2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R320 length

132 Controls in detail
Seats
Lumbar support
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back
support and seating comfort.
The lever for lumbar support adjustment is
located on the right hand side of the
driver’s seat backrest.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever 1 in direction
of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has an extendable
seat cushion and inflatable air chambers
built into the backrest to provide additional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion depth, seat backrest
cushion-height and curvature can be con-
tinuously varied with switches on the in-
side of each front seat base after the
ignition is switched on (
page 39).
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest side bolsters
3Backrest center
4Backrest bottom
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Seat cushion depth
Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg with
switch1.
Backrest contour
Adjust the contour of the seat backrest
to the desired position with switch
æ orç.
Move the seat backrest support to the
bottom with button4 or to the center
with button3.
Backrest side bolsters
Adjust the side bolsters so that they
provide good lateral support with
switch2.

199 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear ranges
With the automatic transmission in drive
positionD, you can select a gear range for
the automatic transmission to operate
within.
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the left gearshift button on the steering
wheel gearshift control, and reverse the
gear range limit by pressing the right gear-
shift button on the steering wheel gearshift
control (
page 201).
The selected gear range appears in the
multifunction display.
1Current gear range
Effect
ïThe transmission shifts through
sixth gear only.
îThe transmission shifts through
fifth gear only.
éThe transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
èThe transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
Effect
çThe transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking 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.

333 Controls in detail
Useful features
Reprogramming a single signal
transmitter button
To program a device using a signal trans-
mitter button previously trained, follow
these steps:
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Press and hold the desired signal
transmitter button (2, 3 or4).
Do not release the button.
Indicator lamp1 will begin to flash
after 20 seconds. Without releasing
the signal transmitter button, proceed
with programming starting with step 3.Operation of integrated remote control
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Select and press the appropriate
integrated signal transmitter
button (2, 3 or4) to activate the
remote controlled device.
The integrated remote control trans-
mitter continues to send the signal as
long as the button is pressed – up to
20 seconds.
Erasing the integrated remote control
memory
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Simultaneously press and hold outer
signal transmitter buttons2 and 4,
for approximately 20 seconds, until the
indicator lamp1 flashes rapidly. Do
not hold for longer than 30 seconds.
The codes of all three channels are
erased.Programming tips
If you are having difficulty programming
the integrated remote control, here are
some helpful tips:

Check the frequency of the hand-held
remote control5 (typically located on
the reverse side of the remote).
The integrated remote control is com-
patible with radio-frequency devices
operating between 280-390 MHz.

Put a new battery in hand-held remote
control5. This will increase the likeli-
hood of the hand-held remote control
sending a faster and more accurate sig-
nal to the integrated remote control.

While performing step 3, hold
hand-held remote control5 at differ-
ent lengths and angles from the signal
transmitter button (2, 3 or4) 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.
iUpon completion of programming the
integrated remote control, make sure you retain
the hand-held remote control that came with the
garage door opener, gate operator or other
device. You may need it for use in other vehicles,
for future programming of an integrated
remote control, or simply for continued use as a
hand-held remote control to operate the respec-
tive device in other situations.
iIf you sell your vehicle, erase the codes of all
three channels.

346 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,
shift the automatic transmission to
positionN. Try to keep the vehicle under
control by corrective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect 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 398).
iFor information on driving with snow chains,
see “Snow chains” (
page 399).
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking 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.
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. Otherwise, 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 unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice.

506 Practical hints
Battery
Switch off all electrical consumers.
Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 503).
Open the front passenger door.
Move the front passenger seat to the
most rearward position (
page 45).Step 2 (Disconnecting)
1Seat rail cover, front right
2Seat rail cover, front left
Pull off right seat rail cover 1 in direc-
tion of arrow.
Pull left seat rail cover 2 in direction
of arrow as far as it will go.
Left seat rail cover 2 cannot be re-
moved.3Battery cover mounting nuts
Using a 6 mm T-handle hex key (not
supplied with vehicle) with a minimum
shaft length of 12 in (30 cm), unfasten
and remove battery cover mounting
nuts 3 located at the floor carpet per-
foration.
Move the front passenger seat to the
most forward position (
page 45).
iIf the vehicle battery is discharged and you
had the vehicle jump started:

Leave the engine running.

Complete step 1, starting with switching off
all electrical consumers.

Continue with step 2.

When the font passenger seat is in the most
forward position, turn off the engine.
iOpen doors only when conditions are safe to
do so.


511 Practical hints
Jump starting
Jump starting
If the battery is discharged, the engine can
be started with jumper cables and the bat-
tery of another vehicle. Observe the follow-
ing:

Jump starting should only be performed
using the jump-start contacts in the en-
gine compartment (
page 512).

Jump starting should only be performed
when the engine and catalytic
converter
1 are cold.

Do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw out first.

Only jump start from batteries with the
same voltage rating (12 V). Jump start-
ing with a more powerful battery could
damage the vehicle’s electrical system,
which will not be covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Only use jumper cables with sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.

Always make sure the jumper cables
are not on or near pulleys, fans or other
parts that move when the engine is
started or running.
Warning!G
Failure to follow these directions will cause
damage to the electronic components, and
can lead to a battery explosion and severe
injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting
or jump starting, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water, and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and very explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery
can result in it exploding, causing personal
injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
1Vehicles with gasoline engine only.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine using a
battery quick charge unit.
If the engine does not run after several unsuc-
cessful starting attempts, have it checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by repeated
failed starting attempts may damage the cata-
lytic converter
1.
Make sure the jumper cables do not have loose
or missing insulation.
Make sure the cable clamps do not touch any
other metal part while the other end is still at-
tached to a battery.

534 Technical data
Main Dimensions
ModelR 320 CDI 4MATIC
R 3501
R 350 4MATIC
1USA only.
R 550 4MATIC2
2Canada only.
Overall vehicle length203.7 in (5 173 mm)203.7 in (5 173 mm)
Overall vehicle width (exterior mirrors folded out)85.4 in (2 168 mm)85.4 in (2 168 mm)
Overall vehicle width (exterior mirrors folded in)75.7 in (1 922 mm)75.7 in (1 922 mm)
Overall vehicle height3
3Data apply to unladen vehicles with standard equipment. Data may vary in vehicles equipped with AIRMATIC* depending on the
selected damping settings (page 276) and the current vehicle level (page 277).
65.5 in (1 663 mm)65.6 in (1 666 mm)
Wheelbase126.6 in (3 215 mm)126.6 in (3 215 mm)
Track, front64.7 in (1 643 mm)64.7 in (1 643 mm)
Track, rear64.4 in (1 636 mm)64.4 in (1 636 mm)
Ground clearance35.8 in (148 mm)5.9 in (150 mm)
Turning circle40.7 ft (12.4 m)40.7 ft (12.4 m)