Car to low sign MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2007 R171 Owner's Manual

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your de-
sire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers, we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:
Please read this manual carefully,
then return it to your vehicle where it
will be handy for your reference.

Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.

Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

10 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
This Operator’s Manual contains a great
deal of useful information. We urge you to
read it carefully and familiarize yourself
with the vehicle before driving.
For your own safety and longer service life
of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the in-
structions and warnings contained in this
manual. Ignoring them could result in dam-
age to the vehicle or personal injury to you
or others. Vehicle damage caused by fail-
ure to follow instructions is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Your vehicle may have some or all of the
equipment described in this manual.
Therefore, you may find explanations for
optional equipment not installed in your
vehicle. If you have any questions about
the operation of any equipment, your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center will be glad to demonstrate the
proper procedures.We continuously strive to improve our
product, and ask for your understanding
that we reserve the right to make changes
in design and equipment. Therefore, infor-
mation, illustrations and descriptions in
this Operator’s Manual might differ from
your vehicle.
Optional equipment is also described in
this manual, including operating instruc-
tions wherever necessary. Since they are
special-order items, the descriptions and
illustrations herein may vary slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehicle.
If there are any equipment details that are
not shown or described in this Operator’s
Manual, your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center will be glad to inform
you of correct care and operating proce-
dures.
The Operator’s Manual and Maintenance
Booklet are important documents and
should be kept with the vehicle.Service and warranty information
The Service and Warranty Information
Booklet contains detailed information
about the warranties covering your
Mercedes-Benz, including:

New Light Truck Limited Warranty

Emission System Warranty

Emission Performance Warranty

California, Maine, Massachusetts, Ver-
mont Emission Control System Warran-
ty (California, Maine, Massachusetts,
and Vermont only)

State Warranty Enforcement Laws
(Lemon Laws).

16 Introduction
Operating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:

the safety precautions in this manual

the “Technical data” section in this
manual

traffic rules and regulations

motor vehicle laws and safety stan-
dards
Warning!G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are in-
terconnected, any modifications made may
produce an undesired effect on other sys-
tems. Electronic malfunctions could
seriously impair the operating safety of your
vehicle.
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center for repairs or modifications to
electronic components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore nev-
er turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!G
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires / wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,
may cause serious damage and impair the
operating safety of your vehicle. If you feel a
sudden significant vibration or ride distur-
bance, or you suspect that damage to your
vehicle has occurred, you should turn on
your hazard warning flashers, carefully slow
down, and drive with caution to an area
which is a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and
tires / wheels for possible damage. If the ve-
hicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center or other qualified maintenance
or repair facility for further inspection or re-
pairs.
Warning!G
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended
to make you and others aware of various
risks. You should not remove any of these
warning labels unless explicitly instructed to
do so by information on the label itself. Re-
moval of any of these labels may cause you
and others to be unaware of certain risks
which may result in an accident and / or per-
sonal injury.

57 Getting started
Driving
Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter
switch to position0 and repeat starting
procedure.
If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better
detection of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO.
or
Remove KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button from starter switch.
Start the engine with the SmartKey as
radio signals from another source may
be interfering with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Repeat the starting procedure
(
page 55). Remember that extended
starting attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (page 514).If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Parking brake
1Parking brake pedal
2Release handle
Release the parking brake by pulling on
release handle2.
The warning lamp; (USA only) or
3(Canada only) in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Warning!G
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. Children could release
the parking brake, which could result in an
accident and/or serious injury.

58 Getting started
Driving
Driving off
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever can now be
used.
Shift automatic transmission toD orR
(
page 199).
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter
(gasoline engine) or the oxidation catalyst
(diesel engine) to reach its operating tem-
perature earlier.
iWait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in motion.
iShifting from gear positionP to position R,
N, orD is only possible with the brake pedal
depressed. Without the brake pedal depressed,
the gear selector lever can be moved, but the
parking pawl remains engaged, not allowing
shifting to occur.
!If you hear a warning signal and the
message
Release parking brake appears in
the multifunction display when driving off, you
have forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake (
page 57).
iOnce the vehicle is in motion, the automatic
central locking system engages and the locking
knobs drop down.
The automatic door lock feature can be
deactivated (
page 189).
You can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.
Warning!G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN 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 in 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.

