2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 steering

294 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleWarning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the key is in steering
lock position2.
If the key is left in steering lock position0
for an extended period of time, it can no
longer be turned in the switch. In this case,
the steering is locked. To unlock, remove
key from steering lock and reinsert.
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.iTo signal turns while being towed with
hazard warning flasher in use, turn key
in steering lock to position2 and acti-
vate combination switch for left or right
turn signal in usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the
hazard warning flasher will operate
again.
iThe vehicle cannot be started via
tow-start.iIf the battery is disconnected or dis-
charged, the gear selector lever will re-
main locked in positionP and the key
will not turn in the steering lock. For
more information, see “Battery”
(page 272) and “Jump starting”
(page 291).
For information on manual unlocking
transmission gear selector lever, see
(page 270).

295 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Front towing eye
The front towing eye is located on the
passenger side below the bumper.
1Towing eyeRear towing eyeThe rear towing eye is located behind the
right side cover in the bumper panel.
1Cover
2Towing eye
To remove cover:

Pry out the cover1 using a flat blade
screwdriver (
page 264).
To reinstall cover:

Engage cover at bottom and press in
top securely.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, note the following:
With the automatic central locking
activated and the key in steering lock
position2, the vehicle doors lock if the
left front wheel is turning at vehicle
speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km / h) or
more.
To prevent the vehicle doors from
locking, deactivate the automatic
central locking (
page 93).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the towing eye. Never
attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod
to vehicle chassis, frame or suspension
parts.
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.

305 Technical data
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
1Automatic belt tensioner
2Power steering pump
3Air conditioning compressor
4Crankshaft
5Coolant pump
6Generator (alternator)
7Idler pulley

312 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Capacities
Vehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match.Therefore only use products tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.Please refer to the Factory Approved
Service Products pamphlet, or inquire at
your Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filter
ML 350, ML 500
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
Approved engine oils
Automatic transmis-
sion
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Oil
Transfer case
1.6 US qt (1.5 l)
(Dexron 3 or Dexron 2E)
Rear axle
1.3 US qt (1.25 l)
(Hypoid gear oil SAE 90, 85 W 90)
Front axle
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
(Hypoid gear oil SAE 90)
Power steering
approx. 0.65 US qt (0.6 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid
Front wheel hubs
approx. 1.5oz (43g) each
High temperature roller bearing grease

325 Technical terms
GPS
(G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers. Employs CD or DVD digital
maps for navigation.
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator / warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
engine temperature and fuel gauge.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible gear.
This very quickly accelerates the vehi-
cle and should not be used for normal
acceleration needs.Line of fall
The direct line that an object moves
downhill when influenced by the force
of gravity alone.
Lock button
Button on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the lock button down
on an individual door from inside will
lock that door.
MCS
(M
odular C
ontrol S
ystem)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio and the ra-
dio and navigation system, as well as
for other optional equipment (CD
changer, telephone, etc.).Memory function*
Used to store three individual seat,
steering wheel and mirror positions.
MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized meth-
od. It is an indication of a gasoline's
ability to resist undesired detonation
(knocking). The average of both the
MON (Motor Octane Number) and
->RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Multifunction display
A display field in the instrument cluster
used to present information provided
by the control system.

329 Index
A
ABS 25, 76, 323
ABS control 76
LOW RANGE mode 77
Malfunction indicator lamp 248
Warning lamp 248
Accelerator position,
automatic transmission 124
Accident
In case of 53
Activating
Air circulation mode 141
Air recirculation mode 141
Anti-theft alarm system 83
Automatic climate control 137
ESP 82
Exterior headlamps 50
Hazard warning flasher 113
Headlamps 50
Ignition 33
Immobilizer 55, 83Rear passenger compartment
ventilation and climate control 143
Rear window defroster 135
Rear window wiper 52
Residual heat 142
Seat heater* 98
Tow-away alarm 85
Warning indicators (Parktronic*) 158
Windshield wipers 51
Activating automatic central locking 94
Adding
Coolant 228
Engine oil 226
Additional turn signals 274
Adjustable steering column
Indicator lamp 260
Adjusting 35
Backrest tilt 37, 39
Exterior rear view mirror 41
Head restraint height 37, 39
Head restraint tilt 38, 40Headlamp aim 282
Instrument cluster illumination 117
Interior rear view mirror 41
Manual seat 36
Mirrors 41
Seat cushion tilt 39
Seat fore and aft 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 38
Seat height 37, 39
Seats 35
Steering wheel 40
Adjusting air distribution
Automatic climate control 139
Adjusting air volume
Automatic climate control 139
Air conditioning
Cooling 141
Air conditioning refrigerant 314
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure

333 Index
Cleaning
Cup holder 244
Gear selector lever 244
Hard plastic trim items 244
Headlamps 133
Headliner 244
Instrument cluster 244
Leather upholstery 245
Light alloy wheels 244
MB Tex upholstery 245
Plastic and rubber parts 245
Seat belts 244
Steering wheel 244
Windows 243
Windshield 51
Wiper blades 243
Clock 26, 119
Closing
Glove box 167
Hood 223
Liftgate 92
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* 271
Rear quarter windows* 149
Side windows 147
Tilt/sliding sunroof* 150Closing tilt/sliding sunroof*
In an emergency 271
Cockpit 22, 323
Combination switch
High beam flasher 50
Turn signals 50
Windshield wipers 51
Compass 190
Calibrating 191
Setting compass zone 191
Compass zone 191
Consumer information 320
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 216
Coolant 227, 316
Adding 228
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 316
Checking level 227
Indicator lamp 256
Temperature 218
Temperature gauge 118Coolant level
Checking 227
Crossing obstacles 209
Cruise control 153, 323
Canceling 154
Driving downhill 154
Driving uphill 154
Fine adjustment 155
LOW RANGE mode 155
Saving current speed 154
Setting speeds 155
Cruise control lever 153
Cup holder 169
Cleaning 244
In front seat armrest 170
In instrument panel 169
In rear center console 170
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 323

338 IndexHeadlamp cleaning system* 230
Headlamps
Automatic control 108
Bi-Xenon* 323
Cleaning 242
Cleaning system* 133, 230
Refilling washer fluid 230
Switching off 55
Switching on 50
Washer fluid 319
Washer system 319
Headliner
Cleaning 244
Heated seats* 98
Height adjustment
Head restraints 37, 39
Seat belts 46
Steering wheel 40
High beam 111
High beam flasher 50, 111
High beam halogen headlamps
Replacing bulbs 277
High beam headlamps
Replacing bulbs 274
High mounted brake lamp
Replacing bulbs 281Hood 222
Closing 223
Opening 222
Hooks
Loading 162
Hydroplaning 201
I
Identification labels 304
Certification label 304
Vehicle identification number
(VIN) 304
Ignition 33
Immobilizer 83
Activating 83
Deactivating 83
Indicator lamp
Adjustable steering column 260
Brake pad wear 261
Coolant 256
Front fog lamps 260
Low engine oil level 260
Infant and child restraint systems 68
Installing 71
LATCH child seat mounts 73Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid* 180
Inside rear view mirror
Antiglare 128
Installing
Infant and child restraint systems 71
Wiper blades 283
Instrument cluster 24, 117, 325
Cleaning 244
Coolant temperature gauge 118
Display in the speedometer 118
Illumination 117
Lamps in 259
Outside temperature indicator 119
Instruments and controls see Cockpit
Integrated remote control
Erasing memory 188
Operating 188
Interior lighting 114
Activating automatic control 114
Deactivating automatic control 114
Manual control 115
Reading lamps 115
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 41