MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2010 W251 Owner's Manual

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsh Tire
Pressure
Check
Tires The tire inflation pressure in at least one tire is significantly
below the reference value.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
X Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as required.
X If necessary, change the wheel (Y page 319). G
Warning!
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You may
lose control of the vehicle. Continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire. G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely affect
handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can adversely affect handling and ride comfort, wear
unevenly, increase stopping distance, and result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are
more likely to become punctured or damaged by road debris, potholes etc. What to do if …
Lamps in instrument cluster
Notes If any of the following lamps in the instrument
cluster fails to come on during the bulb self-
check when switching on the ignition, have
the respective bulb checked and replaced if
necessary.
When you switch on the ignition, all lamps
(except low-beam headlamp indicator lamp,
high-beam

headlamp indicator lamp, and turn
signal indicator lamps unless activated) in the
instrument cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on when the
ignition is switched on, have it checked and
replaced if necessary. What to do if …
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Brake
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions!
The yellow ABS
indicator lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The ABS has detected a malfunction and switched off. The BAS,
the ESP
®
and the PRE-SAFE ®
are also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning normally but without the
systems specified above available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning, other systems such as
the
navigation system or the automatic transmission may also be
malfunctioning.
X Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock during
hard braking, reducing steering capability.
X Read and observe messages that may appear in the
multifunction display

(Y page 274).
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. !
The yellow ABS
indicator lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The ABS has switched off due to insufficient power supply.
The battery might not be charged sufficiently.
When the voltage is above the required value again, the ABS is
operational again. The ABS indicator lamp should go out.
X
If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out: Have the alternator
and the battery checked. !
The yellow ABS
indicator lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The self-diagnosis has not been completed yet.
The indicator lamp will go out after driving a short distance at a
vehicle speed of above 12 mph

(20 km/h).300
What to do if …
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions$ (USA only)
J (Canada only)
!
d
The red brake warning
lamp comes on while
driving. In addition, the
yellow
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp, and the
yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp come on and an
acoustic warning
sounds. The Electronic Brake Proportioning (EBP) switched off due to a
malfunction.
The
ABS, the BAS, the ESP ®
and PRE-SAFE ®
are also switched off.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. $ (USA only)
J (Canada only)
The red brake warning
lamp comes on while
driving and an acoustic
warning sounds. You are driving with the parking brake engaged.
X
Release the parking brake. $ (USA only)
J (Canada only)
The red brake warning
lamp comes on while
the engine is running
and an acoustic
warning sounds. There is insufficient brake fluid in the reservoir.
Risk of accident!
X
Do not drive any further. Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as it is safe to do so.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Read and observe messages that may appear in the
multifunction display

(Y page 274).
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the problem. G
Warning!
Driving with the brake warning lamp
illuminated can result in an accident. Have
your

brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. Do not add
brake fluid before checking the brake system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result
in spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You can be
seriously burned.
! 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. What to do if …
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Safety systems
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions7
The red seat belt
telltale comes
on for a
maximum of
6 seconds after
starting the
engine. The seat belt telltale reminds you and your passengers to fasten
your seat belts before driving off.
X
Fasten your seat belts.
Regardless of whether the seat belts are fastened or not, the seat
belt telltale always comes on and remains lit for 6 seconds after
starting the engine. 7
The red seat belt
telltale comes
on. In addition
you hear a
warning chime
for a maximum
of 6 seconds
after
starting the
engine. You have forgotten to fasten your seat belt.
X
Fasten your seat belt.
The warning chime stops sounding. 7
The red seat belt
telltale comes
on while the
vehicle is
standing still
and

