2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 heating

318 Controls in detail
Useful features
Heated steering wheel*
The steering wheel heating warms up the
leather area of the steering wheel.
The stalk is located on the lower left-hand
side of the steering wheel.
1Switching on
2Switching off
3Indicator lampSwitching on
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Turn switch at the tip of stalk in the
direction of arrow1.
The steering wheel is heated. Indicator
lamp3 comes on.Switching off
Turn switch at the tip of stalk in the
direction of arrow2.
The heated steering wheel is switched
off. Indicator lamp3 goes out.
For information on the steering wheel, see
“Multifunction steering wheel”
(
page 158).
iThe steering wheel heating is temporarily
suspended while indicator lamp3 remains on
when

the temperature of the vehicle interior is
above 86°F (30°C)

the temperature of the steering wheel is
above 95°F (35°C)
When these conditions do not apply anymore,
steering wheel heating continues.
iIndicator lamp3 flashes or goes out

in case of power surge or undervoltage

in case of a steering wheel heating malfunc-
tion
iThe steering wheel heating switches off
automatically when you remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch or, on vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*, when you switch off the ignition
(
page 39) and open the driver’s door.

340 Operation
Driving instructions
Power assistanceBrakes
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.
Warning!G
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking
effect. Maintain a safe distance from
vehicles in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an
accident.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in
position0or1) when the vehicle is being towed
with one axle raised.
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty
!Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with one axle raised.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC:
Operational or performance test must only be
conducted on a two-axle dynamometer. If such
tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake system or
the transfer case which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

342 Operation
Driving instructions
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.Parking brake
When driving on wet roads or dirt covered
surfaces, road salt and/or dirt can get into
the parking brake. To prevent corrosion
and a reduction in the braking power of the
parking brake, observe the following:
From time to time, lightly engage the
parking brake before driving off.
Drive a distance of approximately
110 yds (100 m) at a maximum speed
of 12 mph (20 km/h)
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.!When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power.
This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.
When using the engine’s braking power, a drive
wheel may not spin for an extended period of
time, e.g. on slippery road surfaces. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!G
While performing this procedure, please as-
sure that the vehicle is stopped before ap-
plying the parking brake. Otherwise the rear
wheels could lock up. You could lose control
of the vehicle and cause an accident. In ad-
dition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not light
up when the parking brake is engaged.
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when you engage the parking brake.
!When driving off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended
period with the ESP
® switched off. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.

354 Operation
At the gas station
Low outside temperatures
(diesel engine)
To prevent malfunctions, diesel fuel with
improved cold flow characteristics is of-
fered in the winter months. Check with
your fuel retailer.Check regularly and before a long trip
Open the hood (page 356).
Example illustration R 350 4MATIC
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid
3Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*
iDiesel engine:
If you have driven the vehicle until the tank was
empty, the fuel system needs to be bled
(
page 502).
!Diesel engine:
The engine is more susceptible to wear and
damage if you use

marine diesel fuel

heating oil

additives
The exhaust aftertreatment device will be
seriously damaged if you use

LOW SULFUR HIGHWAY DIESEL FUEL
(500 ppm SULFUR MAXIMUM)

any other diesel fuel with a sulfur content of
above 15 ppm
The use of such non-approved fuels and/or
special additives is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Do not fill the tank with gasoline. Do not
blend diesel fuel with gasoline or kerosine. The
fuel system and engine will otherwise be dam-
aged, which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


436 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ESPUnavailable
See Operator’s ManualThe ESP® was deactivated because
of insufficient power supply. The
charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP
®
available.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ESP® is operational again and the message in
the multifunction display should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display
does not disappear:
Have the generator (alternator) and the
battery checked.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
If the yellow ESP® warning
lampv flashes while driving
and this message appears, the
Electronic Traction System has
switched off to prevent overheating
of the drive wheel brakes.As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the
Electronic Traction System switches on again.
The message in the multifunction display disap-
pears and the ESP
® warning lampv goes
out.
The self-diagnosis has not been
completed yet.The display will clear after driving a short
distance at a vehicle speed of above
12 mph (20 km/h).

