2006 Mercedes R-Class Owner's Manual - Page 399

Operation Vehicle care Hand-wash Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle in direct sunlight. Only use a mild car wash detergent, such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo. Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a diffused jet of water. Direct only a very weak spray towards the ventilation intake. Use plenty of water and rinse the sponge and chamois frequently. Rinse with clean water and thoroughly dry with a chamois. Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on the finish. Automatic car wash You can have your car washed in an automatic car wash from the start. Automatic car washes without brushes are preferable. If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it before running it through the automatic car wash. ! Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in exterior rear view mirrors prior to running the vehicle through an automatic car wash to prevent damage to the mirrors. Make sure that the windshield wiper switch is set to 0 ( page 59). Otherwise, the rain sensor could activate and cause the wipers to move unintentionally. This may lead to vehicle damage. ! If you want the gear position to remain in N (for example when the vehicle is pulled through a car wash) do not remove the SmartKey from the starter switch or, when using KEYLESS-GO* do not turn off the engine using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* and open the driver's door Otherwise, the transmission will shift to P and lock the wheels, preventing the vehicle from being pulled through a car wash. i After running the vehicle through an automatic car wash, wipe any wax off of the windshield ( page 400). This will prevent smears and reduce wiping noise which can be caused by residual wax on the windshield. When leaving the car wash, make sure that the mirrors are folded out. Otherwise they may vibrate. 398