2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R500 key

500 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
!
To be certain to avoid additional dam-
age to the vehicle powertrain, however
you should observe the following:

With damage to the front axle

raise front axle


remove flexible drive shaft be-
tween rear axle and transfer
case


With damage to the rear axle

raise rear axle


tow vehicle with wheel lift or
dolly placed under front wheels


With damage to the transfer case

remove flexible drive shaft to
the drive axles
Always install new self-locking nuts
when reinstalling flexible drive shaft.
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical sys-
tem
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the SmartKey is in
starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock,
remove SmartKey from starter switch and
reinsert.
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.iTo signal turns while being towed with
hazard warning flasher in use, turn the
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate combination
switch for left or right turn signal in
usual manner – only the selected turn
signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the
hazard warning flasher will operate
again.

501 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolts
The front towing eye is located behind a
cover on the passenger side below the
front bumper.
1Towing eye cover
iThe vehicle cannot be started via
tow-start.iIf the battery is disconnected or dis-
charged, the automatic transmission
will remain locked in positionP and the
SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch. For more information, see “Bat-
tery” (
page 487) and “Jump starting”
(
page 496).
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, note the following:
With the automatic central locking
activated and the ignition in position2
(page 38), the vehicle doors lock if
the left front wheel is turning at a speed
of approx. 9 mph (15 km / h) or above.
To prevent the vehicle doors from
locking, deactivate the automatic
central locking (
page 130).
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(
page 107).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the towing eye. Never
attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod
to vehicle chassis, frame or suspension
parts.

504 Practical hintsFusesMain fuse box
The main fuse box is located on the pas-
senger side of the engine compartment.
Open the hood (
page 345).
1Clamp
2Main fuse box cover

Switch off the ignition (
page 38) and
remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:

Switch off the ignition (
page 39).

Open the driver’s door (this puts the
starter switch in position 0, same as
with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch). The driver’s door then
can be closed again.

Release clamp1.

Lift fuse box cover2 up.

Install main fuse box cover in reverse
order.
Fuse box in cargo compartment
The fuse box is located behind under the
cargo compartment cover on the
right-hand side of the spare wheel well.
Open the tailgate (
page 122).

Lift the cargo compartment cover
(page 454).

Secure cargo compartment cover with
strap (
page 455).
1Cover
2Handle

Lift cover1 at handle 2.
!The fuse box cover must be installed
properly to prevent moisture and/or
dirt from entering the fuse box and pos-
sibly impairing fuse operation.

537 Index
B
Backup lamps
Replacing bulbs 466
Bar 386, 529
BAS 99, 529
Batteries, SmartKey
Check lamp 113, 119
Batteries, vehicle
Messages in display 430
Battery discharged
Jump starting 496
Battery, SmartKey 463
Battery, vehicle 487
Charging 495
Dis-/reconnecting 489
Removing/installing 489
Bead 386, 529
Bi-Xenon* headlamps 529
Replacing bulbs 466
Block heater (Canada only) 391
Blocking
Rear door window operation 93
Bottle opener 300
Brake assist system (BAS) 529
Brake fluid 523
Message in display 432Brake lamps
Replacing bulbs 466
Brake pads
Message in display 430
Brakes 332
Warning lamp 405
Break-in period 330
Bulbs, replacing 465
Additional turn signal lamps 466
Backup lamps 466
Bi-Xenon* headlamps 466
Brake lamps 466
Front fog lamp 471
Front fog lamps* 466
Front lamps 466
Headlamps 466
License plate lamps 466, 474
Parking lamps 466
Rear fog lamps 472
Rear side marker lamp bulbs 472
Sidemarker lamps 466
Standing lamps 466
Tail lamp assemblies 472
Tail lamps 466
Turn signal lamps 466C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 529
California
Important notice 11
Call priority
Tele Aid* 318
Calling up
Range (distance to empty) 193
Service indicator 393
CAN system 529
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 521
Card holder 300
Cargo compartment
Extending 283
Fuse box 504
Lamp 157
Tie-down rings 281
Cargo compartment cover blind* 288
Closing 288
Installing 289
Opening 288
Removing 288
Cargo tie-down rings 281
Carpets, cleaning 402

538 IndexCatalytic converter 340
CD player
Operating 171
CD-changer* 294
Center console 29
Lower part 30
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp 414
Upper part 29
Central locking
Automatic 130
Switch 131
Switching on/off (control
system) 188
Unlocking from inside 131
Central locking switch 131
Certification label 510
Changing
SmartKey setting 189
Charging
Vehicle battery 495
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 407, 408Checking
Coolant level 351
Oil level 346
Tire inflate pressure 344
Vehicle lighting 344
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System* (Advanced TPMS*) 371
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) 368
Child safety 82
Air bags 72
Infant and child restraint systems 78,
82
LATCH child seat mounts 92
Child safety switch see Blocking of rear
door window operation
Cigarette lighter
Front center console 303
Cigarette lighter* 305Cleaning
Headlamps 208
Headliner 402
Light alloy wheels 401
Plastic and rubber parts 402
Steering wheel 402
Windows 400
Windshield 60
Cleaning tires 355
Climate control 216
Adjusting 222
Adjusting air volume 222
deactivating 220
Front defroster 223
Rear passenger compartment 228
Setting the temperature 222
Clock 180
Closing
Glove box 294
Hood 346
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof 260
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* 462
Side windows 249
Tailgate 124, 128, 129
Tilt/sliding sunroof* 255
Windows 248

