2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 Owner's Manual

136 Controls in detail
Seats
Outboard second-row seat head restraint
1Head restraint
2Release button
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of head
restraint 1 by pulling it upward to the
desired position.
Lowering:
To lower head restraint 1, press
release button2 and push down on
head restraint 1.Head restraints
iThe head restraint of the second-row middle
seat* and the third-row seat head restraints are
adjusted in the same manner.
iThe tilt of the second-row head restraints is
adjusted in the same manner as the front-seat
head restraints, see “Head restraint fore and aft
adjustment” (
page 46).
The tilt of the head restraint of the second-row
middle seat* and the third-row seat head
restraints cannot be adjusted.
Warning!G
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints installed when the rear seats
are occupied. Head restraints are intended
to help reduce injuries during an accident.
With the second-row middle seat* or a
third-row seat occupied, make sure to move
the respective head restraint up from the
lowest non-use position and have the occu-
pant adjust the head restraint properly.
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible and the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
iWhen removing or installing the head
restraint of an outboard second-row seat, adjust
the seat to the rear as far as possible
(
page 134) and fold the seat backrest
(
page 129) forward.

137 Controls in detail
Seats
Removing head restraints
Seat position for removal of head restraints
from outboard second-row seats
1Head restraint
2Release button
To remove head restraint 1, pull head
restraint 1 to its uppermost position.
Press release button2 and pull out
head restraint 1.Installing head restraints
Insert head restraint 1 into openings
on the seat backrest.
Push head restraint 1 down until it
audibly engages.
Push release button2 and adjust
head restraint 1 to the desired
position (
page 135).Armrests
6-seat vehicles
The second-row seat armrests can be
folded up, when loading for example, and
adjusted.
Folding up:
Move the armrest into a vertical
position until it engages.
Adjusting:
With the armrest folded up, disengage
the armrest by pushing it towards the
rear slightly.
Fold the armrest down to the lowest
and then to the desired position until it
engages.
To readjust the armrest to a higher
position, move armrest up to the
desired position until it engages.
iThe head restraint of the second-row middle
seat* and the third-row seat head restraints are
removed in the same manner.
iOn the outboard second-row seats, the
guide bar with the detent must be on the left.
iThe head restraint of the second-row middle
seat* and the third-row seat head restraints are
installed in the same manner.
iTo readjust the armrest to a lower position,
you must first fold up the armrest again and re-
peat the steps above.

138 Controls in detail
Seats
7-seat vehicles*
You can use the seat backrest of the
second-row middle seat as an armrest for
the outboard seats.
Before folding the seat, completely
lower the head restraint of the
second-row middle seat (
page 135).
1Seat backrest release strap
2Seat backrest
3Seat cushion
Pull seat backrest release strap 1 in
direction of arrow.
Completely fold seat backrest 2 for-
ward so that it rests on seat cushion 3
(armrest position).
Armrest position
WarningG
The folded second-row middle seat is in-
tended to serve as an armrest only. Do not
fold the second-row middle seat and allow
occupants to use the folded second-row
middle seat as a footrest while driving. All
vehicle occupants must keep both feet on
the floor in front of their seat. Otherwise, oc-
cupants could slide under the seat belt in a
collision. If occupants slide under it, the belt
would apply force at the abdomen or neck.
That could cause serious or even fatal inju-
ries.
Do not fold the second-row middle seat
and allow occupants to use the folded
second-row middle seat as a table while
driving. Objects placed on the folded
second-row middle seat may move freely
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or an ac-
cident and be thrown around in the vehicle
interior. Objects thrown around in the vehi-
cle interior may cause an accident and/or
serious personal injury.

139 Controls in detail
Seats
Seat heating*
The switches for front-seat heating are lo-
cated in the center console.
Front seat heating
1Seat heating switch
2Indicator lampsThe switches for the outboard second-row
seats are located in the rear center
console.
Outboard second-row seat heating
1Seat heating switch
2Indicator lampsThe red indicator lamps in the switch come
on to show which heating level you have
selected.
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Level
3Three indicator lamps on
(highest level)
The seat heating automatically
switches to level 2 after approxi-
mately 5 minutes.
2Two indicator lamps on
The seat heating automatically
switches to level 1 after approxi-
mately 10 minutes.
1One indicator lamp on
(lowest level)
The seat heating automatically
switches off after approximately
20 minutes.
offNo indicator lamp on.

140 Controls in detail
Seats
Switching on
Press switch1.
Three red indicator lamps2 in the
switch come on.
Continue pressing switch1 until
desired seat heating level is reached.
Switching off
Press switch1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps2 go out.
Seat ventilation* (Canada only)
Seat ventilation is available on the
R 550 4MATIC only.
The switches for the seat ventilation are
located in the center console.
1Seat ventilation switch
2Indicator lampsThe blue indicator lamps in the switch
come on to show which ventilation level
you have selected.
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Switching on
Press switch1 repeatedly until the
desired ventilation level is set.
Switching off
Press switch1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps2 go out.
iIf one or more of the indicator lamps2 on
seat heating switch 1 (
page 139) are flash-
ing, there is insufficient voltage due to too many
electrical consumers being switched on. The
seat heating switches off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.
Level
3Three indicator lamps on
(highest level)
2Two indicator lamps on
1One indicator lamp on
(lowest level)
offNo indicator lamp on
iThe seat ventilation for the driver’s seat is
automatically set to the highest level if activated
via summer opening feature (
page 244).

141 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Memory function*
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for
proper height. See also the section on air
bags (
page 72) for proper seat position-
ing.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the interior and exterior
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.With the memory function you can store up
to three different configuration.
Each stored position on the driver’s side
includes the following settings:

Seat position

Multicontour seat*: previously saved
setting

Steering wheel position

Exterior rear view mirrors’ position
Each stored position on the passenger side
includes the following settings:

Seat position

Multicontour seat*: previously saved
settingThe memory button and stored position
buttons are located on the entry side of
each front seat base.
MMemory button
1, 2, 3Stored position buttons
Warning!G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

142 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seat (page 44).
On the driver’s side, additionally adjust
the steering wheel (
page 46) and
exterior rear view mirrors (
page 48)
to the desired positions.
Press memory buttonM.
Release memory button M and press
stored position button1, 2 or 3 within
3 seconds.
When the settings are stored to the
selected position, an acknowledge-
ment signal sounds.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold stored position
button1,2 or3 until the seat, steering
wheel and exterior rear view mirrors
have fully moved to the stored posi-
tions.
!Do not operate the power seats using mem-
ory button M if the seat backrest is in an exces-
sively reclined position. Doing so could cause
damage to front or rear seats.
Move seat backrest to an upright position first.
iReleasing the stored position button stops
movement to the stored positions immediately.

143 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 58)
and “Turn signals” (
page 59).
Exterior lamp switch
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country in
which the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
iVehicles with active Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon* headlamps monitor the
vehicle’s steering angle and speed, then auto-
matically shift their beams to either side to
better follow the curvature of the road ahead, in-
creasing usable illumination over conventional
headlamps.1‚Standing lamps, left
(turn left two stops)
2ˆStanding lamps, right
(turn left one stop)
3MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 145)
4UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 145)
5CParking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
6BLow beam headlamps or high
beam headlamps
7‡Front fog lamps
8†Rear fog lamp
iThe exterior lamps switch off automatically
when you remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or open the driver’s door with the ignition
switched off.
When the parking lamps or the rear fog lamp are
switched on and you remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch or open the driver’s door, an
acoustic signal sounds.
In addition the message
Switch Off Lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the parking lamps or the rear fog lamp
manually.
!Failure to switch off the parking lamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.