2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 brake

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
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29
Door control panel................................ 30
Getting started................................... 31
Unlocking ............................................. 32
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 32
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 33
Starter switch positions .................. 34
Adjusting .............................................. 38
Seats .............................................. 38
Steering wheel ................................ 41
Mirrors ............................................ 43
Driving .................................................. 46
Fastening the seat belts ................. 46
Starting the engine ......................... 49
Parking brake ................................. 52
Driving ............................................ 52
Switching on headlamps ................. 54
Turn signals .................................... 54
Windshield wipers ........................... 55
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 57
Problems while driving.................... 58
Parking and locking .............................. 60
Parking brake ................................. 61
Switching off headlamps................. 62
Turning off engine ........................... 62

ContentsDriving systems ................................. 238
Cruise control............................... 238
Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) ............................................ 243
Off-road driving program .............. 248
Air suspension package* ............. 249
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* .......................................... 249
Vehicle level control* ................... 250
Parktronic* system
(Parking assist) ............................. 254
Loading .............................................. 259
Loading instructions ..................... 259
,Split rear bench seat ................... 261
Partition net* ............................... 263
Cargo compartment cover*.......... 265
Cargo management system*........ 265
Roof rack* .................................... 269Useful features .................................. 270
Storage compartments ................ 270
Cup holders.................................. 274
Armrest in rear seat bench........... 275
Ashtrays* ..................................... 275
Cigarette lighter* ......................... 277
12-V sockets ................................ 277
Floormats* ................................... 279
Telephone* .................................. 279
Tele Aid* ...................................... 280
Garage door opener ..................... 289
Compass ...................................... 295
Infrared reflecting windshield* ..... 296
Operation......................................... 297
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 298
Driving instructions ........................... 299
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 299
Drinking and driving ..................... 299
Pedals .......................................... 299
Power assistance ......................... 299
Brakes.......................................... 300
Driving off .................................... 301
Parking......................................... 301
Tires ............................................. 302
Hydroplaning................................ 303
Tire traction ................................. 303
Tire speed rating .......................... 303
Winter driving instructions ........... 304
Standing water............................. 305
Off-road driving ............................ 306
Trailer towing ............................... 314
Passenger compartment .............. 319
Driving abroad ............................. 319
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 320
Catalytic converter....................... 320
Emission control .......................... 321
Coolant temperature.................... 322

Contents
Replacing bulbs ................................. 443
Bulbs ............................................ 443
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 445
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 450
Adjusting headlamp aim............... 451
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 453
Removing front wiper blades........ 453
Installing front wiper blades ......... 453
Removing rear wiper blade........... 454
Installing rear wiper blade ............ 455
Flat tire .............................................. 456
Preparing the vehicle ................... 456
Mounting the spare wheel............ 457
Battery ............................................... 462
Disconnecting, removing,
reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery.............. 464
Charging the battery .................... 469
Jump starting ..................................... 470
Towing the vehicle ............................. 472
Installing towing eye bolt ............. 474
Stranded vehicle .......................... 476Fuses .................................................. 477
Aids for changing fuses................. 478
Main fuse box ............................... 478
Fuse box in
cargo compartment ...................... 479
Fuse box in
passenger compartment ............... 479
Technical data.................................. 481
Parts service....................................... 482
Warranty coverage ............................. 483
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 483
Identification labels ............................ 484
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 485
ML 350 ......................................... 485
ML 500 ......................................... 485
Engine ................................................ 486
Rims and tires .................................... 487
Rims and tires ............................... 488
Minispare wheel............................ 489Electrical system ................................ 490
Main Dimensions................................ 491
Weights .............................................. 492
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 493
Capacities ..................................... 493
Engine oils .................................... 495
Engine oil additives ....................... 495
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 495
Brake fluid .................................... 495
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 496
Fuel requirements......................... 496
Gasoline additives......................... 497
Coolants ....................................... 497
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning* system ......... 500
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio............... 500
Technical terms............................... 501Index................................................. 507

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Cruise control lever
238
2
Instrument cluster
24
3
Multifunction steering
wheel
26
4
Horn
5
Steering wheel gearshift
buttons
189
6
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
49
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicators
256
8
Overhead control panel
29
9
Glove box lid release,
glove box lock
270
Item
Page
a
Glove box
270
b
Power outlet
278
c
Center console
27
d
Starter switch
34
e
Steering wheel adjustment,
manual
41
f
Hood lock release
326
g
Parking brake release
52
h
Parking brake pedal
52
j
Door control panel
30
Item
Page
k
Headlamp washer switch*
194
l
Exterior lamp switch
54
138
m
Steering wheel adjustment,
electrical*
42
n
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
142
54
55
54

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
2
To dim instrument cluster
illumination
148
3
Reset button for:Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
148
4
Multifunction display with:Trip odometer
150
Main odometer
150
5
To brighten instrument clus-
ter illumination
148
6
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
7
Tachometer with: 388
Item
Page
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp
390
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
385
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
385
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator
54
8
Fuel gauge with:Fuel tank reserve warning
lamp
388
9
Multifunction display
with:Outside temperature display
150
Gear position indicator
185
Item
Page
a
Clock
b
Speedometer with:-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) indicator
lamp
382
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
383
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
383
vESP
® warning lamp
387
lDistance warning
lamp
Warning lamp without
function. It illuminates when
the ignition is on. It should
go out when the engine is
running.HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale*
391

35 Getting started
Unlocking
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Vehicles equipped with the KEYLESS-GO
feature are supplied with a SmartKey with
integrated KEYLESS-GO function and a
removable KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button.With the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
inserted and the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO present in the vehicle, press-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button


without the brake pedal depressed cor-
responds to the various starter switch
positions (
page 36)


with the brake pedal firmly depressed
will start the engine (
page 49)
If you wish or should there be a need to
insert the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO in
the starter switch, the start/stop button
can be easily removed by pulling it out of
the starter switch.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be
sufficiently charged.

Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 440).


Get a jump start (
page 470).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch when the engine is
not in operation.
iIf you firmly depress the brake pedal
while pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the engine starts
automatically.
iThe KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
does not need to be removed from the
starter switch when you leave the vehi-
cle. However, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you
when you leave the vehicle. As long as
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in
your vehicle, the vehicle’s electrical
systems can be switched on or the
engine can be started using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

36 Getting startedUnlocking1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
2Starter switchKEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada onlyThe SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.

Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP.

Do not depress the brake pedal.
Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (as with
SmartKey removed).
Position 1

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button once.
This supplies power for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or Position 2)

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button twice.
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 382).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button

once more, the ignition (position2)
is switched on


twice more, the power supply is
again switched off

39 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switch is located on
the entry side of each front seat base.
1 Head restraint height*
2Seat cushion tilt
3Seat height
4Backrest tilt
5Seat fore and aft adjustment
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
or

Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow5.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach
the accelerator/brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far to the rear
as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.
Seat height

Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow3.
!When moving the seat, make sure
there are no items in the footwell or
behind the seat. Otherwise you could
damage the seat.
When the rear bench seat is folded for-
ward, the front seats cannot be moved
to the rearmost position. Otherwise
you could damage the front seats and
the rear bench seat.!When adjusting the backrest tilt and
head restraint height, make sure that
the sun visor is folded up. If the head
restraint is in the uppermost position, it
could hit and damage the sun visor.
iThe memory function* (
page 135)
lets you store the setting for the seat
positions together with the setting for
the steering wheel and the exterior rear
view mirrors.