2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 length

109
Controls in detail
Seats
Installing front seat head restraint
Press switch
1 upwards and hold for
about 5 seconds.
Insert the head restraint into openings
on the seat backrest.
Push the head restraint down until it
engages.
Adjust the head restraint to the desired
position.
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has an extendable
seat cushion and inflatable air chambers
built into the seat backrest to provide
additional lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion depth, seat backrest
cushion-height and curvature can be
continuously varied with switches on the
inside of each front seat.
1 Seat cushion depth
2 Backrest bottom
3 Backrest center
4 Backrest side bolstersSwitch on the ignition (page 39).
Seat cushion depth
Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg using
switch 1.
Backrest contour
Adjust the contour of the backrest to
the desired position using switches 2
and 3.
Backrest side bolsters
Adjust the backrest side bolsters so
that they provide good lateral support
using switch 4.
iThe guide bar with the detent must be on the
left.
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167
Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear ranges
With the gear selector lever in drive
position
D, you can select a gear range for
the automatic transmission to operate
within.
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the gear selector lever to the left ( D-), and
reverse the gear range limit by pressing
the gear selector lever to the right ( D+)
(
page 168).
The current gear ra nge appears in the
multifunction display.
1 Current gear range
!If the transfer case is in off-road driving
position LOW, the automatic transmission will
not shift up automatically, even when the engine
has reached the speed limit for that gear. There
is a risk of damaging the engine.
It is very important to make sure the permissible
engine speed is not exceeded.
Effect
ïThe transmission shifts through
sixth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
îThe transmission shifts through
fifth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
éThe transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
Effect
èThe transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
çThe transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s brak-
ing power when driving

on steep downgrades

in mountainous regions

under extreme operating
conditions
æThe transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.
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212 Controls in detail
Loading
Pulling partition net tight3 Lift tensioner
4 Tightening belt
5 Belt hook
6 Cargo tie-down ring Lift tensioner
3 on tightening belt 4
must point in direction of the windshield
(indicated by the arrow).
Use lift tensioner 3 to set the length
of tightening belt 4 to cargo tie-down
ring 6.
Hook belt hook 5 into cargo tie-down
ring 6.
Pull tightening belt 4 by the loose end
until the partition net is slightly pulled
tight.
Fold the rear seat bench rearward until
it locks into place.
The partition net will be tightened by
the rear seat bench.
After driving a short distance, make
sure the partition net is still tight and, if
necessary, pull it tight again. Installation partition net behind front
seats
Partition net installe
d behind front seats
Fold the rear seat bench (together with
the rear seat backrest) forward
(
page 207).
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213
Controls in detail
Loading
Hanging up partition net
1 Partition net
2 Holder
Hang partition net 1 on holder 2 and
push forward in direction of the arrow. Pulling partition net tight
3 Lift tensioner
4 Tightening belt
5 Belt hook
6 Cargo tie-down ring
Lift tensioner 3 on tightening belt 4
must point in direction of the tailgate.
Use lift tensioner 3 to set the length
of tightening belt 4 to cargo tie-down
ring 6.
Hook belt hook 5 into cargo tie-down
ring 6.
Pull tightening belt 4 by the loose end
until the partition net is pulled tight.
After driving a short distance, make
sure the partition net is still tight and, if
necessary, pull it tight again.
Loosening partition net
Loosen tightening belt 4 by pulling lift
tensioner 3 upward.
Remove belt hook 5 from cargo
tie-down ring 6.
Removing and storing partition net
Take partition net 1 out of holder 2.
Roll up partition net and secure it.
Store partition net behind the rear seat
bench.
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241
Controls in detail
Useful features
Programming tips
If you are having difficulty programming
the integrated remote control, here are
some helpful tips:

Check the frequency of hand-held
remote control
5 (typically located on
the reverse side of the remote). The
integrated remote control is compati-
ble with radio-frequency devices oper-
ating between 280-390 MHz.

Put a new battery in hand-held remote
control 5. This will increase the
likelihood of the hand-held remote con-
trol sending a faster and more accurate
signal to the integrated remote control.

