
3 Contents 
DrivingControl and operation of 
radio transmitters  ..................... 190
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  ................................. 191
Maintenance  ................................... 191
Tele Aid  ........................................... 192
Catalytic converter  ........................202
Emission control  ............................203
Starter switch  .................................204
Starting and turning off 
the engine  ..................................206
Automatic transmission  ...............207
Parking brake  ................................. 215Driving instructions ....................... 216
Drive sensibly – save fuel  ......... 216
Drinking and driving  ................. 216
Pedals  ........................................... 216
Power assistance .........................217
Brakes ...........................................217
Driving off ....................................218
Parking  ......................................... 219
Tires  .............................................. 219
Snow chains  ............................... 222
Winter driving instructions  ..... 222
Deep water  .................................. 224
Passenger compartment  ........... 225
Traveling abroad  ........................ 225
Off-Road driving  ............................ 226
Cruise control  ................................ 234
Brake assist system 
(BAS)  .......................................... 237Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ...........................................239
Four-wheel electronic traction system 
(4-ETS)  ........................................ 241
Electronic Brake Booster 
(EBB)  ...........................................242
Electronic stability program 
(ESP)  ...........................................243
Transfer case  ..................................247
Switching transfer case .............248
A few words about differentials
and differential locks  ............... 251
Differential locks ............................253
What you should know 
at the gas station  .......................258
Check regularly and before a long 
trip ............................................... 261
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189 Contents - Driving
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of radio 
transmitters  ............................... 190
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  ................................. 191
Maintenance  ................................... 191
Tele Aid  ........................................... 192
Catalytic converter  ........................202
Emission control  ............................203
Starter switch  .................................204
Starting and turning off 
the engine  ..................................206
Automatic transmission  ...............207
Parking brake  ................................. 215Driving instructions ....................... 216
Drive sensibly – save fuel  ......... 216
Drinking and driving  ................. 216
Pedals  ........................................... 216
Power assistance .........................217
Brakes ...........................................217
Driving off ....................................218
Parking  ......................................... 219
Tires  .............................................. 219
Snow chains  ............................... 222
Winter driving instructions  ..... 222
Deep water  .................................. 224
Passenger compartment  ........... 225
Traveling abroad  ........................ 225
Off-Road driving  ............................ 226
Cruise control  ................................ 234Brake assist system
(BAS)  ...........................................237
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ...........................................239
Four-wheel electronic 
traction system (4-ETS)  ............ 241
Electronic Brake Booster 
(EBB)  ...........................................242
Electronic stability program 
(ESP)  ...........................................243
Transfer case  ..................................247
Switching transfer case .............248
A few words about differentials 
and differential locks  ............... 251
Differential locks ............................253
What you should know at 
the gas station  ...........................258
Check regularly and before a long 
trip ............................................... 261
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222 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Snow chains
Use only snow chains that are tested and recommended 
by Mercedes-Benz. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Light Truck Center will be glad to advise you on this 
subject.
Snow chains should be used on all four wheels. Follow 
the manufacturer’s mounting instructions.
Snow chains should only be driven on snow covered 
roads at speeds not to exceed 30 mph (50 km / h). 
Remove chains as soon as possible when driving on 
roads without snow.Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy roads is to 
drive sensibly and to avoid abrupt acceleration, braking 
and steering maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control 
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding, move 
selector lever to position “N”. Try to keep the vehicle 
under control by corrective steering action.
Important!
Avoid spinning of one drive wheel. This may cause 
serious damage to the drive train which is not covered 
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
To ensure sufficient traction during off-road driving, 
activate differential locks as needed, see page 253. 
ABS, ESP and BAS are switched off automatically when 
the transfer case differential lock is activated. 
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226 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Off-Road driving
Familiarize yourself with the vehicle characteristics and 
gear changing before you attempt any difficult terrain 
off-road driving. We recommend that you start out with 
easy off-road travel.
Please read this chapter carefully before you begin 
off-road travel.
Special driving features are available for specific kinds 
of operation:
•ABS, see page 239
•ESP, see page 243
•Differential lock, see page 253
•Transfer case, see page 247
Engage the transfer case in position LOW before driving 
under off-road conditions. For switching the transfer 
case in position LOW, see page 247.Fasten items being carried as securely as possible, see 
page 178.