555 Index
Messages in the multifunction
display 453–454
Opening the power windows
(Summer opening feature) 244
Opening the tilt/sliding panel*
(Summer opening feature) 244
Opening the tilt/sliding sunroof*
(Summer opening feature) 244
Remote control 113
Replacing batteries 479
Selective settings 117
Start/stop button 41
Starter switch positions 39, 41
Starting the engine 54
Turning off engine 66
Unlocking and opening, Power
tailgate* 121
Kickdown 197
Kilopascal 394L
Labels 524
Certification label 524
Emission control information 525
Engine number 525
Paint code 524
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) 525
Lamps, exterior 481
Front 481
Light sensor, Messages in the multi-
function display 455
Messages in the multifunction
display 455–460
Rear 481
Lamps, Indicator and warning
ABS 27, 414, 415
Brakes 27, 415
Center console 31, 425
CHECK ENGINE 29, 417, 418
Distance warning lamp* 266
Engine diagnostics 29, 417, 418
ESP
®27, 419
Front passenger front
air bag off 76, 77, 81, 82, 425Fuel reserve 29, 424
High beam headlamps 29
Instrument cluster 26, 414
Parktronic* 283, 284
Preglow indicator, Diesel engine 29
Seat belt telltale 29, 82, 420
Seat heating* 139
Seat ventilation* 140
SRS 29, 70, 85, 424
Turn signals 27
Language, Setting 174
LATCH-type child seat anchors see
Children in the vehicle
Leather upholstery, Cleaning and
care of 412
License plate lamps 481
Messages in the multifunction
display 457
Replacing bulbs 481, 488
Light alloy wheels, Cleaning 410
Light sensor
Messages in the multifunction
display 455
Lighter see Cigarette lighter

560 Index
Replacing bulbs 480
Backup lamps 480, 481, 487
Brake lamps 480, 481, 487
Fog lamps, Front 480, 481, 483, 485
Fog lamp, Rear 480, 481, 487, 488
Headlamps 480, 481, 483
License plate lamps 480, 481, 487,
488
Low beam headlamps 480, 481, 483
Parking lamps 480, 481, 483, 485,
487, 488
Side marker lamps, Front 480, 487
Side marker lamps, Rear 480, 481,
487, 488
Standing lamps 480, 481, 483, 485,
487, 488
Tail lamps 480, 481, 487
Turn signal lamps 480, 481, 483,
485, 487
Reporting safety defects 18
Reset button, In instrument cluster 154Reset tool
Active head restraints,
Depository 478
Residual heat utilization 235
Restraint system
See Children in the vehicle
See SRS
See Infant and child restraint systems
Reverse gear position, Automatic
transmission 190, 194
Rims 395, 529
Roadside Assistance 12
Roadside Assistance button see Tele Aid*
Roller sunblinds, Panorama roof* 252
RON 540
Roof rack* 288
Rubber parts, Cleaning 410
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 374S
Safety
Driving safety systems 99
Occupant safety 70
Reporting safety defects 18
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio* 166
Scissors-type vehicle jack 470
Seat belt force limiter 85
Seat belt height adjustment 52
Seat belts 82
Children in the vehicle 87
Cleaning 411
Fastening 50
Height adjustment 52
Proper use of 52, 84
Safety guidelines 74
Telltale 29, 82, 420
Seat heating* see Seats 140
Seat ventilation* see Seats
Seating capacity 367

561 Index
Seats 128
Adjusting 43
Easy entry/exit feature 128
Heating* 139
Memory function* 141
Multicontour seat* 132
Ventilation* 140
Securing cargo 290
Selector lever see Gear selector lever
Self-test
Lamps in the instrument cluster 414
OCS 82
Tele Aid* 323
Service and warranty information 10
Service intervals see Maintenance, Service
indicator message 402
Service life
Tires 364
Vehicle battery 503
Service, Parts 522
Service see Maintenance
Service system see Maintenance SystemSettings
AIRMATIC* 276
Clock 176
Comfort functions* 183
Control system menus 160, 162
Control system
submenus 161, 163, 171
Date 176
Distance warning function* 185
Factory, SmartKey 112
Factory, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 116
Individual, Vehicle 170
Instrument cluster 174
Language, multifunction display 175
Lighting 177
Memory function* 141
Resetting all, Control system 171
Selective, SmartKey 112
Selective, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 117
Time 176
Vehicle level control* 277Shift program mode, Automatic
transmission 200
Shifting, Automatic transmission 190
Side impact air bags 76
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 407
Messages in the multifunction
display 458
Replacing bulbs 480, 481
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 395
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey 110
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* see Key,
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 113
Snow chains 399
Snow tires see Winter tires
Spare fuses 467
Spare wheel 471, 532
Inflating 499
Mounting 493
Wheel bolts 467, 498
Speed settings
Cruise control 261
Distronic* (Canada only) 268
Speedometer 27
Spinning see Tires, Direction of rotation