516 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Example illustration R 550 4MATIC
1Towing eye coverRemoving cover
Press mark on cover1 as indicated by
the arrow.
Lift off cover1 to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.
Installing towing eye bolt
Take the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench from the vehicle tool kit
(
page 469).
Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with wheel wrench.Removing towing eye bolt
Loosen towing eye bolt counterclock-
wise with wheel wrench.
Unscrew towing eye bolt.
Store the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench back into the vehicle tool kit
(
page 469).
Installing cover
Engage towing eye cover1 at top and
press at bottom.
Warning!G
In order to avoid possible serious burns or
injury, use extreme caution when removing
the cover, because the rear exhaust pipe is
extremely hot.
518 Practical hints
Fuses
The electrical fuses in your vehicle serve to
switch off malfunctioning power circuits.
If a fuse is blown, the components and
systems secured by that fuse will stop
operating.If a newly inserted fuse blows again, have
the cause determined and rectified by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
A fuse chart explains the fuse allocation
and fuse amperages. It is located in the
cargo compartment with the vehicle tool
kit (
page 469).
The electrical fuses are located in different
fuse boxes:
on the passenger side of the engine
compartment (
page 519)
in the cargo compartment
(
page 519)
in the passenger compartment
(
page 520)Before replacing fuses:
Apply the parking brake (page 65).
Make sure automatic transmission is
set to position P (
page 192).
The gear position indicator in the
multifunction display should be on
P.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn off the engine (page 66).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch to position0,
same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from starter switch). The
driver’s door can then be closed
again.
Warning!G
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system
in question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than
approved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a
fire, and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the
cause determined and remedied by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center
iA blown fuse must be replaced by an appro-
priate spare fuse (recognizable by its color or the
fuse rating given on the fuse) of the amperage
recommended in the fuse chart.
Any Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center will be
glad to advise you on this subject.
536 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Capacities
Vehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore only use
products tested and approved by
Mercedes Benz.
Please refer to the Factory Approved
Service Products pamphlet (USA only), or
inquire at an Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!G
Comply with all valid regulations with re-
spect to handling, storing and disposing of
service fluids. Otherwise you could endan-
ger persons or the environment.
Keep service fluids out of the reach of chil-
dren.
For health reasons, you should prevent
service fluids from coming into direct
contact with your skin or clothing.
If a service fluid is swallowed, contact a
physician immediately.
ModelCapacityFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filterR 320 CDI 4MATIC9.0 US qt (8.5 l)Approved engine oils
R 3501, R 350 4MATIC
1USA only.
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
R 550 4MATIC2
2Canada only.
9.5 US qt (9.0 l)
Automatic transmission9.5 US qt (9.0 l)MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
Transfer case0.53 US qt (0.5 l)MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
Rear axle1.2 US qt (1.1 l)Hypoid gear oil
Front axle1.2 US qt (1.1 l)Hypoid gear oil
539 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Brake fluid
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center will provide you with additional
information.Premium unleaded gasoline
(gasoline engine)
Warning!G
During vehicle operation, the boiling point of
the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from the
atmosphere. Under extremely strenuous
operating conditions, this moisture content
can lead to the formation of bubbles in the
system, thus reducing the system’s
efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be
replaced regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s
Maintenance Booklet for replacement
interval.
Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid in-
haling fumes and skin or clothing contact,
extinguish all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with gasoline and the in-
halation of gasoline vapors are damaging to
your health.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gasoline must
be used. If premium unleaded gasoline is not
available and low octane fuel is used, follow
these precautions:
Have the fuel tank only partially filled with
unleaded regular gasoline and fill up with
premium unleaded gasoline as soon as
possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt acceler-
ation.
Do not exceed an engine speed of 3 000 rpm
if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such
as two persons and no luggage.
Do not exceed2/3of maximum accelerator
pedal position if the vehicle is fully loaded or
operating in mountainous terrain.
544 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*
Both the windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* are supplied
from the windshield washer reservoir.
The windshield washer reservoir has a ca-
pacity of approximately 8.0 US qt (7.6 l).
Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit”
and water (or concentrate and com-
mercially available premixed wind-
shield washer solvent/antifreeze,
depending on ambient temperatures).Windshield and headlamp washer fluid
mixing ratio
For temperatures above freezing point, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
“MB SummerFit” and water:
1 part “MB SummerFit” to 100 parts
water
(1.34 fl oz [40 ml] “MB SummerFit” to
1gal [4.0l] water)
For temperatures below freezing point,
use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
“MB SummerFit” and commercially
available premixed windshield washer
solvent/antifreeze:
1 part “MB SummerFit” to 100 parts
solvent
(1.34 fl oz [40 ml] “MB SummerFit” to
1 gal [4.0 l] solvent)Warning!G
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly flamma-
ble. Do not spill washer solvent/antifreeze
on hot engine parts, because it may ignite
and burn. You could be seriously burned.
