checking oil MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2008 W251 Owner's Manual

Contents
Oxidation catalyst
(diesel engine).............................. 349
Emission control .......................... 350
Coolant temperature .................... 350
At the gas station .............................. 352
Refueling ...................................... 352
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 354
Engine compartment ......................... 356
Hood ............................................ 356
Engine oil ..................................... 358
Transmission fluid level ................ 360
Coolant level ................................ 360
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system* ....................................... 362
Tires and wheels ................................ 363
Important guidelines .................... 363
Tire care and maintenance........... 364
Direction of rotation ..................... 365
Loading the vehicle ...................... 366
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 371
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 373
Tire labeling.................................. 384
Load identification ....................... 388DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) .............................................. 388
Maximum tire load ........................ 390
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 390
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 391
Tire ply material ............................ 393
Tire and loading terminology......... 393
Rotating tires ................................ 396
Winter driving ..................................... 398
Winter tires ................................... 398
Snow chains.................................. 399
Maintenance....................................... 400
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 400
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 402
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 402
Vehicle care........................................ 403
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 403
Practical hints.................................. 413
What to do if … ................................... 414
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 414
Lamp in center console ................ 425
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 427
Where will I find ...? ............................ 467
First aid kit.................................... 467
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 467
Spare wheel .................................. 471
Unlocking / locking in an emergency .. 474
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 474
Locking the vehicle ....................... 475
Fuel filler flap ................................ 475
Resetting activated head restraints.... 477
Vehicles without Rear Seat
Entertainment Package................. 477
Vehicles with Rear Seat
Entertainment Package*............... 478
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 479
Replacing bulbs .................................. 480
Bulbs............................................. 480
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 483
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 487

23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Tailgate119
Power tailgate*119
Cargo compartment

Loading instructions

Cargo tie-down rings

Hooks

Expanding

Cover blind

Cargo net*
289
290
291
292
299
301
Vehicle tool kit467
Spare wheel471
2Rear window defroster207
3Rear lamps481
4Fuel filler flap352
Refueling352
Fuel353,
540
ItemPage
5Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting48
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors*203
Power folding*204
6Towing eye bolt467
Installing towing eye bolt515
7Tires and wheels363,
529
Checking tire inflation
pressure373
General information363
Flat tire492
Spare wheel471
8Hood
Opening356
Engine oil358
Coolant360
ItemPage
9Windshield wipers59
Wiper blades, replacing489
Wiper blades, cleaning409
aWindshield
Cleaning with wiper fluid61
Cleaning409
bPower tilt/sliding sunroof*248
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*252
cDoors
Locking and unlocking110
Opening and closing118
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency474
dFront lamps480
eHeadlamp cleaning system*203

355 Operation
At the gas station
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 358).
Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality). For more information,
see “Coolant level” (
page 360) and
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 536).
Brake fluidWindshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system*
For more information on refilling the wash-
er reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system*” (
page 362).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For infor-
mation on replacing light bulbs, see “Re-
placing bulbs” (
page 480).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 143).
Tire inflation pressure
For more information, see “Checking tire
inflation pressure” (
page 373).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks immediately. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
immediately. Do not add brake fluid as this will
not solve the problem. For more information, see
“Brake fluid” (
page 539).

358 Operation
Engine compartment
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of
approximately 1 ft (30 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.
Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Increased oil consumption
can occur when

the vehicle is new

the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.Checking engine oil level
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground

the vehicle must have been stationary
for at least 5 minutes with the engine
turned off
Example illustration R 350 4MATIC
1Oil dipstick
2Upper mark
3Lower mark
Open the hood (page 356).
Pull out oil dipstick1.
Warning!G
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hand or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure the hood is securely engaged be-
fore driving. Do not continue driving if the
hood can no longer engage after an accident
for example. The hood could otherwise
come loose while the vehicle is in motion
and injure you and/or others.
!Do not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies.
Using special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
More information on this subject is available at
any Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

551 Index
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 358, 538
Adding 359, 538
Additives 538
Changing 359, 538
Checking level 358
Consumption 358
Filler neck 359
Recommended engine oils and
filters 538
ESP
®101
Messages in the multifunction
display 435–436
Warning lamp 27, 419
ETD 85
Safety guidelines 74
ETS/4-ETS 103
Extending cargo compartment 292
Exterior rear view mirrors 48, 203
Power folding* 204
Synchronizing 204F
Fastening the seat belts 50
Filler neck, Engine oil 359
First aid kit 467
Flat tire 492
Collapsible tire 471, 498, 532
Jacking up the vehicle 493
Lowering the vehicle 501
Mounting the spare wheel 498
Preparing the vehicle 493
Spare wheel 471, 498, 532
Floormats 335
Fluids
Automatic transmission
fluid 360, 536
Brake fluid 355, 536, 539
Capacities 536
Engine coolant 355, 360, 537, 541
Engine oil 358, 536, 538
Power steering fluid 536
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning* system 362, 538Fog lamp, Front see Corner-illuminating
front fog lamps*
Fog lamp, Rear 147
Messages in the multifunction
display 458
Replacing bulbs 480
Fog lamps 146
4MATIC see Permanent four-wheel
drive 281
Front air bags 75
Front defroster 214, 229
Front lamps see Headlamps
Front passenger front
air bag 75, 77, 82, 425
Front passenger front air bag
off indicator lamp 31, 75, 77, 82, 425
Front seat head restraints see
Head restraints
Front towing eye 515

558 Index
Odometer 155, 157
Oil level see Engine oil, Checking level
Oil see Engine oil
One-touch gearshifting 201
Operating safety 16
Operator’s Manual 10
Ornamental moldings, Cleaning 407
Outside temperature see Displays
Overdue maintenance service term 401
Overhead control panel 33
Oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) 349
P
Paintwork code 524
Paintwork, Cleaning 404
Panic alarm 98
Panorama roof with power tilt/sliding
panel* 252
Cleaning 410
Convenience closing feature 245
Opening/closing 253
Roller sunblinds 252
Stopping 253
Summer opening feature 244
Synchronizing 255Parcel nets 307
Parking 64, 343
Parking brake 56, 65
Lamps, Indicator and warning 415
Messages in the multifunction
display 446
Releasing 56
Parking lamps 481
Messages in the multifunction
display 458
Replacing bulbs 480
Parktronic* (Parking assist) 281
Cleaning system sensors 408
Minimum distance 283
Range 282
Sensor cover 408
Switching on/off 284
System malfunction 285
System sensors 282
Warning indicators 283
Parts service 522
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp see
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lampPassenger compartment 347
Fuse box 520
Interior lighting 150
Passenger safety see Occupant safety
Pedals 339
Permanent four-wheel drive 281
Phone see Telephone*
Plastic and rubber parts, Cleaning 410
Poly-V-belt drive
Layout 526
Positions (Memory function*) see
Seats 142
Power assistance 340
Power outlets 314
Power seats see Seats
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* 248
Convenience closing feature 245
Opening/closing 248
Stopping 245
Summer opening feature 244
Synchronizing 250
Power washer 404