2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R-Class change time

conditions make it advisable to travel at a
constant speed.GWARNING
Use of the Distronic can be dangerous on
slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.
The Distronic does not function in adverse
sight and distance conditions. Do not use the
Distronic during conditions of fog, heavy rain,
snow or sleet.
GWARNING
The Distronic cannot take weather conditions
into account. Switch off the Distronic or do
not switch it on if:
R roads are slippery or covered with snow or
ice. The wheels could lose traction while
braking or accelerating, and the vehicle
could skid.
R the Distronic system sensor cover is dirty
or visibility is diminished due to snow, rain
or fog, for example. The distance control
system functionality could be impaired.
Always pay attention to surrounding traffic
conditions even while the Distronic is
switched on. Otherwise, you may not be able
to recognize dangerous situations until it is
too late. This could cause an accident in which
you and/or others could be injured.
GWARNING
The "Resume" function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
GWARNING
Close attention to road and traffic conditions
is imperative at all times, regardless of
whether or not the Distronic is activated.
Use of the Distronic can be dangerous on
winding roads or in heavy traffic because
conditions do not allow safe driving at a
constant speed.
The Distronic will not react to stationary
objects in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle
in a traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). The
Distronic will also not respond to oncoming
vehicles.
Switch off the Distronic
R when changing from the left to the right
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly in
the left lane
R when entering a turn lane or highway off
ramp
R in complex driving situations, such as in
highway construction zones
In these situations, the Distronic will continue
to maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
The Distronic is designed and intended only
to maintain a set speed and keep a set
distance from moving objects in front of it.
i This device has been approved by the FCC
as a “Vehicular Radar System”. The radar
sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removal, tampering, or
altering of the device will void any
warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.174Driving systemsDriving and parking

ADS (Adaptive Damping System)
ADS is continuously electronically-controlled.
It adapts the damping characteristics to suit
the current operating conditions. The
damping is controlled for each wheel
individually. This improves driving safety and
tire comfort.
This depends on:
R your driving style
R the road surface conditions
R the ADS setting
R the vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
You can choose between the following ADS
settings:
R AUTO for normal driving situations;
indicator lamps ; and = are off.
R SPORT for sporty driving; indicator
lamp ; is on.
R COMF for a more comfortable ride;
indicator lamp = is on.
XStart the engine.XPress button : repeatedly until the
desired setting is selected.
Level control
Level control adapts the vehicle level
automatically to the current operating and
driving situation. This results in reduced fuel
consumption and improved handling.
Make changes to the vehicle level while the
vehicle is in motion. This enables the vehicle
to adjust to the new level as quickly as
possible.
The vehicle level may change visibly when you
park the vehicle and the outside temperature
changes. When the temperature drops, the
vehicle level is lower; with an increase in
temperature, the vehicle level rises.
When you unlock the vehicle or open a door,
the vehicle begins to balance the load
discrepancies while still parked. However, for
significant level changes, e.g. after the
vehicle has been stationary for a long period,
the engine must be on. For safety reasons,
the vehicle is only lowered when the doors are
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door is
opened and continues once the door has
been closed.GWARNING
Make sure no one is near the wheel housing
or under the vehicle when you lower the
vehicle while it is standing still. Limbs could
become wedged into or under the vehicle.
For safety reasons, the vehicle can only be
lowered with all doors and the tailgate closed.
Lowering is interrupted if a door or the tailgate
is opened and will continue after the door is
closed again.
! When driving in very poor road conditions,
select a high vehicle level in good time.
Make sure that there is always sufficient
ground clearance to prevent damage to the
vehicle.
! Remove the key from the ignition lock
before raising the vehicle completely, e.g.
with a vehicle lift.
Basic settings
Select raised level for very poor road
conditions ( Y page 182) or highway level for
normal road conditions ( Y page 182).
Driving systems181Driving and parkingZ

GWARNING
The rear view camera is only an aid and may
display obstacles
R from a distorted perspective
R inaccurately
R may not display obstacles at all
The rear view camera does not relieve you of
the responsibility to be cautious. Take care
and pay careful attention. The rear view
camera may not show objects which are
R very close to the rear bumper
R under the rear bumper
R above the tailgate handle
You are responsible for safety at all times and
must continue to pay attention to the
immediate surroundings when parking and
maneuvering. This includes the area behind,
in front of, and beside the vehicle. Otherwise
you could endanger yourself and/or others.
GWARNING
The rear view camera will not function or will
not fully function if:
R the tailgate is open
R it is raining or snowing strongly or if it is
foggy
R it is night or if you are parking/
maneuvering your vehicle in a very dark
area
R a very bright white light is affecting the
camera
R the immediate vicinity is illuminated with
fluorescent light (the display can flicker)
R temperature changes abruptly, for example
if you drive out of the cold into a heated
garage (condensation on the lens)
R the camera lens is dirty or covered
R the rear of your vehicle is damaged
In this case, have the position and the
setting of the camera checked at a
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you consult a Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose.
Do not use the rear view camera in these
situations. You could otherwise injure
yourself and other people and/or cause
damage - including damage to your vehicle -
while parking/maneuvering.
Activating the rear view cameraXMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.XMake sure that the "rear view camera"
function is selected in COMAND (see the
separate operating instructions for
COMAND).XEngage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display with guide lines.
Guide lines in the COMAND display
GWARNING
Use of rear view camera can be dangerous if
you are color-blind or have impaired color
vision.
Only use rear view camera if you can see and
distinguish all colored guidelines shown by
rear view camera on the COMAND system
display.
GWARNING
Please note that objects that 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 the trailer drawbar
R the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
R the rear end of a truck
R a slanted post
In such cases, you should not use the guide
lines to judge the distance. You may misjudge
the distance, which increases the risk of
impacting the objects.
Even if the object you approach is directly on
the ground, do not approach the object any
closer than the red guide line.
188Driving systemsDriving and parking

