2010 MERCEDES-BENZ R320 trailer

The ESP
®
will assist you in such situations.
The ESP ®
recognizes when the trailer starts
swaying and will apply the brakes to reduce
the
vehicle speed to a non-critical speed that
allows the vehicle-trailer combination to
stabilize.
The ESP ®
trailer stabilization is functional at
vehicle speeds above approximately 40 mph
(65 km/h) when the ESP ®
is switched on. G
Warning!
The system will not be able to assist when the
trailer jackknifes
R if the ESP ®
has switched off due to a
malfunction
R on wet or icy roads
R on roads with slippery surface
R in sand or gravel
Trailers with a high center of gravity may tip
over

before the system recognizes swaying of
the trailer. Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.
Activating X
With SmartKey: Remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.
X With KEYLESS-GO:
Turn off the engine and
open the driver’s door.
Deactivating X
Switch on the ignition.
i Starting the engine will also deactivate
the immobilizer. In the event that the engine cannot be
started (yet the vehicle’s battery is
charged), the system is not operational.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center

or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA) or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada). Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens
R a door
R the tailgate
R the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element, a door, for example, is closed
immediately.
The

alarm system will also be triggered when
R the vehicle is opened with the mechanical
key
R a door is opened from the inside
To cancel the alarm after it has been
triggered, see “Canceling the alarm”
(Y page 68).
i If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, the Tele Aid system initiates a
call to the Response Center automatically.
The Tele Aid system will initiate the call
provided that
R you have subscribed to the Tele Aid
service
R the Tele Aid service has been activated
properly
R the necessary mobile phone, power
supply and GPS coverage are available Anti-theft systems
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Effect
A
Neutral position
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When the
brakes
are released, the vehicle can
be moved freely (pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the
transmission, never shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N while driving.
Exception: If the ESP ®
is switched
off or malfunctioning, shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N if the vehicle is in danger
of skidding.
! Coasting the vehicle, or driving
for any other reason with the
automatic transmission in neutral
position N can result in
transmission damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty. 7
Drive position
The automatic transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears are
available.
Driving tips
Kickdown Use the kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
X
U.S. vehicles: Fully depress the
accelerator pedal.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
gear.
X Canada vehicles:
Depress the accelerator
pedal past the point of resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
gear. Rocking the vehicle Rocking the vehicle by shifting the automatic
transmission directly between drive position
D and reverse gear
R can help free a vehicle
stuck in mud or snow. The engine control
system of this vehicle electronically limits
directly shifting the automatic transmission
between drive position D and reverse gear R
to

very low speeds, i.e. approximately 5 mph
(9 km/h). To shift the automatic transmission
directly between drive position D and reverse
gear R, move the gear selector lever up or
down past the resistance point.
Working on the vehicle G
Warning!
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and shift the automatic
transmission into park position P. Otherwise
the

vehicle could roll away which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal injury.
Towing a trailer X
When you tow a trailer, shift into a lower
gear range manually if the automatic
transmission hunts between gears on
inclines.
A

