traction control MERCEDES-BENZ R320CDI 2007 R171 Owner's Manual

Contents
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 258
Opening and closing ..................... 258
Synchronizing ............................... 260
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel* .............................. 261
Roller sunblinds for the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel........................... 261
Opening and closing the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel........................... 262
Synchronizing the panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding
panel ............................................ 264
Driving systems ................................. 266
Cruise control............................... 266
Distronic*..................................... 271
Distance warning function*.......... 284
AIRMATIC* ................................... 285
Parktronic* (Parking assist) ......... 291
Rear view camera* ....................... 295Loading .............................................. 297
Roof rack*.................................... 297
Loading instructions..................... 298
Cargo tie-down rings .................... 299
Hooks........................................... 300
Expanding cargo compartment .... 301
Cargo compartment cover blind* . 306
Partition net* ............................... 308
Useful features .................................. 311
Storage compartments ................ 311
Parcel nets ................................... 315
Cup holders.................................. 316
Ashtrays* ..................................... 319
Cigarette lighter* ......................... 321
Power outlets ............................... 322
Rear center console* ................... 323
Heated steering wheel* ............... 326
Telephone* .................................. 327
Tele Aid* ...................................... 330
Garage door opener* ................... 337
Compass ...................................... 342
Floormats ..................................... 343
Infrared reflecting windshield* ..... 344
Operation......................................... 345
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ........ 346
Driving instructions ........................... 347
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 347
Drinking and driving ..................... 347
Pedals .......................................... 347
Power assistance ......................... 348
Brakes.......................................... 348
Driving off .................................... 351
Parking......................................... 351
Tires ............................................. 352
Hydroplaning................................ 352
Tire traction ................................. 353
Tire speed rating .......................... 353
Winter driving instructions ........... 354
Standing water............................. 355
Passenger compartment .............. 356
Driving abroad ............................. 356
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 357
Catalytic converter
(gasoline engine) .......................... 357

85 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Infant and child restraint systems
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
All lap-shoulder belts except the driver’s
seat belt have special seat belt retractors
for secure fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow child
restraint instructions for mounting. Then
pull the shoulder belt out completely and
let it retract. During seat belt retraction, a
ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate
that the special seat belt retractor is acti-
vated. The belt is now locked. Push down
on child restraint to take up any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and
let seat belt retract completely. To deacti-
vate the special seat belt retractor for the
front passenger seat, the front passenger
seat must be in the most backward posi-
tion. The seat belt can again be used in the
usual manner.The use of infant or child restraints is re-
quired by law in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, the U.S. territories and all
Canadian provinces.Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system’s
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts.
If children open a door, they could

injure other persons

get out of the car and injure themselves
or be injured by following traffic
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger or cargo compartment unless
they are firmly secured in place. For more in-
formation, please refer to the “Loading”
(
page 297) and “Useful features”
(
page 311) sections in the “Controls in
detail” chapter.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child’s risk of injury in the event
of:

strong braking maneuvers

sudden changes of direction

an accident
Warning!G
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.
iFor information on child seats with mounting
fittings for tether anchorages, see “Installation
of infant and child restraint system”
(
page 95).
For information on LATCH type child seat
mounts, see “Child seat anchors – LATCH type”
(
page 93).

104 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Switching off the ESP®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch
off the ESP® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:

when driving with snow chains

in deep snow

in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®

the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle

the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip

the 4-ETS will still apply the brake to a
spinning wheel

the ESP® continues to operate when
you are braking

you cannot activate the cruise control
or the Distronic* system

the cruise control or the Distronic*
system switch off if currently activatedThe ESP
® switch is located on the upper
part of the center console.
1ESP
® switch
With the engine running, press ESP®
switch1.
The ESP
®warning lampv in the in-
strument cluster comes on.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Warning!G
The ESP® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
!Switch on the ESP® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not apply
anymore.
iWhen the ESP® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP® warn-
ing lamp v in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the
vehicle.

207 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving
(R 63 AMG: standard 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
(R 63 AMG: sporty driving):

The vehicle starts out in first gear.

Upshifts occur later.
Steering wheel gearshift control
With drive positionD selected and driving
in program modeC or S, you can limit or
extend the gear range.
If your vehicle is equipped with manual
shift programM, you can use the steering
wheel gearshift control to manually shift
the gears.
1Left shift button: limiting gear range or
downshift (in program modeM)
2Right shift button: extending gear
range or upshift (in program modeM)
The following instructions describe opera-
tion of the steering wheel gearshift control
when driving in program modeC or S.
iR63AMG:
For information on using the steering wheel gear-
shift control in program modeM, see “Manual
shift program (R 63 AMG only)” (
page 209).
!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.

