2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R320 air condition

233 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Convenience opening:
Press button: for approximately
2 seconds.
The windows and/or tilt/sliding
sunroof will return to their previous
positions. You can release button:
once the opening procedure has
begun. The windows and tilt/sliding
sunroof continue opening until they
have reached their previous positions.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The air recirculation mode is
deactivated.Vehicles with panorama roof*
Convenience closing:
Press and hold button: until the
windows and the tilt/sliding panel are
closed or have reached the desired po-
sition. The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air recirculation mode is
activated.
Convenience opening:
Press and hold button: until the
windows and the tilt/sliding panel are
opened or have reached the desired
position. The indicator lamp on the
button goes out. The air recirculation
mode is deactivated.
Air conditioning
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the
vehicle down to the selected interior
temperature. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thereby preventing the windows from
fogging up.
iCondensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
interior air is not dried. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.

234 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the
vehicle will then no longer be cooled or
dehumidified.
Press button9 (page 224).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The cooling function switches off
after a short delay.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button9 again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R-134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Using driver-side settings for all
temperature zones
You can use the settings of the driver’s
side, such as temperature, air volume and
air distribution, for all temperature zones.
These settings only need to be made once
and the automatic climate control system
will automatically regulate the settings for
all temperature zones quickly and comfort-
ably.
Activating
Adjust the temperature, air volume and
air distribution (
page 224).
Press button; (page 224).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The driver-side settings are used for all
temperature zones.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned on
again, this indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has turned
off.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

238 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls3 or5
to adjust the air distribution for the rear
passenger compartment.
The symbols on the controls represent the
following functions:
Adjusting manually
Press the desired air distribution con-
trol.
The indicator lamp on button U
goes out.Adjusting automatically
Press buttonU.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air distribution is ad-
justed automatically.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controla (
page 236)
to separately adjust the air temperature of
the rear passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C). The automatic
climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.Increasing the temperature
Turn temperature controla
(
page 236) slightly clockwise.
The rear automatic climate control will
correspondingly adjust the interior air
temperature for the rear passenger
compartment.
Decreasing the temperature
Turn temperature controla
(
page 236) slightly counterclock-
wise.
The rear automatic climate control will
correspondingly adjust the interior air
temperature for the rear passenger
compartment.
SymbolFunction
ZDirects air to the center air
vents
YDirects air to the footwells and
the side air vents
iThe rear automatic climate control will not
cool the air when the air conditioning is switched
off (
page 234).

253 Controls in detail
Panorama roof with power tilt/sliding panel*
Opening and closing the panorama roof
with power tilt/sliding panel
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Warning!G
When opening or closing the tilt/sliding
panel, make sure that there is no danger of
anyone being harmed by the opening or
closing procedure.
The opening procedure of the tilt/sliding
panel can be immediately halted by releas-
ing the switch or, if the switch was moved
past the resistance point and released, by
moving the switch in any direction.
The closing procedure of the tilt/sliding
panel can be immediately halted by releas-
ing the switch.
The panorama roof with power tilt/sliding
panel is made out of glass. In the event of
an accident, the glass may shatter. This may
result in an opening in the roof.
In a vehicle rollover, occupants not wearing
their seat belts or not wearing them properly
may be thrown out of the opening. Such an
opening also presents a potential for injury
for occupants wearing their seat belts
properly as entire body parts or portions of
them may protrude from the passenger
compartment.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle.
A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
!To avoid damaging the seals, do not trans-
port any objects with sharp edges which can
stick out of the tilt/sliding panel.
Do not open the tilt/sliding panel if there is
snow or ice on the roof, as this could result in
malfunctions.
!Please keep in mind that weather conditions
can sometimes change rapidly. Make sure to
close the tilt/sliding panel when leaving the
vehicle. If water enters the vehicle interior,
vehicle electronics could be damaged which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iWhen the tilt/sliding panel is open,
resonance noises may result in addition to the
usual wind noises. They are caused by minimal
pressure changes in the passenger compart-
ment. To reduce or eliminate theses noises,
change the position of the tilt/sliding panel or
open a door window slightly.
iYou can also open or close the tilt/sliding
panel using the SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO*
function, see “Summer opening feature”
(
page 244) and “Convenience closing
feature” (
page 245).
iThe tilt/sliding panel may also open when
using the air recirculation button: on the
control panel of the climate control
(
page 210) or automatic climate control*
(
page 224).

257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are
described on the following pages:

Cruise control (page 257) and
Distronic* (
page 262), with which
the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed.

Distance warning function*
(
page 275) is only available with
Distronic*, which warns of stationary
obstacles or slower moving vehicles
that you are closing in on too quickly.