lower gear range and reduction of speed
reduces the potential to overload or to
overheat the engine.
For more information on trailer towing, see
“Trailer towing”
(Y page 256). Gear ranges
With the automatic transmission in drive
position D, you can limit or extend the gear
range, see “One-touch gearshifting”
(Y page 120). Automatic transmission
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X
Activating/deactivating: Activate or
deactivate the distance warning function in
the control system (Y page 138).
When activated, the distance warning
function indicator Ä appears in the
multifunction display. Hill-start assist system
G
Warning!
The hill-start assist system is not designed to
function as a parking brake. It does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when parked
on an incline.
Always engage the parking brake in addition
to shifting the automatic transmission into
park position P.
On uphill grades, the hill-start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake system
for approximately 1 second after you have
released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can
start off smoothly without the vehicle moving
immediately after releasing the brake pedal.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission into drive
position D or reverse gear R.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The hill-start assist system is inactive
R when starting off on a level road or downhill
grades
R with the automatic transmission in neutral
position N
R with the parking brake engaged
R if the ESP ®
has switched off due to a
malfunction Rear-axle level control
The rear-axle level control adjusts the vehicle
level for the rear axle. The rear-axle level
control is beneficial because it keeps the vehicle level at the rear axle constant,
independent of the load.
i
Observe the information on towing a
trailer, see “Trailer towing” ( Y page 256). AIRMATIC
The AIRMATIC lets you select the chassis and
suspension setup. The chassis and
suspension setup adjusts the damping
behavior and the ride height for your vehicle.
The AIRMATIC consists of two components.
The Adaptive Damping System (ADS)
(Y page 153) and the vehicle level control
(Y page 154). Adaptive Damping System (ADS)
The Adaptive Damping System (ADS) is
controlled electronically and operates
continuously. It adjusts the damping
characteristics to the current operating and
driving conditions. The damping is adjusted
individually for each wheel. Driving safety and
tire comfort are increased.
The fine tuning of the damping is dependent
on:
R your driving style
R road surface conditions
R your personal settings The following settings are available:
R
AUTO (for normal driving situations) Driving systems
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i
The third available level is the highspeed
level that is set automatically.
The following is the approximate change in
ride height for each of the level settings: Level Ride height
Raised level +1.97 in (50 mm)
Highway
level +/-0 in (0 mm)
Highspeed
level -0.78 in (-20 mm)
i
The vehicle is lowered to the highspeed
level automatically if the vehicle speed is
above 70 mph (112 km/h) or if the vehicle
speed stays between 60 mph (96 km/h)
and 70 mph (112 km/h) for
approximately 20 seconds.
i The highspeed level is not available when
towing a trailer. For more information on
towing a trailer, see “Trailer towing”
(Y page 256).
i Obey local speed limits. Use prudent
driving speeds appropriate to prevailing
conditions.
Raised level Only select the raised level if appropriate for
the driving situation encountered. Otherwise
the fuel consumption may increase and/or
the handling characteristics of the vehicle
may be unfavorable.
i
You can select the raised level at speeds
up to 25 mph (40 km/h). At higher speeds,
the message Á Level Selection
Not Permitted appears in the
multifunction display.
X Start the engine. When indicator lamp
; is off:
X Press switch :.
Indicator lamp ; flashes. The vehicle
adjusts to the raised level.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display while the level is
being set: i
The message can be cleared by pressing
the V, U, & or * button on
the multifunction steering wheel.
When the raised level is reached, indicator
lamp ; comes on continuously and the
following message appears in the
multifunction display for approximately
5 seconds: The vehicle level is set to highway level
automatically when the vehicle speed is
exceeding 25 mph (40 km/h).
Highway level
!
Keep in mind that on rough or uneven
roads, adjusting the vehicle to a lower level
may cause the vehicle underbody to come
in contact with the road and result in
damage to the vehicle underbody. Always
make sure the vehicle has sufficient ground
clearance before adjusting it to a lower
level. Driving systems
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distance between the vehicle and an obstacle
visually and audibly.
The Parktronic system is activated
automatically when
R
you switch on the ignition
and
R you release the parking brake
and
R the automatic transmission is in drive
position D, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
The Parktronic system deactivates at speeds
above approximately 11 mph (18 km/h). At
lower speeds, the Parktronic system
activates again.
The Parktronic system also deactivates when
you shift the automatic transmission into
park position P or engage the parking brake.
The Parktronic system monitors the
surroundings of your vehicle with six sensors
in the front bumper and four sensors in the
rear bumper. To function properly, sensors
: must be free
of dirt, ice, snow and slush. Clean
sensors : regularly. Be careful not to
scratch or damage sensors :, see “Cleaning
the driving systems sensors” (Y page 265). G
Warning!
The Parktronic is a supplemental system. It is
not intended to, nor does it replace, the need
for extreme care. The responsibility during parking and other critical maneuvers always
remains with the driver.
G
Warning!
Make sure no persons or animals are in or
near the area in which you are parking/
maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be
