2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 ESP

513 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.If circumstances do not permit the recom-
mended towing methods, the vehicle may
be towed with all wheels on the ground
only so far as necessary to have the vehicle
moved to a safe location where the recom-
mended towing methods can be employed.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, the vehicle may be towed only
for distances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at
a speed not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment,
with the SmartKey in starter switch turned to
position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not tie
down vehicle by its chassis or suspension parts.
Use the towing eyes.
Switch off the ESP
® (page 104) and the
automatic central locking (
page 126).
!Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so
could damage the transfer case, which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground. Observe
instructions for towing the vehicles with all
wheels on the ground.
Warning!G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if

the engine will not run

there is a malfunction in the brake
system

there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
as that will be necessary to adequately
control the vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the automatic trans-
mission is in neutral positionN.

517 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Stranded vehicle
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the
wheels are dug into sand or mud, should
be done with the greatest of care, espe-
cially if the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Avoid pulling the vehicle abruptly or diago-
nally, since it could result in damage to the
chassis alignment.
Never try to free a vehicle that is still cou-
pled to a trailer.
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer
hitch receiver should be pulled backward
in its own previously made tracks.

527 Technical data
Engine
Engine
ModelR 320 CDI 4MATIC (251.122)1R 350 (251.156)1,2
R 350 4MATIC (251.165)1
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special
equipment.
2USA only.
Engine642272
Mode of operationDiesel 4-stroke engine4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders66
Bore3.27 in (83.00 mm)3.66 in (92.90 mm)
Stroke3.62 in (92.00 mm)3.39 in (86.00 mm)
Total piston displacement182 cu in (2 987 cm3)213 cu in (3 498 cm3)
Compression ratio17.7:110.7:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349215 hp/4 000 rpm
(160 kW/4 000 rpm)268 hp/6 000 rpm3
(200 kW/6 000 rpm)
3Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349400 lb-ft/1 600 - 2 400 rpm
(543 Nm/1 600 - 2 400 rpm)258 lb-ft/2 400 - 5 000 rpm
(350 Nm/2 400 - 5 000 rpm)
Maximum engine speed4 500 rpm6500 rpm
Firing order1-4-2-5-3-61-4-3-6-2-5
Poly-V-belt2 035 mm2404 mm

528 Technical data
Engine
ModelR 550 4MATIC (251.172)1,2
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for
the corresponding data of all special bodies and special equipment.
2Canada only.
Engine273
Mode of operation4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders8
Bore3.86 in (98.00 mm)
Stroke3.56 in (90.50 mm)
Total piston displacement333cuin (5461cm3)
Compression ratio10.7:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349382 hp/6 000 rpm3
(285 kW/6 000 rpm)
3Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349391 lb-ft/2 800 - 4 800 rpm
(530 Nm/2 800 - 4 800 rpm)
Maximum engine speed6 500 rpm
Firing order1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Poly-V-belt2 404 mm

529 Technical data
Rims and tires
Rims and tires
!Only use tires which have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Tires approved by
Mercedes-Benz are developed to provide best
possible performance in conjunction with the
driving safety systems on your vehicle such as
ABS or ESP
®. Tires specially developed for your
vehicle and tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be identified by finding the
following on the tire’s sidewall:

MO = Mercedes-Benz Original equipment
tires
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental effects,
such as

poor handling characteristics

increased noise

increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit dimen-
sional variations and different tire deformation
characteristics that could cause them to come
into contact with the vehicle body or axle parts.
Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be the
result.
iFurther information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center. A placard with the recommended
tire inflation pressures is located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 366). Some vehicles may
have supplemental tire inflation pressure infor-
mation for driving at high speeds (
page 372)
or for vehicle loads less than the maximum
loaded vehicle condition (
page 372). If such
information is provided, it can be found on the
placard located on the inside of the fuel filler
flap.The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly and should only be adjusted on cold
tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.
iThe following pages also list the approved
wheel rim and tire sizes for equipping your vehi-
cles with winter tires. Winter tires are not avail-
able as standard or optional factory equipment,
but can be purchased from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the standard or
optional factory-equipped wheel rim/tire
configuration on your vehicle (Appearance
Package, Sport Package etc.), equipping your
vehicle with winter tires approved for your
vehicle model may also require the purchase of
two or four wheel rims of the recommended size
for use with these winter tires. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
for more information.

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

540 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuel requirements
Gasoline engine
Only use premium unleaded fuel.

The octane number (posted at the
pump) must be 91 min. It is an
average of both the Research Octane
Number (RON) and the Motor Octane
Number (MON): (RON+MON) /2.
This is also known as the ANTI-KNOCK
INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not
exceed 10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of ethanol and methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains
10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline,
can be used.These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
Diesel engine
Only use commercially available vehicular
ULTRA-LOW SULFUR HIGHWAY DIESEL
FUEL (15 ppm SULFUR MAXIMUM).
To prevent malfunctions, diesel fuel with
improved cold flow characteristics is
offered in the winter months. Check with
your fuel retailer.
Gasoline additives (gasoline engine)
A major concern among engine
manufacturers is carbon build-up caused
by gasoline. Mercedes-Benz recommends
only the use of quality gasoline containing
additives that prevent the build-up of
carbon deposits.
After an extended period of using fuels
without such additives carbon deposits
can build up, especially on the intake
valves and in the combustion area, leading
to engine performance problems such as:

Warm-up hesitation

Unstable idle

Knocking/pinging

Misfire

Power loss
!Do not fill the tank with gasoline. Do not
blend diesel fuel with gasoline or kerosine.
The fuel system and engine will otherwise be
damaged, which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

550 Index
Drinking and driving 339
Driving 50
Abroad 348
Hydroplaning 344
In winter 346, 398
Instructions 50, 339
Problems 62
Safety systems 99
Systems 257
Through standing water 347
With Distronic* 273
Driving off 56
Driving safety systems
ABS 99
BAS 101
EBP 105
ESP
®101
ETS/4-ETS 103
Driving systems 257
AIRMATIC* 276
Cruise control 257
Distronic* (Canada only) 262
Parktronic* 281
Rear view camera* 285
Driving tips 197
Kickdown 197E
Easy-entry/exit feature* 128
Control system 184
EBP 105
Indicator and warning lamps 416
Electric air pump 499
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical system, Technical data 533
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic Traction System see ETS/4-ETS
Emergency calls
Tele Aid* 323
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 511
First aid kit 467
Flat tire 492
Fuses 518
Hazard warning flasher 150
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 414–422
Roadside Assistance 12, 325
Towing the vehicle 513Emergency operation
Locking/unlocking the vehicle 474
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 328
Tailgate, Opening from the
inside 120
Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode) 202
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emission control 350
Information label 525
System warranties 10
Engine
Belt layout 526
Break-in recommendations 338
Cleaning 405
Compartment 356
Malfunction indicator lamp 29, 417
Maximum engine speed 155, 527
Number 525
Starting 53
Tachometer 29, 155
Technical data 527
Turning off 66