2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R500 fog light

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

147 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 58)
and “Turn signals” (
page 58).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 149)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 148)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps,
license plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
BLow beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the
combination switch is pushed
forward) and parking lamps
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps*
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.iVehicles equipped with active
Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon* headlamps moni-
tor the vehicles steering angle, then au-
tomatically shift their beams to either
side to better follow the curvature of
the road ahead, increasing usable illu-
mination over conventional headlamps.

148 Controls in detailLighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
iWith the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch and the driver’s door
open, a warning sounds if the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on.
The message
Switch off lights

appears in the multifunction display.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.
For information on how to activate the
daytime running lamp mode, see “Day-
time running lamp mode”
(page 149).
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright
ambient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch toB when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromUtoB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.

150 Controls in detailLightingUSA only
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime
running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 182).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to positionC
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 58).
Locator lighting and night security
illumination
The locator lighting and the night security
illumination are described in the “Control
system” section, see “Setting locator light-
ing” (page 183) and “Setting night secu-
rity illumination” (
page 184).Fog lamps
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from positionU toB with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromU toB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding permis-
sible lamp operation.
iFog lamps cannot be switched on with
the exterior lamp switch in
positionU. For switching on the fog
lamps, turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB first.

151 Controls in detail
Lighting
Front fog lamps*
Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 58).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps switch on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 147).

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps switch off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The rear fog lamp switches on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 147).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps* remain lit.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
High beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB orU (
page 147).
iIf so equipped, the front fog lamps* will
also switch on.


152 Controls in detailLighting
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the road into which
you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 147)
or


the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 147)
or


the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 149)Driving forward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Depending on whether you are turning
left or right, switch on the left or right
turn signal (
page 58).
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the road onto which
you are turning.
iCorner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting
conditions.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
function is not available at a vehicle
speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps
will come on automatically depending
on the steering angle, even if you did
not switch on either turn signal. If the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps
came on automatically, they will also
go out automatically depending on the
steering angle.


153 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
were activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and
corner-illuminating front fog lamps can be
switched off by returning the combination
switch to its original position.Driving rearward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Shift the automatic transmission to
reverse gearR (
page 198).
The inverse front fog lamp comes on
automatically depending on the
steering direction and steering angle.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Shift the automatic transmission to a
gear other than reverse gearR
(page 197).
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
1Hazard warning flasher switch

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