light MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2007 R171 Owner's Manual

494 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Front wiper blades
Removing
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0
(
page 41).
Fold the wiper arms forward until they
engage.
1Wiper blade
2Tab
3Wiper arm
Press tabs2 together.
Tilt wiper blade 1 away from wiper
arm 3.
Take off wiper blade 1 in direction of
arrow.
Warning!G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove the SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise the motor could suddenly turn on
and cause injury.
Warning!G
Wiper blades are components that are sub-
ject to wear and tear. Change the wiper
blades twice a year, preferably in the spring
and fall. Otherwise the windows will not be
properly wiped. As a result, you may not be
able to observe surrounding traffic condi-
tions and could cause an accident.
!Never open the hood when the wiper arms
are folded forward.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact the wind-
shield glass without a wiper blade inserted.
Make sure the wiper blades are properly in-
stalled. Improperly installed wiper blades may
cause windshield damage.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
!Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.

495 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Installing
1Wiper blade
2Attachment
3Guide tab
4Opening
With guide tab 3 sliding into
opening4, place wiper blade 1 onto
wiper arm in direction of arrow.
Fold wiper blade 1 towards wiper
arm.
Tabs 2 (
page 494) must engage
into both recesses of attachment 2.
Check whether the wiper blade is
securely fastened.
Fold the wiper arm backward to rest on
the windshield.
Make sure to hold on to the wiper when
folding the wiper arm back.
Rear wiper blade
Warning!G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise the motor could suddenly turn on
and cause injury.
!Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the impact
from the tensioning spring could crack the rear
window.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact the rear
window glass without a wiper blade inserted.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Make sure the wiper blades are properly in-
stalled. Improperly installed wiper blades may
cause rear window damage.

497 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher
(
page 152).
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight-ahead
position.
Set the parking brake (page 66).
Set the automatic transmission to
position P (
page 197).
Turn off the engine (page 67).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* button once
(
page 67).
Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position 0,
same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch). The
driver’s door then can be closed
again.
Remove the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button from the starter
switch.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a spare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted,
ensure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/ h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
spare wheel replaced with a regular road
wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® with a spare
wheel mounted.
iOpen doors only when conditions are safe to
do so.
iYou can use the power outlets in the cargo
compartment or in the second seat row to
operate the electric air pump even when the
ignition is switched off, e.g. in order to inflate the
collapsible tire (
page 501).
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.

500 Practical hints
Flat tire
Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt
Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and
remove.
Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied in the vehicle tool kit
(
page 472).
Remove the remaining wheel bolts.
Remove the wheel.Mounting the spare wheel
1Wheel bolt for 18", 19", 20" and 21"
light alloy wheels and R 63 AMG spare
wheel
2Wheel bolt for 17" light alloy wheels or
18" spare wheel (located in trunk with
spare wheel)Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolts and wheel
hub threads.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when mount-
ing 17" wheels or the 18" spare wheel with
collapsible tire. The use of any wheel bolts other
than wheel bolts2 for 17" wheels or the
18" spare wheel with collapsible tire will physi-
cally damage the vehicle’s brakes.
!To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat
against hub and hold it there while installing first
wheel bolt.
Warning!G
Always replace wheel bolts that are
damaged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident.
Make sure to use the correct wheel bolts.

501 Practical hints
Flat tire
Guide spare wheel onto the alignment
bolt and push it on.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.Inflating the collapsible tire
Take the electric air pump out of the
vehicle tool kit storage well
(
page 472).
Warning!G
Only use genuine equipment
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts. Other wheel
bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the
vehicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle
could fall off the jack.Warning!G
Inflate collapsible tire only after the wheel is
properly mounted.
Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric
air pump (
page 472) before lowering the
vehicle.
Warning!G
Observe instructions on air pump label.
!Do not lower the vehicle before inflating the
collapsible tire. Otherwise the rim may be dam-
aged.


502 Practical hints
Flat tire
Electric air pump
1Flap
2On/off switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut
Open flap 1 on electric air pump.
Pull out electrical plug 3 and air hose
with pressure gauge 4.
Remove the valve cap from the
collapsible tire valve.
Screw union nut 5 onto the
collapsible tire valve.
Insert electrical plug 3 into a power
outlet (
page 322).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button once without depressing the
brake pedal.
Press I on electric air pump switch 2.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the collapsible
tire.
Inflate the spare wheel tire to the
recommended tire inflation pressure
given in the “Technical data” section
(
page 532).
This takes about 5 minutes for the
collapsible tire.
!The cigarette lighter* (page 319) is not
designed for use with the electric air pump. Use
a power outlet (
page 322) for electric air
pump operation.
Warning!G
Air hose 4 and union nut5 can become
hot during inflation. Exercise proper caution
to avoid burning yourself when using the
equipment.
!Do not operate the electric air pump longer
than 8 minutes without interruption. Otherwise it
may overheat.
You may operate the electric air pump again
after it has cooled off.