216 Controls in detail
Good visibility
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 215).
Pivot sun visor1 to the side.
Swing down additional sun visor*2
when you experience additional glare
through the windshield.
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.
!To avoid damage to vanity mirror cover4
(
page 215), make sure it is closed before
pivoting sun visor 1 to the side.
!Always guide the sunshade. Do not let it
snap back abruptly, as the retractor could be
damaged.

266 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are
described on the following pages:

Cruise control (page 266) and
Distronic* (
page 271), with which
the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed.

Distance warning function*
(
page 284) is only available with
Distronic*, which warns of stationary
obstacles or slower moving vehicles
that you are closing in on too quickly.

AIRMATIC* (page 285) adjusts the
vehicle suspension characteristics
automatically and controls the vehicle
level.

Parktronic* (page 291) and rear view
camera* (
page 295), which serve as
a parking aid.
For information on the ABS, BAS, EBP,
ESP
®, and 4-ETS, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 100).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of cruise control is recommended
for driving at a constant speed for extend-
ed periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above
20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 24).
Warning!G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.

The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow
safe driving at a constant speed.

The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in
wheel spin and loss of control.

Deactivate the cruise control when
driving in fog.
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.

272 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Warning!G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not
however, intended to, nor does it, replace
the need for extreme care.
The responsibility for the vehicle’s speed,
distance to the preceding vehicle and, most
importantly, brake operation to ensure a
safe stopping distance, always rests with
the driver.
Distronic cannot take road and traffic condi-
tions into account.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by Distronic. This could
result in wrong or missing distance
warnings.
Warning!G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no
substitute for active driving involvement. It
does not react to pedestrians or on station-
ary objects, nor does it recognize or predict
the lane curvature or the movement of
preceding vehicles.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to the road, weather and traffic
conditions. Additionally, the driver must
provide the steering, braking and other
driving inputs necessary to remain in control
of the vehicle.
High-frequency sources such as toll
stations, speed measuring systems etc. can
cause the Distronic system to malfunction.
Warning!G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.
Warning!G
Distronic cannot take road and traffic condi-
tions into account. Only use Distronic if the
road, weather and traffic conditions make it
advisable to travel at a constant speed.
Warning!G
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on slip-
pery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.

273 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic does not act upon adverse sight
and distance conditions. Do not use
Distronic during conditions of fog, heavy
rain, snow or sleet.
Warning!G
Distronic cannot take weather conditions
into account. Switch off Distronic or do not
switch it on if:

roads are slippery or covered with snow
or ice. The wheels could lose traction
while braking or accelerating, and the
vehicle could skid.

the sensor 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 Distronic is switched
on. Otherwise, you may not be able to recog-
nize dangerous situations until it is too late.
This could cause an accident in which you
and others could be injured.
Warning!G
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.
Warning!G
Close attention to road and traffic condi-
tions is imperative at all times, regardless of
whether or not Distronic is activated.
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on
winding roads or in heavy traffic because
conditions do not allow safe driving at a
continuous speed.
Distronic will not react to stationary objects
in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a
traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). Distronic
will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.
Switch off Distronic:

when changing from the left to the right
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly
in the left lane

when entering a turn lane or highway off
ramp

in complex driving situations, such as in
highway construction zones
In these situations, Distronic will continue to
maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
Distronic is designed and intended only to
maintain a set speed and keep a set dis-
tance from moving objects in front of it.

306 Controls in detail
Loading
Cargo compartment cover blind*
The cargo compartment cover blind can be
installed behind the third-row seats or the
second-row seats.
Blind installed behind third-row seats
1Handle
2Mount
Rolling out blind
Pull blind on handle1 across the
cargo compartment.
Guide blind into mounts2 and
release.
Rolling up blind
Disengage blind and guide retraction
by its handle1.Removing blind
Blind installed behind second-row seats
1Release button
2Blind
Roll the blind up.
Push release button1.
Pull blind 2 to the left against the
spring pressure until the spring in the
blind audibly engages.
Remove the blind.
!With the cargo compartment cover blind
installed, do not pile luggage higher than the
lower edges of the rear side windows.
iThe cargo compartment cover blind has two
extensions which are connected to the cargo
compartment cover blind by cords.
The cargo compartment cover blind must be
extended for installation behind the second-row
seats (
page 306).

352 Operation
Driving instructions
TiresTreadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which
point the tire is considered worn and
should be replaced.
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subjected to high loads (e.g. high
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient temper-
atures).
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (
page 373).
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.
Warning!G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning
flashers, carefully slow down, and drive with
caution to an area which is a safe distance
from the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or tire dealer for repairs.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we recommend that you
do not allow your tires to wear down to
that level. As tread depth approaches
1/8in (3 mm), the adhesion properties on
a wet road are sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.