manual transmission MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2008 W251 Owner's Manual

25 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Cruise control lever258
2Instrument cluster26
3Multifunction steering
wheel30
4Horn
5Steering wheel gearshift
buttons201
6Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission53
7Front Parktronic* warning
indicators283
8Overhead control panel33
9Glove box release
Glove box lock304
305
ItemPage
aGlove box
CD changer*
AUX-socket304
304
304
bCenter console31
cPower outlet314
dStarter switch39
eSteering wheel adjustment,
manual46
fSteering wheel adjustment,
electrical*47
Heated steering wheel*318
gHood lock release356
hParking brake release56
ItemPage
jParking brake pedal65
kDoor control panel36
lExterior lamp switch143
mCombination switch

High beam58

Turn signals59

Windshield wipers59

Rear window wiper61

193 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shifting from D or R to N
If you want to select neutral positionN
with the transmission being in drive
positionD or reverse gearR:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Step firmly on parking brake pedal
(
page 65).
Move gear selector lever up to resis-
tance point when in drive position D or
down to resistance point when in
reverse gear R to select neutral
positionN.
Release the brake pedal.
Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:

drive positionD (page 194) with
gear ranges (
page 199)

the selected program mode (C/S)
(
page 200)

the position of the accelerator pedal
(
page 197)

the vehicle speedWith drive positionD selected, you can use
the steering wheel gearshift control
buttons (page 201) to influence trans-
mission shifting by:

limiting the gear range

changing gears manually
iWhen the vehicle needs to be moved with
the engine switched off and the transmission set
to neutral positionN (
page 194), do not
depress the parking brake pedal.
!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.

284 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Each warning indicator is divided into five
yellow and two red distance segments for
either side of the vehicle. The Parktronic
system is ready when the yellow readiness
indicators3 are illuminated.
The current transmission position deter-
mines which warning indicator will be
activated.As your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will illuminate,
depending on the distance. When the
seventh distance segment illuminates, you
have reached the minimum distance.

Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of
2 seconds will sound as the first red
distance segment illuminates and a
constant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of 2 seconds will sound for
the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is set to positionP or the
parking brake is set.

Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of
2 seconds will sound as the first red
distance segment illuminates and a
constant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of 2 seconds will sound for
the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is set to positionD, P, or
the parking brake is set.Switching the Parktronic system
on/off
You can switch off the Parktronic system
manually.
The Parktronic switch is located in the
upper part of the center console.
1Parktronic switch
2Indicator lamp
Switching off
Press Parktronic switch1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
Transmission
positionWarning indicator
DFront area activated
R or NFront and rear area
activated
PNeither activated

430 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSUnavailable
See Operator’s ManualThe self-diagnosis has not yet been
completed yet.The display will clear after driving a short
distance at a vehicle speed of above
12 mph (20 km/h).
Cruise
Control And
SPEEDTRONIC

InoperativeThe cruise control is malfunctioning.Have cruise control checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Cruise
Control––– MPHYou have attempted to set a
speed while driving below
20 mph (30 km/h).Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the speed
(
page 257).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 105).
The automatic transmission is set to
position P, R, or N.Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 190).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.Release the parking brake (page 56).

562 Index
SRS 84
Indicator lamp 424
Messages in the multifunction
display 437
Standing lamps
Replacing bulbs 480, 481
Standing water, Driving through 347
Starter switch 24, 39
Positions 39
Starting difficulties, Engine 55
Starting, Engine 53
Steering column 46, 47
Steering wheel
Adjusting, Electrically* 47
Adjusting, Manually 46
Buttons 158
Cleaning 411
Heating* 318
Steering wheel gearshift control
Automatic transmission 201
Stolen Vehicle Recovery services 329Storage compartments 34, 304
Armrest, Front 306
Armrest, Rear* 306
Cup holders 308
Door pockets 34
Front center console 305
Glove box 304
Parcel nets 307
Second-row seats, In front of 307
Third-row 307
Storing tires 365
Stranded vehicle 517
Submenus see Control system submenus
Sun visors 205
Sunroof see Power tilt/sliding
sunroof* 248
Sunshades*
Rear door windows 207
Symbols used in this Operator’s
Manual 15T
Tachometer 29, 155
Overspeed range 155
Tail lamps 487
Cleaning lenses 407
Messages in the multifunction
display 455–460
Replacing bulbs 481
Tailgate
Closing 119
Closing from the outside (vehicles
without KEYLESS-GO*) 124
Opening 119, 120
Opening from the inside,
Electrically* 121, 123
Opening from the inside,
Manually 120
Opening from the outside 120
Unlocking and opening with
KEYLESS-GO* 121
Unlocking with SmartKey 121
Tar stains 404

564 Index
Checking 373
Checking manually 373
Checking tire pressure electronically,
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*, (Canada
only) 379
Checking tire pressure electronically,
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), (USA only) 376
Recommended tire inflation
pressure 371
Tires 363, 529
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*, (Canada
only) 379
Air pressure 393
Care and maintenance 364
Cleaning 365
Collapsible tire, Spare wheel 532
Combination low tire pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale, USA only 27
Direction of rotation, Spinning 365
Driving instructions 343
Hydroplaning 344
Important guidelines 363
Important notes, Tire inflation pressure 372
Inflation pressure 371, 373
Inspection 364
Load rating 384, 385, 395
Loading terminology 393
Loading the vehicle 366
Low tire pressure telltale 422
Ply composition and material
used 396
Retreads 363
Rims and tires 529
Rotating 396
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 374
Service life 364
Sizes 529
Snow chains 399
Spare wheel, Collapsible tire 532
Speed rating 345, 386, 396
Storing 365
Temperature 372, 392
Terminology 393
TIN 388, 395
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)*, (USA only) 376
Total load limit 396TPMS malfunction telltale (USA
only) 422
Traction 344, 392, 396
Tread depth 365, 398
Treadwear indicators 365
Vehicle maximum load on 396
Wear pattern 397
Winter tires 398
Tongue Weight Rating see TWR
Tools 467
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 87
Towing eye bolts 515
Towing the vehicle 513
Tow-starting 511, 513
TPMS (USA only) 376
Traction 396
ETS/4-ETS, Driving safety
systems 103
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 348
Tread 396
Tread depth 365
Treadwear indicators 396
Trip computer 185
Trip odometer 155