MERCEDES-BENZ E350 2006 W211 Owner's Manual

150 Controls in detailInstrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 24).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you


open a door


switch on the ignition (
page 36)


press the reset button1


switch on the exterior lamps
You can modify the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 166).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button1 to adjust the illu-
mination brightness for the instrument
cluster.
Warning!
G
If the instrument cluster or the multifunction
display, or both, are inoperative or malfunc-
tioning, warning messages will not be re-
layed when potential danger exists. This
may cause you and others to be unaware of
certain risks and/or personal injury.
Contact the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.

151 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
To brighten illumination
Turn the reset button1 in the instru-
ment cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn the reset button1 in the instru-
ment cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Coolant temperature indicator
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip odome-
ter display (
page 153).

If it is not displayed, press button è
or ÿ repeatedly until the trip
odometer appears.

Press and hold the reset button1
(page 150) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
iExcessive coolant temperature trigger
a warning in the multifunction display
(page 379).

152 Controls in detailInstrument clusterTachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the instrument cluster (
page 24).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

153 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 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* is in
position1. The control system enables you
to:

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings.
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Trip odometer
3Automatic transmission program mode
4Main odometer
5Current gear selector lever position
Above illustration shows the standard
display.
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(page 156).
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
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, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit 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 (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.

154 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system
(page 153) are controlled by the buttons
on the multifunction steering wheel.
Pressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under
AUDIO
, for example). These
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your
vehicle.
1
Multifunction display in the
speedometerOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting
the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a call
to dial a calltto end a call
to reject an incoming call
4
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display

155 Controls in detail
Control system
It is helpful to think of the menus, and the
functions within each menu, as being ar-
ranged in a circular pattern.

If you press buttonè orÿ re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
menu one after the other.


If you press buttonk orj re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
function display, one after the other, in
the current menu.In the
Settings
menu, instead of functions
you will find a number of submenus for
calling up and changing settings. For in-
structions on using these submenus, see
the “Settings menu” section (
page 163).
The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment
is installed in your vehicle.
The menus are described on the following
pages.

156 Controls in detailControl systemMenusThis is what you will see when you scroll
through the menus.The table on the next page provides an
overview of the individual menus.

157 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Distronic*
(page 159)
(page 159)
(page 161)
(page 161)
Commands/submenusDigital speedometer
Select radio station
Show route guidance instruc-
tions, current direction trav-
eled
Call up settings
Call up maintenance system
display
Operate CD player
Check tire inflation pressure*Check engine oil level

158 Controls in detailControl system
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Menu8
Vehicle status message
memory
1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
Settings
Trip computer
TEL*
(page 162)
(page 163)
(page 178)
(page 180)
Commands/submenusCall up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status mes-
sages stored in memory
Reset to factory settings
Fuel consumption statistics after
start
Load phone book
Instrument cluster submenu
Fuel consumption statistics since
the last reset
Search for name in phone
book
Time/Date submenu
Call up range
Lighting submenuVehicle submenuConvenience submenuDynamic seat* submenu
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.

159 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
to select the functions in the standard
display menu.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer

Press button k orj repeatedly
until the digital speedometer appears
in the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the
AUDIO
menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned
on, the message
AUDIO off
appears in the
multifunction display.
The following functions are available:Select radio station

Turn on COMAND and select radio. Re-
fer to separate COMAND operating in-
structions.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the multifunction display.
1Waveband setting
2Station frequency

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired station is found.
Function
Page
Calling up digital speedometer
159
Calling up maintenance service
indicator
360
Checking tire inflation pressure*
339
Checking engine oil level
321
Function
Page
Select radio station
159
Select satellite radio station*
160
Operate CD player
160