2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 brake pads

348 Operation
Driving instructions
Power assistanceBrakes
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.
Warning!G
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking
effect. Maintain a safe distance from
vehicles in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an
accident.
!Operational or performance test must only
be conducted on a two-axle dynamometer. If
such tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake system or
the transfer case which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in
position0or1) when testing the brakes on a
brake test dynamometer and such testing should
be no longer than 10 seconds.
Active braking action through ESP
® may other-
wise seriously damage the brake system which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

349 Operation
Driving instructions
To help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly
salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes.
If your brake system is normally only
subjected to moderate loads, you should
occasionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
page 102).Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid level in
the reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be too low if the brake warning lamp
in the instrument cluster comes on and an
acoustic warning sounds although the
parking brake is released (
page 421).
Observe additional messages in the multi-
function display that may appear
(
page 454).
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Only install brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Warning!G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.
!When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power.
This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.
When using the engine’s braking power, a drive
wheel may not spin for an extended period of
time, e.g. on slippery road surfaces. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.

350 Operation
Driving instructions
High-performance brake system
(R 63 AMG only)
The high-performance brake system is
designed to operate under the extremely
high operating demands required to
accommodate the performance capabili-
ties of the vehicle. The brakes may
produce a squeaking-type noise depending
on the

vehicle speed

brake force applied

ambient conditions, e.g. temperature
and humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of indi-
vidual brake system components such as
brake pads or disks strongly depends on
your driving style and the conditions under
which you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driv-
ing style calling for high demand braking
will cause your vehicle’s brakes to wear
more quickly.Parking brake
When driving on wet roads or dirt covered
surfaces, road salt and/or dirt can get into
the parking brake. To prevent corrosion
and a reduction in the braking power of the
parking brake, observe the following:
From time to time, lightly engage the
parking brake before driving off.
Drive a distance of approximately
110 yds (100 m) at a maximum speed
of 12 mph (20 km/h)
Warning!G
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until
that time, you may need to use increased
brake pedal pressure while braking. Please
be aware of this and adjust your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in
period.
Excessive high demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition mes-
sages in the multifunction display.
Especially for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
Warning!G
While performing this procedure, please as-
sure that the vehicle is stopped before ap-
plying the parking brake. Otherwise the rear
wheels could lock up. You could lose control
of the vehicle and cause an accident. In ad-
dition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not light
up when the parking brake is engaged.
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when you engage the parking brake.

416 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the panorama roof with
tilt/sliding panel*
The rear part of the panorama roof has a
protective layer on the inside.
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild
window cleaning solution.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong
spray of water for cleaning the light al-
loy wheels.Plastic and rubber parts
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution.
Wipe with a cloth moistened in a luke-
warm solution.
The surface may temporarily change
color. If this is the case, wait for it to
dry.
!Do not use a dry cloth, abrasives, solvents
or cleaners containing solvents. Do not touch
the protective layer with hard objects such as an
ice scraper or ring. Never apply strong force and
only use a soft, non-scratching cloth when clean-
ing the rear part of the tilt/sliding panel*.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the
protective layer.
!Only use acid-free cleaning materials. Acid
may cause corrosion or damage the clear coat.
!The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately after it has
been cleaned, especially not after the wheel rims
have been cleaned with wheel rim cleaner.
Wheel rim cleaners can lead to increased
corrosion of the brake disks and brake pads.
Non-approved wheel cleaners may also damage
the wheel paint if the car is not driven after
cleaning. Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it is parked
after cleaning. To do so, please drive your vehicle
for several minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved Tire
Care and Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care
products, take care not to spray them on the
brake disks.
Warning!G
Do not use cleaners containing solvents or
cockpit care sprays to clean the cockpit or
the steering wheel. Cleaners containing sol-
vents will make the surface porous and vehi-
cle occupants could suffer serious injuries
from plastic parts coming loose in the event
of air bag deployment.

452 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
#Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicleThe battery is defective.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 66).
Do not continue to drive.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
2Brake wearThe brake pads have reached
their wear limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually in-
spected by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

549 Index
Beverage holder see Cup holder
Bleeding the fuel system
(diesel engine) 505
Bolts, Spare wheel 500
Bottle opener 317
Brake Assist System see BAS
Brake fluid 541
Checking 362
Messages in the multifunction
display 454
Brake lamp
Cleaning lenses 413
Messages in the multifunction
display 463–468
Replacing bulbs 484
Brake pads 348
Messages in the multifunction
display 452
Brakes 348
High-performance brake system
(AMG vehicles only) 350
Warning lamp 421
Break-in the vehicle 346
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbsC
California retail buyers and lessees,
Important notice for 11
Call priority, Tele Aid* 336
Can holder see Cup holder
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants 538
Card holder 32, 317
Cargo compartment
Tie-down rings 299
Cargo compartment cover blind* 306
Cargo tie-down rings 299
Carpets, Cleaning 417
Catalytic converter
(gasoline engine) 357
CD changer* 172, 311
CD player 172
Center console 31
Central locking 189
Automatic 130
Locking/unlocking from the
inside 130
Central locking switch 130Certification label 526, 527
CHECK ENGINE malfunction
indicator lamp 423, 424
Checking tire pressure electronically
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*,
(Canada only) 388
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), (USA only) 385
Child safety
Infant and child restraint systems 85
Children in the vehicle 84
Air bags 75, 86
Blocking rear door window
operation 97
Indicator lamp, Front passenger front
air bag 92
Infant and child restraint
systems 93, 95
LATCH-type child seat anchors 93
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 88
Cigarette lighter* 321

559 Index
display messages
Microphone, Hands-free 33
Mirrors
Adjusting 48
Auto-dimming* 213
Exterior rear view mirrors 49
Interior rear view mirror 48, 212
Mobile phone see Telephone*
MON 542
Multicontour seats* 136
Multifunction display 159
Changing settings see Control system
menus and Control system sub-
menus
Selecting language 179
Standard display 163
Multifunction display
messages 433–471
ABS 435, 442
AIRMATIC* 470–471
Brake fluid 454
Brake pads 452Coolant 455–457
Cruise control 436
Doors 460
EBP 453
Engine coolant 455–457
Engine oil 366, 367, 458
ESP
®436, 441, 442
Fog lamps, Front* 464
Fog lamps, Rear 466
Front passenger front air
bag 445–448
Fuel cap 460
Gear selector lever 443
Headlamps 463–468
Hood 460
Key, SmartKey 462
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 461, 462
Lamps 465
Lamps, exterior 463
Low tire pressure 449
Parking brake 443, 453
Parking lamps 466SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 461
SRS 444
Tele Aid* 469
Telephone* 469
Windshield washer fluid 469
Multifunction steering wheel 30, 160
Button operation 160
N
Navigation system* 173
See separate COMAND system operat-
ing instructions
Net, Parcel 315
Net, Partition* 308
Neutral gear position, Automatic
transmission 197, 201
New vehicle, Break-in period 346
Night security illumination 149, 185
Normal occupant weight 402
Number, Vehicle Identification
(VIN) 526, 527