injured.
! Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes
(e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts,
elevated crossbars or road curbs). Such
objects may not be detected by the system
and can damage the vehicle.
During parking maneuvers, pay special
attention to objects located above or below
the height of the sensors (e.g. street curbs,
painted posts, or trailer hitches etc.). The
Parktronic system will not detect such
objects at close range and damage to your
vehicle or the object may result.
! Ultrasonic signals from outside sources
(e.g. truck air brakes, car wash, or
jackhammers) may impair the operation of
the Parktronic system.
Range of the sensors Driving systems
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R
Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of 2 seconds
will sound as the first red distance segment
illuminates. A constant acoustic warning
lasting a maximum of 2 seconds will sound
for the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is shifted into park
position P or the parking brake is engaged.
R Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of 2 seconds
will sound as the first red distance segment
illuminates. A constant acoustic warning
lasting a maximum of 2 seconds will sound
for the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is shifted into drive
position D, or park position P, or the
parking brake is engaged.
Switching the Parktronic system on/
off The Parktronic system switches on
automatically when the ignition is switched
on.
X
Switching off: Press Parktronic
switch :.
Indicator lamp ; comes on.
X Switching on: Press Parktronic switch :
again. Trailer towing The rear Parktronic sensors will be
deactivated when you have established the
electrical connection between your vehicle
and the trailer you are about to tow.
!
The distance between the sensors in the
bumpers and an obstacle is referred to as
the minimum range of the Parktronic. A
trailer hitch will reduce the distance to an
obstacle. Keep this in mind to avoid any
damage.
Parktronic system malfunction There is a malfunction in the Parktronic
system, if only the red distance segments
illuminate and an acoustic warning sounds.
The Parktronic system will switch off
automatically after 20 seconds and indicator
lamp
; in Parktronic switch : comes on.
X Have the Parktronic system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
If only the red distance segments illuminate
and no acoustic warning sounds, the
Parktronic system sensors are dirty (e.g. dirt,
ice, snow and slush). Another cause could be
interference from other radio or ultrasonic
signals (e.g. truck air brakes, car wash, or
jackhammers). The Parktronic system will
switch off automatically after 20 seconds and
indicator lamp ; in Parktronic switch :
comes on.
X Switch off the ignition.
X Clean the Parktronic system sensors
(Y page 265).
X Switch on the ignition.
or
X Check the Parktronic system operation at
another location to rule out interference
from outside radio or ultrasonic signals. Rear view camera
The rear view camera is an optical parking aid. Driving systems
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Switching on/off
X
Switching on: Switch on the ignition.
X Switch on the COMAND system.
X Shift the automatic transmission to reverse
gear R.
The COMAND system display will show the
area behind the vehicle with guidelines. G
Warning!
Please note that objects which do not touch
the ground may appear to be further away
than they actually are, for example:
R the bumper of a vehicle parked behind you
R a trailer hitch
R the back of a truck
In such cases, you should not use the
guidelines to judge the distance. You may
misjudge the distance which increases the
risk of impacting the objects.
Even when the object you approach is directly
on the ground do not approach the object any
closer than the red guideline. Red guideline
= indicates an approximate
distance of 10 in (0.25 m) from the rear of the
vehicle. Yellow guidelines ; indicate an
approximate distance of 3 ft (1 m) from the
rear of the vehicle. Blue guidelines :
indicate the approximate width required for
the vehicle.
i The image from the rear view camera will
no longer be displayed if you select another
function on the COMAND system while
reverse gear R is engaged. To display the
image again, disengage and reengage
reverse gear R.
X Switching off: Shift the automatic
transmission into park position P, neutral
position N, or drive position D. Driving systems
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Example illustration: Tire inflation pressures for all
approved, factory equipped tires
Some tire inflation pressure labels may only
show the rim diameter instead of the entire
tire size, e.g. R 18 or 18".
The rim diameter is part of the tire size as
specified on the tire sidewall (Y page 245).
Example illustration: Tire inflation pressures
specific to rim diameter
i
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires to
the tire inflation pressure as specified for a
fully loaded vehicle.
Potential problems associated with
underinflated and overinflated tires Underinflated tires
G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated. Underinflated tires can
R
cause excessive and uneven tire wear
R adversely affect fuel economy
R lead to tire failure from being overheated
R adversely affect handling characteristics
Overinflated tires G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort,
wear unevenly, increase stopping distance,
and result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes etc.
Overinflated tires can
R adversely affect handling characteristics
R cause uneven tire wear
R be more prone to damage from road
hazards
R adversely affect ride comfort
R increase stopping distance Checking tire inflation pressure
Safety notes G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort,
wear unevenly, increase stopping distance,
and result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes etc. 230
Tires and wheelsOperation
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