2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 buttons

200 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionWith drive positionD selected, you can use
the steering wheel gearshift control
buttons (
page 206) to influence trans-
mission shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
Transmission positions
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Effect
ì
Park position
Shift into park positionP only
when vehicle is stopped. The
park position is not intended to
serve as a brake when the vehi-
cle is parked. Rather, the driver
should always set the parking
brake in addition to shifting into
park positionP to secure the
vehicle.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the automatic
transmission could remain
locked in park positionP. 
Have the vehicle checked as
soon as possible by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
!SmartKey:
If you turn off the engine using the
SmartKey and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch, the transmis-
sion will shift to park positionP auto-
matically. Keep in mind that turning off
the engine with the SmartKey alone will
not automatically shift the transmis-
sion to P. Only when the SmartKey is
removed from the starter switch, will
the transmission automatically shift
toP.
KEYLESS-GO*:
If you turn off the engine using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and
open the driver’s door, the transmis-
sion will shift to park positionP
automatically. Keep in mind that
turning off the engine using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button alone
will not automatically shift the trans-
mission to P. Only when the driver’s
door is opened, will the transmission
automatically shift to P.

205 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
The current gear range/transmission
position (
page 199) and the selected
program mode (
C/S) are indicated in the
multifunction display.
1Current program mode

Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the de-
sired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving:

The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
Steering wheel gearshift control
With drive positionD selected, you can use
the steering wheel gearshift control but-
tons to manually shift the gears. When
doing so, you are also limiting or extending
the gear range.
!Never change the program mode when
the automatic transmission is out of
park positionP. This could result in a
change of driving characteristics for
which you may not be prepared.iThe last selected program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
downshifting with steering wheel
gearshift buttons, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.

206 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1Button, inside: downshift
2Button, outside: upshiftDownshifting

Briefly press the inside1 of one of the
buttons on the steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously limits
the gear range of the transmission
(
page 202).
Upshifting

Briefly press the outside2 of one of
the buttons on the steering wheel.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the
transmission in positionP,N orR.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.

207 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the
transmission.
Canceling gear range limit
Press and hold the outside2 of one of
the buttons on the steering wheel
until
Dreappears in the multifunction
display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the inside1 of one of
the buttons on the steering wheel.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be selected.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.

Shift to park positionP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.

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

236 Controls in detail3-zone automatic climate control*
Use temperature controls1 and9
(page 232) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The temperature of the interior is ad-
justed automatically.
Deactivating

Press one button of the air distribution
(page 232) or press button

orQ (
page 232).
The
AUTO
display disappears in the
displaye (
page 232).
Depending on which button you press –
the air distribution button or the air vol-
ume button
or Q – automatic
control of either the air distribution or
air volume is switched off.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and9
(page 232) 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 automatic climate control will adjust
to the set temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
9 slightly clockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Decreasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
9 slightly counterclockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution buttons3,h,
orj for the driver’s side, or7,b, orc
(page 232) for the passenger side to
separately adjust the air distribution on
each side of the passenger compartment.
The following symbols are found on the
buttons:
Symbol
Function
Driver’s
side
Passen-
ger side
6
Z
Directs air to the
windshield and
side air vents
7
a
Directs air through
the center, side
and rear passen-
ger compartment
air vents
8
Y
Directs air to the
footwells and side
air vents


238 Controls in detail3-zone automatic climate control*Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, such as when it is iced up. You
can also use it to defog the windshield and
side windows.
Activating
Press button0 (
page 232).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.The air conditioning 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 232).
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 59).

Press buttonU (
page 232).
AUTO appears in the display of control
panele (
page 232). Air volume and
air distribution are controlled separate-
ly for each zone.
If the automatic air distribution and air vol-
ume are switched off:

Press buttons8 and Y
(page 232).
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.
When the defrost setting has been se-
lected, only the rear window defroster
can be switched on. No other settings
are possible.
iTo switch off, you can also press
button´ orU (
page 232).
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.

311 Controls in detail
Useful features
You can take and place telephone calls us-
ing thes andt buttons on the
steering wheel. To carry out other tele-
phone functions, use the control system
(page 194).
See separate instruction manual for infor-
mation on how to operate the telephone.
Tele Aid*
Shortly after the completion of your Tele
Aid acquaintance call, you will receive a
user ID and password. By visiting
www.mbusa.com and selecting “Tele Aid”
(USA only), you will have access to account
information, remote door unlock and
more.The Tele Aid system
(Tele
matic A
larm I
dentification on
D
emand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response:

automatic and manual emergency


roadside assistance


information
The Tele Aid system is operational provid-
ing that the vehicle’s battery is charged,
properly connected, not damaged and cel-
lular and GPS coverage is available.
The speaker volume of a Tele Aid call can
be adjusted when using the volume control
on the Modular COMAND System or on the
multifunction steering wheel. To raise, turn
the rotary volume control on Modular
COMAND System clockwise or press
buttonæ on the multifunction steering
wheel. To lower, turn the rotary volume
control on Modular COMAND System con-
!The initial activation of the Tele Aid
system may only be performed by
completing the subscriber agreement
and placing an acquaintance call using
the ¡button. Failure to complete
either of these steps will result in a
system that is not activated.
If you have any questions regarding
activation, please call the Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).