lock MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS SEDAN 2012 Owner's Manual

GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. 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:
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock 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 on these
parts.
GWARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or trunk unless they
are firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
Special seat belt retractor
All seat belts except the driver's seat belt are
equipped with a special seat belt retractor.
When activated, the special seat belt
retractor ensures the seat belt will not
slacken once the child restraint system has
been secured.
Installing a child restraint system:XAlways comply with the manufacturer's
installation instructions.XPull the seat belt smoothly from the inertia
reel.XEngage the seat belt tongue in the belt
buckle.
Activating the special seat belt retractor:
XPull the seat belt out fully and let the inertia
reel retract it again.
While the seat belt is retracting, you should
hear a ratcheting sound. The special seat
belt retractor is enabled.XPush down on the child restraint system to
take up any slack.
Removing a child restraint system/
deactivating the special seat belt retractor:
XAlways comply with the manufacturer's
installation instructions.XPress the seat belt release button and
guide the belt tongue to the belt outlet.
The special seat belt retractor is
deactivated.GWARNING
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat belt
retractor will be deactivated.
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat anchors
in the rear
GWARNING
Children that are too large for a child restraint
must travel in seats using normal seat belts.
Position shoulder belt across the 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
68Children in the vehicleSafety

XVehicles with electrically adjustable rear
seats: move the rear seat backrests to an
upright position ( Y page 108).XRemove respective covering cap : of the
Top Tether anchorage.XPlace covering cap : in a suitable place
(e.g. in the glove box).XMove the head restraint upwards.XRoute Top Tether belt ? under the head
restraint between the two head restraint
bars.XHook Top Tether hook = of Top Tether
belt ? into Top Tether anchorage ;.
Ensure that:
R Top Tether hook = is hooked into Top
Tether anchorage ; as shown.
R Top Tether belt ? is not twisted.
R Top Tether belt ? can move freely
between the rear seat backrest and the
head restraint.XInstall the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system with Top Tether. Comply
with the manufacturer's installationinstructions when doing so. Make sure that
Top Tether belt ? is tight.
The child restraint system with Top Tether
belt ? has been removed:
XSlide covering cap : onto Top Tether
anchorage ;.GWARNING
Vehicles with rear power seats:
Never change the rear seat position after
installing the child restraint. This could
R damage the child restraint
R introduce undesirable slack or tension into
the seat belt
R loosen the child restraint
R misposition the child restraint
All of the above will lessen the
effectiveness of the child restraint and thus
increase the chance or severity of injury in
an accident.
Child-proof locks
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Activate the child-proof locks for the rear
doors and the override switch for the rear
windows when children are traveling in the
vehicle.
Children could injure themselves or others
while the vehicle is in motion if, for example,
they:
R open the doors
R open the side windows
R adjust the seats
R operate the cigarette lighter
70Children in the vehicleSafety

GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. 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:
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock 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 on these
parts.
Child-proof locks for the rear doors
GWARNING
Children could open a rear door from inside
the vehicle. This could result in serious
injuries or an accident. Therefore, when
children ride in the rear always secure the rear
doors with the child-proof locks.
You secure each door individually with the
child-proof locks on the rear doors. A door
secured with a child-proof lock cannot be
opened from inside the vehicle. When the
vehicle is unlocked, the door can be opened
from the outside.
XTo activate: press the child-proof lock
lever up in the direction of arrow :.XMake sure that the child-proof locks are
working properly.XTo deactivate: press the child-proof lock
lever down in the direction of arrow ;.
Override feature for the rear side
windows
GWARNING
When children ride on the vehicle's rear seats,
activate the override switch. Otherwise, the
children could be injured, e.g. by trapping
themselves in the rear side window.
For the rear compartment, you can deactivate
operation of:
R the rear side windows
R the cigarette lighter in the rear
R adjustment of the front-passenger seat
from the rear compartment
R the sunblinds:
- in the roof
- of the rear window
- of the rear side windows
Children in the vehicle71SafetyZ

