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 ............... 25
Central locking system ................... 26
Radio frequency
remote control .............................. 26
Unlocking the liftgate .................. 27
Panic button .................................. 28
Mechanical keys ........................... 29Doors ................................................. 30
Central locking switch .................... 32
Automatic central locking .............. 33
Emergency unlocking
in case of accident ...................... 33
Liftgate .............................................. 34
Antitheft alarm system ................... 36
Tow-away alarm and
glass breakage sensor ............... 37
Seats, front ....................................... 38
Manual seats ................................ 40
Power seats .................................... 41
Head restraint .............................. 42
Memory function ......................... 43
Heated seats ..................................... 46
Seat belts and
integrated restraint system ....... 48
Seat belts .......................................... 48
Seat belt nonusage
warning system ............................ 49
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system ................... 55
Self-test BabySmart
TM without
special child seat installed ......... 55Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) ................................ 56
Emergency tensioning
retractor (ETR) ............................. 57
Airbags .............................................. 58
Safety guidelines for
the seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor
and airbag ..................................... 66
Infant and
child restraint systems ................ 68
Adjustable steering wheel .............. 74
Inside rear view mirror .................. 75
Antiglare night position .............. 75
Exterior rear view mirrors ............. 77
Exterior rear view mirror,
electrically folding ....................... 79
Instrument cluster ........................... 82
Indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster ............... 84
Trip computer ................................... 89
Flexible service system
(FSS) .............................................. 94
Engine oil level indicator ................ 96
Exterior lamp switch ....................... 97
21 Instruments and controls
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Overhead control panel1Interior lighting, see page 128
2Garage door opener, see page 158
3Hands-free microphone for Tele Aid, telephone and
voice recognition system
4Tele Aid (emergency call system), see page 166
5Sliding /pop-up roof, see page 126
6Rear view mirror, see page 75
Reading lamps inside rear view mirror, see page 128
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
27
22 Contents - Operation
Te ch n i c a 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 ............... 25
Central locking system ................... 26
Radio frequency
remote control .............................. 26
Unlocking the liftgate .................. 27
Panic button .................................. 28
Mechanical keys ........................... 29
Doors .................................................. 30
Central locking switch .................... 32
Automatic central locking .............. 33
Emergency unlocking
in case of accident ...................... 33
Liftgate ............................................... 34
Antitheft alarm system ................... 36
Tow-away alarm and
glass breakage sensor ................ 37
Seats, front ........................................ 38
Manual seats ................................. 40
Power seats ................................... 41Head restraint .............................. 42
Memory function ......................... 43
Heated seats ..................................... 46
Seat belts and
integrated restraint system ....... 48
Seat belts .......................................... 48
Seat belt nonusage
warning system ............................ 49
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system ................... 55
Self-test BabySmart
TM without
special child seat installed ......... 55
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) ............................... 56
Emergency tensioning
retractor (ETR) ............................ 57
Airbags .............................................. 58
Safety guidelines for
the seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor
and airbag ..................................... 66
Infant and
child restraint systems ............... 68
Adjustable steering wheel ............... 74
Inside rear view mirror .................. 75Antiglare night position .............. 75
Exterior rear view mirrors ............. 77
Exterior rear view mirror,
electrically folding ....................... 79
Instrument cluster ........................... 82
Indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster ............... 84
Trip computer ................................... 89
Flexible service system
(FSS) .............................................. 94
Engine oil level indicator ................ 96
Exterior lamp switch ....................... 97
Headlamp mode ............................... 99
Night security illumination ......... 101
Locator lighting .......................... 102
Fog lamp switch ............................ 103
Hazard warning flasher
switch .......................................... 104
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 104
Windshield wiper/washer
switch .......................................... 105
Rear window wiper/washer ......... 106
Automatic climate control ............ 108
Dust filter ..................................... 111
39 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should adjust
the seat height for proper vision as well as fore / aft
placement and backrest angle to insure adequate
control, reach, operation, and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for proper height. See
also airbag section on page 58 for proper seat
positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure
adequate control, reach, operation, and comfort.
Both the inside and outside rear view mirrors should be
adjusted for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be
seated in a properly secured restraint system that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view
mirror adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger
side front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury can result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
Infants and small children must ride in the back
seats and be seated in an appropriate infant or
child restraint system, which is properly secured
with the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance
with the child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is
not properly secured in the child restraint.
42 Seats
Te ch n i c a 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 77;
inside rear view mirror, see page 75;
steering wheel adjustment, see page 74.
Note:
See page 43 for instructions on storing and recalling the
seat position.Head restraint
Raising:
Pull up on head restraint.
Lowering:
Push button (1) and push down on head restraint, see
also page 45.
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 45 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.
43 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Memory function
(optional; Canada only: standard on ML 500;
USA: standard on ML 55 AMG)
The memory and stored position buttons are located on
the entry side of each front seat base.
5Memory button
6Position buttonsStoring positions into memory
Three sets of seat and exterior rear view mirror
positions may be programmed into memory.
Together with the driver’s seat you can store the
exterior rear view mirrors. Adjust the seat and exterior
rear view mirror to the desired position. See page 41 for
seat and page 77 for exterior rear view mirror
adjustment.
For the front passenger seat you can store the seat
position.
Push memory button (5), release, and within 3 seconds
push position button “1”. A second and third set of
positions for the same seat can be programmed into
memory by pushing first memory button (5) and then
position button “2”, respectively “3”.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not activate the memory function while driving.
Activating the memory function while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
44 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Recalling positions from memory
To recall a seat and exterior rear view mirror position,
push and hold one of the position buttons “1”, “2” or “3”
until seat movement has stopped. The seat movement
stops when the respective position button is released.Caution!
Do not operate the power seats using the memory
button if the seat backrest is in an excessively reclined
position. Doing so could cause damage to front or rear
seats.
First move the backrest to an upright position.
75 Rear view mirrors
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Inside rear view mirrorUse your inside rear view mirror to determine the size
and distance of objects seen in the passenger side rear
view convex mirror.
Antiglare night position
Manual (only ML 320):
Tilt the inside rear view mirror to the antiglare night
position using the lever (1) at its lower edge.