2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 emergency towing

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

ContentsPractical hints.................................. 223
What to do if … .................................. 224
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 224
Additional indicators in the
speedometer display .................... 235
Where will I find ...?............................ 236
First aid kit ................................... 236
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 237
Electric air pump (ML 55 AMG) .... 238
Spare wheel (space-saver tire) ..... 239
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 242
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 242
Locking the vehicle ...................... 243
Changing batteries ....................... 243
Fuel filler flap ............................... 244
Manually unlocking the
transmission selector lever .......... 245
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 246
Sliding/pop-up roof* .................... 246
Replacing bulbs ................................. 247
Bulbs ............................................ 247
Replacing bulbs for front lamps.... 249
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 251
Adjusting headlamp aim ............... 253Replacing wiper blades ...................... 254
Removal ....................................... 254
Installation ................................... 254
Flat tire .............................................. 255
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 255
Battery ............................................... 261
Disconnecting the battery ............ 261
Removing the batteries ................ 262
Charging and reinstalling
batteries....................................... 262
Reconnecting the batteries .......... 262
Jump starting ..................................... 264
Towing the vehicle ............................. 267
Front towing eye .......................... 269
Rear towing eye ........................... 269
Stranded vehicle .......................... 270
Fuses ................................................. 271
Fuse box in engine
compartment ............................... 271
Auxiliary fuse box in front
passenger footwell ....................... 272
Technical data................................. 273
Spare parts service............................ 274
Warranty coverage ............................ 275
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 275
Identification labels ........................... 276
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 277
Engine ............................................... 278
Rims and tires ................................... 279
Rims and tires .............................. 279
Rims and winter tires* ................. 280
Spare wheel ................................. 280
Electrical system ............................... 281
Main Dimensions ............................... 282
Weights ............................................. 283
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 284
Capacities .................................... 284
Engine oils ................................... 286
Engine oil additives ...................... 286
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 286
Brake fluid.................................... 286
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 286
Fuel requirements ........................ 287
Gasoline additives ........................ 287
Coolants ...................................... 287

117 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the transmis-
sion’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.

Towing a trailer
If you tow a trailer, note the following
points:

Manually shift to a lower gear range
(4,3, 2, 1), if the transmission hunts
between gears on inclines
(page 114).
A lower gear range and reduction of
speed reduces the change to overload
or overheat the engine.


At very steep inclines switch transfer
case to LOW RANGE mode
(page 118).
For more information on trailer towing, see
the “Operation” section (
page 192).Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)
If the vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home mode. In this mode only 2nd gear
and reverse gear can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.

Move selector lever to positionP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before re-
starting.

Move selector lever to position D (for
2nd gear) or R.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.

223 Practical hints
What to do if …
Where will I find ...?
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Battery
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

300 Index
Passenger 59
Safety guidelines 57
Side impact 59
Window curtain 59
Alarm
Audible 70, 79
Canceling 79
Visual 78
Alarm system
Anti-theft 78
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 288
Antiglare
Automatic 119
Antilock brake system (ABS) 293
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 78
Canceling alarm 79
Disarming 79
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft alarm system 78
Immobilizer 78
Tow-away alarm, glass breakage
sensor 79
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning 183Armrest
Storage compartment in front of 153
Storage spaces 153
Armrest in rear seat bench 155
Ashtray
Front center console 156
Rear center console 157
At the gas station 200
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 206
Attaching a trailer 194
Automatic antiglare for rear
view mirror 119
Automatic central locking
Activating 89
Deactivating 89
Automatic climate control 124
Adjusting air distribution 127
Adjusting air volume 127
Air conditioning 129
Air outlets 132
Air recirculation mode 128
Basic setting 127
Changing basic setting 127
Defrosting 128Economy mode 125
Rear passenger compartment 131
Rear window defroster 131
Residual heat utilization 130
Residual ventilation 130
Switching off 127
Switching on 126
Automatic headlamp mode 103
Automatic interior lighting control
Activating 107
Deactivating 107
Automatic locking when driving 89
Automatic transmission 113
Accelerator position 117
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 117
Gear ranges 114
Gear selector lever position 115
Gear shifting malfunctions 117
Kickdown 117
Manual shifting 113
One-touch gearshifting 113
Selector lever position 113
Towing a trailer 117
Transmission fluid 206

