tailgate MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2008 W251 Owner's Guide

126 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Automatic central locking
The doors and the tailgate lock automati-
cally when the ignition is switched on and
the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
For information on towing the vehicle, see
“Towing the vehicle” (
page 513).
You can deactivate the automatic locking
mode using the control system
(
page 183).
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
tailgate from inside using the central lock-
ing or unlocking switch. This can be useful,
for example, if you want to lock the vehicle
before starting to drive.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or un-
locked with the central locking or unlock-
ing switch.Even with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the tailgate
closing switch can be operated. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, 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.
iTo prevent a possible inadvertent lockout,
the tailgate will open automatically if a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* is recognized inside the
vehicle.
iYou can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact exceeds a pre-
set threshold.
The vehicle automatically locks when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels are
turning at vehicle speeds of approximately
9 mph (15 km/h) or more. You could therefore
lock yourself out when the vehicle

is pushed or towed

is on a test stand
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 unat-
tended 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.


127 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
The switches are located in the driver’s
door.
1Central unlocking switch
2Central locking switch
Locking
Press central locking switch2.
If all doors and the tailgate are closed,
the vehicle locks.
Unlocking
Press central unlocking switch1.
The vehicle unlocks.
iYou can open a locked door from the inside
at any time. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO*, it will
not unlock using the central unlocking switch.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the
central locking switch:

and the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is set to factory settings, the
complete vehicle is unlocked when a front
door is opened from the inside

and the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is set to selective settings,
only the front door opened from the inside is
unlocked
iWith the passenger-side door opened, you
cannot lock the vehicle with the central locking
switch.

151 Controls in detail
Lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
Deactivating automatic control
Press switch3.
The interior lighting and the locator
lighting (
page 178) remain switched
off even when you

unlock the vehicle

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch

open a door

open the tailgateActivating automatic control
Press switch3.
The interior lighting and the locator
lighting (
page 178) come on when
you

unlock the vehicle

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch

open a door

open the tailgate
The interior lighting switches off after
10 seconds see “Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-off” (
page 180).Manual control
Switching front/rear interior lighting on
and off
Press front/rear interior lighting
switch4 or 2 (
page 150) to switch
on the desired interior light.
Press front/rear interior lighting
switch4 or 2 again to switch off the
respective interior light.
Switching front reading lamps on and off
The front reading lamps are located in the
lower edge of the interior rear view mirror.
Press front reading lamp
switch1or5 (
page 150) to
switch on the desired front reading
lamp.
Press front reading lamp
switch1or5 again to switch off the
respective front reading lamp.
!An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving an interior lamp switch in the ON
position for extended periods of time with the
engine turned off could result in a discharged
battery.
iThe interior lighting is factory-set to
automatic mode.
iIf a door remains open, the interior lighting
switches off automatically after approximately
5minutes.

153 Controls in detail
Lighting
Door entry lamps
For better orientation in the dark, the
corresponding door entry lamps will switch
on in darkness when you open a door and
the automatic control is activated.
The door entry lamps will switch off when
the corresponding door is closed.Cargo compartment lamp
The cargo compartment lamp comes on
when the tailgate is opened.
If you leave the tailgate open for an
extended period of time, the cargo
compartment lamp will switch off
automatically after approximately
10 minutes.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the
headlamps, the door entry lamps will remain lit
for approximately 5 minutes.

173 Controls in detail
Control system
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus.
Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.
Instrument clusterTime/DateLightingVehicleComfort*
(page 174)(page 176)(page 177)(page 180)(page 183)
Selecting speedometer display
modeSetting the timeSetting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)Compass adjustmentActivating
easy-entry/exit feature*
Selecting languageSetting the dateSetting locator lightingCompass calibrationSetting fold-in function
for exterior rear view
mirrors*
Selecting display (digital
speedometer or outside
temperature) for status indicatorSetting night security
illuminationAudio search function
Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-offSetting automatic
locking
Limiting opening height
of tailgate*

180 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting interior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether you would
like the interior lighting to remain on for
10 seconds during darkness after you have
removed the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Interior Lighting
Delayed Shut-off
appears in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the interior lighting delayed shut-off
feature
On or Off.Vehicle submenu
Access the
Vehicle submenu via the
Settings menu. Use the Vehicle submenu
to make general vehicle settings.
The following functions are available:Compass adjustment
This function is not available if your vehicle
is equipped with the COMAND system and
navigation module*.
Determine your location on the basis of the
following zone maps.
Zone map North America
FunctionPage
Compass adjustment180
Compass calibration181
Audio search function182
Setting automatic locking183
Limiting opening height of
tailgate*183