505 Practical hints
Bleeding the fuel system (diesel engine only)
Bleeding the fuel system (diesel engine only)
Driving the vehicle until the fuel tank is
empty is not recommended. Otherwise, air
may be sucked into the fuel system. If this
happens, the? malfunction indicator
lamp (USA only) or the ± malfunction
indicator lamp (Canada only) comes on
and the engine may not start immediately
after refueling the vehicle.
After refueling:
Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP.
The gear position indicator in the multi-
function display should be on
P.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 2 for at least 10 seconds
(
page 40).
Return the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position 0 (
page 40).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 3 (
page 41) and hold it
there for a maximum of 40 seconds or
until the engine runs surge-free.
If the engine does not start:
Wait for approximately 2 minutes.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 3 (
page 41) and hold it
there for a maximum of 40 seconds or
until the engine runs surge-free.
If the engine still does not start, do not
make any further attempts to start the en-
gine. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light truck Center or call
Roadside Assistance (
page 333).iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: If necessary,
remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button from
the starter switch (
page 41).iWhen the? malfunction indicator lamp
(USA only) or the ± malfunction indicator
lamp (Canada only) has been illuminated for the
above condition, it will remain illuminated until
the engine was cycled on and off four times in a
row.

506 Practical hints
Battery
The battery is located under the front
passenger seat.
The battery should always be sufficiently
charged in order to achieve its rated ser-
vice life.
If you use your vehicle mostly for
short-distance trips, you will need to have
the battery charge checked more
frequently.
When replacing the battery, always use
batteries approved by Mercedes-Benz.
If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center about steps you need to observe.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
iMercedes-Benz recommends to have the
battery replaced at authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Warning!G
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling
batteries. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Do not
allow it to come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective cloth-
ing, especially gloves, apron and
faceguard.
Wear eye protection.
Rinse any acid spills immediate-
ly with clear water. Contact a
physician if necessary.
Keep children away.
Follow the instructions in this
Operator’s Manual.

507 Practical hints
Battery
!The battery is a valve-regulated lead acid
(VRLA) battery, also referred to as “fleece”
battery. Such batteries do not require topping-up
of the electrolyte level. VRLA batteries therefore
do not have cell caps and the battery cover is
non-removable. Do not attempt to open the
battery as otherwise the battery will be dam-
aged.
Even though VRLA batteries do not require
topping-up of the electrolyte level and cannot be
opened to check the electrolyte level, the
battery condition must be checked periodically
by performing a battery conductance test. Refer
to Maintenance Booklet for battery condition
testing intervals.
As with any other battery, the battery may
discharge if the vehicle is not operated for an
extended period of time. You can connect a
battery maintenance charge unit tested and
approved for use on your vehicle model or dis-
connected the battery to prevent battery dis-
charge. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center for more information.!The factory-equipped VRLA battery is
leak-proofed. Only use a battery as replacement
that has the same security features and is of
identical size, voltage, and capacity as the
factory-equipped battery.
The battery, the battery ventilation and the later-
al plug must always be securely installed when
the vehicle is in operation.
Warning!G
Jump starting must only be done using the
jump-start contacts located in the engine
compartment (
page 514).
Warning!G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(
page 506).
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.

508 Practical hints
Battery
Disconnecting, removing, reinstalling
and reconnecting the battery
Step 1 (Disconnecting)
Set the automatic transmission to
positionP (
page 199).
Firmly depress the parking brake
(
page 66).
Turn off the engine (page 67).
Leave the ignition switched on
(
page 39).
!Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the engine is running or the
SmartKey is in the starter switch. Otherwise the
alternator and other electronic components
could be severely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Contact your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center for further information.
Warning!G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Warning!G
Disconnecting, removing, reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery is a complicated
and technically demanding procedure that
a l s o r e q u i r e s s a f e t y p r e c a u t i o n s t o a v o i d t h e
risk of injury. We strongly recommend that it
be performed by a qualified technician or an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center only. Please read the instructions
fully before beginning operation and only
undertake it if you feel fully capable of
performing all of the tasks involved as
described in these instructions. Observe all
safety instructions and precautions when
handling automotive batteries
(
page 506). Performing the tasks involved
incorrectly can cause damage to the vehicle
and impair the operating safety of the
vehicle, and/or cause severe injury to you
or others.
iWith a disconnected battery you will no long-
er be able to turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch and pressing the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button will have no effect.
iIf your battery is discharged, the vehicle
must be jump started (
page 514) using the
jump start contacts in the engine compartment,
or an accessory battery charge unit* approved
by Mercedes-Benz must be connected using the
jump start contacts in the engine compartment
(see separate instructions for the accessory
battery charge unit*) before any of the following
steps can be performed. If the battery cannot be
jumped or charged, please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.