MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2008 W251 Owner's Manual

310 Controls in detail
Useful features
Cup holder in front of second-row seats
A cupholder is located in front of the
second-row seats.
Opening cup holder
Open ashtray cover1(page 312).
1Ashtray cover
Press ashtray cover 1 down in
direction of arrow as far as it will go.
1Ashtray cover
2Cup holder
Pull out cup holder 2 in direction of
arrow as far as it will go.Closing cup holder
Make sure you have removed all
containers from the cup holder.
Push cup holder 2 in until it engages.
Close ashtray cover.
Cupholders in rear center console*
Cupholders are located on the rear center
console between the second-row seats.
1Cup holders
!Close the cup holder when not in use and
before folding the second-row seats.
iVehicles with rear center console*
(
page 315) are not equipped with cupholders
in front of the second-row seats.

311 Controls in detail
Useful features
Cupholders in third-row side trim
Cupholders are located in the side trims of
the third-row seats.
1Cup holderAshtrays
Your vehicle is equipped with an ashtray
and a cigarette lighter (
page 313)
located in the front center console and an
ashtray located in front of the second-row
seats (
page 312).
Ashtray in the front center console
Opening the ashtray
1Cover
2Chrome label
Tab lightly on chrome label 2 of
cover1.
Cover 1 swings open.
Removing ashtray insert
Warning!G
Remove ashtray insert only with vehicle
standing still. Set the parking brake to
secure vehicle from movement. Set auto-
matic transmission toP. With the automatic
transmission set toP, turn off the engine.

312 Controls in detail
Useful features
1Cover
2Ashtray insert
Grip ashtray insert 2 on the sides and
pull it out upwards.
Reinstalling ashtray insert
Insert ashtray insert 2 and push down
until the ball catch engages.
Close ashtray cover 1.Rear seat ashtray (second row)
Opening the ashtray
1Ashtray cover
2Release button
Press release button 2.
Ashtray cover 1 opens automatically.1Ashtray cover
Press ashtray cover 1 down in
direction of arrow as far as it will go.
Removing ashtray insert
Open ashtray cover 1.
Press ashtray cover 1 down in
direction of arrow as far as it will go.
iVehicles with rear center console*
(
page 315) are not equipped with an ashtray
in front of the second-row seats.
!Close the ashtray when not in use and
before folding the second-row seats.

313 Controls in detail
Useful features
1Ashtray cover
2Ashtray insert
Push on ashtray insert 2 and pull it
out upwards.
Reinstalling ashtray insert
Insert ashtray insert 2 into opening.
Push down ashtray insert 2 until it
engages.
Close ashtray cover 1.
Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition (page 39).1Cover
2Cigarette lighter
Open cover1 (page 311).
Push in cigarette lighter2.
The cigarette lighter will pop out auto-
matically when hot.
Take out cigarette lighter2.
Warning!G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the cigarette lighter; they are extremely hot.
Hold the knob only.
Make sure that any children traveling with
you do injure themselves or start a fire with
the hot cigarette lighter.
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.

314 Controls in detail
Useful features
Power outletsPower outlets are located

in the front passenger footwell
(
page 314)

in the second-row footwell
(
page 315)

on the right-hand side of the cargo
compartment (
page 315)
Power outlet in front passenger
footwell
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).
!The lighter socket can accommodate 12V
DC electrical accessories (up to a maximum of
85 W) designed for use with the standard “ciga-
rette lighter” plug type. Keep in mind, however,
that connecting accessories to the lighter socket
(for example extensive connecting and discon-
necting, or using plugs that do not fit properly)
can damage the lighter socket. With the socket
damaged, the lighter may no longer be able to be
placed in the heating (pushed-in) position, or the
lighter may pop out too early with the lighter not
hot enough.
To help avoid damaging the cigarette lighter
socket, we recommend connecting 12V DC elec-
trical accessories designed for use with the stan-
dard “cigarette lighter” plug type to the
12V power outlets (
page 314) in your vehicle
whenever possible.
!The cigarette lighter is not designed for use
with the electric air pump (
page 499). Use a
power outlet (
page 314) for electric air pump
operation.
iIf the engine is off, and the cigarette lighter
is being used extensively, the vehicle battery
may become discharged.
!If you use all power outlets in the vehicle,
make sure that the maximum current drawn
does not exceed 55 A.
iThe power outlets can be used to
accommodate 12V DC electrical accessories
(e.g. air pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a maximum
of 240 W.
If the engine is off and the power outlets are
being used extensively, the vehicle battery may
become discharged.
iYou can use the power outlets, except for
the power outlet in the front center console,
even if the ignition is switched off.
An emergency shut-off feature ensures that the
vehicle’s electrical voltage does not fall below a
minimum level. If the voltage drops to this mini-
mum level, the power outlets are automatically
switched off. This ensures that enough power
remains to start the engine.