AIRMATIC* (page 276) adjusts the
vehicle suspension characteristics
automatically and controls the vehicle
level.

Parktronic* (page 281) and rear view
camera* (
page 285), which serve as
a parking aid.
For information on the ABS, BAS, EBP,
ESP
®, and 4-ETS, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 99).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of cruise control is recommended
for driving at a constant speed for extend-
ed periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above
20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 24).
Warning!G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.

The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow
safe driving at a constant speed.

The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in
wheel spin and loss of control.

Deactivate the cruise control when
driving in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.

264 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic does not act upon adverse sight
and distance conditions. Do not use
Distronic during conditions of fog, heavy
rain, snow or sleet.
Warning!G
Distronic cannot take weather conditions
into account. Switch off Distronic or do not
switch it on if:

roads are slippery or covered with snow
or ice. The wheels could lose traction
while braking or accelerating, and the
vehicle could skid.

the sensor is dirty or visibility is
diminished due to snow, rain or fog, for
example. The distance control system
functionality could be impaired.
Always pay attention to surrounding traffic
conditions even while Distronic is switched
on. Otherwise, you may not be able to recog-
nize dangerous situations until it is too late.
This could cause an accident in which you
and others could be injured.
Warning!G
The “Resume” function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
Warning!G
Close attention to road and traffic condi-
tions is imperative at all times, regardless of
whether or not Distronic is activated.
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on
winding roads or in heavy traffic because
conditions do not allow safe driving at a
continuous speed.
Distronic will not react to stationary objects
in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a
traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). Distronic
will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.
Switch off Distronic:

when changing from the left to the right
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly
in the left lane

when entering a turn lane or highway off
ramp

in complex driving situations, such as in
highway construction zones
In these situations, Distronic will continue to
maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
Distronic is designed and intended only to
maintain a set speed and keep a set dis-
tance from moving objects in front of it.


276 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Switch on the distance warning func-
tion in the control system
(
page 185).1Symbol for activated distance warning
function
When the distance warning function is
switched on, you will see the: symbol
in the Standard display. When the
distance warning function is deactivated
the:symbol will not appear.
AIRMATIC*
The AIRMATIC* consists of two compo-
nents:

Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
(
page 276): Automatically optimizes
your vehicle’s suspension tuning.

Vehicle level control* (page 277):
Regulates the ride height of the vehicle.
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
The fine tuning of the damping is depen-
dent on:

road surface conditions

your driving style

your personal settings
The ADS switch is located on the upper
part of the center console.
Warning!G
If the distance warning lampl in the in-
strument cluster comes on while driving
and/or an intermittent warning sounds,
immediate attention on the part of the driver
is required. As required by the traffic
situation, apply the brakes and navigate
around a possible obstacle. However, do not
drive by relying on the distance warning
function, as this will result in an emergency
braking application. This will not always
enable you to avoid a collision, especially
when traveling on varying road surface
conditions and with varying driver reaction.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by the distance warning
function. This could result in wrong or miss-
ing distance warnings.

278 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Basic settings
There are two settings from which to
choose:

Raised level, for driving on rough roads

Highway level, for driving on paved
roads in fair or better conditionThe vehicle’s ride height changes by the
approximate values given in table below
according to the set level:
The vehicle lowers to highspeed level
automatically when

the vehicles speed exceeds
70 mph (112 km/h)

the vehicles speed is between
60 mph (96 km/h) and
70 mph (112 km/h) for longer
than 20 seconds
Warning!G
Make sure that no one is near the wheel
housing or under the vehicle when you lower
the vehicle while it is standing still. Limbs
could become wedged into or under the
vehicle.
For safety reasons, the vehicle can only be
lowered with all doors and the tailgate
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door or
the tailgate is opened and will continue after
the door is closed again.
Warning!G
Adapt your speed and driving to possible
changed driving behavior of the vehicle after
changing the vehicle level. The ESP
® cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed. The ESP
® cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle.
!Keep in mind that in rough or uneven roads,
adjusting the vehicle to a lower level may cause
the vehicle underbody to come in contact with
the road and result in damage to the vehicle un-
derbody. Always make sure the vehicle has suffi-
cient ground clearance before adjusting it to a
lower level.
!Before jacking up the vehicle with equip-
ment that lifts one or more of the wheels com-
pletely off the ground, remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.
!Please also note the information in the
section on towing (
page 513).
iThe activation threshold is defined by the set
suspension tuning (
page 276).
iThe third available level is the highspeed
level that is set automatically.
LevelRide height
Raised+ 1.97 in (+ 50 mm)
Highway+/- 0
Highspeed- 0.78 in (- 20 mm)
iObey local speed limits. Use prudent driving
speeds appropriate to prevailing conditions.