MERCEDES-BENZ R500 2006 W251 Owner's Manual

140 Controls in detailSeatsHead restraintsRemoving head restraints
Seat position for head restraint removal
When removing the head restraint of a
second-row seat, adjust the seat to the
rear as far as possible (
page 137)
and fold the seat backrest
(
page 134) forward.1Head restraint
2Release button

To remove head restraint 1, pull head
restraint 1 to its highest position.

Push release button2 and pull out
head restraint.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints installed when the rear seats
are occupied. Head restraints are intended
to help reduce injuries during an accident.

141 Controls in detailSeats
Installing head restraints
Insert head restraint 1 into openings
on the seat backrest.

Push head restraint 1 down until it au-
dibly engages.

Push release button2 and adjust
head restraint 1 to the desired posi-
tion (
page 139).Armrests
The second-row seat armrests can be fold-
ed up, when loading for example, and ad-
justed.
Folding up

Move the armrest into a vertical posi-
tion until it engages.
Adjusting

With the armrest folded up, disengage
the armrest by pushing it towards the
rear slightly.

Fold the armrest down to the lowest
and then to the desired position until it
engages.

To readjust the armrest to a higher
position, move armrest up to the
desired position until it engages.
Seat heating*
Front-seat heating
The switches for front-seat heating are lo-
cated in the center console. The red indica-
tor lamps in the switch come on to show
which heating level you have selected.
iOn the second-row seats, the guide bar
with the detent must be on the left.
iIf you wish to readjust the armrest to a
lower position, you must first fold up
the armrest again and repeat the steps
above.

142 Controls in detailSeats
1Seat heating switch, front seats
2Indicator lamps
Switch on the ignition (
page 38).
Switching on

Press switch1.
Three red indicator lamps2 in the
switch come on.

Continue pressing switch1 until
desired seat heating level is reached.
Warning!
G
The seat heating switches off automatically.
However, should a malfunction occur and
the automatic switch-off function fail, the
seat cushion and seat backrest can become
very hot. This may cause burns.
Always be aware of the selected heating
level for all seats equipped with seat heat-
ing. Vehicle occupants, especially occu-
pants who suffer from spinal cord injuries or
spinal cord disorders, may not notice that
the seat heating is switched on and/or if the
seat heating does not switch off as intend-
ed. To reduce the risk of burns and personal
injury, take notice of wether and how the
seat heaters are operational and switch off
manually if necessary.
Leveloff
No indicator lamps on.
1
One indicator lamp on.
The seat heating automatically
switches off after approximately
20 minutes.
2
Two indicator lamps on.
The seat heating automatically
switches to level 1 after approxi-
mately 10 minutes.
3
Three indicator lamps on.
The seat heating automatically
switches to level 2 after approxi-
mately 5 minutes.

143 Controls in detailSeats
Switching off
Press switch1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps2 go out.Second-row seat heating
The switches for the second-row seats are
located in the rear center console.
1Seat heating switch
2Indicator lamps

Operate the seat heating for the
second-row seats as described in
“Front-seat heating” (
page 141).
iIf one or more of the indicator
lamps2 on seat heating switch 1 are
flashing, there is insufficient voltage
due to too many electrical consumers
being switched on. The seat heating
switches off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on
again automatically as soon as
sufficient voltage is available.

144 Controls in detailMemory function*Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach and comfort. The head re-
straint should also be adjusted for proper
height. See also the section on air bags
(page 71) for proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the interior and exterior
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly se-
cured restraint system that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dard 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2.With the memory function you can store up
to three different settings for each front
seat.
The following settings are saved for each
stored position on the entry side of the
driver’s seat:


Driver’s seat, head restraint height and
backrest position


Steering wheel position


Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
position


Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror position
The following are saved for each stored po-
sition on the entry side of the front passen-
ger seat:


Front passenger seat, head restraint
height and backrest position
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

145 Controls in detail
Memory function*
The memory button and stored position
buttons are located on the entry side of
each front seat base.
MMemory button
1, 2, 3Stored positions
Switch on the ignition (
page 38).
or

Open the respective door.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seats, steering wheel and
exterior rear view mirrors to the de-
sired position (
page 42).

Press memory buttonM.

Release memory button M and press
stored position 1, 2 or 3 within
3 seconds.
All settings are stored to the selected
position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold memory position
button1,2 or3 until the seat, steering
wheel and exterior rear view mirrors
have fully moved to the stored posi-
tions.!Do not operate the power seats using
memory button M if the seat backrest
is in an excessively reclined position.
Doing so could cause damage to front
or rear seats.
First move seat backrest to an upright
position.iReleasing the memory position button
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions immediately.

146 Controls in detailMemory function*Storing exterior rear view mirror parking position
For easier parking, you can adjust the
passenger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage reverse gearR.
You can switch the parking position fea-
ture on and off in the control system.
For information on activating the parking
position feature, see “Setting parking posi-
tion for exterior rear view mirror*”
(page 190).1Adjustment button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror
MMemory button

Stop the vehicle in a safe location.

Switch on the ignition (
page 38).

Press button2 on the door control
panel.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror is selected. The indicator lamp
on button2 comes on.

Adjust the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror with button1 so that you
see the rear wheel and the road curb.

Press memory buttonM.

Within 3 seconds, press adjustment
button1 once more.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.iIf the mirror does move, repeat the
above steps. After the setting is stored,
you can move the mirror again.

147 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 58)
and “Turn signals” (
page 58).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 149)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 148)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps,
license plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
BLow beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the
combination switch is pushed
forward) and parking lamps
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps*
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.iVehicles equipped with active
Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon* headlamps moni-
tor the vehicles steering angle, then au-
tomatically shift their beams to either
side to better follow the curvature of
the road ahead, increasing usable illu-
mination over conventional headlamps.

148 Controls in detailLighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
iWith the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch and the driver’s door
open, a warning sounds if the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on.
The message
Switch off lights

appears in the multifunction display.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.
For information on how to activate the
daytime running lamp mode, see “Day-
time running lamp mode”
(page 149).
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright
ambient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch toB when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromUtoB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.

149 Controls in detail
Lighting

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the starter switch in position1
(page 38), only the parking lamps
will switch on and off automatically.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.Daytime running lamp mode

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low beam
headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on additionally:


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.Canada only
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
When the engine is running and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a three-minute delay.
When the engine is running and you


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps
switch on additionally


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 58).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the exterior lamp switch
in positionM, the high beam head-
lamps cannot be switched on.
The high beam flasher is available at all
times.