2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 4MATIC Settings

205 Controls in detail
Dual-zone automatic climate control (USA only)
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate
the climate control system in either the au-
tomatic or manual mode. The system cools
or heats the interior depending on the se-
lected interior temperature and the cur-
rent outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/Cmode is deactivated
(
page 212).
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite to unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents. Always keep sufficient distance be-
tween unprotected parts of the body and the
air vents. If necessary, use the air distribu-
tion control (
page 204) to direct the air to
air vents in the vehicle interior that are not
in the immediate area of unprotected skin.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the fil-
ter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air vol-
ume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off, see
“Summer opening feature”
(page 234). The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.

206 Controls in detailDual-zone automatic climate control (USA only)Deactivating the climate control system
Deactivating
Press button ´ (
page 204).
Reactivating

Make sure the ignition is switched on.

Press button ´ (
page 204) again.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.Operating the climate control system
in automatic modeActivating

Press buttonU (
page 204) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.

Use temperature controls1 and6
(page 204) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
iWhen the climate control system is de-
activated, the outside air supply and
circulation are also deactivated. Only
choose this setting for a short time.
Otherwise the windows could fog up.iTo switch the system on, you can also
press another button, with the excep-
tion of 1.
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehu-
midify is switched on. This function can
be switched off if necessary.

209 Controls in detail
Dual-zone automatic climate control (USA only)
Adjusting air volume
Nine blower speeds are available.
Press button
to decrease
orQ to increase air volume
(page 204) to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
(page 204) goes out. The automatic
operation of air volume switches off.
The selected blower speed is shown in
the air volume displaya
(page 204).
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.Activating

Press button0 (
page 204).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following func-
tions:


cooling on to dehumidify


maximum blowing and heating
power (depends on cooling
temperature)


air flows onto the windshield
and the front side windows


the air recirculation mode is
switched off
Deactivating

Press button0 (
page 204) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 56).

Close the cockpit air vent.

Press buttonU (
page 204).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.
If the automatic air distribution is switched
off:

Turn air distribution control4 to a
or Y (
page 204).
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.
iThe cooling remains switched on.iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.

219 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/Cmode (
page 227) is
deactivated.Deactivating the climate control
system
Deactivating
Press button´ (
page 216) or
(
page 217) until the display4
(page 216) or (
page 217) is
cleared.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the fil-
ter before its scheduled interval. A
clogged filter will reduce the air volume
to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off, see
“Summer opening feature”
(page 234). The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.
iWhen the climate control system is de-
activated, the outside air supply and
circulation are also deactivated. Only
choose this setting for a short time.
Otherwise the windows could fog up.

220 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*Reactivating
Make sure the ignition is switched on.

Press button´ (
page 216) or
(
page 217) again.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.Operating the climate control system
in automatic modeActivating

Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

Press one buttonU (
page 216) or
(
page 217).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
AUTO
appears in the
display4 (
page 216) or
(
page 217). The air volume and air
distribution are adjusted automatically.

Use temperature controls1 and6
(page 216) or (
page 217) to sepa-
rately adjust the air temperature on
each side of the passenger compart-
ment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
iTo switch the system on, you can also
press another button, with the excep-
tion of 1, F and T
(page 216) or (
page 217).
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehu-
midify is switched on. This function can
be switched off if necessary.iThe automatic climate control system
can also be switched on or off
separately for the left and right sides of
the passenger compartment, as
required.

223 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
Adjusting air volume
Use buttonsU (
page 216) or
(
page 217) for automatic mode or air
volume buttons
orQ
(page 216) or (
page 217) to adjust air
volume manually.
Nine blower speeds are available.

Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume to
the desired level.
The indicator lamps on the
buttonsU go out.
AUTO
disappears
in the display4 (
page 216) or
(
page 217) and the automatic mode
is switched off. The selected blower
speed is shown in the display4.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.
Activating
Press buttonP or 0
(page 216) or (
page 217).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Display4 (
page 216) or
(
page 217) is cleared.The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:


cooling on to dehumidify


maximum blowing and heating
power (depends on cooling
temperature)


air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windows


the air recirculation mode is
switched off
Deactivating

Press buttonPor 0
(page 216) or (
page 217) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.
iThe cooling remains switched on.

230 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*Adjusting air distribution
Push the slide for the left center
vent1 or right center vent2 to the
left, right, up, or down.
The air flow is directed in the
corresponding direction.
Adjusting air volume

Turn thumbwheel3 or 7
(page 229) up or down.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.Adjusting the rear settings with the
front control panel
You can adjust the temperature for the
rear climate control from the front climate
control panel.

Press button™ or 5
(page 216) or (
page 217).
The display switches over.
1Rear climate control display

Set the desired temperature for the
rear passenger compartment using
temperature rocker switches4
and6 (
page 229).
After approximately 5 seconds after
the last adjustment, the display switch-
es back to its standard display.
iThe rear climate control will not cool
the air when the air conditioning is
switched off (
page 227).
iFor draft-free ventilation, push
slides1 and 2 (
page 229) upward.
iYou can also press button™ or
5 (
page 216) or (
page 217)
once more to switch back to the stan-
dard display.


251 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic menu in the control system
In the Distronic menu you can read the cur-
rent settings for Distronic. What appears in
the multifunction display depends on
whether Distronic and the distance warn-
ing function are turned on or off.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following dis-
plays.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated you will see
the standard display of Distronic in the
multifunction display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
function
Warning!
G
Distronic brakes your vehicle with a maxi-
mum deceleration of 6.5 ft / s
2 (2 m / s
2).
This corresponds to about 20% of the maxi-
mum deceleration ability of your vehicle.
Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort to
restore the preset distance or to maintain
the speed.