2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R500 center console

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

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

Contents
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 383
Tire ply material ........................... 385
Tire and loading terminology ........ 385
Rotating tires ............................... 388
Winter driving .................................... 390
Winter tires .................................. 390
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 391
Snow chains................................. 391
Maintenance ...................................... 392
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator ....................................... 393
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 393
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator........................... 393
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 394
Vehicle care ....................................... 395
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 395
Practical hints.................................. 403
What to do if … ................................... 404
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 404
Lamp in center console................. 414
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 416
Where will I find ...? ............................ 454
First aid kit .................................... 454
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 454
Spare wheel .................................. 457
Unlocking / locking in an emergency .. 459
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 459
Locking the vehicle ....................... 460
Fuel filler flap ................................ 461
Opening / closing in an emergency ..... 462
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 462
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 463
SmartKey ...................................... 463
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ....... 464
Replacing bulbs .................................. 465
Bulbs ............................................. 465
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 468
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 472Replacing wiper blades ...................... 475
Front wiper blades ........................ 475
Rear wiper blade ........................... 476
Flat tire............................................... 478
Preparing the vehicle .................... 478
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 479
Battery ............................................... 487
Disconnecting, removing,
reinstalling and reconnecting
the battery .................................... 489
Charging the battery ..................... 495
Jump starting...................................... 496
Towing the vehicle.............................. 499
Installing towing eye bolts ............ 501
Stranded vehicle ........................... 502
Fuses.................................................. 503
Main fuse box ............................... 504
Fuse box in cargo compartment ... 504
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 505

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Storage compartments
Door control panel

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

30 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Storage compartment
296
2
Armrest storage tray re-
lease
296
3
Armrest storage compart-
ment release
296
4
Storage compartment
Ashtray with cigarette
lighter*
296
303
5
Cup holder
299
6
Card, ticket holder
Bottle opener
300
300

33 At a glance
Storage compartments
Item
Page
1
Parcel net in front passen-
ger footwell
298
2
Glove box/CD-changer*
294
3
Door pocket
4
Parcel net on front passen-
ger seat backrest
298
5
Door pocket
6
Cup holder
302
7
Third-row storage compart-
ment
298
8
Parcel net in cargo compart-
ment
299
9
First aid kit, vehicle tool kit,
spare wheel
454
a
Third-row storage compart-
ment
298
b
Cup holder
302
Item
Page
c
Door pocket
d
Parcel net on driver’s seat
backrest
298
e
Door pocket
f
Storage compartment in
center console
296
g
Storage compartment in
center console
Ashtray*
296
303
h
Cupholders
298
j
Front armrest storage com-
partments
296
k
Cup holders*
302
l
Rear armrest storage com-
partment*
297
m
Cup holders
Rear storage compartment
Rear seat ashtray*
301
297
304