Front air bags
The front air bags increase protection for the driver's and front-passenger's head and chest.

Driver's air bag 1 deploys in front of the steering wheel; front-passenger front air bag 2 deploys in front of and above the glove box.
They are deployed:
• in the event of certain frontal impacts
• if the system determines that air bag deployment can offer additional
protection to that provided by the seat belt
• if the seat belt is fastened
• independently of other air bags in the vehicle
Your vehicle has adaptive, two-stage front air bags. In the event of a collision, the air bag control unit evaluates the vehicle deceleration. In the first deployment stage, the front air bag is filled with enough propellant gas to reduce the risk of injuries.
The front air bag is fully deployed if a second deployment threshold is exceeded within a few milliseconds.
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).
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 where a low impact severity is predicted. You will then be protected by the fastened seat belt.
The front-passenger front air bag will only
deploy if:
• the system, based on the OCS weight
sensor readings, detects that the frontpassenger
seat is occupied.
• the
indicator lamp in the center
console is not lit.
• the air bag control unit predicts a high
impact severity.
See also:
Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating
The specifications shown on the Tire and
Loading Information placard in the
illustration are examples. The maximum
permissible gross vehicle weight rating is
vehicle-specific and may differ fr ...
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Only possible on vehicles without
4MATIC.
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions
The ignition must be switched off if you ...
System self-test
If an adult occupant is properly sitting on the
passenger seat and the OCS classifies the
occupant as an adult, the indicator
lamp illuminates and goes out again after
approximately 6 seconds ...
