2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Illumination

Contents
Tow-away alarm,
glass breakage sensor.................... 79
Controls in detail............................... 83
Locking and unlocking ......................... 84
Remote control with folding key ..... 84
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................... 86
Opening the liftgate........................ 87
Closing the liftgate ......................... 88
Automatic central locking .............. 89
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 90
Seats.................................................... 91
Seat heater*................................... 91
Removing and installing
head restraints ............................... 92
Rear seats ...................................... 93
Third row seats* ............................. 96
Memory function*................................ 99
Storing positions in memory ........ 100
Recalling positions from memory . 100
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position (passenger side) ............. 100Lighting.............................................. 102
Combination switch ..................... 102
Fog lamps .................................... 105
Hazard warning flasher ................ 106
Interior lighting............................. 107
Instrument cluster ............................. 110
Instrument cluster illumination .... 110
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 111
Display in the speedometer ......... 111
Resetting trip odometer ............... 112
Tachometer .................................. 112
Outside temperature indicator ..... 112
Setting the clock .......................... 112
Automatic transmission ..................... 113
One-touch gearshifting................. 113
Gear ranges.................................. 114
Gear selector lever position ......... 115
Accelerator position ..................... 117
Towing a trailer ............................ 117
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)........................................... 117
Transmission control –
LOW RANGE mode............................. 118
Switching on LOW RANGE mode .. 118
Switching off LOW RANGE mode . 118Good visibility .................................... 119
Rear view mirror .......................... 119
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 121
Windshield wipers ........................ 122
Rear window wiper....................... 123
Sun visor ...................................... 123
Automatic climate control ................. 124
Automatic mode .......................... 126
Adjusting air volume and air
distribution manually ................... 127
Defrosting .................................... 128
Air recirculation mode.................. 128
Air conditioning ............................ 129
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 130
Rear window defroster ................. 131
Rear passenger compartment
ventilation and rear automatic
climate control ............................. 131
Front and rear air outlets ............. 132
Power windows.................................. 134
Opening and closing the side
windows ....................................... 134
Rear quarter windows* ................ 136
Sliding/pop-up roof* ......................... 137
Opening and closing the
sliding/pop-up roof ...................... 137

104 Controls in detailLightingNight security illumination
When you turn off the engine and the last
door has been closed, the following lamps
will remain lit:

Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Front fog lamps
The combination switch must be set to
position
U
(page 102).Deactivating night security illumination
temporarily

Before leaving the vehicle turn the key
in the steering lock to position0 then
turn it to position2 and back to0.
The night security illumination is deac-
tivated. It will reactivate as soon as you
reinsert the key in the steering lock.
Setting illumination time
1Switch for fog lamps

Stop the vehicle.

Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
light up.

Turn combination switch to
position
M
.

Press upper part1 of switch until the
clock, located in the instrument clus-
ter, displays the actual illumination
time.

Press upper part1 of switch again.
Each time the switch is pressed, the il-
lumination time increases by
15 seconds. You can set the illumina-
tion time between 0 (off) and
60 seconds.
Approximately five seconds after pressing
the switch, the illumination time is set and
the clock is displayed again.
iYou can reactivate this function within
ten minutes by opening a door or the
liftgate.
If you do not open a door or the liftgate
after turning off the engine, the lamps
will automatically switch off after
60 seconds.

110 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 24).
1Left knob
2Right knobThe instrument cluster is activated when
you:


open the driver’s door


turn the key in steering lock to
position1 or 2 (
page 33)


press the left knob1
Instrument cluster illumination
To brighten illumination
Turn knob1 clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn knob1 counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.iYou can set the instrument cluster illu-
mination with the following lamps on:

parking lamps


low beam headlamps


high beam headlamps

299 Index
A
ABS 25, 71, 293
ABS control 71
LOW RANGE mode 72
Malfunction indicator lamp 225
Warning lamp 225
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 117
Accident
In case of 49
Activating
Air circulation mode 130
Air recirculation mode 129
Anti-theft alarm system 78
Automatic climate control 125
ESP 77
Exterior headlamps 46
Hazard warning flasher 106
Headlamps 46
High beams 102
Ignition 33
Immobilizer 51, 78
Rear passenger compartment
ventilation and climate control 131
Rear window defroster 131
Rear window wiper 48Residual heat 130
Seat heater 91
Tow-away alarm 80
Warning indicators (Parktronic*) 151
Windshield wipers 48
Activating automatic central locking 89
Adding
Coolant 206
Engine oil 204, 205
Additional turn signals 247
Adjustable steering column
Indicator lamp 229
Adjusting 34
Backrest tilt 36, 37
Exterior rear view mirror 38
Head restraint height 36, 37
Head restraint tilt 36, 37
Headlamp aim 253
Instrument cluster illumination 110
Manual seat 35
Mirrors 38
Power seats 37
Seat cushion tilt 37
Seat fore and aft 35
Seat fore and aft adjustment 37
Seat height 35, 36Seats 34
Steering wheel 37
Adjusting air distribution
Automatic climate control 127
Adjusting air volume
Automatic climate control 127
Air conditioner (cooling)
Turning on 129
Air conditioning
Cooling 129
Air conditioning refrigerant 286
Air outlets
Automatic climate control 132
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure 211
Air pump 238
Air recirculation mode 128
Activating 129
Deactivating 129
AIRBAG OFF
Warning lamp 232
Airbags 55
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 293
BabySmartTM deactivation system 65
Children 56
Front 59

