2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 towing

285 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Front towing eye
The front towing eye is located on the pas-
senger side below the bumper.
1Towing eyeRear towing eye The rear towing eye is located behind the
right side cover in the bumper panel.
ML 350, ML 5001Cover
2Towing eye
To remove cover:
Pry out the cover1 using a flat blade
screwdriver (
page 257).
To reinstall cover:

Engage cover at bottom and press in
top securely.
iThe gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP and the key will not
turn in the steering lock if the battery is
disconnected or discharged. See notes
on the battery (
page 278) or on jump
starting (
page 281).
Manual unlocking transmission gear
selector lever (
page 264).
Warning!
G
In order to avoid possible serious burns or
injury, use extreme caution when removing
the cover, because the rear exhaust pipe is
extremely hot.

286 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleVehicles with sport package*1Cover
2Towing eye
To remove cover:
Grip cover1 at bottom and securely
pull out.
To reinstall cover:

Engage cover and press in securely.
Stranded vehicle
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the
wheels are dug into sand or mud, should
be done with the greatest of care, especial-
ly if the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Avoid pulling the vehicle jerkily or diago-
nally, since it could result in damage to the
chassis alignment.
Never try to free a vehicle that is still cou-
pled to a trailer.
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer
hitch receiver should be pulled backward
in its own previously made tracks.

319 Index
Rear passenger compartment 141
Rear window defroster 133
Residual heat utilization 140
Residual ventilation 140
Switching off 137
Switching on 137
Automatic headlamp mode 108
Automatic interior lighting control
Activating 113
Deactivating 113
Automatic locking when driving 93
Automatic transmission 119
Accelerator position 123
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 124
Gear ranges 121
Gear selector lever position 122
Gear shifting malfunctions 124
Kickdown 123
Manual shifting 120
One-touch gearshifting 120Selector lever position 119
Towing a trailer 124
Transmission fluid 222
B
BabySmart
TM
Airbag deactivation system 70
Compatible child seats 70, 311
Self-test 70
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 311
Backrest tilt 35
Backup lamps 267, 270
Bulbs 267
BAS 78, 311
Malfunction indicator lamp 245, 246,
247
Warning lamp 245, 246, 247
Batteries, remote control
Changing 262
Batteries, vehicle 223
Battery discharged
Jump starting 281Battery indicator lamp
Indicator lamp 254
Battery, vehicle 223, 278
Charging 279
Disconnecting 279
Reconnecting 279
Reinstalling 279
Removing 279
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 311
Blocking
Rear door window operation 73
Brake assist system (BAS) 311
Brake fluid 302
Brake lamp bulbs 267
Brake lamp, high mounted 267
Brake pad wear
Indicator lamp 254
Brakes 194
Warning lamp 244
Break-in period 192

323 Index
Display messages
Error 256
Service indicator (FSS) 256
StArt 256
Displays
Messages 219
Service indicator 232
Distance remaining 189
Door entry lamps 113
Door unlock
With Tele Aid* 179
Doors
Opening from inside vehicle 90
Opening from outside 89
Downhill driving
Cruise control 151
Downshifting 120
Drink holder see Cup holder 167
Drinking and driving 193Driving 42, 47
Abroad 211
In winter 198
Problems 51
Safety systems 76
Through standing water 200
Driving abroad 211
Driving instructions
Towing a trailer 209
Driving off 195
Driving safety systems
4-ETS 79
ABS 76
BAS 78
ESP 80
Driving systems 150
Cruise control 150
Driving safety systems 76
EBP 80
Parktronic* 153
Driving through water 203E
Easy entry/exit feature* 101
EBP 80
Indicator lamp 245
Economy mode
Automatic climate control 135
Electrical connections
Trailer 207
Electrical fuses 287
Electrical outlet 170
Electrical system
Technical data 297
Electrically folding exterior rear view
mirrors 128
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP 25,
80
Electronic stability program see ESP 312
Electronic Traction System see 4-ETS 25
Emergency call system
Requirements 172
Emergency call system* 172

325 Index
F
Fastening the seat belts 42
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 152
First aid kit 257
Flat tire 274
Lowering the vehicle 276
Mounting the spare wheel 274
Preparing the vehicle 274
Spare wheel 259
Flexible Service System (FSS) 232, 312
Fluid level
Automatic transmission 222
Fog lamp, rear 267
Fog lamps 111
Replacing bulbs 266
Fog lamps, front
Replacing bulbs 267
Switching on 111
Folding
Exterior mirrors 128
Folding electrically
Exterior rear view mirrors
1284-ETS 25, 79
Indicator lamp 252
LOW RANGE mode 80
Malfunction indicator lamp 252
Warning lamp 251
Front airbags 63
Front fog lamps
Indicator lamp 253
Front lamps
Replacing bulbs 266, 268
Front towing eyes 285
FSS (Flexible Service System) 232, 312
Fuel 215
Additives 303
Fuel reserve warning lamp 252
Gasoline additives 303
Premium unleaded gasoline 215,
303
Requirements 303
Reserve warning 25
Fuel additives 303
Fuel filler flap 214
Locking 214
Opening 263
Unlocking 214
Fuel requirements 303Fuel tank
Filler flap 214
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. 300
Functions
Trip computer* 186
Fuse box 287, 288
Fuse chart 287
Fuses 287
F us e box i n engi ne com p art me nt 2 87
Fuse box in passenger footwell 288
Fuse chart 287
Fuse extractor 287
Spare fuses 287
G
Garage door opener 29, 180
Erasing in remote control 185
Gasoline see Fuel 215
Gasoline additives 303
Gauge for
Coolant temperature 25
Fuel 25
Outside temperature 25

