2005 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 instrument cluster

114 Controls in detailLightingRear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 113).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The rear fog lamp switches on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 110).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB orU (
page 110).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.

120 Controls in detailInstrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 24).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:


Open a door.


Switch on ignition.


Press reset button1.


Switch on the exterior lamps.
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 135).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster.
To brighten illumination
Turn reset button1 in the instrument
cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.To dim illumination

Turn reset button1 in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Coolant temperature display
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

121 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster

Switch on the ignition (
page 35).

Call up the trip odometer and main
odometer (
page 123) by pressing
buttonè orÿ on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel (
page 124).

Press buttonj ork until the
coolant temperature display appears.During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer display (
page 123).

If it is not displayed, press buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 124) until the trip
odometer appears.

Press and hold the reset button on the
instrument cluster (
page 120) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
iExcessive coolant temperature triggers
a warning in the multifunction display
(page 306).
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

122 Controls in detailInstrument clusterOutside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the multifunction display (
page 123).
For information on how to select the unit of
the displayed temperature, i.e. degrees
Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F),
see “Selecting temperature display mode”
(
page 135).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs, etc.).When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

123 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. The control system
enables you to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster display
and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Outside temperature
4Clock
1
5Current gear selector lever position
6Transfer case program mode
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his /her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.
1See separate operating instructions for the
COMAND system for clock setting.

127 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Standard
display
AUDIO
NAVI
Vehicle status
message
memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone
(page 128)
(page 128)
(page 130)
(page 131)
(page 132)
(page 144)
(page 145)
Commands/submenuCoolant
temperature
display
Select radio
station
Activate route
guidance
Call up vehicle
malfunction,
warning and
system status
messages stored
in memory
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel
consumption
statistics after
start
Load phone book
Digital
speedometer
Select satellite
radio station*
(USA only)
Instrument
cluster submenu
Fuel
consumption
statistics since
the last reset
Search for name
in phone book
Call up mainte-
nance service
indicator
Operate CD
player
Lighting
submenu
Call up range
Check engine oil
level
Vehicle submenuConvenience
submenu

134 Controls in detailControl systemThe table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus.
Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
LIGHTING
VEHICLE
CONVENIENCE
(page 135)
(page 137)
(page 141)
(page 142)
Select time display mode
Set daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Set station selection mode
(radio)
Activate easy-entry/exit feature
Select temperature display
mode
Set locator lighting
Set automatic locking
Set key-dependency
Select speedometer display
mode
Exterior lamps delayed
switch-off
Set parking position for exterior
rear view mirror
Select language
Interior lighting delayed
switch-off
Select display (speed display or
outside temperature)

135 Controls in detail
Control system
Instrument cluster submenu
Access the
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
menu via
the
SETTINGS
menu. Use the
INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER
submenu to change the instru-
ment cluster display settings. The follow-
ing functions are available:Selecting time display mode

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the
display:
12/24 HOUR
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to set the
12h
or
24h
time display mode.Selecting temperature display mode

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
TEMP. INDICATOR
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to set temperature
unit to degrees Celsius (
°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (
°F).
Function
Page
Select time display mode
135
Select temperature display
mode
135
Select speedometer display
mode
136
Select language
136
Select display (speed display or
outside temperature)
137