
1 Contents
IntroductionProduct information  .......................... 7
Roadside assistance ......................... 10
Where to find it  ................................ 14
Reporting Safety Defects  ................ 16Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls  ............... 18
Center console  .............................. 20
Overhead control panel  ............... 21OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 24
Start lock-out  .................................... 25
General notes on the
central locking system  ............... 26
Central locking system  ................... 26
Radio frequency
remote control  .............................. 26
Unlocking the liftgate  .................. 28
Panic button  .................................. 28
Mechanical keys  ........................... 29Doors ................................................. 30
Central locking switch .................... 32
Automatic central locking  .......... 32
Emergency unlocking in case
of accident  ................................... 33
Liftgate .............................................. 34
Antitheft alarm system ................... 35
Tow-away alarm and
glass breakage sensor  ............... 36
Seats, front  ....................................... 37
Manual seats  ................................ 39
Power seats ................................... 40
Head restraint  ...............................41
Heated seats  ..................................... 44
Seat belts and integrated 
restraint system  .......................... 46
Seat belts  .......................................... 46
Seat belt nonusage 
warning system ............................ 47
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system  ................... 53
Self-test BabySmart
TM 
without special child
seat installed  ................................ 53Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS)  ................................ 54
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR) ............................. 55
Airbags .............................................. 56
Safety guidelines for the 
seat belt, emergency 
tensioning retractor
and airbag  ..................................... 63
Infant and child 
restraint systems .......................... 65
Adjustable steering wheel  .............. 70
Inside rear view mirror  .................. 71
Antiglare night position .............. 71
Exterior rear view mirrors  ............. 73
Exterior rear view mirror, 
electrically folding  ....................... 75
Instrument cluster  ........................... 76
Indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ...................... 78
Trip computer  ................................... 83
Flexible service system (FSS)  ........ 87
Engine oil level indicator ................ 89
Exterior lamp switch  ....................... 90 

2 Contents
Fog lamp switch 
(except Canada) ........................... 92
Fog lamp switch 
(Canada only)  .............................. 93
Hazard warning flasher 
switch ............................................ 94
Headlamp cleaning system  ............ 94
Windshield wiper/washer 
switch ............................................ 95
Rear window wiper/washer  ........... 96
Climate control ................................. 98
Basic setting – Heater  ............... 100
Basic setting – 
Air conditioner  ........................... 100
Special setting  ............................ 101
Dust filter  .................................... 102
Air recirculation  ......................... 102
Rear window defroster  .............. 103
Power windows ............................... 104
Rear quarter windows  ................... 106
Sliding/pop-up roof  ....................... 107
Skyview Top .................................... 109
Interior lighting  ..............................110
Sun visors  ........................................113Illuminated vanity mirrors  ........... 113
Interior ............................................. 114
Storage compartments, 
armrest and cup holder  ............ 114
Glove box ...................................... 115
Armrest in rear bench seat ........... 117
Ashtrays ........................................... 118
Lighter .............................................. 119
Split rear seat bench ..................... 120
Easy entry/exit feature ............. 123
Rear seat head restraints  ......... 124
Third row seats  .............................. 126
Removable cargo floor plates  ...... 129
Enlarged cargo area  .......................131
Cargo tie-down rings  .....................132
Hooks ...............................................133
Partition net  ....................................133
Loading instructions  ......................136
Cargo area cover blind  ..................137
Telephone, general  .........................139
Cellular telephone  ..........................139
Garage door opener ....................... 140
DrivingControl and operation of 
radio transmitters  ..................... 146
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  ................................. 147
Maintenance ................................... 147
Tele Aid  ........................................... 148
Catalytic converter  ........................ 160
Emission control  ............................ 161
Steering lock  ................................... 162
Starting and turning off 
the engine  .................................. 164
Automatic transmission  ............... 165
Parking brake  ................................. 173
Driving instructions  ...................... 174
Drive sensibly – save fuel  ......... 174
Drinking and driving ................. 174
Pedals ........................................... 174
Power assistance  ........................ 175
Brakes .......................................... 175
Driving off  ................................... 176
Parking ........................................ 176
Tires ............................................. 177 

5 Contents
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle  .............................278
Power washer ..............................279
Tar stains  .....................................279
Paintwork, painted body 
components .................................279
Engine cleaning ..........................280
Vehicle washing  .........................280
Ornamental moldings ................280
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses  ......................280
Window cleaning ........................ 281
Wiper blades  ............................... 281
Light alloy wheels  ...................... 281
Instrument cluster  ..................... 281
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever  ...................... 281Cup holder  .................................. 282
Seat belts ..................................... 282
Headliner .................................... 282
Upholstery .................................. 282
Hard plastic trim items ............. 282
Plastic and rubber parts  ........... 282
Technical dataSpare parts service  ....................... 284
Warranty coverage  ........................ 284
Identification labels  ...................... 285
Layout of poly-V-belt drive  ........... 286
Technical data  ................................ 287
Fuels, coolants, lubricants 
etc. – capacities  ........................ 292
Engine oils ...................................... 294
Engine oil additives  ...................... 294
Air conditioner refrigerant  .......... 294Brake fluid  ......................................294
Premium unleaded gasoline  ........295
Fuel requirements  .........................295
Gasoline additives  .........................296
Coolants ...........................................296
Consumer information  ..................298
IndexIndex ................................................300 

