2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55AMG Owner's Manual

153 Controls in detail
Useful features
Opening the storage compartment 
Press the lock cylinder in and pull stor-
age compartment out using handle2.
Closing the storage compartment

Push the storage compartment in until
the lock engages.Armrest storage spaces
A flat storage tray with a deeper storage
compartment underneath is located below
the armrest. Both can be opened separate-
ly.
1Button to open storage tray
2Button to open storage compartment
3Open cover4Storage tray
5Coin holder
Opening the storage tray

Press button1 and lift up armrest.
The armrest contains two coin holders.
Opening the storage compartment

Press button2 and lift up armrest.

154 Controls in detailUseful featuresOpening the storage compartment in
front of armrest
Slide the cover3 rearward.
The storage compartment below con-
tains a cup holder (
page 155).
Cup holders Cup holder in instrument panel
A cup holder is located on both the right
and left side of the instrument panel.
Opening the cup holder

Briefly touch top of cover.
The cup holder opens automatically.
Closing the cup holder

Fold the cup holder upwards and press
on it until it engages.
Warning!
G
When not in use, keep the cup holder
closed. Place only containers that fit into the
cup holder to prevent spills. Use lids on
open containers and do not fill containers to
a height where the contents, especially hot
liquids, could spill during vehicle maneu-
vers.

155 Controls in detail
Useful features
Cup holder in front of armrest
Opening the cup holder
Slide cover rearward (
page 154).

Fold the cup holder forward.
Closing the cup holder

Fold the cup holder backward.

Slide cover forward.Cup holder in rear center console
Opening the cup holder

Briefly touch the cover.
The cup holder opens automatically.
Closing the cup holder

Press the cup holder forward and press
on it until it engages.
Armrest in rear seat bench
Pull the armrest down by its top.
!Close the cup holder before folding the
rear seat bench.

156 Controls in detailUseful featuresAshtrays and cigarette lighter Ashtray and cigarette lighter in the
front center console
1Ashtray
2Cigarette lighter
3Cover plate
Opening the ashtray

Briefly touch cover plate3.
The ashtray opens automatically.Removing ashtray insert

Secure vehicle from movement by set-
ting the parking brake. Move the selec-
tor lever to positionN.
Now you have more room to take out
the insert.

Grip the insert on the sides and pull it
out upwards.
Reinstalling ashtray insert

Install ashtray insert.

Close the ashtray.
Warning!
G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the cigarette lighter; they are extremely hot.
Hold the knob only.
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the steering lock. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause an ac-
cident and/or serious personal injury.iThe cigarette lighter socket can be
used to accommodate electrical acces-
sories up to a maximum of 50 W.
If the engine is off, the battery may be-
come discharged when used for long
periods of time.
Warning!
G
Remove ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Set the parking brake to secure vehicle
from movement. Move gear selector lever to
positionN. With gear selector lever in
positionN, turn off the engine.

157 Controls in detail
Useful features
Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition.

Push in cigarette lighter2
(page 156).
The cigarette lighter will pop out auto-
matically when hot.
Ashtray and cigarette lighter in the rear
center console
1Ashtray
2Cigarette lighter
3Cover plate
Opening the ashtray

Briefly touch cover plate3.
The ashtray opens automatically.
Removing ashtray insert

Grip the insert on the sides and pull it
out upwards.Reinstalling ashtray insert

Install ashtray insert.

Close the ashtray.
Cigarette lighter

Switch on the ignition.

Push in cigarette lighter2.
The cigarette lighter will pop out auto-
matically when hot.
!Close the ashtray in the rear center
console before folding the rear seat
bench.

158 Controls in detailUseful featuresElectrical outletElectrical outletOne outlet is located in the front passen-
ger footwell and another on the right-hand
side of the luggage compartment.
Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).
Telephone*
Radio transmitters, such as a portable tele-
phone or a citizens band unit, should only
be used inside the vehicle if they are con-
nected to an antenna that is installed on
the outside of the vehicle.
The external antenna must be approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
for information on the installation of an ap-
proved external antenna. Refer to the radio
transmitter operation instructions regard-
ing use of an external antenna.
iThe outlets function even if the key is
not in the ignition.
The electrical outlet can be used to ac-
commodate electrical consumers (e.g.
air pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a max-
imum of 180 W.
If the engine is off, the battery may be-
come discharged if used for long peri-
ods of time.
Warning!
G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

159 Controls in detail
Useful features
You can take and place telephone calls us-
ing the MCS unit.
See separate instruction manual for infor-
mation on how to operate the telephone.
Tele Aid*
Warning!
G
Please do not forget that your primary re-
sponsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be
his /her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
o m m e n d t h a t y o u p u l l o v e r t o a s a f e l o c a t i o n
and stop before placing or taking a tele-
phone call.
If you choose to use the telephone
1 while
driving, please use the hands-free device
and only use the telephone when road,
weather and traffic conditions permit. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
cellular telephone while driving a vehicle.
Only operate the MCS (Modular Control Sys-
tem)
1 if road, weather and traffic conditions
permit.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km / h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of approx. 44 feet (ap-
proximately 13.5 m) every second.
1Observe all legal requirements
Warning!
G
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving a ve-
hicle. Whether or not prohibited by law, for
safety reasons, the driver should not use the
cellular telephone while the vehicle is in mo-
tion.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location before an-
swering or placing a call.
!The initial activation of the Tele Aid sys-
tem may only be performed by com-
pleting the subscriber agreement and
placing an acquaintance call using the
SOS button. Failure to complete either
of these steps will result in a system
that is not activated. If the system is
not activated, the indicator lamp in the
SOS button stays on after turning key
in steering lock to position2 and the
message
TELE AID – NOT ACTIVATED
will be shown in the MCS display for ap-
proximately 10 seconds.
If you have any questions regarding ac-
tivation, please call the Response Cen-
ter at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).

160 Controls in detailUseful featuresThe Tele Aid system
(Telematic Alarm Identification on
Demand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response:

automatic and manual emergency


roadside assistance and


information.
The Tele Aid system is operational provid-
ing that the vehicle’s battery is charged,
properly connected, not damaged and cel-
lular and GPS coverage is available.
The speaker volume of a Tele Aid call can
be adjusted using the volume control on
the MCS unit.

To activate, press the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button
•
or
the Information button
¡
, depend-
ing on the type of response required.Shortly after the completion of your ac-
quaintance call, you will receive a user ID
and password via first call mail. By visiting
www.mbusa.com and selecting “Tele Aid”
( U S A o n l y ) , y o u w i l l h a v e a c c e s s t o a c c o u n t
information, remote door unlock, profile
and more.System self-check
Initially, after turning the key in the steer-
ing lock to position2, malfunctions are de-
tected and indicated (the indicator lamps
in the SOS button, the Roadside Assis-
tance button
•
and the Information
button
¡
stay on longer than
10 seconds or do not come on). The mes-
sage
Tele Aid
–Visit workshop!
ap-
pears for approx. 10 seconds in the MCS
display.
iThe SOS button, the Roadside Assis-
tance button
•
and the Information
button
¡
are located in the over-
head control panel.
!The Tele Aid system utilizes the cellu-
lar network for communication and
the GPS (Global Positioning System)
satellites for vehicle location. If either
of these signals are unavailable, the
Tele Aid system may not function and
if this occurs, assistance must be sum-
moned by other means.