2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 warning

105 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Memory function*
With the memory button you can store up
to three different settings for the driver-
and passenger seat.
Together with the driver’s seat you can
store the exterior rear view mirrors.
For the front passenger seat you can store
the seat position.
1Position button
2Memory button

Switch on ignition (
page 33).
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the driv-
er should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to
ensure adequate control, reach and
comfort. The head restraint should also
be adjusted for proper height. See also
the section on airbags (
page 59) for
proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the interior and
exterior rear view mirrors should be ad-
justed for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

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.

111 Controls in detail
Lighting
Locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated,
the following lamps will switch on when the
vehicle is unlocked by remote control dur-
ing darkness:

Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps


Front fog lamps


Additional lamps in the exterior rear
view mirrors.
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
by remote control the lamps will switch off
automatically after of approximately
40 seconds.

Turn the combination switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle
(page 107).
The locator lighting is activated.High beam

Turn the combination switch to
positionõ or U (
page 107).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam (
page 107).
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on.

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam indicator lampA in
the instrument cluster goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2 (
page 107).
Fog lampsWarning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from positionU toõ with
the vehicle at a standstill. Switching
fromU toõ will briefly switch off the
headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident. iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and / or low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding permis-
sible lamp operation.

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching off the rear fog lamp separately
when both, the front and rear fog lamps
are switched on:
Press upper part1 of the fog lamps
switch.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp2 in the fog
lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the key
removed from the steering lock.
The hazard warning flasher switches on au-
tomatically when an airbag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is locat-
ed on the top of the steering column.Hazard warning flasher switch
Switching on hazard warning flasher
Press the hazard warning flasher
switch.
All turn signals will flash.
Switching off hazard warning flasher

Press the hazard warning flasher
switch again.iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective turn signals will operate when
the ignition is switched on (
page 33).
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press the haz-
ard warning flasher switch once to
switch it off.

118 Controls in detailInstrument clusterCoolant temperature gauge
Under normal driving conditions, the cool-
ant temperature may rise to 248°F
(120°C). The coolant temperature may
climb to the red marking:

at high outside temperatures


during stop-and-go city traffic


when driving on hilly terrain
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature in the red zone.
Doing so may cause serious engine dam-
age which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Display in the speedometer
Changing display
Press the left knob1 in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 117).
The display changes between main
odometer and trip odometer.

Press the left knob1 twice.
The next scheduled service is displayed
(page 237).
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

119 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Resetting trip odometer
Press the left knob1 (
page 117) re-
peatedly until you see the trip odome-
ter display.

Press and hold the left knob1 until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
above its specified limit.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the instrument cluster (
page 24).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
Setting the clock
Hour
Pull out the right knob2 in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 117) and turn it
counterclockwise.
Minutes

Pull out the right knob2 in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 117) and turn it
clockwise.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
s i g n e d t o s e r v e a s a n i c e - w a r n i n g d e v i c e a n d
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
iTo set the clock by a single hour or a
few minutes, turn knob2 just a few
degrees in the direction indicated for
hours or minutes.

120 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionFor information on driving with an auto-
matic transmission, see the “Getting
started” section (
page 47).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its gear shift program.The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:


the gear selector lever positionD with
gear ranges4, 3, 2, 1 (
page 122)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 124)


the vehicle speed
The current gear selector lever position
appears in the tachometer display
(
page 24).
When the gear selector lever is in
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

121 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
One-touch gearshifting
Even with an automatic transmission you
can change the gears manually when the
gear selector lever is in positionD.
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in the D–direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear. This action
simultaneously limits the gear range of the
transmission (
page 122).Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in the D+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simulta-
neously extends the gear range of the
transmission.Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in the D+direction until
D reappears in
the tachometer display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in the D– direction.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
the gear selector lever is moved to
the D– direction, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.