1997 MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 center console

98 Controls in detailSeats
Remove rear center head restraint
(page 96).

If necessary, remove cargo floor plates,
see “Removing cargo floor plates”
(page 162).

Slide rear seats forward, see “Adjusting
rear seat fore and aft” (
page 99).

Fold rear seat backrests down, see
“Folding down the backrest”
(page 100).

From cargo compartment, attach rear
center head restraint1 to underside
of rear center seat.
Make sure front side of head
restraint1 is facing upward.

Press bar2 on both sides into
clips3.
Heated seats*
Both switches for the front seats are loca-
ted in the center console.
1Normal heating
2Rapid heating
Start the engine.
Switching on seat heating

Press upper switch position1.
A red indicator lamp on the switch
lights up.Switching off seat heating

Press upper switch position1 again.
The indicator lamp on the switch turns
off.
Switching on rapid seat heating

Press lower switch position2.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
turn on.iThe seat heater will be automatically
switched off after approximately
20 minutes.iThe system switches over to normal
heating mode after approximately five
minutes. Only one red indicator lamp
remains on.


100 Controls in detailSeatsFolding down the backrest
1Lock button
Close cup holder (
page 167) and
ashtray (
page 169) in rear center
console (page 167).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 35) or power seat (
page 37).

Slide seat forward.

Remove head restraint(s) (
page 95).

Pull lock button1 up and fold back-
rest forward until it locks in place.The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked
position.
Folding up the backrest

Close cup holder (
page 167) and
ashtray (
page 169) in rear center
console.

Pull lock button1 up and unfold back-
rest until it locks in place.
M a k e s u r e t h e s e a t b e l t i s n o t c a u g h t i n
the seat.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked
position.

Install head restraint (
page 96).

Slide seat rearward to desired position
(page 99).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 35) or power
seats (
page 37).
Lowering the rear seat
1Release button
2Lever
3Release lever

101 Controls in detailSeats

Close cup holder in rear center console
(page 167).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 35) or power seat (
page 37).

Press and hold release button1 to un-
lock lever2.

Pull lever2 in direction of arrow.

Pull release lever3 and push down
rear seat until it locks in place.

Fold down the backrest (
page 100).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 35) or power
seats (
page 37).Folding up the rear seat

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 35) or power seat (
page 37).

Pull release lever3 and raise rear seat
until it locks in place.
Easy entry / exit feature*
The easy entry / exit feature allows access
to the third row seats*. The right cargo
floor plate must be removed (
page 162).Folding rear seat forward
1Lever

Move right seat forward. Manual seats
(page 35) or power seats
(page 37).

Move rear seat forward (
page 99).

Push head restraint fully down and tilt
it forward.

Fold backrest forward (
page 100).

Pull lever1 up and fold the rear seat
forward.
Warning!
G
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.Warning!
G
Never drive with the second row right seat
folded forward (easy entry / exit feature). It
could open and fold back unintentionally.

111 Controls in detail
Lighting
Fog lamps
The switch is located on the upper center
console.1Front fog lamps
2Indicator lamp
3Front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
Switching front fog lamps on and off

Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Press upper part1 of switch.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster comes on.

Press upper part1 of switch again.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster goes out.Switching front fog lamps and rear fog
lamps on and off

Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Press lower part3 of switch.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster comes on in addi-
tion to the yellow indicator lamp2 in
the switch.

Press lower part3 of switch again.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster and the yellow indi-
cator lamp2 in the switch go out.
Switching rear fog lamp on and off

Press upper part1 of switch.
The yellow indicator lamp2 in the
switch goes out.

Press upper part1 of switch.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from positionU toB with
the vehicle at a standstill. Switching
fromU toB will briefly switch off the
headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident.iThe fog lamps can be switched on with
combination switch in positionõ
orU. Consult your state Motor Reg-
ulations regarding allowable lamp oper-
ation.

127 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Activating
1Button
2Indicator lamp
Press button1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
Deactivating

Press button1 again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out.Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position
The buttons are on the lower part of the
center console.
1Deactivating parking position
2Activating parking position
3Adjustment button

Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 106).

Switch on ignition (if not already on).

Press button2.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their liq-
uid state and by applying plenty of wa-
ter.


141 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Rear passenger compartment ventila-tion and rear automatic climate control
Deactivating
For an improved cooling or heating output
in the front passenger compartment, you
can switch off the rear passenger compart-
ment ventilation.
Press button§ (
page 135).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The operation of the rear automatic
climate control and the fresh air supply
to the rear compartment is shut off.
Activating

Press button§ again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The rear automatic climate control
switches to automatic mode and fresh
air enters the rear compartment.Automatic mode
The automatic climate control panel for the
rear is located on the rear center console.
1Air volume control
2Air distribution control
3Automatic control (air distribution, air
volume)

Press buttonU.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The automatic climate control cools or
heats the interior depending on the
temperature selected on the front
climate control unit.Adjusting air volume and air distribu-
tion manually
Adjusting air volume

Press upper part of buttonR.
The blower setting is increased each
time the button is pressed.

Press lower part of buttonR.
The blower setting is decreased each
time the button is pressed.iWhen the air volume or air distribution
control is pressed, the automatic mode
is switched off. The indicator lamp in
buttonU is turned off. Temperature
setting remains in automatic mode.


144 Controls in detailPower windows
Power windowsOpening and closing the side windows
The side windows can be opened and
closed electrically. The switches for all the
side windows are on the driver’s door. The
switches for the respective windows are
on the passenger door and on the rear cen-
ter console.
1Left front window
2Right front window
3Right rear window
4Left rear window
5Rear window override switch
(
page 73).
Additional switches for the rear windows
are located on the rear center console.6Left rear window
7Right rear window

Turn key in the steering lock to
position1 or2.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being harmed
by the closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing the switch or,
if switch was pressed past the resistance
point and released, by pressing the respec-
tive switch.
If the window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you pressed the switch past the resistance
point and released it to close the window,
the automatic reversal function will stop the
window and open it slightly.
If the window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you are closing the window by pressing the
switch and holding it there, the automatic
reversal function will not operate.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock, and lock your ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment can cause an accident and / or serious
personal injury.

146 Controls in detailPower windowsSynchronizing power windows
The power window must be resynchroni-
zed each time

after the battery has been discon-
nected.


if the power windows cannot be fully
opened (Express-open) or closed (Ex-
press-close).
Synchronizing the power windows

Switch on ignition.

Press the power window switches at
the symbolj until the side win-
dows are closed.
Hold the switches for approximately
one second.
The power window are synchronized.
Rear quarter windows*
The switches are on the upper part of the
center console.
1Left side
2Right side
Turn key in the steering lock to
position1 or2.Opening the windows

Press and hold the upper part of
switches1 or2.
The corresponding window will move
downwards until you release the
switch.Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being harmed
by the closing procedure. The closing of the
windows can be immediately halted by
releasing the switch.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock, and lock the ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and / or seri-
ous personal injury.