.
RPRE-SAFE®is no longer available, nor is it
activated if you brakefirmly and ESP®
intervenes.
RPRE-SAFE®Brake is no longer available, it
is also not activated if you brakefirmly and
ESP®intervenes.
RESP®still provides support when you
brake.
Rengine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.The spinning
wheels produceacuttingeffect for better
traction.
Vehicles with ECO start/stop function: the
ECO start/stop function switches the engine
off automatically when the vehicle comes to
astop. The engine starts automatically when
the driver wants to pull away again. ESP®
remains in its previously selected status. For
example, if ESP®was deactivated before the
engine was switched off, ESP®remains
deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
iObserve the "Important safety notes"
section (Ypage 66).
GWARNING
If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can
still lock, e.g. under full braking. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked ataqualified
specialist workshop.
Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps (Ypage 267) as well as
displaymessages (Ypage 240).
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking.
Driving safety systems71
Safety
Z

Useful information..............................98
Correct driver's seat position............98
Seats....................................................99
Steering wheel..................................106
Mirrors...............................................109
Memoryfunction..............................112
97
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

Useful information
iThis Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please notethat your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systemsand functions.
iRead the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Ypage 26).
Correct driver's seat position
GWARNING
You could lose controlofyour vehicle if you
do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver'sseat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfastenthe seat belt
There isarisk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel and mirror and fasten your
seat belt before startingthe engine.
XObserve the safety guidelines on seat
adjustment (Ypage 99).
XMake sure that seat$is adjusted
properly.
Electrical seat adjustment (Ypage 100)
When adjusting the seat, make sure that:
Ryou are as far away from the driver's air bag
as possible.
Ryou are sitting inanormal upright position.
Ryou can fasten the seat belt properly.
Ryou have moved the backrest to an almost
vertical position.
Ryou have set the seat cushion angle so that
your thighs are gently supported.
Ryou can depress the pedals properly.
XCheck whether the head restraint is
adjusted properly.
When doing so, make sure that you have
adjusted the head restraint so that the back
of your head is supported at eye level by
the center of the head restraint.
XObserve the safety guidelines on steering
wheel adjustment (Ypage 106).
XMake sure that steering wheelis
adjusted properly.
Adjustingthe steering wheel electrically
(Ypage 106)
When adjusting the steering wheel, make
sure that:
Ryou can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent.
Ryou can move your legs freely.
Ryou can see all the displays in the
instrumentcluster clearly.
XObserve the safetyguidelinesfor seat belts
(Ypage 55).
XCheck whether you have fastened seat
beltproperly (Ypage 56).
98Correct driver'sseat position
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

The seat belt should:
Rfit snugly across your body
Rbe routed across the middle of your
shoulder
Rbe routed in your pelvic area across the hip
joints
XBefore starting off, adjust the rear-view
mirror and the exterior mirrors in such a
way that you haveagood view of road and
traffic conditions (Ypage 109).
XVehicles withamemoryfunction:save
the seat, steeringwheel and exterior mirror
settings with the memory function
(Ypage 112).
Seats
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Children could become trapped if they adjust
the seats, particularly when unattended.
There isarisk of injury.
When leaving the vehicle, alwaystake the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you
do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steeringwheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There isarisk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steeringwheel and mirror and fasten your
seat belt before starting the engine.
GWARNING
If you adjust the seat height carelessly, you or
other vehicle occupantscould be trapped and
thereby injured. Children in particular could
accidentally press the electrical seat
adjustmentbuttonsand become trapped.
Thereisariskofinjury.
While moving the seats, make sure thatyour
hands or other body parts do not get under
the lever assembly of the seat adjustment
system.
GWARNING
When you adjustaseat, you or other vehicle
occupantscould become trapped, e.g. on the
seat guide rail. There isarisk of injury.
Make sure when adjustingaseat that no one
has any body parts in the sweep of the seat.
GWARNING
If head restraints are not installed and
adjusted correctly, they cannot provide
protection as intended. There is an increased
risk of injury in the head and neck area, e.g.
in the event of an accident or when braking.
Always drive with the head restraints
installed. Beforedriving off, make sure for
every vehicle occupant that the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at about eye level.
GWARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended level
of protection if the backrest is not in the
upright position.When braking or in the event
of an accident, you could slide underneath the
seat belt and sustain abdomen or neck
injuries, for example. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Adjust the seat properly before beginning
your journey. Always make sure that the seat
is in the upright position.
GWARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. Thus,
we strongly recommendthat children be
placed in the rear seat whenever possible.
Regardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and
Seats99
Seats, steering whee la nd mirrors
Z