332 IndexPartition net* 159
Engaging 159
Removing 161
Tightening 160
Parts see Spare parts service
Passenger compartment 211
Interior lighting 112
Passenger footwell
Fuse box in 288
Passenger safety see Occupant
safety 58
Pedals 193
Plastic and rubber parts
Cleaning 239
Poly-V-belt drive 314
Layout 293
Positions (Memory function*)
Recalling from memory 106
Storing into memory 106
Power assistance 193Power seat*
Adjusting backrest tilt 38
Adjusting head restraint height 38
Adjusting seat cushion tilt 38
Adjusting seat height 38
Seat fore and aft adjustment 37
Power seats* 37
Power train 314
Power washer 235
Power windows
Blocking of rear door window
operation 73
Side windows 144
Synchronizing 146
Practical hints
First aid kit 257
Fuses 287
Lamps in instrument cluster 242
Spare wheel 259
Towing the vehicle 283
Vehicle jack 258
Vehicle tool kit 257Premium unleaded gasoline 303
Problems
While driving 51
With vehicle 18
Product information 9
Programming or reprogramming the inte-
grated remote control 182
R
Radio transmitters, control and
operation 211
Rain sensor* 130, 131
Rapid seat heating
Switching off 99
Rapid seat heating*
Switching on 98
Reading lamp 29

333 Index
Reading lamps 114
Rear automatic climate control 141
Adjusting air volume and air distribu-
tion manually 141
Automatic mode 141
Rear bench seat
Foldable 99
Rear door window
Blocking operation 73
Rear fog lamp 267
Bulb 267
Switching on 111
Rear lamp bulbs
Replacing 270
Rear parking lamp
Replacing bulbs 270
Rear passenger compartment ventilation
and climate control
Activating 141
Deactivating 141
Rear passenger compartment ventilation
and rear automatic climate
control 141Rear quarter windows* 146
Opening 146
Closing 147
Rear seats 99
Easy entry/exit feature* 101
Enlarging cargo area 99
Folding down backrest 100
Folding up 101
Folding up backrest 100
Fore and aft 99
Lowering 100
Third row* 102
Rear standing lamp
Replacing bulbs 270
Rear towing eyes 285
Rear view mirror automatic antiglare 126
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 133
Activating 133
Deactivating 133Rear window wiper 131
Rain sensor* 131
Rear window wiper/washer 51
Reconnecting
Vehicle battery 279
Refrigerant
Air conditioning 302
Refueling 214
Regular checks 215
Reinstalling vehicle battery 279
Remote control
Changing battery 262
Global locking 89
Global unlocking 89
Synchronizing 263
Unlocking liftgate 89
Unlocking the driver’s door, fuel filler
flap 89
Unlocking with 32
Remote control with folding key 88

338 IndexTele Aid* 171
Emergency calls 173
Information 177
Initiating an emergency call
manually 175
Remote door unlock 179
Roadside assistance 175
Stolen vehicle tracking services 180
System self-check 172
Upgrade signals 178
Telematics* 315
Telephone* 170
Temperature
Grades of tires 309
Tires 228
Third row seats* 102
Folding down single seat 102
Installing single seat 104
Removing single seat 104
Storing single seat 103
Tie-down rings (Cargo
compartment) 158Tightening torque 315
Tightening torque (Wheel bolts) 277
Tilt
Head restraint 37, 39
Time
Setting hours 118
Setting minutes 118
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 216, 227
Tire speed rating 198, 315
Tire traction 197
Tires 295, 308
Direction of rotation 227
Driving instructions 196
Retreads 226
Rims and tires 295
Rotating 228
Service life 227
Temperature 228
Temperature grades 309
Tread depth 230
Wear pattern 228
Winter 230Tools 257
Vehicle jack 258
Vehicles with CD-changer* 258
Wheel bolt wrench 258
Tow-away alarm 29, 84
Arming 84
Disarming 84
Disarming for transport 84
Towing
Trailer 206
Towing a trailer 209
Automatic transmission 124
Towing eyes
Front 285
Rear 285
Towing the vehicle 283
Stranded vehicle 286
Tracking services
For stolen vehicle 180