2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 ESP

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

9
Product information

Introduction
Product information
Please observe the following in your own
best interest:
We recommend using genuine
Mercedes-Benz parts as well as conversion
parts and accessories explicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine
their reliability, safety and special
suitability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for
other products and therefore cannot be
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety,
performance or reliability of your vehicle.
Please do not use them.Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories
approved by us are available at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center where you will receive comprehen-
sive information, also on permissible tech-
nical modifications, and where proper
installation will be performed.

12 IntroductionOperator’s ManualMaintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the
necessary maintenance work which should
be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with
you when you take the vehicle to your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for service. The service advisor will
record each service in the booklet for you.
Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program provides factory-trained technical
help in the event of a breakdown. Calls to
the toll-free Roadside Assistance number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz Cus-
tomer Assistance Representatives
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Roadside Assistance will be provided in ac-
cordance with standard program guide-
lines which include providing service to the
vehicle up to a reasonable distance from a
paved roadway. We will make every effort
to assist in a breakdown situation, howev-
er, the accessibility of your vehicle will be
determined by our authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center techni-
cian or the tow service provider on a
case-by-case basis and may be a factor in
our ability to respond.Additional charges may be applicable for a
breakdown location determined not to be a
reasonably accessible roadside location as
determined by our authorized technician
and tow service provider.
For additional information refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Pro-
gram Brochure in your glove box.

20 Introduction
Vehicle data recording
Vehicle data recording
Information regarding electronic recording devices
(Including notice pursuant to California Code § 9951)
Please note that your vehicle is equipped with devices that can record vehicle systems data and, if equipped with the Tele Aid system,
may transmit some data in certain accidents.
This information helps, for example, to diagnose vehicle systems after a collision and to continuously improve vehicle safety.
DaimlerChrysler may access the information and share it with others

for safety research or vehicle diagnosis purposes


with the consent of the vehicle owner or lessee


in response to an official request by law enforcement or other government agency


for use in dispute resolution involving DaimlerChrysler, its affiliates or sales / service organization and / or


as otherwise required or permitted by law.
Please check the Tele Aid subscription service agreement for details regarding the information that may be recorded or transmitted
via that system.

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Gauge for
Coolant tempera-
ture
118
Outside tempera-
ture
119
Fuel reserve
warning lamp
259
2
Knob for
Activating instru-
ment cluster
117
Adjusting intensity
of instrument lamps
117
Main odometer
118
Trip odometer
readout / reset
119
Activating
Maintenance
System indicator
237
Item
Page
3
Left indicator lamps
with:¿Brake Assist
System
(BAS) / Electronic
Stability Program
(ESP) malfunction
warning lamp
252
{Electronic Traction
System (4-ETS) mal-
function indicator
lamp
259
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
248
2Brake pad wear in-
dicator lamp
261
:Low engine oil level
warning lamp
260
/Low engine coolant
level warning lamp
256
Item
Page
êLow range indicator
lamp
259
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
254
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
254
4
Speedometer with:v4-ETS (Electronic
Traction
System)/Electronic
Stability Program
(ESP) warning lamp
258
Trip / main
odometer
118
Display for Mainte-
nance System
237
Engine oil level indi-
cator
224

27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Air vents, automatic
climate control
144
2
MCS, see separate
operating instructions
3
Automatic climate control
136
Rear window defroster
switch
135
4
Seat heater switch*,
passenger side
98
5
Rear quarter window
switch*, right
148
6
ESP control switch
80
Item
Page
7
Rear window
wiper / washer switch
52
8
Rear quarter window
switch*, left
148
9
Seat heater switch*,
driver’s side
98
a
Front and rear fog lamp
switch
111
b
Indicator lamp for antitheft
alarm system
83
c
Transmission control
switch, LOW RANGE mode
127

32 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will provide you with further
information. The corresponding page refer-
ences are located at the end of each seg-
ment.Unlocking
Remote control with folding keyRemote control with folding key1ÂPanic button (
page 75)
2ŒUnlock button
3‹Lock button
4Release button for key
5ŠUnlock button for liftgate

Press unlock buttonΠon the re-
mote control.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.

Press release button4 on the remote
control.
The key folds out.

Get in the vehicle and insert the key in
the steering lock (
page 33).
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 88).

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Steering lock positionsSteering lock0For removing key
The steering is locked when the key is
removed from the steering lock. If
necessary, move steering wheel
slightly to allow the locking mechanism
to engage.
1Unlocking steering
Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment.2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
All lamps in the instrument cluster
come on. If a lamp in the instrument
cluster fails to come on when the igni-
tion is switched on, have it checked
and replaced if necessary. If a lamp in
the instrument cluster remains on after
starting the engine or comes on while
driving, refer to “Lamps in instrument
cluster” (
page 248).
3Starting position
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.iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster come on. This indicates
that the respective systems are opera-
tional. They should go out when the en-
gine is running.