the engine is
running or while
driving. You and/or your front passenger have forgotten to fasten your
seat belts.
X
Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out. There are items placed on the front passenger seat and therefore
the system senses the front passenger seat as being occupied.
X
Remove the items from the front passenger seat and put them
in a safe place.
The seat belt telltale goes out. 7
The red seat belt
telltale flashes
while driving. In
addition, an
intermittent
warning chime
sounds with
increasing
intensity. The vehicle’s speed once exceeded 15 mph (25 km/h) and you
and/or your front passenger have forgotten to fasten your seat
belts.
X
Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the warning chime stops
sounding. There are items placed on the front passenger seat and therefore
the system senses the front passenger seat as being occupied.
X
Remove the items from the front passenger seat and put them
in a safe place.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the warning chime stops
sounding. 302
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i
After 60 seconds with an unfastened seat belt the warning chime stops sounding and the
seat belt telltale illuminates continuously. The seat belt telltale will only go out if both, the
driver and front passenger’s seat belt are fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a front
door is opened. Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions+
The red SRS
indicator lamp
comes on while
driving. There is a malfunction in the restraint systems. The air bags or
Emergency

Tensioning Devices (ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly
or fail to activate in an accident.
X Drive with added caution to the nearest authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center. G
Warning!
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated
as outlined above, the SRS may not
be operational.
For your safety, we strongly recommend that
you contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have the system
checked. Otherwise the SRS may not be
activated

when needed in an accident, which
could result in serious or fatal injury, or it
might deploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily
which could also result in injury. Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsd
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The ESP
®
has been switched off.
Risk of accident!
When

the ESP ®
is switched off it will not stabilize the vehicle if the
system recognizes that the vehicle starts to skid or that a wheel
is spinning.
X Switch the ESP ®
back on.
Exceptions:
(Y page 65).
X If leaving the ESP ®
switched off, adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road and weather conditions.
X If the ESP ®
cannot be switched back on: Have the system
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible. d
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The ESP
®
is not operational due to a malfunction.
Risk of accident!
X Read and observe additional messages that may appear in the
multifunction display.
X Continue driving with added caution.
X Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road and weather
conditions.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible. What to do if …
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsd
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp
flashes while
driving. The ESP
®
or the 4-ETS has come into operation because of
detected traction loss in at least one tire.
The cruise control is deactivated.
X When driving off, apply as little throttle as possible.
X While driving, ease up on the accelerator pedal.
X Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road and weather
conditions.
X Do not deactivate the ESP ®
.
Exceptions: (Y page 65).
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. At least one wheel is spinning and the 4-ETS has switched off to
prevent overheating of the drive wheel brakes.
X
Read and observe additional messages that may appear in the
multifunction display.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the 4-ETS switches on
again.
The message in the multifunction display disappears and the
ESP ®
warning lamp d goes out. Driving systems
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions·
The red distance
warning lamp
comes on while
driving. You are too close to the vehicle in front of you to maintain selected
speed.
X
Apply the brakes immediately to increase the following
distance. ·
The red distance
warning lamp
comes on while
driving and an
acoustic
warning sounds. You are gaining too rapidly on the vehicle ahead of you or the
distance

warning system has recognized a stationary obstacle on
your probable line of travel.
X Apply the brakes immediately.
X Carefully observe the traffic situation. You may need to brake
or maneuver to avoid hitting an obstacle. 304
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Vehicle
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsThe yellow fuel tank
reserve
warning lamp in
the fuel gauge comes
on while driving. The fuel level has gone below the reserve mark.
X
Refuel at the next gas station. Engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions! (USA only)
; (Canada only)
The yellow engine
malfunction indicator
lamp comes on when
the engine is running. There may be a malfunction in
R
the fuel management system
R the ignition system
R the emission control system
R systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive emissions values and
may

switch the engine to limp-home (emergency operation) mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
i Some states may by law require you to visit a workshop as
soon

as the engine malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check
local requirements. ! (USA only)
; (Canada only)
The yellow engine
malfunction indicator
lamp comes on when
the engine is running. A loss of pressure has been detected in the fuel system. The fuel
cap may not be closed properly or the fuel system may be leaky.
X
Check the fuel cap ( Y page 220).
X If it is not closed properly: Close the fuel cap.
X If it is closed properly: Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Diesel engine: Your fuel tank was driven empty.
X
After refueling, start, turn off and restart the engine three or four
times in succession.
The

