2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Off road

249 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Switching Off-road driving program on
Press switch1 (
page 248).
Indicator lamp2 comes on. The
symboly appears in the lower
multifunction display.
Switching Off-road driving program off

Press switch1 again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out. The
symboly disappears.
Air suspension package*
Air suspension automatically optimizes
your vehicle’s suspension tuning and regu-
lates the vehicle level. The system consists
of two components:

Suspension tuning: Adaptive Damping
System (ADS) (
page 249)


Vehicle level control (
page 250)
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
The fine tuning of the damping and suspen-
sion is dependent on:

your driving style


road surface conditions


your personal ADS settings


your personal vehicle level settingsThe switch is located on the lower part of
the center console.
1ADS switch
2Indicator lamp for SPORT setting
3Indicator lamp for COMF setting
The following settings are available:


AUTO (for normal driving situations)
Indicator lamps2 and3 are out.


SPORT (for sporty driving)
Indicator lamp2 comes on.


COMF (for comfort driving)
Indicator lamp3 comes on.

251 Controls in detail
Driving systems
!
Keep in mind that in rough or uneven
terrain, adjusting the vehicle to a lower
level may cause the vehicle underbody
to come in contact with the ground and
result in damage to the vehicle under-
body. Always make sure the vehicle
has sufficient ground clearance before
adjusting it to a lower level.!Before jacking up the vehicle with
equipment that lifts one or more of the
wheels completely off of the ground,
remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.!Please also note the information in the
section on towing (
page 472).
iThe activation thresholds are defined
by the set suspension tuning
(page 249).
iThe high-speed level is not available if
towing a trailer. For more information
on towing a trailer, see “Trailer towing”
(page 314).
iFor off-road driving, please observe the
corresponding section in this manual
(page 306).

252 Controls in detailDriving systems
Setting the vehicle level*
The switch is located on the lower part of
the center console.
1Vehicle level switch
2Indicator lampThe following vehicle chassis ride heights
can be selected using the vehicle level
switch in the center console:
The following is the approximate change in
ride height as compared to the highway
level for each of the level settings:
iThe vehicle is automatically lowered to
the high-speed level when the vehicle
exceeds a certain speed threshold and
is automatically raised to the highway
level when vehicle speed drops below a
certain speed threshold. Note the ex-
ception in the ADS SPORT mode, where
the system disregards the highway lev-
el and automatically lowers the vehicle
to the high-speed level.
In comparison to vehicle behavior
when in the ADS AUTO mode,

the vehicle is lowered to the
high-speed level when set to the
SPORT mode,


and remains at the highway level
over a greater speed range when
set to the COMFORT mode.
Level
Driving situation
Raised
For off-road driving or
driving in rough ter-
rain. The indicator
lamp is on.
Highway/High-
speed
For driving on paved
roads in fair or better
condition. The indica-
tor lamp is off.
Level
Ride height
Raised
+ 3.1 in (80 mm)
Highway
+/- 0 in (0 mm)
High-speed
- 0.6 in (-15 mm)

281 Controls in detail
Useful features
The Tele Aid system
(Tele
matic A
larm I
dentification on
D
emand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response:

automatic and manual emergency


roadside assistance


information
The Tele Aid system is operational provid-
ing that the vehicle’s battery is charged,
properly connected, not damaged and cel-
lular and GPS coverage is available.
The speaker volume of a Tele Aid call can
be adjusted when using the volume control
on the Modular COMAND System or on the
multifunction steering wheel. To raise, turn
the rotary volume control on Modular
COMAND System clockwise or press
buttonæ on the multifunction steering
wheel. To lower, turn the rotary volume
control on Modular COMAND System con-trol counterclockwise or press
buttonç on the multifunction steering
wheel.

To activate, press the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• or
the Information button¡, depend-
ing on the type of response required.iThe SOS button is located in the over-
head control panel.
The Roadside Assistance button•
and the Information button¡ are
located below the center armrest
cover.!The Tele Aid system utilizes the cellular
network for communication and the
GPS (G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem) satel-
lites for vehicle location. If either of
these signals are unavailable, the
Tele Aid system may not function and if
this occurs, assistance must be sum-
moned by other means.
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated,
the Modular COMAND System audio is
muted and the selected mode (radio,
CD etc.) pauses. The optional cellular
phone (if installed) inserted in cradle
switches off. If you must use this
phone, we recommend that you use it
only with the vehicle at a standstill in a
safe location. Remove the phone from
the cradle and place the call. The navi-
gation* system (if engaged) will contin-
ue to run. The display in the instrument
cluster is available for use, and spoken
commands are only available by press-
ing the RPT button on the Modular
COMAND System. A pop-up window
will appear in the Modular COMAND
System display to indicate that a Tele
Aid call is in progress. After the TeleAid
call has ended, the optional cellular
phone inserted in the cradle switches
on again. A PIN entry might be neces-
sary.

284 Controls in detailUseful featuresInitiating an emergency call manually
1Cover
2SOS button
Briefly press on cover1.
The cover will open.

