2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 Owner's Manual

264 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed.


Airmatic* adjusts the vehicle suspen-
sion characteristics automatically and
controls the vehicle level.


Parktronic*, which serves as a parking
assistant.
For information on the BAS, ABS, EBP,
4-ETS and ESP
® driving systems, see “Driv-
ing safety systems” (
page 97).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of cruise control is recommended
for driving at a constant speed for extend-
ed periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

265 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Setting current or higher speed
Adjustment in 1 mph or 5 mph
increments (Canada: 1 km/h or
10 km/h)
2Setting current or lower speed
Adjustment in 1 mph or 5 mph
increments (Canada: 1 km/h or
10 km/h)
3Canceling cruise control
4Resuming to last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The cruise control is activated.
The last set speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds.
Warning!
G
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded. The
brake pedal is depressed automatically to
do this.
Keep in mind that the cruise control is a con-
venience system designed to assist the driv-
er during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
- your foot could become caught.
iOn uphill grades, the cruise control
may not be able to maintain the set
speed. Once the grade eases, the set
speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control
maintains the set speed with active
braking action. In addition, on longer
downhill grades the automatic trans-
mission will automatically downshift.

266 Controls in detailDriving systemsCanceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 265).
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically when

you step on the brake pedal


you depress the parking brake
pedal
The cruise control also switches off au-
tomatically when


the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h)


the ESP
® is in operation or switched
off with the ESP
® switch
(
page 101)


you set the automatic transmission
toN while driving
An acoustic warning sounds and the
message
Cruise control off
appears
in the multifunction display.
!Setting the automatic transmission
toN while driving cancels the cruise
control. However, the automatic trans-
mission should not be set toN while
driving except to coast when the vehi-
cle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy
roads).iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate the cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing), the
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.

267 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
You can increase the speed in two stages.
Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments
Lift the cruise control lever to the resis-
tance point in direction of arrow1
(page 265) and hold it up until the
desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments

Briefly lift the cruise control lever past
the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 265).
The vehicle speed increases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km / h).
Setting a lower speed
You can reduce the speed in two stages.
iThe set value is increased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each
time you lift the cruise control lever to
the resistance point.
Warning!
G
You can increase the vehicle speed in 5 mph
(Canada 10 km/h) increments. When using
this feature, keep in mind that it may take a
brief moment until the vehicle has reached
the set speed.
Increase the vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions permit. Other-
wise, sudden and unexpected acceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.iThe set value is increased in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments each
time you lift the cruise control lever
past the resistance point.
iThe new speed is set and the vehicle
will accelerate. Keep in mind that it
may take a brief moment until the vehi-
cle has reached the set speed.iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will au-
tomatically brake the vehicle if the en-
gine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.

268 Controls in detailDriving systemsAdjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments
Press the cruise control lever down to
the resistance point in direction of
arrow2 (
page 265) and hold it
down until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments

Briefly press the cruise control lever
down past the resistance point in direc-
tion of arrow2.
The vehicle speed decreases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
iThe set value is decreased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each
time you press the cruise control lever
down to the resistance point.
Warning!
G
You can decrease the vehicle speed in
5 mph (Canada 10 km/h) increments. When
using this feature, keep in mind that it may
take a brief moment until the vehicle has
reached the set speed.
Decelerate the vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions permit. Other-
wise, sudden and unexpected deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.iThe set value is decreased in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments each
time you press the cruise control lever
down past the resistance point.
iThe new speed is set and the vehicle
will decelerate. Keep in mind that it
may take a brief moment until the vehi-
cle has reached the set speed.

269 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly pull the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow4 (
page 265).
The cruise control resumes the last set
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The last set speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5seconds.
AIRMATIC*
AIRMATIC lets you set a suspension tuning
and automatically optimizes your vehicle’s
damping behavior and regulates the
vehicle level. The system consists of two
components:

Suspension tuning:
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
(page 269)


Vehicle level control* (
page 270)Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
The fine tuning of the damping is depen-
dent on:


road surface conditions


your driving style


your personal settings
The ADS switch is located on the upper
part of the center console.
1ADS switch
2Indicator lamp for SPORT setting
3Indicator lamp for COMF setting
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.

270 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe following settings are available:

AUTO (for normal driving situations)
Indicator lamps2 and3 are off.


SPORT (for sporty driving)
Indicator lamp2 comes on.


COMF (for comfort driving)
Indicator lamp3 comes on.

Start the engine (
page 53).

Press ADS switch1 repeatedly until
the desired suspension tuning is
reached.Vehicle level control*
The vehicle level control automatically
regulates the ride height to


reduce fuel consumption


improve driving safety
The vehicle begins adjusting to the set
vehicle level as soon as the doors or tail-
gate are


unlocked
or


opened or closed with the vehicle
unlocked
For major changes in vehicle level, the
engine must be running.
iThe setting is stored when you turn off
the engine.
iChanges to the vehicle level should be
made while the vehicle is moving. The
vehicle will then reach the set level as
fast as possible.
Warning!
G
Make sure that no one is near the wheel
housing or under the vehicle when you lower
the vehicle while it is standing still. Limbs
could become wedged into or under the
vehicle.
For safety reasons, the vehicle can only be
lowered with all doors and the tailgate
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door or
the tailgate is opened and will continue after
the door is closed again.Warning!
G
Adapt your speed and driving to possible
changed driving behavior of the vehicle after
changing the vehicle level. The ESP
® cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed. The ESP
® cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.

271 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Basic settings
There are two setting from which to
choose:

Raised level, for driving on rough roads


Highway level, for driving on paved
roads in fair or better conditionCompared to the highway level, the vehicle
level changes by


+ 1.97 in (+ 50 mm) in raised level


+/- 0 in (+ 0 mm) in highway level


- 0.78 in (- 20 mm) in highspeed level
The vehicle lowers to highspeed level auto-
matically when


the vehicles speed exceeds
70 mph (112 km/h)


the vehicles speed is between
60 mph (96 km/h) and
70 mph (112 km/h) for longer than 20
seconds
!Keep in mind that in rough or uneven
roads, adjusting the vehicle to a lower
level may cause the vehicle underbody
to come in contact with the road and
result in damage to the vehicle under-
body. Always make sure the vehicle
has sufficient ground clearance before
adjusting it to a lower level.!Before jacking up the vehicle with
equipment that lifts one or more of the
wheels completely off the ground,
remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.!Please also note the information in the
section on towing (
page 499).
iThe activation threshold is defined by
the set suspension tuning
(page 269).
iThe high-speed level is not available
when towing a trailer.iThe third available level is the
highspeed level that is set automatical-
ly.
iObey local speed limits. Use prudent
driving speeds appropriate to prevail-
ing conditions.