2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R-CLASS MPV towing

Loading and stowing
2031
Stowage tray/telephone compartment
2 Coin holder
Stowage compartments above and
below the centre air vents, 2nd row of
seats Depending on the equipment in the vehicle, a
control panel may be installed instead of the
upper stowage compartment, e.g. if the vehi-
cle has rear-compartment air conditioning for
the 2nd and 3rd rows of seats. Upper stowage compartment
In vehicles with the smoker's package*, an
ashtray is installed instead of the lower stow-
age compartment (Y
page 205). Lower stowage compartment
1
Cover
2 Release button X
Press release button 2.
Cover 1swings backwards.
Stowage compartment in the centre
console, 2nd row of seats* X
Press the release button under the armrest
and fold the armrest upwards.
Stowage compartments in the 3rd row
of seats There is a stowage compartment in the side
trim on both sides. In vehicles with rear-com-
partment air conditioning (2nd and 3rd row of
seats), a swivelling side air vent is installed
instead of the stowage compartment. Controls
* optional
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217
Running-in notes
............................... 218
Refuelling ........................................... 218
Engine compartment ........................220
Tyres and wheels .............................. 224
Winter driving ................................... 231
Driving tips ........................................ 232
Driving abroad ................................... 235
Trailer towing* .................................. 235
Service ............................................... 242
Care .................................................... 243 Operation
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Tyres and wheels
228
R
you adopt a very sporty driving style (cor-
nering at high speeds or driving with high
rates of acceleration)
R you are towing a very heavy or large trailer
R you are driving with a heavy load (in the
vehicle or on the roof)
Restarting the tyre pressure loss warn-
ing system Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system
if you have:
R changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
X Before restarting, consult the table of tyre
pressures on the inside of the fuel filler flap
to ensure that the tyre pressure in all four
tyres is set correctly for the operating con-
ditions concerned.
X Also observe the notes in the section on
tyre pressures (Y page 226). G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure loss warning system can
only give reliable warnings if you have set
the correct tyre pressure. If an incorrect tyre pressure is set, these
incorrect values will be monitored.
A tyre with insufficient pressure results in
vehicle instability when driving, thus
increasing the risk of an accident.
X Make sure that the key is in position
2(Y page 76) in the ignition lock.
The standard display appears in the multi-
function display (Y page 122).
X Press korj to select the tyre pres-
sure function:
Run Flat Indicator active
Menu: R-Buttonæ
X Press the reset button on the left of the
instrument cluster.
The following message appears in the
multi-function display:
Restart Run Flat Indicator?
Yes Cancel
If you wish to confirm the restart:
X Press the æbutton.
The following message appears in the
multi-function display:
Run Flat Indicator restarted
After a teach-in period, the tyre pressure
loss warning system will monitor the set
tyre pressures of all four tyres. If you wish to cancel the restart:
X
Press the çbutton.
or
X Wait until the message
Restart Run Flat Indicator?
Yes Cancel disappears.
The tyre pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored. Checking the tyre pressure electroni-
cally*
The tyre pressure monitor only functions if
the correct wheel electronics are fitted to all
wheels. These monitor the pressure in all four
tyres, which you have set when restarting the
tyre pressure monitor. The monitor warns you
when the pressure drops in one or more of
the tyres. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure monitor does not warn
you of an incorrectly set tyre pressure. The
table on the inside of the fuel filler flap will
help you decide whether the tyre pressures
should be corrected.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to
warn you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. Operation
* optional
251_AKB; 5; 7, en-GB
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Driving
tips 233
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must select shift range
1,2or 3in good
time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, Speedtronic or Distronic*.
This uses the braking effect of the engine and
you will not have to brake to such an extent
to maintain the same speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking,
depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously.
Heavy and light loads If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet roads If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes, when brak-
ing for the first time. You must brake harder.
You must therefore maintain a greater dis-
tance from the vehicle in front.
Brake firmly after driving on a wet road. This
way the brake discs will become warm, drying
more quickly, which will protect them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salted
roads
G
Risk of accident
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in
the braking effect, resulting in a signifi- cantly longer braking distance, which could
lead to an accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R
occasionally brake carefully, without put-
ting other road users at risk, when you
are driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are
removed from the brake disc.
New brake pads/linings For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to your vehicle that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which corre-
spond to an equivalent quality standard.
Brake pads/linings which have not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your vehi-
cle's operating safety. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
235Driving abroad
Points to remember
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. The
Service Hotline's current telephone numbers
for use when you are abroad are to be found
in the "Service24h" chapter of the Service
Booklet.
Only low-octane fuel is available in certain
countries.
You can find further information about fuel
grades on (Y page 218). Symmetrical dipped beam
If your journey takes you to countries where
vehicles are driven on the opposite side of the
road to the country in which the vehicle is
registered, your headlamps must be switched
to symmetrical dipped beam. Oncoming traf-
fic will be dazzled less.
