468 Practical hintsBatteryStep 8 (Removing)
cBattery
Tilt the batteryc with the negative
terminal side upwards.
Take out the battery maintaining its
tilted position in the direction of the
arrow.Step 9 (Reinstalling)
Carry out step 8 in reverse order
(page 468).
Battery, shown removed for illustration9Battery ventilation tube
dVent plug
Carry out step 10 to reconnect the
battery (
page 468).
Follow steps 5 to 1 in reverse order to
completely reinstall the battery
(page 467) to (
page 465).
Step 10 (Reconnecting)
If the battery has been removed, first
carry out step 8 in reverse order
(page 468).
Open the driver’s door.
Make sure all electrical consumers are
turned off.
Make sure the SmartKey has been re-
moved from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (Open the
driver’s door. With the driver’s door
open, the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status0, same as with
the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch).
!The battery, the battery ventilation
tube9 and the vent plugd must
always be securely installed when the
vehicle is in operation.
474 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
1Cover on passenger side of front
bumper
1Cover on passenger side of rear
bumper (ML 350)
iThe vehicle cannot be started via
tow-start.iIf the battery is disconnected or dis-
charged, the automatic transmission
will remain locked in positionP and the
SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch. For more information, see “Bat-
tery” (
page 462) and “Jump starting”
(
page 470).
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, note the following:
With the automatic central locking
activated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (
page 36) in
position2, the vehicle doors lock if the
left front wheel is turning at vehicle
speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(
page 102).
To prevent the vehicle doors from
locking, deactivate the automatic
central locking (
page 125).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to vehicle chassis,
frame or suspension parts.
503 Technical terms
Gear range
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the gear selector
lever.
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.
GVW
(G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
The GVW comprises the weight of the
vehicle including fuel, tools, spare
wheel, installed accessories, passen-
gers and cargo. The GVW must never
exceed the GVWR, indicated on the
certification label located on the driv-
er’s door pillar.GVWR
(G
ross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
This is the maximum permissible vehi-
cle weight. It is indicated on certifica-
tion label located on the driver’s door
pillar.
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.
KEYLESS-GO*
System for entering and operating the
vehicle without the use of a SmartKey.
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.
Kilopascal (kPa)
(
page 366)Line of fall
The direct line that an object moves
downhill when influenced by the force
of gravity alone.
Locking knob
Knob on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the locking knob down
on an individual door from inside will
lock that door.
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. The Maintenance
System in your vehicle tracks distance
driven and the time elapsed since your
last maintenance service, and calls for
the next maintenance service accord-
ingly.
Maximum load rating
(
page 366)
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(page 366)
511 Index
Checking
Coolant level 332
Engine oil with the
control system (ML 500 only) 328
Engine oil with the
oil dipstick (ML 350 only) 330
Oil level 327
Tire inflate pressure 325
Vehicle lighting 325
Checking tire pressure
electronically with the
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System* (Advanced TPMS*) 351
Checking weights
Trailer and vehicle 315
Checklist
Off-road driving 307
Returning from off-road driving 313
Child safety 78
Air bags 68
Infant and child
restraint systems 73, 78
LATCH type child seat mounts 88Child safety switch see Blocking of rear
door window operation
Cigarette lighter*
Front center console 275
Cleaning
Carpet 379
Cup holder 379
Gear selector lever 379
Hard plastic trim items 379
Headlamps 194
Headliner 379
Instrument cluster 379
Leather upholstery* 380
Light alloy wheels 379
MB Tex upholstery 380
Plastic and rubber parts 380
Seat belts 379
Steering wheel 379
Windows 378
Windshield 56
Wiper blades 378
Cleaning and care of the vehicle 374
Cleaning tires 337Climate control 202
Adjusting 207
Adjusting air volume 208
deactivating 206
Defrosting 208
Rear passenger compartment 213
Rear window defroster 200
Setting the temperature 207
Clock 165
Closing
Glove box 270
Hood 327
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* 439
Side windows 231
Side windows with
KEYLESS-GO* 234
Tailgate 120
Vehicle with KEYLESS-GO* 123,
124
Tilt/sliding sunroof* 235
Tilt/sliding sunroof* with
KEYLESS-GO* 234
Windows 230
512 IndexClosing the tailgate 123, 124
Closing the tailgate from
the inside electrically* 120
Closing the tailgate from the
outside (vehicles without
KEYLESS-GO*) 121
Closing tilt/sliding sunroof*
In an emergency 439
Cockpit 22, 501
Cold tire inflation pressure 365
Combination switch 142
High beam 54
Turn signals 54
Windshield wipers 55
Compass 295
Adjusting compass zone 171
Calibrating 171
Zone map North America 295