We recommend to keep doors, tailgate, windows, and 
roof closed whenever driving in off-road mode.
We recommend to switch the cruise control off.
Important!
Adjust vehicle speed to condition of terrain. The more 
uneven, rutty and steeper the terrain, the lower the 
speed should be.
Watch out for obstacles, such as rocks, holes, 
tree-stumps, ruts.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not load items on the roof. It may cause 
instability during some maneuvers which could 
result in an accident.
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234 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Cruise control
The cruise control allows you to drive in a more relaxed 
manner, for example over long distances, as it 
automatically maintains the set speed by actively 
regulating the throttle setting.
Any given speed above approximately 25 mph 
(40 km / h) can be maintained with the cruise control by 
operating the lever.1Accelerate and set:
Lift lever briefly to set speed. 
Hold lever up to accelerate.
2Decelerate and set:
Depress lever briefly to set speed. 
Hold lever down to decelerate.
Normally the vehicle is accelerated to the desired 
speed with the accelerator.
Speed is set by briefly pushing the lever to 
position 1 or 2. The accelerator can then be 
released.
The speed can be increased (e.g. for passing) by 
using the accelerator. After the accelerator is 
released, the previously set speed will be resumed 
automatically.
If a set speed is to be increased or decreased 
slightly, e.g. to adapt to the traffic flow, hold lever in 
position 1 or 2 until the desired speed is reached, or 
briefly tip the lever in the appropriate direction for 
increases or decreases in 0.6 mph (1 km / h) 
increments. When the lever is released, the newly 
set speed remains.
1
4
2
3
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235 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 3Canceling
To cancel the cruise control, briefly push lever to 
position 3.
When you step on the brake pedal or the vehicle 
speed drops below approximately 25 mph
(40 km / h), for example when driving upgrade, the 
cruise control will be canceled.
If the cruise control cancels by itself and remains 
inoperative until the engine is restarted, have the 
system checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
4Resume
If the lever is briefly pushed to position 4 when 
driving at a speed exceeding approximately 25 mph 
(40 km / h), the vehicle resumes the speed which 
was set prior to the cancellation of the cruise 
control. The last memorized speed is canceled when 
the electronic key in the starter switch is turned to 
position 1 or 0.Important!
Moving gear selector lever to position “N” switches the 
cruise control off.
Wa r n i n g !
Only use the cruise control if the traffic and 
weather conditions make it advisable to travel at a 
steady speed.• The use of cruise control can be dangerous on 
winding roads or in heavy traffic because 
conditions do not allow safe driving at a steady 
speed.
• The use of cruise control can be dangerous on 
slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire adhesion 
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.The “Resume” function should only be operated if 
the driver is fully aware of the previously set speed 
and wishes to resume this particular preset speed.
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236 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Notes:
If the engine does not brake the vehicle sufficiently 
while driving on a downgrade, the speed you set on the 
cruise control may be exceeded. In this case the 
automatic transmission shifts down (max. to 3rd gear) 
to maintain the set cruise control speed by using the 
engine’s braking power.
As soon as the grade eases, the automatic transmission 
shifts up again dependent on the selector lever position.
Nevertheless, in some cases you may have to step on the 
brake pedal to slow down. In this case the cruise control 
is switched off.
Use the lever to resume the previously set speed.
For malfunction and warning messages, see page 272.Transmission in position LOW 
The cruise control should not be activated during off-
road driving in transfer case position LOW. Doing so 
could reduce driving comfort.
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273 Malfunction and warning messages
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index DISPLAY DEFECTIVE (engine control unit)
* C = Category, see page 272This message is displayed to indicate that the 
information being relayed by the engine control unit is 
no longer complete. The display for coolant temperature 
gauge, tachometer, or the cruise control may have failed.DISPLAY DEFECTIVE (several systems)
* C = Category, see page 272The displays for several systems have failed. Some 
systems themselves may also have failed.
Line 1 Line 2 C*
VISIT WORKSHOP! DISPLAY FAULTY 2
Line 1 Line 2 C*
VISIT WORKSHOP!  DISPLAY FAULTY 2
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