XTo activate/deactivate: press button :.
If indicator lamp ; is lit, the rear-
compartment functions are deactivated.
The rear side windows can then only be
operated using the switches on the driver's
door. If indicator lamp ; is off, the
functions are enabled. The rear side
windows can be operated using the
switches in the rear compartment.
Panic alarm
X To activate: press ! button : for at
least one second.
An alarm sounds and the exterior lighting
flashes.XTo deactivate: press ! button :
again.
or
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
or
XPress the KEYLESS-GO Start/Stop button.The KEYLESS-GO key must be in 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
interference, and
2. 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.
The product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
i Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-Gen of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,
and
2. 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.
The product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock Braking System)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System)
R BAS PLUS ( Brake Assist System Plus)
R ESP ®
(E lectronic Stability Program)
R EBD ( Electronic Brake force Distribution)
72Driving safety systemsSafety

RADAPTIVE BRAKE
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
R Excessive speed, especially in turns
R Wet and slippery road surfaces
R Following 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
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.
GWARNING
HYBRID vehicles: It is imperative that you read
the HYBRID Supplemental Operating
Instructions included in your vehicle literature
portfolio. You may otherwise not receive all
necessary safety information and warning for
the operation of your vehicle.
i Please note that the driving safety
systems described only work as effectively
as possible when there is adequate contact
between the tires and the road surface. Pay
particular attention to the information
regarding tires, recommended minimum
tire tread depths etc. in the "Wheels and
tires" section ( Y page 492).
In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the
driving safety systems described in this
section work as effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 73).
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
( 8 km/h) upwards, regardless of road-surface
conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces,
even if you only brake gently.
GWARNING
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving 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 the steering
capability and extending the braking distance.
The ! warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Brakes
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
Driving safety systems73SafetyZ

XIf ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal vigorously until the braking
situation is over.XTo make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions, and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
GWARNING
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.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 73).
BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake pedal
quickly, BAS automatically boosts the braking
force, thus shortening the stopping distance.
XKeep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
GWARNING
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.
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System Plus)
BAS PLUS is only available in vehicles
equipped with DISTRONIC PLUS.
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 73).
BAS PLUS assists you when braking in a
hazardous situation at speeds of over 4 mph
(7 km/h), and uses the radar sensor system
to assess traffic conditions.
i This device has been approved by the FCC
as a "Vehicular Radar System". The radar
sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removing, altering or
tampering with the device will void any
warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
With the help of the radar sensor system, BAS
PLUS can detect obstacles that are in the
path of your vehicle for an extended period of
time.
BAS PLUS can also react to stationary
obstacles, e.g. stopped or parked vehicles, at
speeds of up to approximately 40 mph
(70 km/h).
Should you approach an obstacle and BAS
PLUS has detected a risk of collision, BAS
PLUS calculates the braking force necessary
to avoid a rear-end collision.
R For speeds above 20 mph (30 km/h) : if
you apply the brakes forcefully, BAS PLUS
automatically increases the braking force
to a level suitable for the traffic conditions.
R For speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h) : if
you apply the brakes, BAS PLUS is
activated. Braking is performed as late as
possible.
If BAS PLUS demands particularly high
braking force, preventative passenger
protection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are
activated simultaneously.XKeep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.74Driving safety systemsSafety

Rtraction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.XTo deactivate: (Y page 386).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.GWARNING
When the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp is lit,
ESP ®
is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp and the
å ESP®
OFF warning lamp remain lit,
ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunction.
When ESP ®
is deactivated or not operational,
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 the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
XTo activate: (Y page 386).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 73).
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking.
GWARNING
If EBD has 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
characteristics.XObserve the notes on warning and indicator
lamps ( Y page 425) as well as display
messages ( Y page 394).
ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety
and offers increased braking comfort. In
addition to the braking function, ADAPTIVE
BRAKE also has the HOLD function
( Y page 346) and hill start assist
( Y page 310). For further information, see
Driving tips ( Y page 331).
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is only available in vehicles
with DISTRONIC PLUS.
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 73).
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can help you to minimize
the risk of a frontal collision with a vehicle
ahead or reduce the effects of such a
collision. If PRE-SAFE ®
Brake has detected a
risk of collision, you will be warned visually
and acoustically as well as by automatic
braking. PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot prevent a
collision without your intervention.
At speeds above approximately
4 mph (7 km/h), this function warns you
when you are rapidly approaching the vehicle
in front. An intermittent warning tone will
then sound and the · distance warning
lamp in the instrument cluster will light up.
Driving safety systems77SafetyZ