307 Index
Headlamps
Automatic control 103
Bi-Xenon 293
Cleaning 220
Cleaning system 121
Cleaning system* 208
Refilling washer fluid 208
Switching off 51
Switching on 46
Washer fluid 290
Washer system 290
Headliner
Cleaning 221
Heated seats 91
Height adjustment
Head restraints 36, 37
Seat belts 43
Steering wheel 37
High beam flasher 47, 102
High beam headlamps
Replacing bulbs 247, 250
Switching on 102
High mounted brake lamp 248
Replacing bulbs 252Hood 202
Closing 203
Opening 202
Hooks
Loading 140
Hydroplaning 183
I
Identification labels 276
Certification label 276
Vehicle identification number
(VIN) 276
Ignition 33
Immobilizer 78
Activating 51, 78
Deactivating 78
Indicator lamp
Adjustable steering column 229
Brake pad wear 234
Coolant 230
Front fog lamps 229
Low engine oil level 229
Indicators, additional
Speedometer display 235
Infant and child restraint systems 63
Installing 67
LATCH child seat mounts 68Inflating
Spare tire 259
Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid* 165
Inside rear view mirror
Antiglare 119
Installing
Head restraint 92
Infant and child restraint systems 67
Wiper blades 254
Instrument cluster 24, 110, 294
Cleaning 221
Coolant temperature gauge 111
Display in the speedometer 111
Illumination 110
Lamps in 233
Outside temperature indicator 112
Instruments and controls see Cockpit 22
Integrated remote control
Canadian programming 171
Erasing memory 171
Hand-held transmitter 169
Operating 171
Rolling code programming 170

309 Index
Light alloy wheels
Cleaning 221
Lighter
Rear center console 157
Lighter see cigarette lighter 156
Lighting 102
Automatic headlamp mode 103
Cargo compartment 109
Combination switch 102
Daytime running lamp mode 103
Door entry lamps 107
Front fog lamps 105
High beam flasher 102
High beams 102
Instrument cluster illumination 110
Interior 107
Locator lighting 105
Low beam 102
Night security illumination 104
Parking lamps 102
Limiting the gear range 114
Limp Home Mode 117
Line of fall 294
Loading 139
Cargo area cover blind* 143
Cargo floor plates 144Cargo tie-down rings 140
Hooks 140
Instructions 139, 140
Partition net* 141
Roof rack 145
Split rear bench seat 93
Trailer 193
Locator lighting 105
Lock button 294
Locking 84
Automatic while driving 89
Centrally from inside 90
Fuel filler flap 200
Global 85
Vehicle in an emergency 243
Locking knobs 32
Loss of keys 86
Loss of Service and Warranty Information
Booklet 275
Low beam headlamps
Replacing bulbs 247, 249
Switching on 46
Low engine oil level
Indicator lamp 229
LOW RANGE - 4-ETS 74
LOW RANGE - ABS 72LOW RANGE - ESP 76
LOW RANGE mode 118
Low washer system fluid level
Indicator lamp 234
Lowering
Vehicle 258
M
Main dimensions 282
Maintenance 12
Display messages 235
Manual operations
Fuel filler flap 244
Interior lighting control 108
Locking the vehicle 243
Sliding/pop-up roof 246
Unlocking the driver’s door 242
Unlocking transmission selector
lever 245
Manual seat
Adjusting 35
Adjusting backrest tilt 36
Adjusting head restraint height 36
Adjusting head restraint tilt 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35
Seat height 35

310 IndexMB Tex upholstery
Cleaning 222
MCS
Modular Control System 294
Mechanical key 242
Memory function 99, 295
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking positions 100
Memory function* 100
Recalling positions from memory 100
Mirror
Inside rear view mirror 38
Mirrors
Activating exterior mirror parking posi-
tion 101
Adjusting 38
Automatic antiglare for rear view
mirror 119
Exterior rear view mirror 38
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position 101
MON 200
MON (Motor Octane Number) 295
Monitoring reach
Parktronic* 150
Multifunction display 295N
Night security illumination 104
Deactivation temporarily 104
Setting time 104
O
Occupant safety 54
Children and airbags 56
Children in the vehicle 63
Fastening the seat belt 40
Infant and child restraint systems 63
LATCH child seat mounts 68
Seat belts 40, 57
Odometer display 111
Odometer, main 25
Off-road driving
Checklist 187, 191
Crossing obstacles 190
Driving instructions off-road
driving 186
Driving through water 189
Returning 191
Rules 186
Special driving features 186
Steep terrain 187Oil
Adding 204, 205
Checking level 203
Consumption 203
Dipstick 203, 205
Filler neck 205
Viscosity 294
Oil dipstick 205
Oil level
Checking 201
One-touch gearshifting 113
Canceling gear range limit 114
Downshifting 113
Upshifting 114
Opening
Doors from the inside 86
Fuel filler flap 200
Fuel filler flap manually 244
Glove box 152
Hood 202
Liftgate 85, 87
Liftgate from inside 87
Liftgate from outside 87
Rear quarter windows 136
Side windows 135
Sliding/pop-up roof 246