2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 parking

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 13
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 28
Center console ..................................... 29
Upper part ...................................... 29
Lower part ...................................... 30
Overhead control panel ........................ 31
Storage compartments ......................... 32
Door control panel................................ 34
Getting started................................... 35
Unlocking ............................................. 36
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 36
Unlocking with Keyless-Go* ........... 37
Starter switch positions .................. 38
Adjusting .............................................. 42
Seats .............................................. 42
Steering wheel ................................ 45
Mirrors ............................................ 47
Driving .................................................. 50
Fastening the seat belts ................. 50
Starting the engine ......................... 53
Parking brake ................................. 56
Driving ............................................ 56
Switching on headlamps ................. 58
Turn signals .................................... 58
Windshield wipers ........................... 59
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 61
Problems while driving.................... 62
Parking and locking .............................. 64
Parking brake ................................. 65
Switching off headlamps................. 65
Turning off the engine..................... 66
Releasing seat belts........................ 67
Locking ........................................... 67

Contents Safety and Security.......................... 69
Occupant safety................................... 70
Air bags .......................................... 71
Seat belts ....................................... 77
Preventive occupant safety*
(PRE-SAFE
®) ................................... 81
Children in the vehicle .................... 82
Blocking of rear door window
operation ........................................ 93
Panic alarm .......................................... 95
Activating ....................................... 96
Deactivating ................................... 96
Driving safety systems ......................... 97
ABS ................................................ 97
BAS ................................................ 99
ESP
®............................................... 99
EBP............................................... 102
4-ETS ............................................ 102
Anti-theft systems.............................. 104
Immobilizer................................... 104
Anti-theft alarm system ................ 104
Tow-away alarm ........................... 106
Controls in detail............................. 109
Locking and unlocking ....................... 110
SmartKey ..................................... 110
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 114
Opening the doors from the inside 121
Opening the tailgate ..................... 122
Closing the tailgate ...................... 124
Automatic central locking ............ 130
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ..................................... 131
Seats ................................................. 132
Easy-entry/exit feature* .............. 132
Lumbar support............................ 136
Multicontour seat* ....................... 136
Rear seats .................................... 137
Seat heating* ............................... 141
Memory function* ............................. 144
Storing positions into memory ..... 145
Recalling positions from memory . 145
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 146
Lighting.............................................. 147
Exterior lamp switch..................... 147
Combination switch ..................... 151Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* ......................................... 152
Hazard warning flasher ................ 153
Interior lighting ............................ 154
Door entry lamps ......................... 157
Cargo compartment lamp ............ 157
Instrument cluster ............................. 158
Instrument cluster illumination .... 158
Trip odometer .............................. 159
Tachometer.................................. 159
Outside temperature indicator ..... 159
Control system .................................. 161
Multifunction display.................... 161
Multifunction steering wheel........ 162
Menus .......................................... 164
Standard display menu ................ 168
AUDIO menu ................................ 170
NAV* menu .................................. 172
AIRMATIC*/Compass menu ........ 172
Vehicle status message memory
menu............................................ 173
Settings menu.............................. 174
Vehicle configuration ................... 191
Trip computer menu..................... 192
TEL menu* ................................... 194

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 197
Gear selector lever ....................... 197
Shifting procedure ....................... 199
Transmission positions................. 200
Gear ranges ................................. 202
Driving tips ................................... 203
Automatic shift program .............. 204
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 205
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 207
Good visibility .................................... 208
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 208
Rear view mirrors ......................... 208
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors* ....................................... 211
Sun visors .................................... 212
Rear door window sunshade* ...... 214
Third-row sunshade* .................... 214
Rear window defroster ................. 215
Climate control .................................. 216
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 220
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 221Setting the temperature................ 222
Adjusting air distribution............... 222
Adjusting air volume ..................... 222
Front defroster.............................. 223
Air recirculation mode .................. 224
Air conditioning............................. 226
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 227
Rear climate control ..................... 228
3-zone automatic climate control* ..... 230
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 234
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 235
Setting the temperature................ 236
Adjusting air distribution............... 236
Adjusting air volume ..................... 237
Front defroster.............................. 238
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 239
Air recirculation mode .................. 239
Air conditioning............................. 241
Using driver-side settings for all
temperature zones........................ 242
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 243
Rear automatic climate control..... 244Power windows .................................. 248
Opening and closing ..................... 248
Synchronizing the door windows .. 251
Summer opening feature .............. 251
Convenience closing feature......... 252
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 255
Opening and closing ..................... 255
Synchronizing ............................... 258
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*............................... 259
Roller sunblinds for the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel ........................... 259
Opening and closing the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel ........................... 260
Synchronizing the panorama roof
with power tilt/sliding panel......... 262
Driving systems .................................. 264
Cruise control ............................... 264
AIRMATIC* ................................... 269
Parktronic* (Parking assist) .......... 274