In these cases, PRE-SAFE(R) Brake may:
R give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
R neither give a warning nor intervene
There is a risk of an accident. Always pay
particular attention to the traffic situation and
be ready to brake, especially if PRE-SAFE(R)
Brake warns you. Terminate the intervention
in a non-critical driving situation.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R the possibility of strong radar reflections,
for example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different lineGWARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R in curves
As a result, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot
intervene in critical situations. There is a risk
of an accident. Always pay careful attention
to the traffic situation and be ready to brake.
In order to maintain the appropriate distance
to the vehicle in front and thus prevent a
collision, you must apply the brakes yourself.
XTo activate/deactivate: activate or
deactivate PRE-SAFE ®
Brake in the on-
board computer ( Y page 386).
After activation, the Ä symbol is
displayed on the left in the instrument
cluster.
For PRE-SAFE ®
Brake to assist you when
driving, the radar sensor system must be
switched on ( Y page 389) and be
operational.
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensors checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
Theft deterrent locking system
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey.
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.
XTo activate with the SmartKey: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.XTo activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door.XTo deactivate: switch on the ignition.
i
The immobilizer is always deactivated
when you start the engine.
ATA (anti-theft alarm system)
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed and you open:
R a door
R the vehicle with the mechanical key
R the trunk lid
R the hood
The alarm is not switched off, even if you
close the open door that has triggered it, for
example.
Theft deterrent locking system79SafetyZ

iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, the mbrace (USA only) or TELE
AID (Canada only) emergency call system
initiates a call to the Customer Assistance
Center automatically. The emergency call
system initiates the call provided that:
R you have subscribed to the mbrace/
TELE AID service.
R the mbrace/TELE AID service has been
activated properly.
R the required mobile phone, power supply
and GPS are available.XTo arm: lock the vehicle with the SmartKey
or KEYLESS-GO.
Indicator lamp : flashes. The alarm
system is armed after approximately
30 seconds.XTo disarm: unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO.XTo stop the alarm using the SmartKey:
insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
or
XPress the % or & button on the
SmartKey.
The alarm is switched off.XTo stop the alarm using KEYLESS-GO:
grasp the outside door handle. The
SmartKey must be outside the vehicle.
The alarm is switched off.
or
XPress the Start/Stop button on the
dashboard. The SmartKey must be inside
the vehicle.
The alarm is switched off.80Theft deterrent locking systemSafety

Useful information
i This 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 note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 31).
SmartKey
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, and do not give them access
to an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. They could:
R injure themselves on vehicle parts
R be seriously or fatally injured by extreme
heat or cold
R injure themselves or have an accident with
vehicle equipment that may still be in
operation even after the SmartKey has
been removed from the ignition, such as the
seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment or memory function.
If children open a door, they could cause
severe or even fatal injury to other persons; if
they get out of the vehicle, they could injure
themselves when doing so or be seriously or
even fatally injured by any passing 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 a child could be burned on these
parts.GWARNING
If a key ring is too heavy or too large, the
weight acting on the key could cause it to turn
in the ignition lock or catch on the steering
wheel. This could cause the engine to be
switched off suddenly. You may lose control
of the vehicle and cause an accident. Do not
attach any heavy or large key rings to the key
that is inserted in the ignition.
General notes
If you cannot lock or unlock the vehicle with
the SmartKey, either the battery in the
SmartKey is discharged, the SmartKey is
faulty or the starter battery is discharged.
XCheck the battery in the SmartKey and
replace it if necessary ( Y page 85).XUnlock the driver's door using the
mechanical key ( Y page 90).XLock the vehicle ( Y page 91).XHave the starter battery and the battery
contacts checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
If the SmartKey is faulty, contact Roadside
Assistance or a qualified specialist workshop.
SmartKey functions
The SmartKey centrally locks/unlocks:
R the doors
R the trunk lid
R the fuel filler flap
82SmartKeyOpening/closing