181 Controls in detail
Control system
Zone map South America
Press buttonæ orç to move
the selection marker to the
Vehicle
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Compass Setting
Zone
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to set the
respective compass zone.
For information on how to call up the
compass, see “Compass” (
page 334).Compass calibration
This function is not available if your vehicle
is equipped with the COMAND system and
navigation module*.
In order to calibrate the compass properly,
mind the following:

Calibrate the compass in open terrain.
Nearby buildings, bridges, power lines
and large antenna masts, for example,
could impair compass calibration.

Switch off electrical consumers (e.g.
climate control, windshield wipers, or
rear window defroster).

Close all doors and the tailgate.
Start the engine (page 53).
Press buttonæ orç to move
the selection marker to the
Vehicle
submenu.
iMake sure you are in an area where you can
drive a full circle with your vehicle without dis-
turbing traffic in order to calibrate your compass.


183 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting automatic locking
Use this function to activate or deactivate
the automatic central locking. With the
automatic central locking system
activated, the vehicle is centrally locked
at vehicle speeds of approximately
9mph(15km/h).
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Vehicle
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Automatic Door
Locking
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the automatic central locking
On or Off.Limiting opening height of tailgate*
Use this function to activate or deactivate
the limiting opening height of the tailgate.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Vehicle
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Opening Limiter
Tailgate
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the limiting opening height of the
tailgate
On or Off.Comfort submenu*
Access the
Comfort submenu via the
Settings menu. Use the Comfort submenu
to change the settings for a number of con-
venience features.
The following functions are available:
FunctionPage
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature*184
Setting fold-in function for
exterior rear view mirrors*184

277 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1ADS switch
2Indicator lamp for SPORT setting
3Indicator lamp for COMF settingThe following settings are available:

AUTO (for normal driving situations)
Indicator lamps2 and3 are off.

SPORT (for sporty driving)
Indicator lamp2 comes on.

COMF (for comfort driving)
Indicator lamp3 comes on.
Start the engine (page 53).
Press ADS switch1 repeatedly until
the desired suspension tuning is
reached.Vehicle level control*
The vehicle level control automatically
regulates the ride height to

reduce fuel consumption

improve driving safety
The vehicle begins adjusting to the set
vehicle level as soon as the doors or
tailgate are

unlocked
or

opened or closed with the vehicle
unlocked
For major changes in vehicle level, the
engine must be running.
iThe setting is stored when you turn off the
engine.
iChanges to the vehicle level should be made
while the vehicle is moving. The vehicle will then
reach the set level as fast as possible.

278 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Basic settings
There are two settings from which to
choose:

Raised level, for driving on rough roads

Highway level, for driving on paved
roads in fair or better conditionThe vehicle’s ride height changes by the
approximate values given in table below
according to the set level:
The vehicle lowers to highspeed level
automatically when

the vehicles speed exceeds
70 mph (112 km/h)

the vehicles speed is between
60 mph (96 km/h) and
70 mph (112 km/h) for longer
than 20 seconds
Warning!G
Make sure that no one is near the wheel
housing or under the vehicle when you lower
the vehicle while it is standing still. Limbs
could become wedged into or under the
vehicle.
For safety reasons, the vehicle can only be
lowered with all doors and the tailgate
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door or
the tailgate is opened and will continue after
the door is closed again.
Warning!G
Adapt your speed and driving to possible
changed driving behavior of the vehicle after
changing the vehicle level. The ESP
® cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed. The ESP
® cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle.
!Keep in mind that in rough or uneven roads,
adjusting the vehicle to a lower level may cause
the vehicle underbody to come in contact with
the road and result in damage to the vehicle un-
derbody. Always make sure the vehicle has suffi-
cient ground clearance before adjusting it to a
lower level.
!Before jacking up the vehicle with equip-
ment that lifts one or more of the wheels com-
pletely off the ground, remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.
!Please also note the information in the
section on towing (
page 513).
iThe activation threshold is defined by the set
suspension tuning (
page 276).
iThe third available level is the highspeed
level that is set automatically.
LevelRide height
Raised+ 1.97 in (+ 50 mm)
Highway+/- 0
Highspeed- 0.78 in (- 20 mm)
iObey local speed limits. Use prudent driving
speeds appropriate to prevailing conditions.