2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 fold seats

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 13
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 15
Symbols ............................................... 16
Operating safety .................................. 17
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 17
Problems with your vehicle .................. 18
Reporting safety defects...................... 19
Reporting safety defects ................ 19
Vehicle data recording......................... 20
Information regarding
electronic
recording devices........................... 20
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29Getting started................................... 31
Unlocking ............................................. 32
Remote control with folding key ..... 32
Adjusting .............................................. 35
Seats............................................... 35
Steering wheel ................................ 40
Mirrors ............................................ 41
Driving .................................................. 43
Fastening the seat belts.................. 43
Starting the engine ......................... 47
Switching on headlamps ................. 50
Turn signals and high beam ............ 50
Windshield wipers ........................... 51
Rear window wiper / washer ........... 52
Problems while driving .................... 53Parking and locking .............................. 54
Parking brake ................................. 54
Switching off headlamps................. 55
Turning off engine ........................... 55
Locking ........................................... 56
Safety and Security........................... 57
Occupant safety ................................... 58
Airbags ........................................... 59
Seat belts ....................................... 64
Children in the vehicle .................... 67
Blocking of rear door
window operation ........................... 74
Panic alarm .......................................... 75
Activating........................................ 75
Deactivating.................................... 75
Driving safety systems ......................... 76
ABS ................................................. 76
BAS ................................................. 78
4-ETS .............................................. 79
EBP ................................................. 80
ESP ................................................. 80

ContentsAnti-theft systems................................ 83
Immobilizer..................................... 83
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 83
Tow-away alarm,
glass breakage sensor.................... 84Controls in detail............................... 87
Locking and unlocking ......................... 88
Remote control with folding key ..... 88
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................... 90
Opening the liftgate........................ 91
Closing the liftgate ......................... 92
Automatic central locking .............. 93
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 94Seats ................................................... 95
Removing and installing
front seat head restraints............... 95
Rear seat head restraints ............... 96
Heated seats* ................................ 98
Rear seats ...................................... 99
Third row seats* .......................... 102
Memory function* ............................. 105
Storing positions into memory ..... 106
Recalling positions
from memory ............................... 106
Storing exterior rear
view mirror parking position......... 106
Lighting.............................................. 107
Combination switch ..................... 107
Fog lamps .................................... 111
Hazard warning flasher ................ 113
Interior lighting............................. 114
Instrument cluster ............................. 117
Instrument cluster illumination .... 117
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 118
Display in the speedometer ......... 118
Resetting trip odometer ............... 119
Tachometer .................................. 119
Outside temperature indicator ..... 119
Setting the clock .......................... 119Automatic transmission ..................... 120
One-touch gearshifting ................ 121
Gear ranges ................................. 122
Gear selector lever position ......... 123
Driving tips................................... 124
Towing a trailer ............................ 125
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 126
Transmission control –
LOW RANGE mode ............................ 127
Switching on LOW RANGE mode.. 127
Switching off LOW RANGE mode . 127
Good visibility .................................... 128
Rear view mirrors ......................... 128
Electrically folding
exterior rear view mirrors............. 130
Windshield wipers ........................ 131
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 133
Rear window wiper....................... 133
Sun visors .................................... 134
Rear window defroster ................. 135

98 Controls in detailSeatsInstalling rear seat head restraints
Insert head restraint and push it down
to the stop.

Push release button1 and adjust
head restraint to the desired position
(page 37).
Stowing rear center head restraint
1Rear center head restraint
2Bar
3Clip

Remove rear center head restraint
(page 97).

If necessary, remove cargo floor plates,
see “Removing cargo floor plates”
(page 165).

Slide rear seats forward, see “Adjusting
rear seat fore and aft” (
page 100).

Fold rear seat backrests down, see
“Folding down the backrest”
(page 100).

From cargo compartment, attach rear
center head restraint1 to underside
of rear center seat.
Make sure front side of head
restraint1 is facing upward.

Press bar2 on both sides into
clips3.
Heated seats*
Both switches for the front seats are loca-
ted in the center console.
1Normal heating
2Rapid heating
Start the engine.
Switching on seat heating

Press upper switch position1.
A red indicator lamp on the switch
lights up.

