2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R500 Owner's Manual

40 Getting startedUnlocking1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
2Starter switchKEYLESS-GO start / stop button3USA only
4Canada onlyThe SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.

Insert KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button1 into starter switch 2 (if not
inserted already).

Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP.

Do not depress the brake pedal.
Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (as with
SmartKey removed).
Position 1

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
This supplies power for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or Position 2)

Press the KEYLESS-GO start / stop but-
ton twice.
This supplies power for all electrical
consumers.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 404).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button

once more, the ignition (position2)
is switched on


twice more, the power supply is
again switched off

41 Getting started
Unlocking
For information on starting the engine
using the KEYLESS-GO start / stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(page 54).
For more information on KEYLESS-GO, see
“SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*”
(page 114).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start / stop button once more, the pow-
er supply is again switched off.iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. The indicator and warning lamps
(except high beam headlamp indicator
lamp, and turn signal indicator lamps if
activated) will go out when the engine
is running. This indicates that the re-
spective systems are operational.

42 Getting startedAdjustingSeatsWarning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide un-
der the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and
belts are properly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 50).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the power seats can be operated when the
respective door is open.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and / or seri-
ous personal injury.
Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant or toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child. For additional informa-
tion, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 82).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.

43 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switch is located on
the entry side of each front seat base.
1 Head restraint height*
2Seat cushion tilt
3Seat height
4Backrest tilt
5 Seat fore and aft adjustment

Switch on the ignition (
page 38).
or

Open the respective door (vehicles
with memory function*).
The seat can be adjusted with the re-
spective door opened.
or

Open a front door (vehicles without
memory function*).
The seat can be adjusted within
3 minutes after either front door has
been opened.Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press the switch forward or backward
in direction of arrow5.
Adjust the seat to a comfortable seat-
ing position that still allows you to
reach the accelerator/brake pedal
safely. The position should be as far to
the rear as possible, consistent with
ability to properly operate controls.
!When adjusting the seat backrest tilt
and head restraint height, make sure
the sun visor is folded up (
page 212).
If the head restraint is in the uppermost
position, it could hit and damage the
sun visor.
iThe memory function* (
page 144)
lets you store the settings for the seat
position together with the settings for
the steering wheel column and the ex-
terior rear view mirrors.
!When moving the seat, make sure
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seat. Otherwise you could
damage the seat.

44 Getting startedAdjustingSeat height
Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow3.
Seat cushion tilt

Press the switch up or down in
direction of arrow2 until your upper
legs are lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or backward
in direction of arrow4 until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.Head restraint heightVehicles with memory function*:

Press switch (
p a g e 4 3 ) u p o r d o w n i n
direction of arrow 1.
Vehicles without memory function*:
1Head restraint
2Release button
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.!Do not attempt to remove front seat
head restraints. They can only be re-
moved by qualified technicians. We
recommend that you have this work
carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

45 Getting started
Adjusting
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of head
restraint 1 by pulling it upward.
If head restraint 1 is fully retracted,
push release button 2 in direction of
arrow and pull head restraint 1 up-
ward.
Lowering:

To lower head restraint 1, push
release button 2 in direction of arrow
and press down on head restraint 1.Head restraint tilt
Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint.

Push or pull on the lower edge of the
head restraint cushion.
For more information, see “Seats”
(
page 132).
Steering wheel
Steering wheel adjustment, manual
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as possi-
ble.
Warning!
G
Only adjust the steering wheel with the vehi-
cle at a standstill and make sure the steer-
ing wheel is securely locked in place before
driving off.
Driving without the steering wheel adjust-
ment locked may cause an unexpected
steering wheel movement which could
cause the driver to lose control of the vehi-
cle. Make sure the steering wheel is secure-
ly locked by trying to move it up and down,
and in and out before driving off.

46 Getting startedAdjustingThe handle for steering wheel adjustment
is located on the lower left of the steering
column.
To unlock the steering column, pull
handle out to its stop limit.

Move steering wheel to the desired po-
sition.
Make sure your legs can move freely
and that all displays (including malfunc-
tion and indicator lamps) on the instru-
ment cluster are clearly visible.

Push handle back to its original posi-
tion to relock the steering column.
The steering column is locked into po-
sition again.

Make sure the steering column is se-
curely locked by trying to move the
steering wheel up and down as well as
in and out before driving off.Steering wheel adjustment, electrical*
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the steering
wheel adjustment feature can be operated
when the driver’s door is open. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and / or serious personal
injury.

47 Getting started
Adjusting
The stalk for steering wheel adjustment is
located on the lower left of the steering
column.
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Switch on the ignition (
page 38).
or

Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out

Move stalk forward or back in direction
of arrow1 until a comfortable steer-
ing wheel position is reached with your
arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down

Move stalk up or down in direction of
arrow2.
Make sure your legs can move freely
and that all displays (including malfunc-
tion and indicator lamps) on the instru-
ment cluster are clearly visible.
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.
iThe memory function (
page 144) lets
you store the settings for the steering
wheel column together with the set-
tings for seat positions and the exterior
rear view mirrors.
Warning!
G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape the mirror housing if the mirror glass
breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their
liquid state and by applying plenty of
water.