limp-home mode is canceled. You do not need to have your
vehicle checked. What to do if …
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Tires
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsh
USA only:
Combination
low
tire pressure
telltale/TPMS
malfunction
telltale for the
Advanced TPMS
illuminates
continuously. The Advanced TPMS detects a loss of pressure in at least one tire.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt steering and
braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic situation around you.
X Read and observe messages in the multifunction display
(Y page 274).
If the tire inflation pressure in the respective tire(s) has (have) been
corrected, the combination low tire pressure/TPMS malfunction
telltale goes out after a few minutes of driving. h
USA only:
Combination
low

tire pressure
telltale/TPMS
malfunction
telltale for the
Advanced TPMS
flashes 60
seconds and
then stays
illuminated. There is a malfunction in the Advanced TPMS.
X
Read and observe messages in the multifunction display
(Y page 274).
X Have the Advanced TPMS checked at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
After the malfunction has been remedied, the combination low tire
pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale goes out after a few minutes
of driving. G
Warning!
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked at least once a month
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door B-
pillar

or the tire inflation pressure label on the
inside of the fuel filler flap. If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
or the tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure
for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly

underinflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability. Please note that
the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with
the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately 1 minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This 306
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sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists. When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect
or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of
incompatible replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly. Lamp in center console
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsCanada only:
42
The front passenger
front air bag off
indicator lamp
illuminates and
remains illuminated
(Y page 47).
A BabySmart
TM

child seat is installed on the front passenger seat.
Therefore the front passenger front air bag is switched off. The system is malfunctioning when there is no BabySmart
TM
child
seat installed on the front passenger seat.
X Have the system checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Canada only:
42
The front passenger
front air bag off
indicator

lamp does not
illuminate or does not
remain illuminated with
a BabySmart TM
child
seat properly installed
on the passenger seat. The system is malfunctioning.
X
Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion and child seat.
X Check installation of the child seat ( Y page 57).
If the front passenger front air bag off indicator lamp remains out:
X Have the system checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the BabySmart TM

restraint to transport children on the
front passenger seat until the system has been repaired. USA only:
42
The front passenger
front air bag off
indicator lamp
illuminates and
remains illuminated
with the weight of a
typical adult or
someone larger than a
small individual on the
front passenger seat. The system is malfunctioning.
X
Have the system checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
X Read and observe messages in the multifunction display and
follow corrective steps (Y page 274). What to do if …
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G
Warning!
If the 42 indicator lamp
illuminates and remains illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult or someone larger than a small individual on the front passenger
seat, do not have any passenger use the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired.
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsUSA only:
42
The front passenger
front air bag off
indicator lamp does not
illuminate and/or does
not remain illuminated
with the weight of a
typical 12-month-old
child in a standard child
restraint or less on the
front passenger seat. The system is malfunctioning.
X
Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion and child seat
and check installation of the child seat.
X Make sure no objects applying supplemental weight onto the
seat are present.
X Make sure no objects which apply forces to the seat are present
(e.g. objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind or
around the seat, head restraints pushing against roof etc.). The
system may recognize such forces as supplemental weight.
X If the front passenger front air bag off indicator lamp remains
out, have the system checked as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not transport a child on
the front passenger seat until the system has been repaired.
X Read and observe messages in the multifunction display and
follow corrective steps (Y page 274). G
Warning!
If the 42 indicator lamp does not
illuminate or remains out with the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint or less on the front passenger seat,
do not transport a child on the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired. Unlocking/locking manually
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO, unlock the
driver’s door using the mechanical key.
The anti-theft alarm system will trigger when
you
R unlocking the driver’s door with the
mechanical key and
R open the driver’s door
To cancel the alarm, insert the SmartKey into
the starter switch.
Removing the mechanical key SmartKey308
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