MERCEDES-BENZ R500 2007 R171 Owner's Manual

190 Controls in detail
Control system
Activating easy-entry/exit feature*
Use this function to activate and
deactivate the easy-entry/exit feature
(
page 132).
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Comfort
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Easy-entry feature
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the easy-entry/exit feature
On or Off.Setting fold-in function for exterior rear
view mirrors*
Using this function, you can set the
exterior rear view mirrors to be automati-
cally folded in when you lock your vehicle.
Warning!G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of
the following:

Move steering wheel adjustment stalk*
(
page 47).

Press one of the memory position
buttons or memory button M*
(
page 145).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iWith this function set to On and the exterior
rear view mirrors folded in using the button on
the door control panel (
page 214), the exterior
rear view mirrors will not fold out when you
switch on the ignition. You will then have to fold
out the exterior rear view mirrors using the
button on the door control panel (
page 214).
Make sure both exterior rear view mirrors are
folded out completely before driving off.

191 Controls in detail
Control system
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Comfort
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Fold in mirrors
when locking
appears in the multi-
function display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the function
On or Off.
Distance warning function*
In vehicles equipped with Distronic*, you
can determine whether the distance warn-
ing function* is to be enabled or disabled.
With this function set to
On, the system will
alert you when recognizing a stationary ob-
stacle or a slower vehicle moving in your
vehicle’s path and the danger of a collision
exists, even when the Distronic* is
switched off.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the message
Distance warning
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the distance warning function
On or
Off.
Trip computer menu
Use the trip computer menu to call up
statistical data on your vehicle.
The following information is available:
FunctionPage
Fuel consumption statistics
from start192
Fuel consumption statistics
since last reset192
Distance to empty193
iWhen you enter the trip computer menu, you
will always see the fuel consumption statistics
from start first.

192 Controls in detail
Control system
Fuel consumption statistics from start
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
From start appears
in the multifunction display.
1Distance driven since start
2Time elapsed since start
3Average speed since start
4Average fuel consumption since startResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
From start appears
in the multifunction display.
Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 156) until
the value is reset to
0.Fuel consumption statistics since last
reset
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
From start appears
in the multifunction display.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
After reset appears
in the multifunction display.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average speed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last
reset
iAll statistics stored since the last engine
start will be reset approximately 4 hours after
the SmartKey in the starter switch is turned to
position0 or removed from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the SmartKey
back to position1 or2 within this time period.

193 Controls in detail
Control system
Resetting fuel consumption statistics
manually
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
After reset appears
in the multifunction display.
Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 156) until
the value is reset to
0.Distance to empty
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
From start appears
in the multifunction display.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Range: appears in
the multifunction display.
The calculated remaining driving range
based on the current fuel tank level
appears in the multifunction display.
TEL menu*
iThe fuel consumption statistics reset auto-
matically to
0 when either of the following values
is exceeded:

distance covered:100 000 miles

time elapsed: 10 000 hours
Warning!G
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
location and stop before placing or taking a
telephone call. If you choose to use the tele-
phone while driving, please use the
hands-free device and only use the tele-
phone when weather, road and traffic
conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving a
vehicle.


194 Controls in detail
Control system
You can use the functions in the TEL menu
to operate your telephone, provided it is
connected to a hands-free system and
switched on.
Switch on the telephone and COMAND
system.
Press buttonÿ orè on the
multifunction steering wheel repeat-
edly until the message
Tel appears in
the multifunction display.Which messages will appear in the multi-
function display depends on whether your
telephone is switched on or off:

If the telephone is off, the message
Phone off appears in the multifunction
display.

If the telephone is on:
The telephone will then search for a
network. During this time the multi-
function display is empty.
As soon as the telephone has found a
network, the message
Ready appears in
the multifunction display.
This standby message indicates that your
telephone is ready for use and you can
operate it using the control system.Answering a call
When your telephone is ready to receive
calls, you can answer a call at any time. In
the multifunction display you will then see
the message:Press buttons.
You have answered the call. The
duration of the call appears in the
multifunction display.
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.
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
personal injury.
iIf you do not wish to accept a call, press
buttont.


195 Controls in detail
Control system
Ending a call
Press buttont.
You have ended the call. The standby
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Dialing a number from the phone book
If your telephone is ready to receive calls,
you may select and dial a number from the
phone book at any time.
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
Tel appears in the
multifunction display.
Press buttonj ork.
The control system reads the phone
book which is stored in the telephone.
This may take several minutes. The
message
Please wait appears in the
multifunction display.
When the message
Please wait
disappears, the phone book has been
loaded.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
multifunction display.
The stored names are displayed in
ascending or descending alphabetical
order.
1Name from the phone bookPress buttons.
The system dials the selected phone
number.

If the connection is successful and
this feature is supported by your
network provider, the name of the
party you are calling (if stored in
your phone book) and the duration
of the call will appear in the multi-
function display.

If no connection is made, the
control system stores the dialed
number in the redial memory.
iIf you press and holdj ork for
longer than 1 second, the system scrolls rapidly
through the list of names until you release the
button again.
Cancel the quick search mode by pressing
buttont.

196 Controls in detail
Control system
Redialing
The control system stores the most
recently dialed phone numbers. This
eliminates the need to search through your
entire phone book.
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
Tel appears in the
multifunction display.
Press buttons.
The first number in the redial memory
appears in the multifunction display.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
multifunction display.
Press buttons.
The control system dials the selected
phone number.

197 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For information on driving with an
automatic transmission see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 54).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its shift program.
Gear selector lever
The gear selector lever is located on the
right of the steering column.
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the catalytic
converter (gasoline engine) or the oxidation
catalyst (diesel engine) to heat up more quickly
to operating temperature.
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.

198 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shifting from P to N
Moving the gear selector lever up or down
shifts the automatic transmission out of
park positionP:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Move gear selector lever up or down to
resistance point to select neutral
positionN.Shifting from N to R or from N to D
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Move gear selector lever up past the
resistance point to select reverse
gearR.
or
Move gear selector down past the
resistance point to select drive
positionD.
Release the parking brake (page 57).
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator pedal
to drive off when it is safe to do so.
iThe current transmission positionP, R, N
orD appears in the multifunction display
(
page 201).
Warning!G
It is dangerous to shift the automatic trans-
mission out of park positionP or neutral
positionN if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
iThe gear selector lever returns to its original
position.
iThe gear selector lever returns to its original
position.

199 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shifting from P to R
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Move gear selector lever up past the
resistance point to select reverse
gearR.
Release the parking brake (page 57).
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator pedal
to drive off when it is safe to do so.Shifting from P to D
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Move gear selector lever down past the
resistance point to select drive
positionD.
Release the parking brake (page 57).
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator pedal
to drive off when it is safe to do so.Shifting from D, R, or N to P
If you want to select park positionP with
the transmission being in drive positionD,
reverse gearR or neutral positionN:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Step firmly on parking brake pedal
(
page 66).
Press button on gear selector lever in
direction of arrow (
page 197) to
select park positionP.
Release the brake pedal.
iThe gear selector lever returns to its original
position.iThe gear selector lever returns to its original
position.
!Shift the automatic transmission directly
from drive positionD to reverse gearR, from
reverse gearR to drive positionD or directly to
park positionP only when the vehicle is stopped.
Otherwise the automatic transmission could be
damaged.
When trying to free a vehicle stuck in mud or
snow, see “Rocking the vehicle” (
page 204).