99 Controls in detail
Seats
Switching off seat heating
Press upper switch position1 again.
The indicator lamp on the switch turns
off.
Switching on rapid seat heating

Press lower switch position2.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
turn on.Switching off rapid seat heating

Press lower switch position2 again.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
turn off.
Rear seats
iThe seat heater will be automatically
switched off after approximately
20 minutes.iThe system switches over to normal
heating mode after approximately five
minutes. Only one red indicator lamp
remains on.
!If one or both of the lamps on the seat
heater switch are flashing, there is in-
sufficient voltage available since too
many electrical consumers are turned
on. The seat heater switches off auto-
matically.
The seat heater will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the rear seats while driving.
When using the rear seats, always make
sure the seats are folded up and in the
locked position, and the seat belts are prop-
erly positioned on the body. Your seat must
be adjusted so that you can correctly fasten
your seat belt.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.

100 Controls in detailSeatsThe rear seats are divided asymmetrically.
To enlarge the cargo compartment you can
adjust the left and right part separately.
The following changes are possible:

moving the seat fore and aft


folding down the backrest


lowering the seat
Adjusting rear seat fore and aft
1Release lever

Pull release lever1 in direction of
arrow.

Slide seat to the desired position until
it locks in place.
Folding down the backrest
1Lock button

Close cup holder (
page 170) and
ashtray (
page 172) in rear center
console (page 170).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 36) or power seat (
page 38).

Slide seat forward.

Remove head restraint(s) (
page 95).

Pull lock button1 up and fold back-
rest forward until it locks in place.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked
position.
Folding up the backrest

Close cup holder (
page 170) and
ashtray (
page 172) in rear center
console.

Pull lock button1 up and unfold back-
rest until it locks in place.
Make sure the seat belt is not caught in
the seat.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.
Warning!
G
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.

101 Controls in detailSeats
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked
position.

Install head restraint (
page 96).

Slide seat rearward to desired position
(page 100).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 36) or power
seats (
page 38).
Lowering the rear seat
1Release button
2Lever
3Release lever

Close cup holder in rear center console
(page 170).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 36) or power seat (
page 38).

Press and hold release button1 to un-
lock lever2.

Pull lever2 in direction of arrow.

Pull release lever3 and push down
rear seat until it locks in place.

Fold down the backrest (
page 100).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 36) or power
seats (
page 38).Folding up the rear seat

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 36) or power seat (
page 38).

Pull release lever3 and raise rear seat
until it locks in place.
Easy entry / exit feature*
The easy entry / exit feature allows access
to the third row seats*. The right cargo
floor plate must be removed (
page 165).
Warning!
G
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.Warning!
G
Never drive with the second row right seat
folded forward (easy entry / exit feature). It
could open and fold back unintentionally.

102 Controls in detailSeatsFolding rear seat forward
1Lever
Move right seat forward. Manual seats
(page 36) or power seats
(page 38).

Move rear seat forward (
page 100).

Push head restraint fully down and tilt
it forward.

Fold backrest forward (
page 100).

Pull lever1 up and fold the rear seat
forward.Resetting rear seat

Pull down on seat bench until it locks
into place.

Pull lock button1 (
page 100) up
and unfold backrest until it locks into
place.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 (
page 100) is not visible in
the locked position.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.

Move the rear and front seats in de-
sired position.

Pull up and adjust head restraint
(page 37).
Third row seats*Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.
Never place hands under seat or near any
moving parts while a seat is being adjusted.

103 Controls in detailSeats
Folding down single seat
1Head restraint
2Hook
3Tensioner
4Hook and loop fastener strip
Remove cargo floor plate
(page 165).

Remove head restraint1 from seat
cushion.

Lift tensioner3 upward to a horizon-
tal position to release tension of the
belt.

Disengage hook2 while holding onto
the seat firmly with one hand.

Attach belt at hook and loop fastener
strip4 (
page 103) on underside of
seat.
5Backrest release
6Seat release

Fold seat down until it locks securely in
place.
The red marking on the seat release6
should not be visible.

Store cargo floor plates inside the
backrest (
page 165).

Pull backrest release5 and unfold
backrest until it locks securely in place.

Install head restraint1 in backrest
(page 103).
Storing single seat

Remove head restraint from backrest
(page 103).

Pull backrest release5 and fold back-
rest forward until it locks securely in
place.

Remove cargo floor plates from the
backrest.

Pull seat release6 (
page 103) and
fold seat up.