Adjusting MERCEDES-BENZ R500 2006 W251 User Guide

49 Getting started
Adjusting
For more information, see “Rear view mir-
rors” (
page 208) and “Storing exterior
rear view mirror parking position”
(
page 146).
!If an exterior rear view mirror was forc-
ibly pushed forward (hit from the rear)
or forcibly pushed rearward (hit from
the front), reposition it by applying firm
pressure until it snaps into place. The
mirror housing is then properly posi-
tioned and you can adjust the mirror in
the usual manner.!Vehicles with power folding exterior
rear view mirrors*:
If an exterior rear view mirror housing
is forcibly pushed forward (hit from the
rear) or forcibly pushed rearward (hit
from the front) press button1 to fold
mirrors in, then press button1 again
to fold mirrors out. Do not force mirrors
by hand as this may damage the adjust-
ment mechanism.
The mirror housing is then properly po-
sitioned and you can adjust the mirror
in the usual manner.
iThe memory function* (
page 144)
lets you store the settings for the exte-
rior rear view mirrors together with the
setting for the steering wheel column
and the seat positions.
At low ambient temperatures, the
exterior rear view mirrors will be heat-
ed automatically.

137 Controls in detailSeats
Rear seats Rear seat adjustmentFore and aft adjustment
(second-row seats only)
The handles for adjusting the seats are
located on the front of each seat base.
1Adjustment handle

Pull up handle 1 in direction of arrow
and hold it there.

Move seat to the desired position.

Release handle 1.
The seat must audibly engage.
Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats. Re-
gardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriate infant or
toddler restraint, or booster seat recom-
mended for the size and weight of the child.
For additional information, see “Children in
the vehicle” (
page 82).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Warning!
G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and
belts are properly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 50).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.

138 Controls in detailSeatsSeat backrest tilt (second-row seats)
The handles for adjusting the seats are
located on the rear of each seat base.
1Adjustment handle
While seated, pull handle 1 in direc-
tion of arrow to resistance point and
hold it there.

To move seat backrest back, lean light-
ly against backrest.

To move seat backrest forward, lean
forward with handle 1 pulled and held
at resistance point.
The seat backrest will move forward
against your back.

Release handle 1 when the seat back-
rest has reached the desired position.
To make sure the seat backrest has en-
gaged, lean firmly against the backrest.Seat backrest tilt (third-row seats)
The handles for adjusting the seats are
located on the outer side of each seat
backrest.
1Adjustment handle

While seated, pull handle 1 in direc-
tion of arrow and hold it there.

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.

197 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For information on driving with an auto-
matic transmission see “Automatic trans-
mission” (
page 53).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its shift program.
Gear selector lever
The gear selector lever is located on the
right of the steering column.Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive positionShifting from P to N
Moving the gear selector lever up or down
shifts the automatic transmission out of
park positionP:

Depress the brake pedal and keep it
pressed.

Move gear selector lever up or down to
resistance point to select neutral
positionN.
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the automatic trans-
mission out of park positionP or neutral
positionN if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

222 Controls in detailClimate controlSetting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and7
(page 218) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
7 (
page 218) slightly clockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
7 (
page 218) slightly counterclock-
wise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Press air distribution button5,9, ora
(page 218) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
buttons:

Press the desired air distribution
button5,9, ora (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the buttonU
goes out.
Adjusting air volume
Five blower speeds are available.
Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume
(page 218) to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
(page 218) goes out. The automatic
operation of air volume switches off.
The selected blower speed is shown in
the air volume display
b(page 218).
Adjusting air volume for the center and
side air vents
Opening the center air vents

Turn thumbwheels 5 and 6
(page 216) upward.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are open.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center
and side air vents
Z
Directs air to the windshield
and side air vents
Y
Directs air to the footwells and
side air vents

229 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating rear climate control
Press button´.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The cooling function switches off after
a short delay.Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls2 or4
to adjust the air distribution for the rear
passenger compartment.
The symbols on the controls represent the
following functions:
Adjusting manually

Press the desired air distribution
control2 or4.
The indicator lamp in the Ubutton
goes out.Adjusting automatically

Press buttonU.
The indicator lamp in the button comes
on. The air distribution is adjusted au-
tomatically.
Adjusting air volume
The air volume for the rear zone corre-
sponds to the air volume settings for the
front passenger side. You can switch off
the air supply for the rear zone.
You can switch off the supplied amount of
air volume.

Press button´.
iThe temperature is adjusted according
to the settings for the front passenger
side made on the front climate control
panel (
page 222).
iSwitch off the rear automatic climate
control for improved cooling or heating
output in the front passenger compart-
ment.
You can also switch off the rear auto-
matic climate control from the front
passenger compartment (
page 220).
Symbol
Function
Z
Directs air to the center air
vents
Y
Directs air to the footwells and
the side air vents

236 Controls in detail3-zone automatic climate control*
Use temperature controls1 and9
(page 232) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The temperature of the interior is ad-
justed automatically.
Deactivating

Press one button of the air distribution
(page 232) or press button

orQ (
page 232).
The
AUTO
display disappears in the
displaye (
page 232).
Depending on which button you press –
the air distribution button or the air vol-
ume button
or Q – automatic
control of either the air distribution or
air volume is switched off.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and9
(page 232) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The automatic climate control will adjust
to the set temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
9 slightly clockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Decreasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
9 slightly counterclockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution buttons3,h,
orj for the driver’s side, or7,b, orc
(page 232) for the passenger side to
separately adjust the air distribution on
each side of the passenger compartment.
The following symbols are found on the
buttons:
Symbol
Function
Driver’s
side
Passen-
ger side
6
Z
Directs air to the
windshield and
side air vents
7
a
Directs air through
the center, side
and rear passen-
ger compartment
air vents
8
Y
Directs air to the
footwells and side
air vents


237 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*

Press the desired air distribution but-
ton (
page 232).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Adjusting the air distribution for the
center and side air vents
Opening the center air vents

Turn thumbwheels 5 and 6
(page 230) upward.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are open.
Closing the center air vents

Turn thumbwheels 5 and 6
(page 230) downward.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are closed.Opening the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 2 and 7
(page 230) downward.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are open.
Closing the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 2 and 7
(page 230) downward.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are closed.
Adjusting air volume
Five blower speeds are available.
Press button
to decrease or
buttonQto increase air volume
(page 232) to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out.
The AUTO
display disappears in the
display e (
page 232) and the auto-
matic mode is switched off. The select-
ed blower speed appears in the
displaye (page 232).

245 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls3 or5
to adjust the air distribution for the rear
passenger compartment.
The symbols on the controls represent the
following functions:Adjusting manually

Press the desired air distribution con-
trol.
The indicator lamp on button U
goes out.
Adjusting automatically

Press buttonU.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air distribution is adjust-
ed automatically.Setting the temperature
Use temperature controla (
page 244)
to separately adjust the air temperature of
the rear passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C). The automatic cli-
mate control will adjust to the set temper-
ature as fast as possible.
iSwitch off the rear automatic climate
control for improved cooling or heating
output in the front passenger compart-
ment.
You can also switch off the rear auto-
matic climate control from the front
passenger compartment (
page 235).
Symbol
Function
Z
Directs air to the center air
vents
Y
Directs air to the footwells and
the side air vents
iThe rear automatic climate control will
not cool the air when the air condition-
ing is switched off (
page 242).