While performing step 3, hold
hand-held remote control 5 at
different lengths and angles from the
signal transmitter button ( 2, 3 or 4)
you are programming. Attempt varying
angles at the distance of 2 to 5 in
(5 to 12 cm) away or the same angle at
varying distances.

If another hand-held remote control is
available for the same device, try the
programming steps again using that
other hand-held remote control. Make
sure new batteries are in the hand-held
remote control before beginning the
procedure.

Straighten the antenna wire from the
garage door opener assembly. This
may help improve transmitting and/or
receiving signals.
iCertain types of garage door openers are
incompatible with the integrated remote control.
If you should experience further difficulties with
programming the integrated remote control,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center, or call Mercedes-Benz Customer
Assistance Center (in the USA only) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Service
(in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful inter- ference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
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251
Operation
Driving instructions
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move the gear selector lever to neutral
position
N. Try to keep the vehicle under
control by corrective steering action. Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal brake effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking
efficiency should be tested as soon as
possible after driving is resumed.
For more information, see “Winter driving”
(
page 309).
iFor information on driving with snow chains,
see “Snow chains” (
page 310).
Warning!G
On slippery road surf aces, never downshift
in order to obtain brak ing action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of control loss.
Do not engage the transf er case in position
LOW when driving on ice or packed snow.
At speeds below 18 mph (30 km/h) vehicle
steering is adversely affected by the LOW
RANGE – ABS (
page 89).
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Warning!G
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure that snow is kept clear of the exhaust
pipe and from around the vehicle with the
engine running. Other wise, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the
vehicle not facing the wind.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitab le for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the
road surface is free of ice.
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256 Operation
Driving instructions

Driving on embankments, slopes and
other steep inclines should only be
done straight uphill or downhill, i.e. in
the line of gravity. Maximum vehicle
climbing ability is a 80% grade which is
equivalent to a slope angle of approxi-
mately 38 degrees. Keep in mind that
the climbing ability of the vehicle
depends on terrain conditions.

Select gear range 2 or 1 on the auto-
matic transmission (
page 167).

Drive slowly.

Utilize the engine’s braking power
when descending a slope, observe the
engine speed (do not overrev the
engine). Apply the service brake as
needed.

Check the brakes after a lengthy
downgrade drive. Traction in steep terrain
Be easy on the accelerator and watch for
continuous wheel traction when driving
uphill.
iFor maximum engine speed, see “Instru-
ment cluster” (
page 26) and see “Engine”
(
page 413).
Warning!G
Never turn the vehicle around on steep
inclines. The vehicle might roll over. If the
vehicle cannot complete the attempted
climb, back it down in reverse gear.
iThe 4-ETS helps greatly when starting out on
a steep incline when the front wheels have then
the tendency to slip due to the weight shifting
away from the front axle.
The 4-ETS recognizes the situation and limits the
torque for the front wheels by braking them.
Simultaneously the torque for the rear wheels is
provided.
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312 Operation
Maintenance
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator message
The maintenance service indicator
message is automatically cleared

after approximately 10 seconds when
you switch on the ignition or when
reaching the maintenance service
threshold while driving

after approximately 30 seconds, once
the suggested maintenance service
term has passedYou can also clear maintenance service
indicator message yourself.
1 Reset button
Press reset button 1 on the instru-
ment cluster.
The maintenance service indicator
message is cleared and the standard
display appears in the multifunction
display (
page 140).
iVehicles equipped with Maintenance
System (U.S. vehicles) only:
The Maintenance System in your vehicle tracks
distance driven and the time elapsed since the
last maintenance service and calculates other
maintenance service work required.
iVehicles equipped with FSS (Flexible Service
S
ystem) (Canada vehicles) only:

FSS evaluates engine temperature, oil level,
vehicle speed, engine speed, distance driven
and the time elapsed since the last
maintenance service and calculates other
maintenance service work required.

The interval between maintenance services
depends on your driving habits. A gentle
driving style, moderate engine speeds and
the avoidance of short-distance trips will
lengthen the interval between services.
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