304 IndexDisplay messages
Error 235
Service indicator (FSS) 235
StArt 235
Displays
Service indicator 215
Distance remaining 175
Door entry lamps 107
Door unlock
With Tele Aid* 167
Doors
Opening from inside vehicle 86
Opening from outside 85
Downhill driving
Cruise control 147
Downshifting 113
Drink holder see Cup holder 155
Drinking and driving 179
Driving 40, 45
Abroad 197
General instructions 179
In winter 184
Problems 49
Safety systems 71
Through standing water 185
Driving abroad 197Driving instructions 179
Towing a trailer 194
Driving off 181
Driving safety systems
4-ETS 73
ABS 71
BAS 73
ESP 75
Driving systems 146
Cruise control 146
Driving safety systems 71
EBP 74
Parktronic* 149
Driving through water 189
E
Easy entry/exit feature* 95
EBP 74
Indicator lamp 229
Economy mode
Automatic climate control 125
Electric air pump 238
Electrical connections
Trailer 192
Electrical fuses 271
Electrical outlet 158Electrical system
Technical data 281
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP 25,
75
Electronic stability program see ESP 294
Electronic Traction System see 4-ETS 25
Emergency call system
Requirements 160
Emergency call system* 160
Emergency calls
Initiating an emergency call 163
With Tele Aid* 161
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 117
Emergency operations
Closing sliding/pop-up roof 246
Locking the vehicle 243
Opening sliding/pop-up roof 246
Remote door unlock 167
Unlocking the vehicle 242
Emergency tensioning device
see ETD 62, 294
Emission control 198
Emission control label 276

305 Index
Engine
Compartment 202
Starting 44
Technical data 278
Turning off 51
Engine cleaning 219
Engine compartment
Fuse box in 271
Hood 202
Engine malfunction indicator lamp 25, 232
Engine number 293
Engine oil 203, 286
Adding 204, 205
Additives 286
Checking level 203
Consumption 203
Filler neck 205
Viscosity 294
Engine oil level indicator 204
Engine oil level see Oil level 201
Enlarged cargo area 93
Error
Display messages 235
ESP 25, 75, 294
LOW RANGE mode 76
Malfunction indicator lamp 225, 226Switching off 76
Switching on 77
Warning lamp 224, 225, 226
ETD 294
Safety guidelines 57
ETD (Emergency Tensioning Device) 54
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 62
Exterior mirrors
Folding 120
Exterior rear view mirrors 38
Adjusting 38
F
Fastening the seat belts 40
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 148
First aid kit 236
Flat tire 255
Inflating the spare tire 259
Lowering the vehicle 258
Mounting the spare wheel 255
Preparing the vehicle 255
Spare wheel 239
Flexible Service System (FSS) 215, 294
Flexible service system (FSS) 25
Fluid level
Automatic transmission 206Fog lamp, rear 248
Fog lamps 105
Replacing bulbs 247
Fog lamps, front
Replacing bulbs 248
Switching on 105
Folding
Exterior mirrors 120
4-ETS 25, 73
Indicator lamp 226
LOW RANGE mode 74
Malfunction indicator lamp 226
Warning lamp 224
Front airbags 59
Front fog lamps
Indicator lamp 229
Switching off 106
Front lamps
Replacing bulbs 247, 249
Switching on 102
Front towing eyes 269
FSS 25
FSS (Flexible Service System) 215, 294
Fuel 200
Additives 287
Fuel reserve warning lamp 233

311 Index
Sliding/pop-up roof in an
emergency 246
Sliding/pop-up roof* 137
Storage compartment in front of
armrest 154
Storage compartment under passenger
seat 153
Windows 135
Opening and closing
Side windows 134
Operating
Garage door opener 171
Integrated remote control 171
Radio transmitters 197
Vehicle outside the USA and
Canada 13
Operating safety 17
Operator’s Manual 10
Ornamental moldings 220
Outside temperature indicator 112
Overdue service 215
Overhead control panel 29
P
Paintwork 219
Panic alarm 70
Panic button on remote control 70Parking 182
Trailer towing 196
Parking and locking 50
Parking brake 45, 50
Engaging 50
Releasing 45
Parking lamps
Replacing bulbs 247, 248, 250
Replacing the bulbs 250
Switching on 102
Parking position
Exterior rear view mirrors 100
Parktronic* 149, 295
Cleaning system sensor 220
Monitoring reach 150
Sensor cover 220
Switching off 151
Switching on 151
Warning indicators 150
Partition net
Engaging 141
Removing 142
Tightening 142
Partition net* 141
Parts see Spare parts servicePassenger compartment 196
Interior lighting 107
Passenger footwell
Fuse box in 272
Passenger safety see Occupant safety 54
Pedals 179
Plastic and rubber parts
Cleaning 222
Poly-V-belt drive 295
Layout 277
Positions (Memory function*)
Recalling from memory 100
Storing into memory 100
Power assistance 179
Power seat*
Adjusting backrest tilt 37
Adjusting head restraint height 37
Adjusting head restraint tilt 37
Adjusting seat cushion tilt 37
Adjusting seat height 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 37
Power seats 37
Power train 295
Power washer 218