Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2012 Owners Manual - Manual (Page 45)

Driver's knee bag : provides additional
protection for the driver against:
R knee injuries
R thigh injuries
R lower leg injuries
Driver's knee bag : deploys below the
steering wheel. During a frontal impact, if the
system determines that air bag deployment
can offer additional protection to that
provided by the seat belt, driver's knee
bag : is deployed along with the driver's air
bag. The driver's knee bag : operates best
in conjunction with a properly positioned and
fastened seat belt.
Side impact air bags
G WARNING
The pressure sensors for side impact air bag
control are located in the doors. Do not
modify any components of the doors or door
trim panels including, for example, the
addition of door speakers.
Improper repair work on the doors or the
modification or addition of components to the
doors create a risk of rendering the side
impact air bags inoperative or causing
unintended air bag deployment. Work on the
doors must therefore only be performed by
qualified technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
G WARNING
Only use seat covers which have been tested
and approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle model. Using other seat covers may
interfere with or prevent the deployment of
the side impact air bags. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
availability.
When deployed, the side impact air bags offer
additional protection for the thorax and pelvis
of the vehicle occupants on the side of the
vehicle on which the impact occurs. However,
they do not protect the:
R head
R neck
R arms
Front side impact air bags : and rear side
impact air bags ; deploy next to the outer
seat cushions.
The side impact air bags are deployed:
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate
of lateral vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, e.g. in a side impact
R independently of seat belt use
R independently of the front air bags
R independently of the ETDs
If the vehicle overturns, the side impact air
bags are generally not deployed. They are
deployed if the system detects high vehicle
deceleration or acceleration in a lateral
direction and determines that side impact air
bag deployment can offer additional
protection to that provided by the seat belt.
Side impact air bags will not deploy in side
impacts which do not exceed the system's
preset deployment thresholds for lateral
acceleration/deceleration. You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belt.
If the OCS detects that the front-passenger
seat is not occupied and the front-passenger
seat belt is not fastened (the belt tongue is
Occupant safety
43
Safety
Z