ContentsLoading .............................................. 279
Roof rack* .................................... 279
Loading instructions ..................... 280
Cargo tie-down rings .................... 281
Hooks ........................................... 282
Expanding cargo compartment .... 283
Cargo compartment cover blind* . 288
Partition net* ............................... 290
Useful features .................................. 294
Storage compartments................. 294
Parcel nets ................................... 298
Cup holders .................................. 299
Ashtrays* ..................................... 302
Cigarette lighter* ......................... 305
Power outlets ............................... 306
Rear center console* ................... 308
Telephone*................................... 310
Tele Aid* ...................................... 311
Garage door opener* ................... 320
Compass ...................................... 327
Floormats* ................................... 328
Infrared reflecting windshield* ..... 328
Operation......................................... 329
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 330
Driving instructions............................ 331
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 331
Drinking and driving ..................... 331
Pedals .......................................... 331
Power assistance ......................... 331
Brakes .......................................... 332
Driving off .................................... 333
Parking ......................................... 334
Tires ............................................. 334
Hydroplaning ................................ 335
Tire traction.................................. 335
Tire speed rating .......................... 336
Winter driving instructions ........... 337
Standing water ............................. 338
Passenger compartment .............. 338
Driving abroad.............................. 339
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 339
Catalytic converter ....................... 340
Emission control .......................... 340
Coolant temperature .................... 341At the gas station .............................. 342
Refueling ...................................... 342
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 343
Engine compartment ......................... 345
Hood ............................................ 345
Engine oil ..................................... 346
Transmission fluid level................ 350
Coolant level ................................ 351
Windshield / rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system* ....................................... 352
Tires and wheels................................ 353
Important guidelines .................... 353
Tire care and maintenance........... 354
Direction of rotation..................... 356
Loading the vehicle ...................... 356
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 363
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 365
Tire labeling ................................. 375
Load identification ....................... 380
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 380
Maximum tire load ....................... 382
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 382

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Cruise control lever
265
2
Instrument cluster
24
3
Multifunction steering
wheel
28
4
Horn
5
Steering wheel gearshift
buttons
206
6
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
53
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicators
276
8
Overhead control panel
31
9
Glove box release
Glove box lock
294
295
Item
Page
a
Glove box
294
b
Electrical outlet
307
c
Center console
29
d
Starter switch
38
e
Steering wheel adjustment,
manual
45
f
Steering wheel adjustment,
electrical*
46
g
Hood lock release
345
h
Parking brake pedal
65
j
Remote tailgate switch
123
Item
Page
k
Parking brake release
56
l
Headlamp washer switch*
208
m
Exterior lamp switch
147
n
Door control panel
34
o
Combination switch

Turn signals
58


Windshield wipers
59


High beam
58


Rear window wiper
61

29 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Modular COMAND System,
see separate operating in-
structions
2
Climate control
3-zone automatic climate
control*
216
230
3
Seat heating*, front passen-
ger side
141
4
Vehicle level control
switch*
272
5
Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission
204
Item
Page
6
Front passenger front air
bag indicator lamp
89,
414
7
Hazard warning flasher
153
8
Alarm system indicator
lamp
105
9
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
277
a
Electronic Stability Program
(ESP
®) switch
101
b
Adaptive damping system
(ADS)* switch
269
c
Seat heating*, driver’s side
141

35 Getting started
Unlocking
Adjusting
Driving
Parking and locking

49 Getting started
Adjusting
For more information, see “Rear view mir-
rors” (
page 208) and “Storing exterior
rear view mirror parking position”
(
page 146).
!If an exterior rear view mirror was forc-
ibly pushed forward (hit from the rear)
or forcibly pushed rearward (hit from
the front), reposition it by applying firm
pressure until it snaps into place. The
mirror housing is then properly posi-
tioned and you can adjust the mirror in
the usual manner.!Vehicles with power folding exterior
rear view mirrors*:
If an exterior rear view mirror housing
is forcibly pushed forward (hit from the
rear) or forcibly pushed rearward (hit
from the front) press button1 to fold
mirrors in, then press button1 again
to fold mirrors out. Do not force mirrors
by hand as this may damage the adjust-
ment mechanism.
The mirror housing is then properly po-
sitioned and you can adjust the mirror
in the usual manner.
iThe memory function* (
page 144)
lets you store the settings for the exte-
rior rear view mirrors together with the
setting for the steering wheel column
and the seat positions.
At low ambient temperatures, the
exterior rear view mirrors will be heat-
ed automatically.