Mercedes-Benz ML320 Cdi Operator's Manual page 76

Front air bags
1 Driver air bag
2 Passenger air bag
Driver and front passenger front air bags
are deployed:
in the event of certain frontal impacts
if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
independently of the side impact air
bags
i
The front air bags in this vehicle have been
designed to inflate in two stages. This allows the
air bag to have different rates of inflation that are
based on the rate of relevant vehicle decelera-
tion as assessed by the air bag control unit.
On the front passenger-side, the front air bag
deployment is additionally influenced by the
passenger's weight category as identified by the
Occupant Classification System (OCS)
( page 85).
The lighter the front passenger side occupant,
the higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
for the second stage inflation of the air bag.
Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The air bags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system's deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protec-
ted by the fastened seat belts.
The passenger front air bag will only be
deployed if:
the system, based on OCS weight sen-
sor readings, senses that the front
passenger seat is occupied
the 59 indicator lamp in
the center console is not lit
( page 89)
the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment threshold
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