2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E WAGON Owner's Manual

256 Controls in detailDriving systems1Damping button
2Indicator lamps
Start the engine.

Press the damping button1 until the
desired suspension style is set.Vehicle level control
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to


increase vehicle safety


reduce fuel consumption
The following vehicle chassis ride heights
can be selected:


Normal


Raised
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:


At a speed exceeding approximately
68 mph (110 km/h) with normal level
set or exceeding 75 mph (120 km/h)
with raised level set, the ride height is
reduced automatically. The table on
the next page provides an overview of
the vehicle levels.


With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the normal level.
!If you have selected the Comfort sus-
pension tuning, the vehicle lowers
slightly when you lock it within approx-
imately 60 seconds after switching off
the engine. When parking, make sure
that your vehicle cannot come into con-
tact with other objects, such as a curb,
while lowering. Your vehicle could oth-
erwise be damaged.iThe selected suspension style is stored
in memory, even after the SmartKey is
removed from the starter switch.

257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Select the “Raised” level only when re-
quired by current driving conditions. Oth-
erwise

handling may be impaired


fuel consumption may increaseiThese height adjustments are so small
that you may not notice any change.Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet away from wheel housing area, and
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis.

258 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine is running:Vehicle level
when stationary
Indicator lamp
Suspension
tuning
Use for
Ride height increase
over normal
Automatic lowering
Normal
Lamp off
Comfort
For driving on normal
roads
None
Max. approx. 0.4 in (10 mm)
Normal
Lamp off
Sport 1 or 2
For driving on normal
roads
None
Max. approx. 0.6 in (15 mm)
Raised
Lamp on
Comfort
For driving on rough
roads or with snow
chains
Approx. 0.8 in (20 mm)
Max. approx. 1.2 in (30 mm)
Raised
Lamp on
Sport 1 or 2
For driving on rough
roads or with snow
chains
Approx. 0.8 in (20 mm)
Max. approx. 1.4 in (35 mm)

259 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The button is located in the lower section
of the center console.
1Vehicle level control button
2Indicator lamp 
Start the engine (
page 36).

Briefly press button1 to change from
normal level to raised level. When vehi-
cle is at raised level, pressing the but-
ton will return the vehicle to normal
level.
When raised level is set, indicator
lamp2 in the button comes on.
When normal level is set, indicator
lamp 2 in the button goes out.
iAt a speed of approximately above
75 mph (120 km / h) or if the speed
amounts to between 50 mph
(80 km / h) and 75 mph (120 km / h)
for approximately five minutes, the set-
ting raised is canceled. The indicator
lamp 2 in the button goes out.
If you do not drive in this speed range,
the raised level remains stored even if
the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch.

260 Controls in detailLoadingSplit rear bench seat
To expand the cargo compartment, you
can fold down the left and right rear seat
backrests.
The two sections can be folded down sep-
arately to enlarge the cargo compartment.Folding the backrest forward
1Release catch
2Seat cushion

Pull release catch1 and use it to pull
seat cushion2 up.1Release catch
2Seat backrest

Pull release catch1 up.
The seat backrest is released and the
head restraints fold back.

Fold the seat backrest2 forward.
Warning!
G
When expanding the cargo compartment, al-
ways fold the seat cushions fully forward.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
Always use the cargo tie down rings
(page 264).
!You must always release the seat cush-
ion and fold it up before folding the seat
backrests forward. The upholstery on
the backrest may otherwise be dam-
aged.
iIf tall persons have occupied the
driver’s and front passenger seats, it
may be necessary to move these seats
forward slightly in order to fold the rear
seat backrests forward.

261 Controls in detail
Loading
Returning seat backrest to original po-
sition
1Seat cushion
2Seat backrest
Swing seat backrest2 to the rear until
it engages.

Swing seat cushion1 to the rear and
press down from the rear of the cush-
ion until it audibly engages.

Swing the head restraint forward by
hand until it engages.
iI f t h e r e a r ce n t e r s e a t i s t o b e o c c u p i e d
while driving, it may be necessary to
fold the seat belt buckle up again.
Warning!
G
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when rear seat bench is occupied, or the ex-
tended cargo compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo.

262 Controls in detailLoadingAdjusting seat backrest position
1Release catch
2Seat backrest

Pull right seat release catch1 up and
fold seat backrest forward.

With the seat backrest released, pull
release catch1 up again.

Pull left seat release catch1 up and
fold seat backrest forward.

With the seat backrest released, pull
release catch1 up again.

Fold left seat backrest to the rear until
it engages.

Fold right seat backrest to the rear until
it engages.
The seat backrests are now in the alter-
native position.
Expanding the cargo compartment
Removing the rear seat cushions will pro-
vide you with a larger, flat cargo compart-
ment.
Fold the seat cushions forward
(page 260).
1Release lever

Pull seat cushion release lever1 and
remove the seat cushion by pulling it
upward.

Remove the head restraints
(page 132).
iThe seat backrests can be placed in an
alternative upright position. This cre-
ates a larger cargo compartment area
or provides for improved seating com-
fort on the folding bench seat, if re-
quired.

263 Controls in detail
Loading

Fold the seat backrest forward
(page 260).
Loading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle oc-
cupants and luggage/cargo should not ex-
ceed the load limit or vehicle capacity
weight indicated on the corresponding
placard located on the driver’s door B-pil-
lar.The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
Always place items being carried against
front or rear seat backrests, and fasten
them as securely as possible.
The heaviest portion of the cargo should al-
ways be kept as low as possible since it in-
fluences the handling characteristics of
the vehicle.
!Leave the seat cushion hinge in this po-
sition. The upholstery could be dam-
aged if you fold the hinge back.