Zone map South America 295
Control and operation
of radio transmitters 320Control system 502
AUDIO menu 157
Convenience submenu 173
Display digital speedometer 156
Functions 154
Instrument cluster
submenu 164, 165
Lighting submenu 167
Menus 153, 154
Message memory menu 159
Selecting radio system 157
Selecting satellite radio* station
(USA only) 157
Settings menu 161
Standard display menu 156
Submenus 152, 154
TEL* menu 178
Trip computer menu 177
Vehicle submenu 171
Convenience submenu 173
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature* 173
Setting parking position*
for exterior rear view mirror 174Coolant 332, 497
Adding 333
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 498
Checking level 332
Messages in display 410, 412
Temperature 322
Coolant level
Checking 332
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 143
Switching off 144
Switching on 143, 144
Crossing obstacles 311
Cruise control 238, 502
Canceling 240
Driving downhill 240
Driving uphill 240
Message in display 398
Setting current speed 239
Setting speeds 243
Cruise control lever 238, 246
515 Index
Emergency operations
Closing tilt/sliding sunroof* 439
Locking the vehicle 436
Opening tilt/sliding sunroof* 439
Remote door unlock 288
Unlocking the vehicle 435
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emission control 321
Ending
A call (telephone*) 180
Engine
Message in the display 410
Starting 49
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 50
Technical data 486
Turning off 62
Engine cleaning 376
Engine compartment
Hood 326
Main fuse box 478
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp 385, 410
Engine malfunction indicator
lamp (Canada only) 25
Engine malfunction indicator
lamp (USA only) 25Engine number 502
Engine oil 327, 495
Adding 331
Additives 495
Checking level 327
Checking with the
control system (ML 500 only) 328
Checking with the
oil dipstick (ML 350 only) 330
Consumption 327
Display messages 414–415
Messages in display 329, 414–415
Viscosity 502
ESP
®
25, 95, 502
Off-road-ESP
®
98
Switching off 97
Switching on 98
Warning lamp 387
ETD 502
Safety guidelines 70
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 76
Exterior mirrors
Folding 197
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 44
Parking position* for 174F
Fastening the seat belts 46
First aid kit 430
Flat tire 456
Lowering the vehicle 460
Preparing the vehicle 457
Spare wheel 433
Flexible Service System PLUS
(FSS PLUS) 502
Floormats* 279
Fluid level
Automatic transmission 332
Fog lamp, rear
Switching on 142
Fog lamps
Replacing bulbs 443
Fog lamps, front
Messages in display 418
Replacing bulbs 445
Switching on 142
Folding
Exterior mirrors 197
Folding the backrest forward 261
4-ETS 98
Off-road - 4-ETS 99
518 IndexI
Identification labels 484
Certification label 484
Ignition 34
Switching on 50
Immobilizer 100
Activating 100
Deactivating 100
Important guidelines 335
Infant and child restraint systems 78
Installing 87
LATCH type child seat mounts 88
Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid* 286
Inside rear view mirror
Antiglare 195
Installing
Front wiper blades 453
Infant and child restraint systems 87
Rear wiper blade 455
Vehicle battery 464Installing towing eye bolt
Towing the vehicle 474
Instrument cluster 24, 148, 503
Cleaning 379
Illumination 148
Lamps in 388
Outside temperature indicator 149
Selecting language 164
Instruments and controls see Cockpit
Integrated remote control
Erasing memory 294
Operating 294
Interior lighting 145
Deactivating automatic control 146
Delayed switch-off 170
Manual operation 146
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 44
Intermittent wiping 56J
Jack 431
Jump starting 470
K
Key, Mechanical 435
KEYLESS-GO* 503
Closing
Tailgate 123, 124
Closing side windows 234
Closing tilt/sliding sunroof* 234
Loss of SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 116
Starting the engine 50
Turning off engine 63
Unlocking and opening, tailgate 115
Unlocking with 33
Kickdown 190, 503
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 164
Kilopascal 366
Km/h or mph in speedometer 164
519 Index
L
Labels, identification 484
Lamp bulbs, exterior 443
Lamps, exterior
Front 443
Light sensor 420
Messages in display 418, 420
Rear 444
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 382
Air bag Off 72
Battery (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 114
Battery (SmartKey) 108
Brakes 383
CHECK ENGINE 385, 386
CHECK Engine malfunction
indicator lamp 386
Engine diagnostics 385, 386
ESP
®
387
Front fog lamps 138
Fuel reserve 388
Rear fog lamp 138
Seat belts 388, 389
SRS 390Language
Multifunction display 164
Setting 164
LATCH type child seat anchors 88
LATCH type child seat mounts 88
Layout of poly-V-belt drive (ML 350) 485
Layout of poly-V-belt drive (ML 500) 485
Leather upholstery*
Cleaning 380
Lever
For cruise control 238
License plate lamps
Messages in display 419
Replacing bulbs 444, 451
Light alloy wheels
Cleaning 379
Light sensor 420
Lighter see cigarette lighterLighting 138
Automatic headlamp mode 139
Cargo compartment lamp 147
Daytime running lamp mode 140
Door entry lamps 147
Front fog lamps 142
High beams 142
Instrument cluster illumination 148
Interior 145
Locator lighting 141
Low beam 138
Manual headlamp mode 139
Night security illumination 141
Parking lamps 138
Rear fog lamp 142
Settings (control system) 167
Standing lamps 138
Limiting the gear range 187
Limp Home Mode 192
Line of fall 503