2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 parking

183 Controls in detail
Control system
In low ambient light conditions the
following lamps will switch on additionally:

Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime
running lamp mode, see “Lighting”
(
page 147).Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated,
the exterior lamp switch in positionU
(
page 148) and the interior lighting in
automatic mode (
page 155), the follow-
ing lamps will switch on during darkness
when the vehicle is unlocked with the
SmartKey:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps


Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 40 seconds.

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting

submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Function Surround
lighting
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to switch
the locator lighting function to
on.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU (
page 147) when
exiting the vehicle.
The locator lighting feature is
activated.
iFor safety reasons, resetting the Lighting
submenu to factory settings
while driving (
page 176) will not
deactivate the daytime running lamp
mode.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
Lighting
Cannot be completely reset
to factory settings while driving

184 Controls in detailControl systemSetting night security illumination
(Headlamps delayed shut-off)
Use this function to set whether and for
how long you would like the exterior lamps
to remain on during darkness after exiting
the vehicle and the doors closed.
With the delayed shut-off feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU before the engine is turned
off, the following lamps will switch on
when the engine is turned off:

Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps


Front fog lamps*
If after turning off the engine you do not
open a door, the lamps will switch off auto-
matically after 60 seconds.

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting

submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Headlmp. delayed
shut-off
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select
the desired lamp-on period.
You can select:

0 sec.
, the delayed shut-off feature
is deactivated.


15 sec.
, 30 sec.
, 45 sec.
or
60 sec.
, select the desired lamp-on
period.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU (
page 147) before
turning off the engine.
The headlamps delayed shut-off
feature is activated.

189 Controls in detail
Control system
Limiting opening height of tailgate*
Use this function to activate or deactivate
the limiting opening height of the tailgate.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Vehicle

submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Opening limiter
Tailgate
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to switch
the limiting opening height of the
tailgate
on or
off
.Convenience submenu
Access the
Convenience
submenu via the
Settings
menu. Use the
Convenience
sub-
menu to change the settings for a number
of convenience features.
The following functions are available:Activating easy-entry/exit feature*
Use this function to activate and
deactivate the easy-entry/exit feature
(
page 132).
Function
Page
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature*
189
Setting parking position for
exterior rear view mirror*
190
Setting fold-in function for
exterior rear view mirrors
191
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel and driver’s seat when the
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
To cancel seat/steering wheel movement,
do one of the following:

Press seat adjustment switch
(page 43).


Move steering column stalk*
(page 46).


Press memory button* (
page 145).


190 Controls in detailControl system
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the Convenience
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Func. Easy-entry
feature
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to change
the easy-entry/exit setting.The following settings are available for the
easy-entry/exit feature:
Setting parking position for exterior rear
view mirror*
Use this function to select whether the
passenger-side exterior rear view mirror
should be turned downward during parking
maneuvers when reverse gearR is
engaged. For additional information, see
“Activating exterior rear view mirror park-
ing position*” (
page 210).

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the Convenience
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Mirror adjustment
parking aid
appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to switch
the function
on or
off
.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
off
The easy-entry/exit
feature is
deactivated.
Steering col.
Only the steering
column is moved.
Steer. col.+seat
Both the steering
column and the
driver’s seat are
moved.


198 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionShifting from N to R or from N to D
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.

Move gear selector lever up past the
resistance point to select reverse
gearR.
or

Move gear selector down up past the
resistance point to select drive
positionD.

Release the parking brake (
page 56).

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator pedal
to drive off when it is safe to do so.Shifting from P to R

With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.

Move gear selector lever up past the
resistance point to select reverse
gearR.

Release the parking brake (
page 56).

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator pedal
to drive off when it is safe to do so.Shifting from P to D

With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.

Move gear selector lever down past the
resistance point to select drive
positionD.

Release the parking brake (
page 56).

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator pedal
to drive off when it is safe to do so.
iThe gear selector lever returns to its
original position.
iThe gear selector lever returns to its
original position.
iThe gear selector lever returns to its
original position.

199 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shifting from D, R, or N to P
If you want to select park positionP with
the transmission being in drive positionD,
reverse gearR or neutral positionN:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.

Step firmly on parking brake pedal
(page 65).

Press button on gear selector lever in
direction of arrow (
page 197) to
select park positionP.

Release the brake pedal.Shifting from D or R to N
If you want to select neutral positionN
with the transmission being in drive
positionD or reverse gearR:

With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.

Step firmly on parking brake pedal
(page 65).

Move gear selector lever up to resis-
tance point when in drive position D or
down to resistance point when in re-
verse gear R to select neutral
positionN.

Release the brake pedal.
Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:

drive positionD (
page 200) with
gear ranges (
page 202)


the selected program mode (C/S)
(page 204)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 203)


the vehicle speed
The current gear range/transmission
position and program mode (
C/S) appear
in the multifunction display.
1Current transmission position
!Shift the automatic transmission
directly from positionD toR, fromR
toD or directly toP only when the
vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the
automatic transmission could be
damaged.
When trying to free a vehicle stuck in
mud or snow, see “Rocking the vehicle”
(page 204).
iWhen the vehicle needs to be moved
with the engine switched off and the
transmission set to N (
page 200),
e.g. in an automatic car wash, do not
depress the parking brake pedal.

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.

201 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Even though this is possible, make it a
practice to always shift into park
positionP before turning off the engine
and remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch, or when using
KEYLESS-GO*, before turning off the
engine with the start/stop button and
opening the driver’s door.!If you want the gear position to remain
inN (for example when the vehicle is
pulled through a car wash)


do not remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch
or, when using KEYLESS-GO*


do not turn off the engine using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button*
and open the driver’s door
Otherwise, the transmission will shift
toP and lock the wheels, preventing
the vehicle from being pulled through a
car wash.
Effect
í
Reverse gear
Shift into reverse gearR only
when the vehicle is stopped.
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never shift into neutral
positionN while driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Shift into neutral positionN only
if the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.
!Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason in neutral positionN can
result in transmission damage that is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle without shifting
into park positionP is dangerous. Also, park
positionP alone is not intended to or capa-
ble of preventing your vehicle from moving,
possibly hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to park positionP (
page 65).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.