2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 Smart key

129 Controls in detail
Seats
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or

open the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch position
0or1(
page 39) or the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in
position1 (
page 41)
Easy-entry/exit feature for third-row
seats
This feature allows for easier access to and
exit from the vehicle’s third-row seats.Easy-entry feature for third-row seats
The releases for the easy-entry feature are
located on the entry side and the back of
each outboard second-row seat.
1Easy-entry lever
iIf the current position for the steering wheel
is in the uppermost tilt position, the steering
wheel will no longer be able to move upward
when the easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly interrupted,
when the engine is started.
Warning!G
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. All steering wheel adjustments must be
completed before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. Driving off with the steering wheel still
adjusting could cause the driver to lose con-
trol of the vehicle.
Warning!G
To help avoid personal injury, the sec-
ond-row seat backrests must be properly
locked either in the upright position or,
when using the expanded cargo compart-
ment, in the fully folded position while the
vehicle is in motion.
!7-seat vehicles*:
Do not use the driver’s side easy-entry/exit fea-
ture for third-row seats when the second-row
middle seat is in armrest position. Otherwise, the
seat belt outlet of the second-row middle seat
could damage the seat backrest of the outboard
seat.


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.

144 Controls in detail
Lighting
Low beam headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed once, the
following lamps will switch on:

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed once,
the following lamps will switch on addi-
tionally:

Low beam headlamps

High beam headlamps (when the
combination switch is pushed
forward)Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch toB when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromUtoB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.

145 Controls in detail
Lighting
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed once, only
the parking lamps and the side marker
lamps will switch on and off depending
on the brightness of the ambient light.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.Daytime running lamp mode
In Canada the daytime running lamp mode
is mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
In the USA the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated by default. Activate the day-
time running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 177).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on addition-
ally:

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lampsCanada only:
When the engine is running and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP
with the vehicle at a standstill, the low
beam headlamps will switch off with a
three-minute delay.
When the engine is running and you

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the low beam head-
lamps, the tail and parking lamps, the
side marker lamps and the license
plate lamps switch on

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode
iCanada only:
High beam headlamps are only available with the
exterior lamp switch in position B.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the engine running, you cannot switch off
the low beam headlamps manually.
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
positionM orU, you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving, turn the exterior lamp
switch in positionB to permit activation of
the high beam headlamps.

150 Controls in detail
Lighting
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
1Front left reading lamp, on/off
2Rear interior lighting, on/off
3Automatic interior lighting
4Front interior lighting, on/off
5Front right reading lamp, on/off
6Front right interior lamp
7Reading lamps
8Front left interior lamp
iWith the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left or
right turn, only the respective left or right turn
signals will operate when the ignition is
switched on.
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard warning
flasher switch1 once to switch it off.

151 Controls in detail
Lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
Deactivating automatic control
Press switch3.
The interior lighting and the locator
lighting (
page 178) remain switched
off even when you

unlock the vehicle

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch

open a door

open the tailgateActivating automatic control
Press switch3.
The interior lighting and the locator
lighting (
page 178) come on when
you

unlock the vehicle

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch

open a door

open the tailgate
The interior lighting switches off after
10 seconds see “Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-off” (
page 180).Manual control
Switching front/rear interior lighting on
and off
Press front/rear interior lighting
switch4 or 2 (
page 150) to switch
on the desired interior light.
Press front/rear interior lighting
switch4 or 2 again to switch off the
respective interior light.
Switching front reading lamps on and off
The front reading lamps are located in the
lower edge of the interior rear view mirror.
Press front reading lamp
switch1or5 (
page 150) to
switch on the desired front reading
lamp.
Press front reading lamp
switch1or5 again to switch off the
respective front reading lamp.
!An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving an interior lamp switch in the ON
position for extended periods of time with the
engine turned off could result in a discharged
battery.
iThe interior lighting is factory-set to
automatic mode.
iIf a door remains open, the interior lighting
switches off automatically after approximately
5minutes.

153 Controls in detail
Lighting
Door entry lamps
For better orientation in the dark, the
corresponding door entry lamps will switch
on in darkness when you open a door and
the automatic control is activated.
The door entry lamps will switch off when
the corresponding door is closed.Cargo compartment lamp
The cargo compartment lamp comes on
when the tailgate is opened.
If you leave the tailgate open for an
extended period of time, the cargo
compartment lamp will switch off
automatically after approximately
10 minutes.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the
headlamps, the door entry lamps will remain lit
for approximately 5 minutes.

157 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 (
page 40) or as
soon as the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button* is in position1 (
page 41). The
control system enables you to

call up information about your vehicle

change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for maintenance service, to set
the language for messages in the instru-
ment cluster display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Transmission position indicator
4Current transmission program mode
5Status indicator (outside temperature
or digital speedometer)
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(
page 160).
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just
30 mph (approximately 50 km/h), your
vehicle is covering a distance of
44 feet (approximately 14 m) every second.