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Jump starting
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Proceed as follows:  1. Position the vehicle with the charged battery so that   the jumper cables will reach, but never let the  
vehicles touch. Make sure the jumper cables do not  
have loose or missing insulation. 
2. On both vehicles: • Turn off engine and all lights and accessories,  
except hazard warning flashers or work lights. 
•  Apply parking brake and shift selector lever to  
position “P”. 
Important! 
3. Clamp one end of the first jumper cable to the   positive (+) under hood terminal of the discharged  
battery and the other end to the positive (+) terminal 
of the charged battery. Make sure the cable clamps 
do not touch any other metal parts. 
4. Clamp one end of the second jumper cable to the   grounded negative (–) terminal of the charged  
battery and the final connection to the negative (–) 
terminal of the discharged battery.  Important! 
5. Start engine of the vehicle with the charged battery   and run at high idle. Make sure the cables are not  
on or near pulleys, fans, or other parts that move  
when the engine is started. Allow the discharged 
battery to charge for a few minutes. Start engine of 
the disabled vehicle in the usual manner. 
6. After the engine has started, remove jumper cables   by exactly reversing the above installation  
sequence, starting with the last connection made  
first. When removing each clamp, make sure that it 
does not touch any other metal while the other end 
is still attached. 
Notes: 
If engine does not run after several unsuccessful  
starting attempts, have it checked at the nearest 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. 
Excessive unburned fuel may damage the catalytic  
converter. 
     
        
        Page 722 of 4133
255 
Towing
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Tow in g  t h e  ve hic l e 
Important! 
When towing the vehicle, please, note the following: 
With the automatic central locking activated and the  
engine running, the vehicle doors lock if the left front 
wheel is turning at vehicle speeds of approximately 
9 mph (15 km / h) or more. 
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,  
deactivate the automatic central locking, see page 32.  The front towing eye is located on the passenger side  
below the bumper. 
1  To w i n g  eye ,  f r o n t
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on the  
ground, make certain that the key is in steering 
lock position 2.
P88.20-2160-26 
     
        
        Page 723 of 4133
256 
Towing
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ML 320, ML 430  The rear towing eye is located behind the right side  
cover in the bumper panel. 
2  To w i n g  eye ,  r e a r 
Cover removal:  
Using a flat blade screwdriver pry out the cover. 
Cover installation: 
Engage cover at bottom and press in top securely. 
     
        
        Page 724 of 4133
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Towing
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ML 55 AMG 
The rear towing eye is located behind the right side  
cover (1) in the bumper panel. 
3  Cover 
4  Towing eye, rear  Cover removal:  
Grip cover at bottom and pull out. 
Cover installation: 
Engage cover and press in securely. 
We recommend that the vehicle be transported using  
flat bed equipment. This method is preferable to other  
types of towing. 
The vehicle may be towed with all wheels on the ground  
and the selector lever in position “N” for distances up to 
30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to exceed 30 mph 
(50 k m / h). The  key mu st be  in stee ring lo ck p o sitio n 2.
Wa r n i n g ! 
In order to avoid possible serious burns or injury,  
use extreme caution when removing the cover,  
because the rear exhaust pipe is extremely hot. 
     
        
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Towing
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To be certain to avoid additional damage to the vehicle  
powertrain, however you should d o the following: 
•  With damage to front axle, raise front axle. Remove  
flexible drive shaft between rear axle and transfer  
case 
•  With damage to rear axle, raise rear axle and tow  
vehicle with wheel lift or dolly placed under front 
wheels. 
•  With damage to transfer case, remove flexible drive  
shafts to the drive axles. 
Note: 
Always install new self-locking nuts when reinstalling  
the flexible drive shaft.  Caution! 
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle raised, the  
engine must be shut off (key in steering lock position 1). 
Otherwise, the 4-ETS+ may become engaged which may  
cause loss of towing control. Switch off the tow-away  
alarm (see page 36) as well as the ESP (see page 207). 
Note: 
To signal turns while being towed with hazard warning  
flasher in use, turn key in steering lock to position 2  
and activate combination switch for left or right turn 
signal in usual manner. Now deactivate the hazard 
warning flasher, only the selected turn signal will 
operate. Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard 
warning flasher must be activated again.
Wa r n i n g ! 
With the engine not running, there is no power  
assistance for the braking and steering systems. In  
this case, it is important to keep in mind that a  
considerably higher degree of effort is necessary to 
brake and steer the vehicle. 
     
        
        Page 726 of 4133

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Towing
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Transmission selector lever, manually unlocking 
In the case of power failure the transmission selector  
lever can be manually unlocked, e.g. to tow the vehicle. 
To do so, insert a pin (1), e.g. ball point pen, into the  
covered opening below the position “D” of the shift 
pattern. While pushing the pin down, move selector 
lever from position “P”. 
After removal of the pin from the opening, the cover will  
not close fully. Only after moving the selector lever to  
positions “D+” and “D–” does the cover return to its 
closed position.  Stranded vehicle 
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the wheels are dug  
into sand or mud, should be done with the greatest of 
care, especially if the vehicle is heavily loaded. 
Avoid pulling the vehicle jerkily or diagonally, since it  
could result in damage to the chassis alignment. 
Never try to free a vehicle that is still coupled to a  
trailer. 
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer hitch receiver  
should be pulled backward in its own previously made 
tracks. 
     
        
        Page 727 of 4133

260 
Exterior lamps
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Exterior lamps 
Headlamp adjustment 
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely important.  
Check and readjust headlamps at regular intervals and  
when a bulb has been replaced. 
For adjusting headlamp aim see page 268.  Replacing bulbs 
To prevent a possible electrical short circuit, switch off  
lamp prior to replacing a bulb. 
When replacing bulbs, install only 12 volt bulbs with  
the specified watt rating. 
When replacing halogen bulbs do not touch glass  
portion of bulb with bare hands. Use plain paper or a 
clean cloth.
Wa r n i n g ! 
Bulbs and bulb holders can be very hot. Allow the  
lamp to cool down before changing a bulb. 
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A bulb can  
explode if you:  • touch or move it when hot, 
•drop the bulb, 
•scratch the bulb.Wear eye and hand protection.
Wa r n i n g ! 
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is  
dangerous to replace the bulb of repair the lamp 
and its components. We recommend that you have  
such work done by a qualified technician. 
     
        
        Page 728 of 4133
261 
Exterior lamps
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Headlamp assembly (Halogen) 
1  Headlamp vertical adjustment screw 
2  Headlamp horizontal adjustment screw 
3  Headlamp cover with locking tab 
4  Bulb socket for turn signal, parking, standing, and  
side marker lamp  5 
Electrical connector for low beam headlamp bulb 
6  Electrical connector for high beam headlamp bulb 
7  Level for headlamp vertical adjustment 
8  Scale for headlamp horizontal adjustment 
9  Auxiliary fog lamp (if so equipped)