2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 lock

93 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Automatic central locking
The doors and the liftgate automatically
lock when the ignition is switched on and
the left front wheel turns at vehicle speeds
of approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or
more.
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
If one of the front doors is then opened
from the inside, the vehicle is unlocked
centrally unless only the driver's door was
previously unlocked.You can deactivate the automatic locking
using the central locking switch.The switch is located on the lower center
console.
Central locking switch1Locking
2Unlocking
Switch on ignition (
page 33).
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact ex-
ceeds a preset threshold.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking when the vehicle

is pushed or towed


is on a test stand


during a wheel change

94 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingActivating
Press and hold upper part1 of the
central locking switch for approximate-
ly six seconds.
The automatic central locking is
activated.
Deactivating

Press and hold lower part2 of the
central locking switch for approximate-
ly six seconds.
The automatic central locking is deacti-
vated.
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
liftgate from inside using the central lock-
ing switch. This can be useful, for example,
if you want to lock the vehicle before start-
ing to drive.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or un-
locked with the central locking switch.
The switch is located on the lower center
console (
page 93).
Locking

Press upper part1 of central locking
switch.
If all the doors are closed, the vehicle
locks.
Unlocking

Press lower part2 of central locking
switch.
The vehicle unlocks.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment
may cause an accident and / or serious per-
sonal injury.
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked using the remote control, it will
not unlock using the central locking
switch.

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.


108 Controls in detailLightingManual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
combination switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light.

Low beam headlamps


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps

Turn the combination switch to
positionU.
With the key in steering lock position1
only the parking lamps will switch on
and off automatically.
With the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.
They will be switched on constantly,
when you switch on the front fog
lamps.
iWith the key removed from the steering
lock and the driver’s door open, a warn-
ing sounds if the parking lamps or low
beam headlamps are switched on
(page 107).
Warning!
G
If the combination switch is set toU

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright am-
bient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others, acti-
vate headlamps by turning combination
switch toõ when driving or when traffic
and / or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toõ with the
vehicle at a standstill. Switching
fromUtoõ will briefly switch off the
headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.