22 Contents - Operation
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 24
Start lock-out  .................................... 25
General notes on the
central locking system  ............... 26
Central locking system  ................... 26
Radio frequency
remote control  .............................. 26
Unlocking the liftgate  .................. 28
Panic button  .................................. 28
Mechanical keys  ........................... 29
Doors .................................................. 30
Central locking switch  .................... 32
Automatic central locking  .......... 32
Emergency unlocking in case
of accident  .................................... 33
Liftgate ............................................... 34
Antitheft alarm system  ................... 35
Tow - aw ay  a lar m  a n d
glass breakage sensor  ................ 36
Seats, front ........................................ 37
Manual seats ................................. 39
Power seats  ................................... 40Head restraint  ...............................41
Heated seats  ..................................... 44
Seat belts and integrated 
restraint system  .......................... 46
Seat belts  .......................................... 46
Seat belt nonusage 
warning system ............................ 47
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system  ................... 53
Self-test BabySmart
TM 
without special child
seat installed  ................................ 53
Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS)  ............................... 54
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR)  ............................ 55
Airbags .............................................. 56
Safety guidelines for the 
seat belt, emergency 
tensioning retractor
and airbag ..................................... 63
Infant and child 
restraint systems  ......................... 65
Adjustable steering wheel .............. 70
Inside rear view mirror  ...................71Antiglare night position .............. 71
Exterior rear view mirrors  ............. 73
Exterior rear view mirror, 
electrically folding  ....................... 75
Instrument cluster  ........................... 76
Indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ...................... 78
Trip computer  ................................... 83
Flexible service system (FSS)  ........ 87
Engine oil level indicator ................ 89
Exterior lamp switch  ....................... 90
Fo g la mp sw itch 
(except Canada)  .......................... 92
Fo g la mp sw itch 
(Canada only)  .............................. 93
Hazard warning flasher 
switch ............................................ 94
Headlamp cleaning system  ............ 94
Windshield wiper/washer 
switch ............................................ 95
Rear window wiper/washer  ........... 96
Climate control ................................. 98
Basic setting – Heater  ............... 100 

40 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Power seats (standard; optional on model ML 320)
The slide switches are located on the entry side of each 
front seat base.
Turn key in steering lock to position 1 or 2 (with the 
driver’s or passenger’s door open, the power seats can 
also be operated with the key removed or in steering 
lock position 0).We recommend to adjust the power seat in the following 
order:
1Seat, up / down
Press the switch (up/down direction) until 
comfortable seating position with still sufficient 
headroom is reached.
2Seat adjustment, fore / aft
Press the switch (fore / aft direction) until a 
comfortable seating position is reached that still 
allows you to reach the accelerator / brake pedal 
safely. The position should be as far rearward as 
possible, consistent with ability to properly operate 
controls.
3Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until 
your legs are lightly supported.
4Backrest tilt
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until 
your arms are slightly angled when holding the 
steering wheel. 

41 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Only minor personal adjustments, as described below, 
should then be required. 
For exterior rear view mirrors, see page 73; 
inside rear view mirror, see page 71; 
steering wheel adjustment, see page 70.
Note:
See page 42 for instructions on storing and recalling the 
seat position.Head restraint
Raising: 
Pull up on head restraint.
Lowering: 
Push button, located at top of seat back, and push down 
on head restraint, see also page 43.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head 
approximately at ear level. The head restraint angle can 
also be adjusted manually.
See page 43 for removing head restraints.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the key 
from the steering lock, and lock your vehicle.The power seats can also be operated with the 
driver’s or passenger door open. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle or with access 
to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle 
equipment may cause serious personal injury. 

84 Trip computer
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
To change an entry, select mode to be changed:
•Date –
Press RESET key, the month shown blinks. Now 
press MODE key to advance to selected month.
Press RESET key again, the day shown blinks. Now 
press MODE key to advance to selected day.
Press RESET key again, the year shown blinks. Now 
press MODE key to advance to selected year.
Press RESET key again, the display stops blinking 
and the date is set.
•Compass –
The compass displays the direction the vehicle is 
traveling, such as N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W or NW.
Note:
The presence of buildings, bridges, power lines and 
large antenna masts can influence the displayed 
values. Metallic or magnetic objects in or on the 
vehicle can influence the accuracy of the compass.To change the compass zones:
Determine the geographical point of the vehicle with the 
aid of the zone maps below:
1. Turn key in steering lock to position 2.
2. Press MODE key repeatedly until the compass 
display appears in the trip computer display.
3. Press RESET key to select the compass zone mode. 
The zone selected last is shown in the display.
4. Press RESET key repeatedly until the correct 
compass zone, as determined from the zone map, is 
shown in the display.
5. Press MODE key twice to activate the new compass 
zone and change back to compass display. 

105 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index The windows can be operated with key in steering lock 
position 1 or 2.
Operation:
Press switch in to resistance point to open.
Lift switch to close.
Release switch when window is in desired position.Express opening of front door windows
Press switch past resistance point and release – window 
lowers to fully open position. To interrupt procedure, 
brief ly pull switch.
Blocking of rear door window operation
If no operation of the rear door windows by switch (6), 
located on rear center console (for instance by children) 
is desired, slide override switch (5) to right, 
symbolN becomes visible.
Note:
After turning off the engine the power windows can be 
operated for approximately 30 minutes or until a front 
door is opened.
Wa r n i n g !
When closing the windows, be sure that there is no 
danger of anyone being harmed by the closing 
procedure.The closing procedure can be immediately reversed 
by pressing the power window switch.When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key 
from the steering lock, and lock the vehicle. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of 
vehicle equipment can cause serious personal 
injury.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key 
from the steering lock, and lock the vehicle. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of 
vehicle equipment can cause serious personal 
injury.