X Have the headlamps switched over at a
qualified specialist workshop, e. g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. G
Risk of accident
Have your headlamps switched back to
asymmetrical dipped beam if you visit a country in which traffic drives on the same
side of the road as in the country in which
your vehicle was registered. You may oth-
erwise dazzle the oncoming traffic and
could cause an accident. Trailer towing*
Fitting the ball coupling
Before you can tow a trailer with your vehicle,
you must fit the ball coupling.
There is a key for the ball coupling.
X Make a note of the key number.
You can use this number to obtain a
replacement key from a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. G
Risk of injury
If the ball coupling does not engage cor-
rectly when it is fitted, the vehicle/trailer
combination will not be properly secured
and may detach. This could cause an acci-
dent. Fit the ball coupling carefully and
make sure that it engages correctly.
The detachable ball coupling is located in the
stowage well under the luggage compartment
floor.
The ball coupling recess is behind the cover
at the bottom of the bumper. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
2361
Cover
X Remove cover 1.
X Take the ball coupling and the key from the
stowage well under the luggage compart-
ment floor ( Ypage 250). 1
Protective cap X
Pull protective cap 1underneath the
bumper vertically downwards in the direc-
tion of the arrow and out of the ball coupling
recess.
X Place protective cap 1in the stowage well
under the luggage compartment floor. 1
Key
2 Protective cap
X Pull protective cap 2off the lock in the
handwheel.
X Insert key 1into the lock in the hand-
wheel.
X Turn key 1anti-clockwise.
i The key remains inserted when you
remove the ball coupling. 3
Ball coupling recess
4 Handwheel
X Pull handwheel 4away from the ball cou-
pling in the direction of the arrow and turn
it clockwise until it engages.
The white dot on the ball coupling is aligned
with the red area on the handwheel.
X Insert the ball coupling vertically up into
ball coupling recess 3in the direction of
the arrow until it engages. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
2371
Key
2 Protective cap
5 Green area on the handwheel
6 White dot on the ball coupling
X Handwheel 4turns automatically, aligning
green area 5on handwheel 4with white
dot 6on the ball coupling.
X Turn key 1to the stop in the direction of
the arrow (lock).
X Remove key 1.
X Press protective cap 2onto the lock. G
Risk of accident
The ball coupling is only securely mounted
when the green area on the handwheel is
aligned with the white dot on the ball cou-
pling and the key can be removed. If the ball coupling is not securely mounted, it may
come loose.
The ball coupling must be locked and the
key must be removed when towing a trailer.
This is the only way to guarantee that the
ball coupling is secured and cannot come
loose while the vehicle is in motion. If the
ball coupling cannot be locked and the key
cannot be removed, remove the ball cou-
pling and clean it.
If the ball coupling can still not be fitted
(locked) after it has been cleaned, remove
the ball coupling. The trailer tow hitch must
then not be used to tow a trailer, as safe
operation is not guaranteed.
Have the entire trailer tow hitch checked at
a qualified specialist workshop. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop. 1
Socket Coupling up and uncoupling a trailer
Coupling up a trailer Steel-spring vehicles
X
Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
238
Vehicles with rear axle level control* G
Risk of injury
Never lock, unlock, open or close a vehicle
door or tailgate when coupling up or decou-
pling a trailer. The vehicle level could
change and you could endanger yourself or
others.
Never press the ADS button* or operate the
level control* while you are coupling up or
decoupling a trailer.
X Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Close the doors and tailgate.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
X Start the engine.
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package* G
Risk of injury
Never lock, unlock, open or close a vehicle
door or tailgate when coupling up or decou-
pling a trailer. The vehicle level could
change and you could endanger yourself or
others. Never press the ADS button* or operate the
level control* while you are coupling up or
decoupling a trailer.
X Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Set the vehicle to highway level
(Y page 152).
X Switch off the engine.
X Close the doors and tailgate.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
i If you have coupled a trailer, the vehicle
will remain at highway level.
The vehicle automatically lowers to high-
way level if you drive faster than 8 km/h
with a trailer. The vehicle is not lowered to
the high-speed level even if you are travel-
ling at higher speeds.
This also applies when using accessories
that are plugged into the socket of the
trailer coupling (e.g. a bicycle rack). Decoupling a trailer G
Risk of injury
Do not connect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your hand could
become trapped between the bumper and
drawbar.
! Do not uncouple a trailer with overrun
brake between the bumper and drawbar,
otherwise your vehicle could be damaged
by the spring action of the overrun brake.
Steel-spring vehicles
X Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Secure the trailer against rolling away.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
Vehicles with rear axle level control*
X Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Close the doors and tailgate.
X Secure the trailer against rolling away.
X Remove the trailer cable. Operation
* optional
251_AKB; 5; 7, en-GB
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