2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 climate control

219 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate
the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current 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/C mode is deactivated
(
page 227).
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 between un-
protected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
controls (
page 218) 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 volume
to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off, see
“Summer opening feature”
(page 251). 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.

220 Controls in detailClimate controlDeactivating the climate control system
Deactivating
Press button´ (
page 218).
Reactivating

Press buttonU (
page 218).Deactivating rear climate control
You can switch on and off the rear climate
control using the climate control panel in
the front.
Deactivating

Press button: on the front climate
control panel (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Reactivating

Press button: on the front climate
control panel (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The rear climate control is adjust-
ed automatically.For more information on rear climate con-
trol, see “Rear climate control”
(
page 228).
iWhen the air conditioning is switched
off, the outside air supply and circula-
tion are also switched off. Only choose
this setting for a short time. Otherwise
the windows could fog up.iYou can also press button´
(page 218) on the climate control
panel.
If you press button0 (
page 218)
to reactivate the climate control sys-
tem, the defrosting mode is activated.
iYou can also switch on and off the rear
climate control by pressing the respec-
tive button on the rear climate control
panel (
page 229).

221 Controls in detail
Climate control
Operating the climate control system in automatic modeActivating

Press buttonU (
page 218) 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 and7
(page 218) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The interior air temperature is adjusted
automatically.Deactivating

Press button
orQ
(page 218).
The indicator lamp on theU button
goes out. The automatic operation of
air volume switches off. The selected
blower speed is shown in the air
volume displayb (
page 218).
or

Press air distribution button 5,9,
ora (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the buttonU
goes out. The automatic operation of
air distribution switches off.
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
(page 227).
iThe settings for the passenger side are
also used for the rear passenger com-
partment.

222 Controls in detailClimate controlSetting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and7
(page 218) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
7 (
page 218) slightly clockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
7 (
page 218) slightly counterclock-
wise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Press air distribution button5,9, ora
(page 218) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
buttons:

Press the desired air distribution
button5,9, ora (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the buttonU
goes out.
Adjusting air volume
Five blower speeds are available.
Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume
(page 218) to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
(page 218) goes out. The automatic
operation of air volume switches off.
The selected blower speed is shown in
the air volume display
b(page 218).
Adjusting air volume for the center and
side air vents
Opening the center air vents

Turn thumbwheels 5 and 6
(page 216) upward.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are open.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center
and side air vents
Z
Directs air to the windshield
and side air vents
Y
Directs air to the footwells and
side air vents

223 Controls in detail
Climate control
Closing the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels 5 and 6
(page 216) downward.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are closed.
Opening the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 2 and 7
(page 216) upward.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are open.
Closing the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 2 and 7
(page 216) downward.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are closed.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up. You
can also use it to defog the windshield and
side windows.
Activating
Press button0 (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.The climate control switches to the follow-
ing functions automatically:


maximum blower speed and heating
power


air flows onto the windshield and the
front side windows (side air vents must
be open)


the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-drying
Deactivating

Press button0 (
page 218) once
more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are in effect
again. The air conditioning compressor
remains switched on.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.
iTo switch off, you can also press
button´ orU (
page 218).

224 Controls in detailClimate controlWindshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 59).

Press button 0(
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.The climate control switches automatically
to the following functions:


maximum blower speed and heating
power


air flows onto the windshield and the
front side windows (side air vents must
be open)


the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-drying
If the automatic air distribution is switched
off:

Press air distribution button 9 or a
(page 218).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.
Warning!
G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 226) is activated, or
press button0.

225 Controls in detail
Climate control
Activating
Press button: (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside tempera-
tures.
The indicator lamp on button: is
not lit when the air recirculation mode
is switched on automatically.
A quantity of outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.
If you have turned off the air condition-
ing (
page 226) or the outside
temperature is below 41°F (5°C), the
air recirculation mode will not switch
on automatically.
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows and tilt/sliding
sunroof* or tilt/sliding panel* if there is the
possibility of anyone being harmed by the
opening or closing procedure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger:
Vehicles with or without tilt/sliding sun-
roof*: The closing of the windows can be im-
mediately halted by pressing or pulling the
respective window switch. The closing of the
tilt/sliding sunroof* can be immediately
halted by moving the switch for the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof* in any direction.
The closing of the windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof* can be reversed by
again pressing and holding the:button.
Vehicles with panorama roof*: The closing
of the windows and tilt/sliding panel* can
be immediately halted by releasing
the:button.
iIf you press and hold button:, the
windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof*
or tilt/sliding panel* will close.iTo cool the interior as fast as possible,
the climate control automatically
switches to air recirculation. The indi-
cator lamp on button: is not lit
when the air recirculation mode has
been switched on automatically.

226 Controls in detailClimate controlDeactivating
Press button:.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
In addition, the air conditioning dehumidi-
fies the interior air at outside temperatures
above 41°F (5° C) and helps prevent
window fogging.
iThe air recirculation mode is
deactivated automatically

after 5 minutes if the outside
temperature is below
approximately 41°F (5°C)


after 5 minutes if the air condition-
ing and air-drying is turned off


after 30 minutes if the outside
temperature is above
approximately 41°F (5°C)
iPress and hold button:for approx-
imately 2 seconds. The windows,
and/or the tilt/sliding sunroof*, (or
tilt/sliding panel*) will return to their
previous position. You can release
button:once the opening proce-
dure has begun. The windows and/or
the tilt/sliding sunroof* (or tilt/sliding
panel*) continue opening until they
have reached their previous position.
A window or the tilt/sliding sunroof*
(or tilt/sliding panel*) will only return
to its previous position if it has not
been moved to another position using
the respective window switch or
tilt/sliding sunroof* (or tilt/sliding
panel*) switch after it was closed with
button:.
A window or the tilt/sliding sunroof (or
tilt/sliding panel*) that was moved will
remain in its current position if
button:is used to re-open the re-
maining windows or tilt sliding sun-
roof* (or tilt/sliding panel*).
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.