539 Index
Closing the tailgate from the inside
electrically* 124
Closing the tailgate from the outside (vehi-
cles without KEYLESS-GO*) 126
Closing tilt/sliding sunroof*
In an emergency 462
Cockpit 22, 529
Cold tire inflation pressure 386, 529
Collapsible tire 457, 530
Collapsible wheel chock 457
Combination switch
High beam flasher 58
Turn signals 58
Windshield wipers 59
Compass 186, 327
Adjustment 186
Calibration 187
Setting the compass zone 186
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 339Control system 530
AUDIO menu 170
Convenience submenu 189
Display digital speedometer 169
Functions 165
Instrument cluster submenu 178,
180
Lighting submenu 182
Malfunction memory menu 173
Menus 164, 165
Selecting radio system 170
Selecting satellite radio* system 171
Settings menu 174
Standard display menu 168
Submenus 163, 165
TEL* menu 194
Trip computer menu 192
Vehicle submenu 186
Convenience submenu 189
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature* 189Coolant 351, 525
Adding 351
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 526
Checking level 351
Messages in display 433, 436
Temperature 341
Coolant level
Checking 351
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 152
Cruise control 264, 530
Canceling 266
Driving downhill 265
Driving uphill 265
Setting current speed 265
Setting speeds 269
Cruise control lever 264
Cup holder
Front center console 299
In rear center console 301
Cup holders 299
Cleaning 401
Curb weight 386, 530
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 529

541 Index
Closing 248
Closing fully (Express-close) 250
Opening 248
Opening fully (Express-open) 250
Stopping 250
Synchronizing 251
Doors
Message in display 436
Opening from inside vehicle 121
Opening from outside 112
DOT 386, 530
Downhill driving
Cruise control 265
Drinking and driving 331
Drive sensibly-save fuel 331
Driving 50, 56
Abroad 339
In winter 337
Problems 62
Safety systems 97
Through standing water 338
Driving abroad 339
Driving off 333Driving safety systems
4-ETS 102
ABS 97
BAS 99
EBP 102
ESP
®
99
Driving systems 264
AIRMATIC* 269
Cruise control 264
Driving safety systems 97
Parktronic* 274
Driving tips 203
Accelerator position 203
Kickdown 203
E
Easy-entry/exit feature* 132
Activating 189
EBP 102
Electrical fuses 503
Electrical system
Technical data 518
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic Traction System see 4-ETSEmergency calls
Initiating an emergency call 314
With Tele Aid* 313
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 207
Emergency operations
Closing tilt/sliding sunroof* 462
Locking the vehicle 460
Opening tilt/sliding sunroof* 462
Remote door unlock 319
Unlocking the vehicle 459
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emission control 340
Emission control label 511
Ending
A call (telephone*) 195
Engine
Message in the display 433
Starting 53
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 54
Technical data 513
Turning off 66
Engine cleaning 397
Engine compartment
Hood 345
Main fuse box 504

544 IndexHeadliner
Cleaning 402
Height adjustment
Head restraints 44
Seat belts 52
Steering wheel 45
High beam flasher 58, 152
High beam headlamps
Messages in display 443
Switching on 151
Hood 345
Closing 346
Message in display 439
Opening 345
Hooks
Loading 282
Hydroplaning 335
I
Identification labels 510
Certification label 510
Vehicle identification number
(VIN) 511
Ignition 38
Switching on 54Immobilizer 104
Activating 104
Deactivating 104
Infant and child restraint systems 82
Installing 90
LATCH child seat mounts 92
Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid* 317
Infrared reflecting windshield* 328
Inside rear view mirror
Antiglare 209
Installing
Front wiper blades 476, 477
Infant and child restraint systems 90
Vehicle battery 489
Instrument cluster 24, 158, 531
Cleaning 401
Illumination 158
Lamps in 409
Outside temperature indicator 159
Selecting language 178
Instruments and controls see CockpitInterior lighting 154
Activating automatic control 155
Deactivating automatic control 155
Delayed switch-off 185
Manual operation 155
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 48
Intermittent wiping 60
J
Jump starting 496
K
Key, Mechanical 459
KEYLESS-GO*
Closing tailgate 128, 129
Loss of SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 121
Starting the engine 54
Turning off engine 66
Unlocking and opening, tailgate 120
Unlocking with 37
Kickdown 203, 531
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 178
Kilopascal 386
Kilopascal (kPa) 531
Km/h or mph in speedometer 178