Press SOS button2 briefly.
The indicator lamp in SOS button2
will flash until the emergency call is
concluded.

Wait for a voice connection to the
Response Center.

Close cover1 after the emergency
call is concluded.Roadside Assistance button•
The Roadside Assistance button• is
located below the center armrest cover.
1Roadside Assistance button•

Open the storage tray (
page 272).

Press and hold button1 (for longer
than two seconds).
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside
Assistance dispatcher will be initiated.
The button will flash while the call is in
progress. The message Connecting call
will appear in the
multifunction display.
Warning!
G
If you feel at any way in jeopardy when in the
vehicle (e.g. smoke or fire in the vehicle,
vehicle in a dangerous road location), please
do not wait for voice contact after you have
pressed the emergency button. Carefully
leave the vehicle and move to a safe loca-
tion. The Response Center will automatically
contact local emergency officials with the
vehicle’s approximate location if they re-
ceive an automatic SOS signal and cannot
make voice contact with the vehicle occu-
pants.

301 Operation
Driving instructions
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.When starting off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an
extended period with the ESP
® switched
off. Doing so may cause serious damage to
the drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Parking
!When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the brakes
by shifting into a lower gear to use the
engine’s braking power. This helps
prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.
!Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the
brake reduces engine performance and
causes premature brake and drivetrain
wear.!Set the parking brake whenever park-
ing or leaving the vehicle. In addition,
move gear selector lever to positionP.
When parking on hills, always turn front
wheels towards the curb.
Warning!
G
To reduce the risk of personal injury, or
damage to the vehicle powertrain, as a
result of vehicle/ trailer movement, before
turning off the engine and leaving the vehi-
cle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Shift the automatic transmission to
positionP.


Slowly release brake pedal and let vehi-
cle and trailer roll into chocks until
stopped.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel towards the road curb.


Have a second person place wheel
chocks on downhill side of left and right
trailer wheels.


306 OperationDriving instructionsOff-road driving
Read this chapter carefully before you be-
gin off-road travel.
Familiarize yourself with the vehicle char-
acteristics and gear changing before you
attempt any difficult terrain off-road driv-
ing. We recommend that you start out with
easy off-road travel.Special driving features for off-road
driving
The following driving features are available
for specific kind of operation:


Off-road – ABS (
page 94)


Off-road – ESP
® (page 98)


Off-road – 4-ETS (
page 99)


Start-off assist system (
page 191)


Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)
(page 243)


Off-road driving program (
page 248)


Air suspension* (
page 249)
Warning!
G
Drive slowly in unknown terrain. This will
make it easier to recognize unexpected ob-
stacles and avoid damage to the vehicle.
To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never
turn it around on steep inclines. If the vehi-
cle cannot complete the attempted climb,
back it down in reverse gear.
Do not drive along the side of a slope (dan-
ger of vehicle rollover). The vehicle might
otherwise rollover. If in doing so the vehicle
begins to show a tendency to roll, immedi-
ately steer into a line of gravity (straight up
or downhill).
Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle.
You may lose control of the vehicle if you
use only the service brake.
Warning!
G
Sand, dirt, mud and other material having
friction property can cause exceptional wear
and tear as well as brake failure.
Have the brakes checked for dirt build-up
and cleaned. There is otherwise a risk that
full braking power may not be available in an
emergency.

307 Operation
Driving instructions
Off-road driving rules

Engage the Off-road driving program
(page 248) before driving under
off-road conditions.


If equipped with vehicle level control*,
make sure you select a vehicle level ap-
propriate to the topographical condi-
tions. Always make sure the vehicle
has enough ground clearance.


Fasten items being carried as securely
as possible (
page 259).


Always navigate gradients with the en-
gine on and with the transmission en-
gaged in a gear. Switch on the DSR
(page 245) to help maintain a preset
speed.Checklist before off-road driving
Engine oil level


Check the engine oil level with the
control system (ML 500 only)
(page 328), or with the oil dipstick
(ML 350 only) (
page 330).
Only with a proper oil level can the
vehicle obtain a trouble-free oil supply,
even on steep gradients.
iWe recommend keeping doors, tail-
gate, windows, and tilt/sliding sun-
roof* closed whenever driving in
off-road mode.
!Observe the following during off-road
driving:

Adjust vehicle speed to condition of
terrain. The more uneven, rutty and
steeper the terrain, the lower the
speed should be.


Watch out for obstacles, such as
rocks, holes, tree stumps and ruts.


Be especially careful when driving
in unknown territory. It may be nec-
essary to get out of the vehicle and
scout the path you intend to take.


Before driving through water, deter-
mine its depth.


Do not stop vehicle while immersed
in water, and do not shut off the
engine.


In sandy soil, please drive at a
steady speed as allowed by condi-
tions. This helps overcome the vehi-
cle rolling resistance and reduces
the likelihood of the vehicle sinking
into the ground.


Do not initiate jumps with the vehi-
cle. It interrupts the forward mo-
mentum of the vehicle.


Always drive onto slopes with the
engine running and the vehicle in
gear.