MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2008 W251 Owner's Manual

200 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard drivingThe selected program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
1Current program mode
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving:

The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.

Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.

Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
SelectSfor standard driving:

The vehicle starts out in first gear.

Upshifts occur later.
!Never change the program mode when the
automatic transmission is out of park positionP.
This could result in a change of driving character-
istics for which you may not be prepared.
iThe last selected program mode (CorS) is
switched on when the engine is restarted.
iR 320 CDI 4MATIC only:
To help avoid overloading the torque converter,
the vehicle starts out in first gear, regardless of
the selected program mode.

201 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Steering wheel gearshift control
With drive positionD selected, you can
limit or extend the gear range.
1Left shift button: limiting gear range
2Right shift button: extending gear
rangeLimiting gear range
Briefly press left shift button1.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
limits the gear range of the transmis-
sion (
page 199).
!Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
iYou cannot shift with the steering wheel
gearshift control buttons when the transmission
in positionP,N orR.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when down-
shifting, the transmission will not shift to a lower
gear if the engine’s max. speed would be
exceeded.

202 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Extending gear range
Briefly press right shift button2.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the transmis-
sion.Canceling gear range limitPress and hold right shift button2
until the cipher for the current gear
range disappears from the multifunc-
tion display (
page 199).
The transmission will shift from the
current gear range directly to gear
rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range
Press and hold left shift button1.
The transmission will automatically
select the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more
gears.Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be selected.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Shift to park positionP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
iIf you press on the accelerator when the en-
gine has reached its rpm limit, the transmission
will upshift beyond any gear range limit selected.

203 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
For information on windshield wipers, see
“Windshield wipers” (
page 59).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The headlamps will automatically be
cleaned with a high-pressure water jet
when you have

switched on the headlamps
and

operated the windshield wipers with
windshield washer fluid five times
When you switch off headlamps, the
counter resets.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system*” (
page 362).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 48).
Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position
1Lever
Tilt the mirror to the antiglare position
by moving lever1 towards the wind-
shield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.Auto-dimming rear view mirrors*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The rear view mirror will not react if

the automatic transmission is set to
positionR

the interior lighting is turned on

204 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors*
Folding the exterior rear view mirrors
in and out automatically
When the corresponding function in the
control system is activated (
page 184):

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold in as soon as the vehicle is
locked from the outside.

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold out as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front pas-
senger door are subsequently opened.Synchronizing exterior rear view
mirrors
The power folding rear view mirrors may
have to be synchronized after the vehicle
battery has been disconnected or
discharged. If the exterior rear view
mirrors do not fold properly upon locking
or unlocking the vehicle although the
corresponding function in the control
system is activated (
page 184), do the
following:
Fold each exterior rear view mirror in
completely (
page 205).
Fold each exterior rear view mirror out
completely (
page 205).
When the exterior rear view mirrors fold
properly upon locking the vehicle, the
exterior mirrors are synchronized.
Otherwise repeat the above steps.
Warning!G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, when transporting cargo
which covers the rear window.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe the traffic
conditions and could cause an accident.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
!Before you drive the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, fold in the exterior rear view
mirrors. Otherwise they may get damaged.

205 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Folding the exterior rear view mirrors
in and out manually
The button is located on the door control
panel.
1Button for folding exterior rear view
mirrors in and out
Switch on the ignition (page 39).Folding in
Briefly press button1.
Both exterior rear view mirrors fold in.
Folding out
Briefly press button1 again.
Both exterior rear view mirrors fold out.
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
iThe exterior rear view mirrors can vibrate if
they are not folded out completely.
iIf you are driving at more than approximately
30 mph (47 km/h), you will not be able to fold
the exterior mirrors in.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear) or
forcibly pushed rearward (hit from the front)
press button1 to fold mirrors in, then press
button1 again to fold mirrors out. Do not force
mirrors by hand as this may damage the adjust-
ment mechanism.
The mirror housing is then properly positioned
and you can adjust the mirror in the usual
manner.
Please make sure both rear view mirrors are
folded out before driving off.
Warning!G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.

206 Controls in detail
Good visibility
1Sun visor
2Additional sun visor*
3Mirror lamp
4Vanity mirror cover
5Vanity mirror
6Holder for gas cards
7Mounting
Glare through the windshield
Swing sun visor1 down.
Make sure sun visor 1 is properly
engaged in mounting 7.
When you do not experience glare
anymore, swing sun visor 1 up.Vanity mirror
Swing sun visor1 down.
Flip up cover4 to access vanity
mirror5.
Vanity mirror lamp3 comes on.
After using vanity mirror 5, flip down
cover4.
Swing sun visor 1 up.
Glare through a side window
1Sun visor
2Additional sun visor*
Swing sun visor1 down.
Disengage sun visor1 from
mounting7 (
page 206).
Pivot sun visor1 to the side.
Swing down additional sun visor*2
when you experience additional glare
through the windshield.
!To avoid damage to vanity mirror cover4
(
page 206), make sure it is closed before
pivoting sun visor 1 to the side.

207 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear door window sunshade*
1Holder
2Tab
To raise sunshade, pull on tab 2 and
engage it in holder 1.
To lower sunshade, disengage tab 2
from holder 1 and guide retraction.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep battery drain to
a minimum, switch off the defroster as
soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated
after approximately 6 to 17 minutes of
operation depending on the outside
temperature.
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Activating
Press button1 on the climate
control panel (
page 210) or the
automatic climate control* panel
(
page 224).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press button1 once more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
!Always guide the sunshade. Do not let it
snap back abruptly, as the retractor could be
damaged.
!With the sunshade raised and the respective
door window open, the sunshade could disen-
gage and snap back when driving at high vehicle
speeds, e.g. on highways, and damage the
retractor. You should therefore always either
close the door window or lower the sunshade
when driving at high speed.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
!If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp starts flashing, too
many electrical consumers are operating simul-
taneously and there is insufficient voltage in the
battery. The system responds automatically by
switching the rear window defroster off.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster switches back on auto-
matically.

208 Controls in detail
Climate control

209 Controls in detail
Climate control
1Left side air vent, adjustable
2Windshield air vents
3Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side and door air vent
4Left center air vent, adjustable
5Right center air vent, adjustable
6Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
7Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
8Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side and door air vent
9Right side air vent, adjustable
aFront passenger door air vent, fixed
bClimate control panel
cFootwell air vents
dDriver’s door air vent, fixed
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the sliders
for center air vents and side air vents to the
middle position.