547 Index
Bleeding the fuel system (diesel
engine) 502
Bolts, Spare wheel 498
Bottle opener 309
Brake Assist System see BAS
Brake fluid 539
Checking 355
Messages in the multifunction
display 447
Brake lamp
Cleaning lenses 407
Messages in the multifunction
display 455–460
Replacing bulbs 480
Brake pads 340
Messages in the multifunction
display 445
Brakes 340
Warning lamp 415
Break-in the vehicle 338
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbsC
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 17
California retail buyers and lessees,
Important notice for 11
Call priority, Tele Aid* 328
Can holder see Cup holder
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants 536
Card holder 32, 309
Cargo compartment
Tie-down rings 290
Cargo compartment cover blind 299
Cargo net* 301
Cargo tie-down rings 290
Carpets, Cleaning 411
Catalytic converter (gasoline
engine) 349
CD changer* 167, 304
CD player 167
Center console 31
Central locking 183
Automatic 126
Locking/unlocking from the
inside 126Central locking switch 126
Certification label 524, 525
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 417, 418
Checking tire pressure electronically
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*, (Canada
only) 379
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), (USA only) 376
Child safety
Infant and child restraint systems 88
Children in the vehicle 87
Air bags 73, 89
Blocking rear door window
operation 97
Indicator lamp, Front passenger front
air bag 81
Infant and child restraint
systems 91, 92
LATCH-type child seat anchors 91
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 77
Cigarette lighter 313
548 Index
Climate control 208
Air conditioning, Cooling 219
Air conditioning refrigerant 538
Air distribution 213
Air recirculation mode 216
Air vents, Front 208, 214
Air vents, Rear 220
Air volume 214
Control panel, Front 210
Control panel, Rear 220
Deactivating system 212
Defogging 216
Defrosting 214
Rear passenger compartment 220
Residual heat utilization (REST) 219
Clock 26, 176
Cockpit 24
Cold tire inflation pressure 394
Collapsible tire 471, 532
Collapsible wheel chock 471
Combination switch 58, 59, 61, 147
Compass 334
Control system 180Control and operation of radio
transmitters 348
Control system 157
Multifunction display 157
Multifunction steering wheel 158
Resetting to factory default 171
Control system menus 160
AIRMATIC*/Compass 168
AUDIO 165
Distance warning function* 185
Distronic* (Canada only) 168
NAV* 167
Settings 170
Standard display 164
TEL* 187
Trip computer 185
Vehicle status message memory 169
Control system submenus 161, 163
Comfort* 183
Instrument cluster 174
Lighting 177
Time/Date 176
Vehicle 180Coolant 360, 537, 541
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 541
Capacities 537
Checking coolant level 360
Messages in the multifunction
display 448–450
Temperature 350
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 148
Messages in the multifunction
display 456
Replacing bulbs 480, 481
Cruise control 257
Activating 258
Messages in the multifunction
display 430
Cup holders 308
Front center console 308
Rear center console* 310
Curb weight 394
Customer Assistance Center see CAC
549 Index
D
Date display, Setting 176
Daytime running lamp mode 145
Setting 177
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging windshield 216, 230
Defrosting, Front 214, 229
Defrosting, Rear 207
Delayed shut-off
Exterior lamps 179
Interior lighting 180
Department of Transportation see DOT
Diesel engine
Bleeding fuel system 502
Preglow indicator lamp 29
Diesel fuel see Fuel
Difficulties
While driving 62
With starting 55
Digital speedometer 157, 165
Dimensions, Vehicle 534
Direction of rotation (tires) 365Displays
Digital speedometer 157, 165
Distronic* (Canada only) 168, 265
Maintenance service indicator
message 400
Messages in the multifunction
display 427–466
Multifunction display 157
Outside temperature 155, 157, 165
Selecting 175
Showing malfunctions 169
Symbol messages 444
Text messages 429
Vehicle status message memory 169
Vehicle system settings, Control
system 161, 163, 170
Distance to empty (range), Trip
computer 185
Distance warning function* (Canada
only) 185Distronic* (Canada only) 262
Activating 268
Cleaning system sensor 407
Control system 267
Deactivating 271
Distance warning function* 275
Driving hints 273
Messages in the multifunction
display 431
Warning and indicator lamps 265
Door
Entry lamps 153
Locking, In an emergency 475
Locking/unlocking,
KEYLESS-GO* 113
Locking/unlocking, SmartKey 110
Messages in the multifunction
display 452
Opening from the inside 118
Opening from the outside 112
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid*) 328
Unlocking, Mechanical key 474
Door control panel 36
Door handle 36
Door windows see Power windows
DOT 388, 394