2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R320 steering wheel

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 13
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 30
Center console ..................................... 31
Upper part ...................................... 31
Lower part ...................................... 32
Overhead control panel ........................ 33
Storage compartments ......................... 34
Door control panel................................ 36Getting started................................... 37
Unlocking ............................................. 38
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 38
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 39
Starter switch positions .................. 39
Adjusting .............................................. 43
Seats .............................................. 43
Steering wheel ................................ 46
Mirrors ............................................ 48
Driving .................................................. 50
Fastening the seat belts ................. 50
Starting the engine ......................... 53
Parking brake ................................. 56
Driving off ....................................... 56
Switching on headlamps ................. 58
Turn signals .................................... 59
Windshield wipers ........................... 59
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 61
Problems while driving.................... 62
Parking and locking .............................. 64
Parking brake ................................. 65
Switching off headlamps................. 65
Turning off the engine..................... 66
Releasing seat belts........................ 67
Locking ........................................... 67

Contents
Control system .................................. 157
Multifunction display .................... 157
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 158
Menus .......................................... 160
Standard display menu ................ 164
AUDIO menu ................................ 165
NAV menu* .................................. 167
AIRMATIC*/Compass menu ........ 168
Distronic* menu........................... 168
Vehicle status message memory
menu ............................................ 169
Settings menu .............................. 170
Distance warning function* ......... 185
Trip computer menu..................... 185
TEL menu* ................................... 187
Automatic transmission ..................... 190
Gear selector lever ....................... 190
Shifting procedure ....................... 193
Transmission positions................. 194
Driving tips ................................... 197
Gear ranges ................................. 199
Automatic shift program .............. 200
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 201
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 202Good visibility ..................................... 203
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 203
Rear view mirrors .......................... 203
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors* ........................................ 204
Sun visors ..................................... 205
Rear door window sunshade* ....... 207
Rear window defroster .................. 207
Climate control ................................... 208
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 212
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 212
Setting the temperature................ 213
Adjusting air distribution............... 213
Adjusting air volume ..................... 214
Front defroster.............................. 214
Air recirculation mode .................. 216
Air conditioning............................. 219
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 219
Rear climate control*.................... 2203-zone automatic climate control* ..... 222
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 226
Operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic
mode ............................................ 227
Setting the temperature ............... 227
Adjusting air distribution .............. 228
Adjusting air volume ..................... 229
Front defroster ............................. 229
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 231
Air recirculation mode .................. 231
Air conditioning ............................ 233
Using driver-side settings for all
temperature zones........................ 234
Residual heat and ventilation........ 235
Rear automatic climate control
(second row) ................................. 236
Rear automatic climate control
(second and third row)* ................ 240
Power windows .................................. 241
Door windows ............................... 242
Hinged quarter windows* ............. 243
Synchronizing the door windows .. 244
Summer opening feature .............. 244
Convenience closing feature......... 245

Contents
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 248
Opening and closing ..................... 248
Synchronizing ............................... 250
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel* .............................. 252
Roller sunblinds for the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel........................... 252
Opening and closing the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel........................... 253
Synchronizing the panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 255
Driving systems ................................. 257
Cruise control............................... 257
Distronic* (Canada only) .............. 262
Distance warning function*
(Canada only) ............................... 275
AIRMATIC* ................................... 276
Permanent four-wheel drive
(4MATIC)* .................................... 281
Parktronic* (Parking assist) ......... 281
Rear view camera* ....................... 285Loading .............................................. 288
Roof rack*.................................... 288
Loading instructions..................... 289
Cargo tie-down rings .................... 290
Hooks........................................... 291
Expanding cargo compartment .... 292
Cargo compartment cover blind... 299
Cargo net* ................................... 301
Useful features .................................. 304
Storage compartments ................ 304
Parcel nets ................................... 307
Cup holders.................................. 308
Ashtrays ....................................... 311
Cigarette lighter ........................... 313
Power outlets ............................... 314
Rear center console* ................... 315
Heated steering wheel* ............... 318
Telephone* .................................. 319
Tele Aid* ...................................... 322
Garage door opener ..................... 329
Compass ...................................... 334
Floormats ..................................... 335
Infrared reflecting windshield* ..... 336
Operation......................................... 337
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ........ 338
Driving instructions ........................... 339
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 339
Drinking and driving ..................... 339
Pedals .......................................... 339
Power assistance ......................... 340
Brakes.......................................... 340
Driving off .................................... 342
Parking......................................... 343
Tires ............................................. 343
Hydroplaning................................ 344
Tire traction ................................. 344
Tire speed rating .......................... 345
Winter driving instructions ........... 346
Standing water............................. 347
Passenger compartment .............. 347
Driving abroad ............................. 348
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 348
Catalytic converter
(gasoline engine).......................... 349

21 At a glance
Exterior view
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Storage compartments
Door control panel

25 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Cruise control lever258
2Instrument cluster26
3Multifunction steering
wheel30
4Horn
5Steering wheel gearshift
buttons201
6Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission53
7Front Parktronic* warning
indicators283
8Overhead control panel33
9Glove box release
Glove box lock304
305
ItemPage
aGlove box
CD changer*
AUX-socket304
304
304
bCenter console31
cPower outlet314
dStarter switch39
eSteering wheel adjustment,
manual46
fSteering wheel adjustment,
electrical*47
Heated steering wheel*318
gHood lock release356
hParking brake release56
ItemPage
jParking brake pedal65
kDoor control panel36
lExterior lamp switch143
mCombination switch

High beam58

Turn signals59

Windshield wipers59

Rear window wiper61

30 At a glance
Multifunction steering wheel
ItemPage
1Multifunction display157
Operating the control
system158
2Selecting the submenu or
setting the volume:
Press button
æup / to increase
çdown / to decrease
3Telephone*:
Press button187,
319
sto take a call
to dial
to redial
tto end a call
to reject an
incoming call
ItemPage
4Moving within a menu:
Press button
jfor next display
kfor previous display
5Menu systems:
Press button
èfor next menu
ÿfor previous menu
6! Voice Control
System* on1, see
separate operating
instructions
70 Voice Control
System* off1, see
separate operating
instructions
1Vehicles without Voice Control System*: Button
without function.

43 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
Seats
Warning!G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as
fastening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck. That could cause serious
or fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a position that is as upright as
possible and belts are properly positioned
on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 50).
Observe the following points:

Adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.

Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far to the rear
as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.

Adjust head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports
the back of the head at eye level.

Never place hands under the seat or
near any moving parts while a seat is
being adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the power seats can be operated.
Therefore, 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.

44 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switch is located on
the entry side of each front seat base.
1 Head restraint height (vehicles with
memory function)*
2Seat cushion tilt
3Seat height
4Seat backrest tilt
5 Seat fore and aft adjustment
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant or toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child. For additional informa-
tion, see “Children in the vehicle”
(
page 87).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
!When moving the seats, make sure there are
no items in the footwell or behind the seats;
otherwise you could damage the seats.
!When the second-row seats are folded
forward, e.g. for cargo compartment expansion
(
page 292), the front seats may not be moved
to the rearmost position. Otherwise you could
damage the front and second-row seats.
!When adjusting the seat backrest tilt and
head restraint height, make sure the sun visor is
folded up (
page 205). If the head restraint is in
the uppermost position, it could hit and damage
the sun visor.
iVehicles without memory function*:
The seats can be adjusted within 5 minutes after
either front door has been opened. The counter
resets each time

you open or close a front door

you insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch

you remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch

you switch the ignition on or off
iThe memory function* (page 141) lets
you store the settings for the seat position
together with the settings for the steering wheel
and the exterior rear view mirrors.