13 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Change of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to
send in the “Change of Address Notice”
found in the Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Ser-
vice (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100. It is in
your own interest that we can contact you
should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it avail-
able to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used
Truck” found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes,
or Customer Service (in Canada) at
1-800-387-0100.Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:
service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,
unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,
gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.
343 Operation
At the gas station
Replace the fuel cap by turning it clock-
wise until it audibly engages.
Close the fuel filler flap.
Check regularly and before a long trip
Open the hood (
page 345).
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid
3Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 346).
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating
of 91 (average of 96 RON / 86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can
normally be found on the fuel pump.
For more information on gasoline, see
the Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet.
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel
cap open can cause the yellow fuel
tank reserve warning lamp to flash and
the? malfunction indicator lamp
(USA only) or the± malfunction in-
dicator lamp (Canada only) comes on.
For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 408).
513 Technical data
Engine
Engine
Model
R 350 (251.165
1)
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special
equipment.
R 500 (251.175)
1
Engine
272
113
Mode of operation
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders
6
8
Bore
3.66 in (92.90 mm)
3.82 in (97.00 mm)
Stroke
3.39 in (86.00 mm)
3.31 in (84.00 mm)
Total piston displacement
213 cu in (3 498 cm
3)
303cuin (4966cm
3)
Compression ratio
10.7:1
10:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349
268 hp / 6 000 rpm
2
(200 kW /6 000 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
302 hp / 5 600 rpm
2
(225 kW / 5 600 rpm)
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349
258 lb-ft / 2 400 - 5 000 rpm
(350 Nm / 2 400 - 5 000 rpm)
339 lb-ft / 2 700 - 4 750 rpm
(460 Nm / 2 700 - 4 750 rpm)
Maximum engine speed
6500 rpm
6 300 rpm
Firing order
1-4-3-6-2-5
1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Poly-V-belt
2 404 mm
2 370 mm
522 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Cooling system
R350
R500
10 US qt (9.5 l)
11.1 US qt (10.5 l)
MB Anticorrosion / Antifreeze
Fuel Tank
including a reserve of
21.1 US gal (80.0 l)
approx. 3.4 US gal (13.0 l)
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Minimum Posted Octane 91
(Avg.of96RON/86MON)
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lubricant oil
(never R-12)
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning
system*
8.2 US qt (7.8 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and commercially available
premixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze for temperatures below freezing. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 528).
524 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel.
The octane number (posted at the
pump) must be 91 min. It is an average
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number:
(R+M) / 2). This is also known as the
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not
exceed 10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of ethanol and methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains
10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline,
can be used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
Warning!
G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious inju-
ry. Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish
all smoking materials. Never allow sparks,
flame or smoking materials near gasoline!
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gaso-
line must be used. If premium unleaded
is not available and low octane fuel is
used, follow these precautions:
Have the fuel tank only partially
filled with unleaded regular and fill
up with premium unleaded as soon
as possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.
Do not exceed an engine speed of
3000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded
with a light load such as two
persons and no luggage.
Do not exceed
2/3 of maximum
accelerator pedal position if the
vehicle is fully loaded or operating
in mountainous terrain.
532 Technical termsMemory function*
Used to store three individual seat,
steering wheel and mirror positions.
MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized meth-
od. It is an indication of a gasoline's
ability to resist undesired detonation
(knocking). The average of both the
MON (Motor Octane Number) and
->RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Multifunction display
The display field in the instrument clus-
ter used to present information provid-
ed by the control system.
Multifunction steering wheel
Steering wheel with buttons for operat-
ing the control system.Normal occupant weight
(
page 387)
Overspeed range
Engine speeds within the red marking
on the tachometer dial. Avoid this en-
gine speed range, as it may result in se-
rious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Occupant distribution
(page 387)
Parktronic (Parking assist)*
System which uses visual and acoustic
signals to assist the driver during park-
ing maneuvers.
Poly-V-belt drive
Drives engine-components (alternator,
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.Power train
Collective term designating all compo-
nents used to generate and transmit
motive power to the drive axles, includ-
ing
engine
clutch / torque converter
transmission
transfer case
drive shaft
differential
axle shafts / axles
PRE-SAFE
®*
(Pre
ventive Occupant Safe
ty System)
Vehicles equipped with PRE-SAFE
®*
take preventive measures when the
system senses certain driving dynam-
ics suggesting a possible accident.
Production options weight
(
page 387)
533 Technical terms
Program mode selector switch
Used to switch the automatic transmis-
sion between standard operation (S)
and comfort operation (C).
PSI
(P
ounds p
er s
quare i
nch)
(
page 387)
Recommended tire inflation pressure
(page 387)
REST
(Residual E
ngine H
eat U
tilization)
Feature that uses the engine heat
stored in the coolant to heat the vehi-
cle interior for a short time after the en-
gine has been turned off.
Restraint system
Seat belts, belt tensioner, air bags and
child seat restraint systems. As inde-
pendent systems, their protective func-
tions complement one another.
Rim
(
page 387)RON
(R
esearch O
ctane N
umber)
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line's ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the ->MON (Motor Octane Number)
and RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Sidewall
(
page 387)
SRS
(Supplemental R
estraint S
ystem)
Seat belts, emergency tensioning de-
vice and air bags. Though independent
systems, they are closely interfaced to
provide effective occupant protection.Tele Aid System*
(T
elematic A
larm I
dentification on
D
emand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response: automatic and man-
ual emergency, roadside assistance
and information. Tele Aid is initially ac-
tivated by completing a subscriber
agreement and placing an acquain-
tance call.
The Tele Aid system is operational pro-
vided that the vehicle’s battery is
charged, properly connected, not dam-
aged and cellular and GPS coverage is
available.
Telematics*
A combination of the terms “telecom-
munications” and “informatics”.
Tightening torque
Force times lever arm (e.g. a wheel
wrench) with which threaded fasteners
such as wheel bolts are tightened.
547 Index
Mirrors
Adjusting 47
Automatic antiglare for rear view
mirror 209
Exterior rear view mirror 48
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing position 146
Modular Control System 531
MON 343
MON (Motor Octane Number) 532
Mph or km/h in speedometer 178
Multicontour seat* 136
Multifunction display 532
Selecting language 178
Standard display 165
Multifunction display messages
ABS 418
Batteries 430
Brake fluid 432
Brake pads 430
Coolant 436
Coolant level 433
Doors 436
EBP (Electronic Brake
Proportioning) 431
Engine oil 437, 438Fuel cap 439
Hood 439
Lamps 444
Lamps, exterior 442
Oil 437–438
Parking brake 431
SmartKey 441
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 440
Tele Aid* 450, 451
Telephone* 451
Washer fluid 451
Multifunction steering wheel 28, 532
N
Navigation system 172
Night security illumination 150
Normal occupant weight 387, 532
O
Occupant Classification System 85
Self-test 90
Occupant distribution 387Occupant safety 70
Children and air bags 72
Children in the vehicle 82
Fastening the seat belt 50
Infant and child restraint systems 82
LATCH child seat mounts 92
Seat belts 50, 74
Oil
Adding 349
Consumption 346
Dipstick 346
Filler neck 349
Viscosity 530
One-touch gearshifting
Canceling gear range limit 207
Opening
Doors from the inside 121
Fuel filler flap 342
Fuel filler flap manually 461
Glove box 294
Hood 345