MERCEDES-BENZ R500 2006 W251 Owner's Manual

160 Controls in detailInstrument clusterThe temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.

161 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 (
page 38) or as
soon as the KEYLESS-GO start / stop but-
ton* is in position1 (page 39). The con-
trol system enables you to


call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for maintenance service, to set the
language for messages in the instrument
cluster display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Gear position indicator
4Current transmission program mode
5Status indicator (outside temperature
or digital speedometer)
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(page 164).
iThe displays for the audio systems
(radio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.

162 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system are
controlled by the buttons on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.Pressing any of the buttons, except for the
telephone buttons, on the multifunction
steering wheel will alter what is shown in
the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or
CD operations under
AUDIO
, for example).
These functions serve to call up relevant
information or to customize the settings
for your vehicle.
1
Multifunction displayOperating the control system
2
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a calltto end a call
3
Selecting the submenu or setting
the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
4
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display
5
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu

163 Controls in detail
Control system
It is helpful to think of the menus, and the
functions within each menu, as being ar-
ranged in a circular pattern.

If you press buttonè orÿ
repeatedly, you will pass through each
menu one after the other.


If you press buttonk orj
repeatedly, you will pass through each
function display, one after the other, in
the current menu.In the
Settings
menu, instead of func-
tions, you will find a number of submenus
for calling up and changing settings. For in-
structions on using these submenus, see
“Settings menu” (page 174).
The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment
is installed in your vehicle.The menus are described on the following
pages.

164 Controls in detailControl systemMenusThis is what you will see when you scroll
through the menus1 to5.The table on the next page provides an
overview of the individual menus.

165 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Airmatic/
Compass
Vehicle status message
memory
(page 168)
(page 170)
(page 172)
(page 172)
(page 173)
Commands/submenusTrip- and main odometer
Selecting radio station
Show route guidance
instructions, current
direction traveled
Airmatic*
Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memory
Checking tire inflation pressure*
Selecting satellite ra-
dio station* (USA only)
Compass
Checking coolant temperature
Operating CD player
Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperatureCalling up maintenance service
indicatorChecking engine oil leveliThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays. The first func-
tion displayed in each menu will auto-
matically show you which part of the
system you are in.

166 Controls in detailControl systemThis is what you will see when you scroll
through the menus6 to9.The table on the next page provides an
overview of the individual menus.

167 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu6
Menu7
Menu8
Menu9
Settings
Vehicle configuration
Trip computer
Telephone*
(page 174)
(page 191)
(page 192)
(page 194)
Commands/submenusResetting to factory settings
Tow-away alarm on/off
Fuel consumption statistics
after start
Loading phone book
Instrument cluster submenu
Fuel consumption statistics
since the last reset
Searching for name in phone
book
Time/Date submenu
Calling up range (distance to
empty)
Lighting submenuVehicle submenuConvenience submenuiThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.

168 Controls in detailControl systemStandard display menu
In the standard display, the main odometer
and the trip odometer appear in the multi-
function display.
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
If you see another display, press
buttonè orÿ repeatedly until the
standard display appears.
You can select the functions in the
standard display menu with
buttonkorj.The following functions are available:Checking coolant temperature
Function
Page
Checking tire inflation pressure*
371
Checking coolant temperature
168
Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperature
169
Calling up maintenance service
indicator
393
Checking engine oil level
(R 500 only)
347
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

169 Controls in detail
Control system

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the coolant temperature appears
in the multifunction display.Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperature

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the digital speedometer or the
outside temperature appears in the
multifunction display.
Digital speedometer
Outside temperature
!The engine should not be operated with
a coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.iDuring severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant
temperature may rise close to 248°F
(120°C).
Excessive coolant temperature triggers
a warning message in the multifunction
display (
page 434).
iYou can select whether the digital
speedometer or the outside tempera-
ture is to be displayed.
You can change the setting in the
submenu
Instr. cluster
via the
function
Status line display
, see
“Selecting display (digital speedometer
or outside temperature) for status
indicator” (
page 179).