Contents
Control system .................................. 159
Multifunction display .................... 159
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 160
Menus .......................................... 162
Standard display menu ................ 166
AMG menu ................................... 168
AUDIO menu ................................ 171
Navi* menu .................................. 173
AIRMATIC*/Compass menu ........ 174
Distronic* menu........................... 174
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 174
Settings menu .............................. 176
Distance warning function* ......... 191
Trip computer menu..................... 191
TEL menu* ................................... 193
Automatic transmission ..................... 197
Gear selector lever ....................... 197
Shifting procedure ....................... 200
Transmission positions................. 201
Driving tips ................................... 203
Gear ranges ................................. 205
Automatic shift program .............. 206Steering wheel gearshift control ... 207
Manual shift program
(R 63 AMG only)............................ 209
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ....................... 211
Good visibility ..................................... 212
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 212
Rear view mirrors.......................... 212
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors* ........................................ 214
Sun visors ..................................... 215
Rear door window sunshade* ....... 216
Rear window defroster .................. 217
Climate control ................................... 218
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 222
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 222
Setting the temperature................ 223
Adjusting air distribution............... 223
Adjusting air volume ..................... 224
Front defroster.............................. 224
Air recirculation mode .................. 226
Air conditioning............................. 228
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 229
Rear climate control*.................... 2293-zone automatic climate control* ..... 232
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 236
Operating the automatic
climate control system in
automatic mode............................ 237
Setting the temperature ............... 237
Adjusting air distribution .............. 238
Adjusting air volume ..................... 239
Front defroster ............................. 239
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 240
Air recirculation mode .................. 240
Air conditioning ............................ 243
Using driver-side settings for all
temperature zones........................ 244
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 244
Rear automatic climate control
(second row) ................................ 245
Rear automatic climate control
(second and third row)* ................ 249
Power windows .................................. 251
Opening and closing ..................... 251
Synchronizing the door windows .. 254
Summer opening feature .............. 254
Convenience closing feature......... 256
9
Product information
Introduction
Product information
Please observe the following in your own
best interest:
We recommend using Genuine
Mercedes-Benz Parts as well as conversion
parts and accessories explicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine
their reliability, safety and special
suitability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for
other products and therefore cannot be
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety,
performance or reliability of your vehicle.
Please do not use them.Genuine Mercedes-Benz Parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories
approved by us are available at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center where you will receive comprehen-
sive information, also on permissible tech-
nical modifications, and where proper
installation will be performed.
159 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 (
page 40) or as
soon as the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button* is in position1 (
page 41). The
control system enables you to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for maintenance service, to set
the language for messages in the instru-
ment cluster display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Transmission position indicator
4Current transmission program mode
5Status indicator (outside temperature
or digital speedometer)
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(
page 162).
iThe displays for the audio systems (radio,
CD player) will appear in English, regardless of
the language selected.
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just
30 mph (approximately 50 km/h), your
vehicle is covering a distance of
44 feet (approximately 14 m) every second.
178 Controls in detail
Control system
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus.
Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTERTIME/DATELIGHTINGVEHICLECOMFORT*
(page 179)(page 181)(page 183)(page 186)(page 189)
Selecting speedometer display
modeSetting the time
(hour)Setting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)Calling up the compassActivating
easy-entry/exit feature*
Selecting languageSetting the time
(minutes)Setting locator lightingCompass adjustmentSetting fold-in function
for exterior rear view
mirrors*
Selecting display (digital
speedometer or outside
temperature) for status indicatorSetting the date
(month)Setting night security
illuminationCompass calibration
Setting the date
(day)Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-offAudio search function
Setting the date
(year)Setting automatic
locking
Limiting opening height
of tailgate*
184 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 146).Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated,
the exterior lamp switch in positionU
(
page 147) and the interior lighting in
automatic mode (
page 153), the
following lamps will switch on during dark-
ness when the vehicle is unlocked using
button Œ on the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
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
On or Off.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle.
The locator lighting feature is
activated.
iFor safety reasons, changing the setting for
the daytime running lamp mode is not possible
while the vehicle is in motion. The following
message appears in the multifunction display:
Settings
only possible
at standstill
For safety reasons, resetting to factory settings
(
page 176) while driving will not deactivate the
daytime running lamp mode.
195 Controls in detail
Control system
Ending a call
Press buttont.
You have ended the call. The standby
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Dialing a number from the phone book
If your telephone is ready to receive calls,
you may select and dial a number from the
phone book at any time.
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
Tel appears in the
multifunction display.
Press buttonj ork.
The control system reads the phone
book which is stored in the telephone.
This may take several minutes. The
message
Please wait appears in the
multifunction display.
When the message
Please wait
disappears, the phone book has been
loaded.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
multifunction display.
The stored names are displayed in
ascending or descending alphabetical
order.
1Name from the phone bookPress buttons.
The system dials the selected phone
number.
If the connection is successful and
this feature is supported by your
network provider, the name of the
party you are calling (if stored in
your phone book) and the duration
of the call will appear in the multi-
function display.
If no connection is made, the
control system stores the dialed
number in the redial memory.
iIf you press and holdj ork for
longer than 1 second, the system scrolls rapidly
through the list of names until you release the
button again.
Cancel the quick search mode by pressing
buttont.
207 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving
(R 63 AMG: standard driving):
The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.
Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.
Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
SelectSfor standard driving
(R 63 AMG: sporty driving):
The vehicle starts out in first gear.
Upshifts occur later.
Steering wheel gearshift control
With drive positionD selected and driving
in program modeC or S, you can limit or
extend the gear range.
If your vehicle is equipped with manual
shift programM, you can use the steering
wheel gearshift control to manually shift
the gears.
1Left shift button: limiting gear range or
downshift (in program modeM)
2Right shift button: extending gear
range or upshift (in program modeM)
The following instructions describe opera-
tion of the steering wheel gearshift control
when driving in program modeC or S.
iR63AMG:
For information on using the steering wheel gear-
shift control in program modeM, see “Manual
shift program (R 63 AMG only)” (
page 209).
!Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.iYou cannot shift with the steering wheel
gearshift control buttons when the transmission
in positionP,N orR.
211 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Kickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 209) repeatedly until
CorS appears in the multifunction
display.
or
Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be selected.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Shift to park positionP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.