68 Getting started
Parking and locking
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(
page 52).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
Locking
Exit the vehicle and close all doors and
the tailgate.
Locking with the SmartKey
Press button‹on the SmartKey
(
page 38).
With the tailgate and all doors closed,
the turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs on the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 112).
!Make sure the seat belt retracts fully so that
the seat belt and/or latch plate cannot get
caught or pinched in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and
impair the effectiveness of the seat belt, and/or
cause damage to the door and/or door trim pan-
el. Such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Damaged seat belts must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors.
Be especially careful when small children
are around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of
vehicle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have
forgotten to switch off the exterior lamps before
opening the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the exterior lamps.

86 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Infants and small children should be
seated in an appropriate infant or child
restraint system properly secured in
accordance with the manufacturer’s in-
structions for the child restraint, that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards 213 and 225 and
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
213 and 210.2.
A statement by the child restraint manu-
facturer of compliance with these stan-
dards can be found on the instruction label
on the restraint and in the instruction man-
ual provided with the restraint.
When using any infant or child restraint
system, make sure to carefully read and
follow all manufacturer’s instructions for
installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels
affixed to inside of vehicle and to infant or
child restraints.
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant or child restraint recom-
mended for the size and weight of the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle’s seat belt, the seat
belt and top tether strap, or lower anchors
and top tether strap, fully in accordance
with the child seat manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
Always sit nearly upright, properly use the
seat belts and use an appropriately sized in-
fant or toddler restraint or booster seat rec-
ommended for the size and weight of the
child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following
important information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the front
passenger seat:

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the front
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the OCS senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard appropri-
ate child restraint on the front passen-
ger seat.

96 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Securely fasten hook3, which is part
of top tether strap4, to anchorage
ring2.
Make sure

the top tether strap is not twisted

the head restraint is installed and
positioned such that the top tether
strap* can pass freely between the
head restraint and top of seat back-
rest

top tether strap is positioned be-
tween the seat backrest and the
cargo compartment cover blind*
(if installed)

the top tether strap is positioned
between the seat backrest and the
partition net* (if installed)
Fold seat backrest up and push back-
wards until it audibly engages.
A second-row seat is properly locked
only when lock status indicator 1 is in
hinged position and red marking 2 is
barely visible (
page 135).
Warning!G
When installing a child seat on a third-row
seat, do not fasten hook 3 to the strap
below anchorage ring 2. Otherwise, the
child seat will not be securely fastened.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child seat is not
properly secured in the vehicle.
Warning!G
After installing top tether straps, make sure

the seats are properly locked

the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition and are properly locked
A second-row seat is properly locked only
when lock status indicator 1 is in hinged
position and red marking 2 is barely visible
(
page 135).
If a seat and seat backrest are not properly
locked, the seat could move forward and the
seat backrest could fold. The child seat
would no longer be properly supported or
positioned to provide its intended benefit.
That could cause serious or even fatal
injuries.


115 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Checking the batteries
Press button‹orŒ.
Battery check lamp5 (
page 112)
comes on briefly to indicate that the
SmartKey batteries are in order.Unlocking and opening the tailgate
(Vehicles with power tailgate*)
You can unlock and open the tailgate sep-
arately.
A minimum height clearance of 7.2 ft
(2.20 m) is required to open the tailgate.
Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey until the tailgate unlocks and
begins to open.Loss of SmartKey or mechanical key
If you lose a SmartKey or mechanical key,
you should do the following:
Have the SmartKey deactivated by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Report the loss of the SmartKey or the
mechanical key immediately to your
car insurance company.
If necessary, have the mechanical lock
replaced.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center will be glad to supply you
with a replacement.
iIf battery check lamp5 does not come on
briefly during check, the SmartKey batteries are
discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 483).
You can obtain the required batteries at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within signal
range of the vehicle, pressing the
button‹orŒ will lock or unlock the
vehicle accordingly.
!The tailgate swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
To stop the opening procedure, press
buttonŠon the SmartKey. The tailgate stops
moving.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey, the tailgate will lock automat-
ically when closed. The turn signals will flash
three times to confirm locking.

121 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
(Vehicles with power tailgate*)
You can unlock and open the tailgate sep-
arately.
A minimum height clearance of 7.2 ft
(2.20 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.Pull on the handle.
or
Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO until the
tailgate unlocks and opens.Loss of the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
If you lose your SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO or mechanical key, you
should do the following:
Have the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
deactivated by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Report the loss of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO or the mechanical key
immediately to your car insurance
company.
Have the mechanical lock replaced if
necessary.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center will be glad to supply you
with a replacement.
!The tailgate swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
To stop the opening procedure, press
buttonŠ on the SmartKey. The tailgate stops
moving.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO, the tailgate
will lock automatically when closed
(
page 125). The turn signals will flash three
times to confirm locking.