315 Controls in detail
Useful features
Power outlet in second-row footwell
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).Power outlet in cargo compartment
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).
Rear center console*
The rear center console is located between
the second-row seats.
The rear center console contains:

Storage compartment (page 306)

Cupholder (page 310)
iWhen fully expanding the cargo compart-
ment, the rear center console has to be removed
from the vehicle in order for the cargo compart-
ment floor to be an even plane (
page 293).

316 Controls in detail
Useful features
Removing
1Rear center console
2Release handle
3Rear center console base
4Folding back
5Handle
6Anchorage pointsPull release handle 2.
The front part of center console 1 is
released from base 3.
Lift center console 1 in direction of
arrow 4 and hold it there.
While holding center console 1 up,
grip handle 5.
Lift center console 1 at rear
handle5 to release the center con-
sole from anchorage points 6.
Take center console 1 out of the vehi-
cle.
Warning!G
Remove all containers that may be stored in
the cupholders of the rear center console.
Otherwise liquids could spill on vehicle
occupants and/or vehicle equipment. Hot
liquids spilled on vehicle occupants may
cause serious personal injury. Liquids
spilled on vehicle equipment may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
!To prevent damage to the rear center
console and/or its components, make sure the
storage compartment (
page 306) is closed
before removing the rear center console.
iRemove all items from the storage compart-
ment (
page 306) of the rear center console to
reduce its weight.
iRear center console base 3 cannot be
removed.

317 Controls in detail
Useful features
Installing
You can install the rear center console in
two different positions. In the most for-
ward position (position 1) you can expand
the cargo compartment fully (
page 293)
without removing the rear center console.1Latch (position 1)
2Latch (position 0)
3Rear center console base
4Anchorage point (position 1)
5Anchorage point (position 0)3Rear center console base
6Rear center console
Position center console 6 above
base3.
Insert the tabs at rear of center
console6into anchorage points4
or 5 on base 3.
Guide front of center console6 down
towards base 3.
Center console 6 must rest on
base3.
Press down on front of center
console6 until it audibly engages in
latch1or2.
Warning!G
The rear center console must be properly in-
stalled on the center console base. Driving
with the rear center console not properly in-
stalled on the rear center console base may
cause the rear center console to come loose
and be thrown around in the vehicle interior,
causing injury to vehicle occupants during

braking

vehicle maneuvers

an accident
iThe storage compartment and the cup-
holders in the rear center console are only illumi-
nated, when the rear center console is installed
in the most rearward position (position 0).

318 Controls in detail
Useful features
Heated steering wheel*
The steering wheel heating warms up the
leather area of the steering wheel.
The stalk is located on the lower left-hand
side of the steering wheel.
1Switching on
2Switching off
3Indicator lampSwitching on
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Turn switch at the tip of stalk in the
direction of arrow1.
The steering wheel is heated. Indicator
lamp3 comes on.Switching off
Turn switch at the tip of stalk in the
direction of arrow2.
The heated steering wheel is switched
off. Indicator lamp3 goes out.
For information on the steering wheel, see
“Multifunction steering wheel”
(
page 158).
iThe steering wheel heating is temporarily
suspended while indicator lamp3 remains on
when

the temperature of the vehicle interior is
above 86°F (30°C)

the temperature of the steering wheel is
above 95°F (35°C)
When these conditions do not apply anymore,
steering wheel heating continues.
iIndicator lamp3 flashes or goes out

in case of power surge or undervoltage

in case of a steering wheel heating malfunc-
tion
iThe steering wheel heating switches off
automatically when you remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch or, on vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*, when you switch off the ignition
(
page 39) and open the driver’s door.

319 Controls in detail
Useful features
Telephone*
Radio transmitters, such as a portable tele-
phone or a citizens band unit, should only
be used inside the vehicle if they are con-
nected to an antenna that is installed on
the outside of the vehicle.
The external antenna must be approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
for information on the installation of an
approved external antenna. Refer to the
radio transmitter operation instructions
regarding use of an external antenna.When the mobile phone is inserted in the
cradle, you can operate the telephone
using the following devices:

mobile phone keypad

COMAND system (see separate operat-
ing instructions)

buttonss andt on the multi-
function steering wheel (
page 158)

Voice Control System* (see separate
operating instructions)
Warning!G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system,
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle.
A driver’s attention to the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we
recommend that you pull over to a safe loca-
tion and stop before placing or taking a
telephone call.
If you choose to use the telephone
1 while
driving, please use the hands-free device
and only use the telephone when road,
weather and traffic conditions permit. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
mobile telephone while driving a vehicle.
Only operate the COMAND system
1 if road,
weather and traffic conditions permit.
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.
1Observe all legal requirements.
iVarious mobile phone cradles can be
installed in the front center armrest, see
separate installation instructions for the mobile
phone cradle. These mobile phone cradles can
be obtained from an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
The functions and services available to you while
using the mobile phone depend on your service
provider and the type of mobile phone you are
using. See also separate operating manual for
instructions on how to use the mobile phone.