2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 traction control

306 Controls in detail
Loading
Cargo compartment cover blind*
The cargo compartment cover blind can be
installed behind the third-row seats or the
second-row seats.
Blind installed behind third-row seats
1Handle
2Mount
Rolling out blind
Pull blind on handle1 across the
cargo compartment.
Guide blind into mounts2 and
release.
Rolling up blind
Disengage blind and guide retraction
by its handle1.Removing blind
Blind installed behind second-row seats
1Release button
2Blind
Roll the blind up.
Push release button1.
Pull blind 2 to the left against the
spring pressure until the spring in the
blind audibly engages.
Remove the blind.
!With the cargo compartment cover blind
installed, do not pile luggage higher than the
lower edges of the rear side windows.
iThe cargo compartment cover blind has two
extensions which are connected to the cargo
compartment cover blind by cords.
The cargo compartment cover blind must be
extended for installation behind the second-row
seats (
page 306).

352 Operation
Driving instructions
TiresTreadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which
point the tire is considered worn and
should be replaced.
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subjected to high loads (e.g. high
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient temper-
atures).
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (
page 373).
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.
Warning!G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning
flashers, carefully slow down, and drive with
caution to an area which is a safe distance
from the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or tire dealer for repairs.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we recommend that you
do not allow your tires to wear down to
that level. As tread depth approaches
1/8in (3 mm), the adhesion properties on
a wet road are sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

353 Operation
Driving instructions
Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or
icy road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperatures are close to the freezing
point.Mercedes-Benz recommends winter tires
(
page 405) with a minimum tread depth
of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four
wheels for the winter season to ensure
normal balanced handling characteristics.
On packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance compared to summer
tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consid-
erably greater than when the road is not
covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
Tire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use
prudent driving speeds appropriate to
prevailing conditions.
Warning!G
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction
will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!G
Even when permitted by law, never operate
a vehicle at speeds greater than the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire
failure, causing loss of vehicle control and
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
serious injury and possible death, for you
and for others.

399 Operation
Tires and wheels
Quality grades can be found, where
applicable, on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.Traction
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
TreadwearTractionTemperature
200AAA
Warning!G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.

425 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
vThe yellow ESP® warning lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.The ESP® has been switched of with the ESP®
switch or has switched off due to a
malfunction.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road, weather, and traffic conditions.Switch the ESP® back on
(
page 105).
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on:
Continue driving with added caution.
Observe additional messages in the
multifunction display that may
appear.
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
vThe yellow ESP® warning lamp
flashes while driving.The ESP® or traction control has come into
operation because of detected traction loss
of at least one tire.When driving off, apply as little throt-
tle as possible.
While driving, ease up on the acceler-
ator.
Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.
Do not deactivate the ESP®.
Exceptions: (
page 104)
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.

436 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSunavailable
See Operator’s ManualIf the yellow ESP® warning
lampv flashes while driving and
this message appears, the electron-
ic traction system has switched off
to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes.As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the
electronic traction system switches on again.
The message in the multifunction display disap-
pears and the ESP
® warning lampv goes
out.
The self-diagnosis has not yet been
completed yet.The display will clear after driving a short
distance at a vehicle speed of above
12 mph (20 km/h).
Cruise
control and
SPEEDTRONIC

inoperativeThe cruise control is malfunctioning.Have cruise control checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Cruise
control––– mphYou have attempted to set a
speed while driving below
20 mph (30 km/h).Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the speed
(
page 266).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 105).
The automatic transmission is set to
position P, R, or N.Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 197).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.Release the parking brake (page 57).

552 Index
Door control panel 36
Door handle 36
Door windows see Power windows
DOT 396, 401
Drinking and driving 347
Driving 51
Abroad 356
Hydroplaning 352
In winter 354, 405
Instructions 51, 347
Problems 63
Safety systems 100
Systems 266
Through standing water 355
With Distronic* 282
Driving off 58
Driving safety systems
4-ETS 106
ABS 100
BAS 102
EBP 105
ESP
®102Driving systems 266
AIRMATIC* 285
Cruise control 266
Distronic* 271
Parktronic* 291
Rear view camera* 295
Driving tips 203
Kickdown 203
E
Easy-entry/exit feature* 132
Control system 190
EBP 105
Indicator and warning lamps 422
Electric air pump 502
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical system, Technical data 535
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic Traction System see 4-ETS
Emergency calls
Tele Aid* 331Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 514
First aid kit 472
Flat tire 497
Fuses 520
Hazard warning flasher 152
Instrument cluster,
Indicator lamps 420–428
Roadside Assistance 12, 333
Towing the vehicle 517
Emergency operation
Locking/unlocking the vehicle 478
Power tilt/sliding sunroof,
Manual operation* 481
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 336
Tailgate, Opening from the
inside 123
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) 211
Emergency tensioning device see ETD