Page 30 of 342

27 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Locking and unlocking with remote control
Unlocking:
Press transmit button Œ once. All turn signal lamps
blink once to indicate that the driver’s door and fuel
filler flap are unlocked.
The antitheft alarm system is also deactivated.
Press transmit button Œ a second time to unlock
remaining doors and liftgate.
Notes:
If the fuel filler flap cannot be opened, see page 295.
If within 40 seconds of unlocking with the remote
control, neither door nor liftgate is opened or the key is
not inserted in the steering lock, the vehicle will
automatically lock and reactivate the antitheft alarm
system.Locking:
Press transmit button ‹ once. All turn signal lamps
blink three times to indicate that the vehicle is locked
and the antitheft alarm is activated.
Notes:
If the turn signal lamps do not blink three times when
locking the vehicle, a door, the liftgate, or the hood is
not properly closed. Close the respective element and
lock the vehicle again with the remote control.
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked by pressing
the transmit button, then it may be necessary to change
the batteries in the remote control or to synchronize the
remote control, see page 292 and page 293.
Unlocking the liftgate
Press transmit button Š to unlock only the liftgate.
This also deactivates the antitheft alarm.
Important!
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft. (2.15 m) is
required to open the liftgate.
Page 37 of 342
34 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Liftgate
1Grip molding
2Handle, outside
3Recessed gripImportant!
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft. (2.15 m) is
required to open the liftgate.
To o p e n :
From outside of vehicle, pull on handle (2).
To c l o s e :
Pull down on recessed grip (3), and close by using the
grip molding (1).
P72.10-2307-26
Page 42 of 342

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.
Page 43 of 342
40 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Manual seats (ML 320)
We recommend to adjust the manual seat in the
following order:
1Seat, fore / aft
Lift handle (1), slide seat to desired position and
allow handle to reengage. Check for proper
engagement before driving. The position should be
as far rearward as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.2Seat cushion tilt
Raise lever (2), move seat cushion to desired
position. Release lever.
3Backrest tilt
Turn handwheel (3) until your arms are slightly
angled when holding the steering wheel.
4Head restraint height
Raising:
Pull up on head restraint.
Lowering:
Push button (4), located at top of seat back, and
push down on head restraint.
Adj ust he ad r estrain t to supp ort the back of t he head
approximately at ear level. The head restraint angle
can also be adjusted manually.
See page 45 for removing head restraints.
Page 54 of 342
51 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tighten the lap portion to a snug fit by pulling shoulder
portion up.
The shoulder portion of the seat belt must be pulled
snug and checked for snugness immediately after
engaging it.
Adjust seat belt so that shoulder portion is located as
close as possible to the middle of your shoulder (it
should not touch the neck). For this purpose, you can
adjust the height of the belt outlet. Three positions are
available.4Button for belt outlet height adjustment
To raise, slide belt height adjustment upward.
To lower, press button (4) and slide belt outlet
downward.
Caution!
For safety reasons, avoid adjusting the seat or backrest
into positions which could affect the correct seat belt
positioning.
Page 137 of 342
134 Interior equipment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Storage compartment under front passenger seat
(standard; optional on ML 320)
The storage compartment under the front passenger
seat is lockable with its separate key (1).
Note:
Slide seat rearward to gain easier access to the storage
compartment.Cup holder in instrument panel
Touch top of cover. The cup holder (1) opens
automatically.
Caution!
Keep cup holder closed while traveling. Place only
containers that fit into the cup holder to prevent spills.
Do not fill containers to a height where the contents
could spill during vehicle maneuvers, especially hot
liquids.
Page 138 of 342
135 Interior equipment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Cup holder in front of armrestTo o p e n :
Slide the cover rearward, see page 133, and fold the cup
holder (1) forward.
To c l o s e :
Fold cup holder rearward and slide the cover forward.
Caution!
Keep cup holder closed while traveling. Place only
containers that fit into the cup holder to prevent spills.
Do not fill containers to a height where the contents
could spill during vehicle maneuvers, especially hot
liquids.
P68.00-2606-26
1
Page 139 of 342
136 Interior equipment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Cup holder in rear center console
Touch cover (1), the cup holder opens automatically.
Close the cup holder before folding the rear seat bench.
Caution!
Keep cup holder closed while traveling. Place only
containers that fit into the cup holder to prevent spills.
Do not fill containers to a height where the contents
could spill during vehicle maneuvers, especially hot
liquids.Armrest in rear bench seat
Pull down armrest (1) by its top.
P68.00-2596-26
1