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutionsb
Front Foglamp Left
or Front Foglamp
RightThe left-hand or right-hand front fog lamp is defective.XCheck whether you are permitted to change the bulb yourself
( Y page 119).
or
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.b
Foglamp Rear Left
or Foglamp Rear
RightThe left-hand or right-hand rear fog lamp is defective.XCheck whether you are permitted to change the bulb yourself
( Y page 119).
or
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.b
Standing Lamp
Front Left
or Standing Lamp
Front RightThe front left or front right standing lamp is defective.XCheck whether you are permitted to change the bulb yourself
( Y page 119).
or
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.b
Reverse Lamp Left
or Reverse Lamp
RightThe left or right-hand backup lamp is defective.XCheck whether you are permitted to change the bulb yourself
( Y page 119).
or
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.b
Marker Lamp Front
Left or Marker Lamp
Front RightThe left or right front side marker lamp is defective.XCheck whether you are permitted to change the bulb yourself
( Y page 119).
or
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.b
Tail Lamp Left
or Tail Lamp RightThe left or right-hand tail lamp is defective.XCheck whether you are permitted to change the bulb yourself
( Y page 119).
or
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.b
Daytime Running
Light Left
or Daytime Running
Light RightThe left or right-hand daytime running lamp is defective.XCheck whether you are permitted to change the bulb yourself
( Y page 119).
or
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.224Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

found on the reverse side of the remote
control).
The integrated garage door opener is
compatible with devices that can be
operated with units in a frequency range of
280 to 390 MHz.
R change the batteries in garage door remote
control A. This increases the probability
that garage door remote control A will
send a strong and precise signal to the
integrated garage door opener on the rear-
view mirror.
R when programming, hold garage door
remote control A at different distances
and angles from the transmitter button that
you are programming. Try different angles
at a distance between 2 and 12 inches (5
to 30 cm) or the same angle at varying
distances.
R if another remote control for the same
garage door drive is available, repeat the
same programming steps with this remote
control. Before you perform the steps of the
operation, make sure that there are new
batteries in the garage door remote
control.
R note that some remote controls only
transmit for a limited amount of time (the
indicator lamp on the remote control goes
out). Press the remote control button again
before it stops transmitting.
R align the antenna cable of the garage door
opener unit. This can improve signal
reception/transmission.
Opening/closing the garage door
Once programmed, the integrated garage
door opener will assume the function of the
garage door system's remote control. Please
also read the operating instructions for the
garage door system.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XPress transmitter button ;, = or ? in the
overhead control panel that you have
programmed to operate the garage door.
Garage door system with a fixed code:
indicator lamp : lights up green.
Garage door system with a rolling code:
indicator lamp : flashes green.
i
The transmitter will transmit a signal for
as long as the transmitter button is being
pressed. After a maximum of ten seconds,
transmission is terminated and indicator
lamp : flashes yellow. Press the
transmitter button again, if necessary.
Clearing the memory of the integrated
garage door opener on the rear-view
mirror
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XPress transmitter buttons ; and ?.
The indicator lamp lights up yellow.XPress and hold transmitter buttons ;
and ? until the indicator lamp turns green.
i
Make sure that you clear the memory of
the integrated garage door opener before
selling the vehicle.
Compass
Calling up the compass
XPress the V or U button on the
multifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the AIRMATIC/Compass menu
appears in the multifunction display.
The compass shows which direction the
vehicle is currently traveling in: N, NE , E , SE ,
S , SW , W or NW.278FeaturesStowing and features

XWipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.XHeavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change color temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or
selector lever
XThoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning genuine wood and trim
elements
XWipe the wooden trim and trim pieces with
a damp, lint-free cloth, e.g. a microfiber
cloth.XHeavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
! Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners,
polishes or waxes. There is otherwise a risk
of damaging the surface.
! Do not use chrome polish on trim pieces.
The trim pieces have a chrome look but are
mostly made of anodized aluminum and
can lose their shine if chrome polish is
used. Use a damp, lint-free cloth instead
when cleaning the trim pieces.
If the chrome-plated trim pieces are very
dirty, you can use a chrome polish. If you
are unsure as to whether the trim pieces
are chrome-plated or not, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Cleaning the seat covers
! Do not use microfiber cloths to clean
genuine leather, artificial leather or
Alcantara® covers. If used often, these can
damage the cover.
! Observe the following when cleaning:
R clean genuine leather covers carefully
with a damp cloth and then wipe the
covers down with a dry cloth. Make sure
that the leather does not become
soaked. It may otherwise become rough
and cracked. Only use leather care
agents that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. You can
obtain these from a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service
center.
R clean artificial leather covers with a cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. dish washing liquid).
R clean cloth covers with a microfiber cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. dish washing liquid). Rub
carefully and always wipe entire seat
sections to avoid leaving visible lines.
Leave the seat to dry afterwards.
Cleaning results depend on the type of
dirt and how long it has been there.
R clean Alcantara® covers with a damp
cloth. Make sure you wipe entire seat
sections to avoid leaving visible lines.
i Note that regular care is essential to
ensure that the appearance and comfort of
the covers is retained over time.
Cleaning the seat beltsXUse clean, lukewarm water and soap
solution.
! Do not clean the seat belts using chemical
cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat belts
by warming them above 176 ‡ (80 †) or
placing them in direct sunlight.
GWARNING
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Care293Maintenance and careZ

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 24).
Where will I find...?
First-aid kit
The first-aid kit can be found under the trunk
floor in the vehicle tool kit stowage tray.
Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the
location of the first-aid kit may differ slightly
from that shown in the example illustration.
XOpen the tailgate.XLift the trunk floor up ( Y page 296).
Example: vehicles with BlueTEC
XRemove first-aid kit :.
i
Check the expiration date on the first-aid
kit at least once a year. Replace the
contents if necessary, and replace missing
contents.
Vehicle tool kit
Notes
The vehicle tool kit can be found in the
stowage well under the cargo compartment
floor.
i Vehicles are not equipped with the tools
needed to change a wheel when they leave
the factory, e.g. jack or lug wrench.
Country-specific differences are possible.
Some tools for changing a wheel are
specific to the vehicle. To obtain tools
approved for your vehicle, visit a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Folding the cargo compartment floor up
XPress release handle ; in the direction of
the arrow.XLift cargo compartment floor : up by
release handle ;.XFold out hook = on the underside of the
cargo compartment floor.296Where will I find...?Breakdown assistance

! None of the other sockets or cigarette
lighters are designed for operating the tire
inflation compressor.XTurn the SmartKey to position
1 (Y page 145) in the ignition lock.XPress on/off switch = on the tire inflation
compressor to I.
The tire inflation compressor is switched
on. The tire is inflated.
i First, TIREFIT is pumped into the tire. The
pressure can briefly rise to approximately
500 kPa (5 bar/73 psi).
Do not switch off the tire inflation
compressor during this phase.
XAllow the tire inflation compressor to run
for five minutes. The tire should then have
attained a pressure of at least 180 kPa
(1.8 bar/26 psi).
! Do not operate the tire inflation
compressor for longer than eight minutes
at a time without a break. It may otherwise
overheat.
The tire inflation compressor can be
operated again once it has cooled down.
If a pressure of 180 kPa (1.8 bar/26 psi) has
been achieved after five minutes, see
( Y page 302).
If a pressure of 180 kPa (1.8 bar/26 psi) has
not been achieved after five minutes, see
( Y page 302).
Tire pressure of at least 180 kPa
(1.8 bar/26 psi) is not reached
If, after five minutes, a pressure of 180 kPa
(1.8 bar/26 psi) has not been achieved:
XPress the on/off switch on the tire inflation
compressor to 0.
The tire inflation compressor is switched
off.XUnscrew the filler hose from the valve of
the faulty tire.XVery slowly drive forwards or reverse
approximately 30 ft (10 m).XPump up the tire again.GWARNING
If after five minutes a pressure of 180 kPa
(1.8 bar/26 psi) cannot be achieved, the tire
is too badly damaged to be repaired reliably
using TIREFIT.
In this case TIREFIT cannot seal the tire
properly.
Do not drive any further.
Contact the nearest authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for assistance or call Roadside
Assistance.
Tire pressure of 180 kPa (1.8 bar/
26 psi) is reached
XPress the on/off switch on the tire inflation
compressor to 0.
The tire inflation compressor is switched
off.XUnscrew the filler hose from the valve of
the faulty tire.
! After use, excess TIREFIT may run out of
the filler hose. This could cause stains.
Therefore, place the filler hose in the plastic
bag which contained the TIREFIT kit.
XStow the tire sealant bottle and the tire
inflation compressor.XPull away immediately .GWARNING
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h ). A TIREFIT repair is not designed to
operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the
instrument cluster where it will be easily seen
by the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics of a TIREFIT
repaired tire may change. Adapt your driving
accordingly.
302Flat tireBreakdown assistance