2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 rear tailgate

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 65
Occupant safety................................... 66
Air bags .......................................... 67
Seat belts ....................................... 73
Preventive occupant safety*
(PRE-SAFE)
®................................... 77
Children in the vehicle .................... 78
Blocking of rear door
window operation ........................... 89
Panic alarm .......................................... 91
Activating ....................................... 92
Deactivating ................................... 92
Driving safety systems ......................... 93
ABS ................................................ 93
BAS ................................................ 95
ESP
®.............................................. 95
EBP................................................. 98
4-ETS .............................................. 98
Anti-theft systems.............................. 100
Immobilizer................................... 100
Anti-theft alarm system ................ 100
Tow-away alarm ........................... 102
Controls in detail............................. 105
Locking and unlocking ....................... 106
SmartKey ..................................... 106
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 110
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................. 117
Opening the tailgate ..................... 118
Closing the tailgate ...................... 120
Automatic central locking ............ 125
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 126
Seats ................................................. 128
Easy-entry/exit feature
(Vehicles with
memory function*) ....................... 128
Lumbar support............................ 130
Rear seat head restraints ............. 130
Multicontour seat* ....................... 132
Seat heating* ............................... 133Memory function* ............................. 135
Storing positions in memory ........ 136
Recalling positions
from memory ............................... 136
Storing exterior rear
view mirror parking position ........ 137
Lighting ............................................. 138
Exterior lamp switch .................... 138
Combination switch ..................... 142
Corner-illuminating
front fog lamps*........................... 143
Hazard warning flasher ................ 144
Interior lighting ............................ 145
Door entry lamps ......................... 147
Instrument cluster ............................. 148
Instrument cluster illumination .... 148
Trip odometer .............................. 149
Tachometer .................................. 149
Outside temperature indicator ..... 149

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 323
Refueling ...................................... 323
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 324
Engine compartment ......................... 326
Hood ............................................ 326
Engine oil ..................................... 327
Transmission fluid level ................ 332
Coolant level ................................ 332
Windshield/rear window
washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ........ 333
Tires and wheels ................................ 335
Important guidelines .................... 335
Tire care and maintenance........... 336
Direction of rotation ..................... 338
Loading the vehicle ...................... 338
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 345
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 347
Tire labeling.................................. 355
Load identification ....................... 359
DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ............................... 360Maximum tire load ........................ 361
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 362
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 362
Tire ply material ............................ 364
Tire and loading terminology......... 365
Rotating tires ................................ 368
Winter driving ..................................... 369
Winter tires ................................... 369
Block heater (Canada only) ........... 370
Snow chains.................................. 370
Maintenance....................................... 371
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 372
Maintenance service
term exceeded .............................. 372
Calling up the service indicator..... 372
Resetting the
maintenance service indicator ...... 373
Vehicle care........................................ 374
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 374
Practical hints.................................. 381
What to do if … ................................... 382
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 382
Lamp in center console ................ 393
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 395
Where will I find ...? ............................ 430
First aid kit.................................... 430
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 430
Spare wheel .................................. 433
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 435
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 435
Locking the vehicle ....................... 436
Unlocking and opening
the tailgate ................................... 437
Fuel filler flap ................................ 438
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 439
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 439
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 440
SmartKey ...................................... 440
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ....... 441

30 At a glanceDoor control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
2
Central unlocking switch
Central locking switch
126
126
3
Exterior rear view mirror ad-
justment
Power folding exterior mir-
rors, switch for manual acti-
vation
44
197
4
Switches for opening/clos-
ing front and rear side win-
dows, rear window override
switch
230
5
Remote tailgate release
switch, Tailgate
opening/closing system*
118

101 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Arming the alarm system
The alarm system is armed after you have
locked the vehicle with the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
The alarm system indicator lamp is located
to the lower left of the hazard warning
flasher.
1Alarm system indicator lamp

Make sure all doors and the tailgate are
closed.

Lock the vehicle (
page 60).
The turn signal lamps flash three times
to indicate that the alarm system is
activated.
Indicator lamp1 flashes permanently
to indicate that the alarm system is
armed.Disarming the alarm system

Unlock the vehicle (
page 32).
The turn signal lamps flash once to
indicate that the alarm system is
disarmed. Indicator lamp1 goes out.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not flash
three times, one of the following ele-
ments may not be properly closed:

a door


the tailgate
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.
iThe alarm system will rearm automati-
cally again after approximately
40 seconds if one of the doors or the
tailgate is not opened.

115 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Checking the batteries
Press button‹orŒ.
Battery check lamp5 comes on brief-
ly to indicate that the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO batteries are in order.
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
You can unlock and open the tailgate sep-
arately.
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.

Pull on the handle
or
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*:

Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO until the
tailgate unlocks and opens.


Have the vehicle battery and the
battery connections checked
(page 462).


Use the mechanical key to lock the
doors (
page 436).
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
malfunctioning, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iIf battery check lamp5 (
page 110)
does not come on briefly during check,
then the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 440).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within sig-
nal range of the vehicle, pressing the
button‹orŒ will lock or un-
lock the vehicle accordingly.

118 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens.The tailgate can also be opened using the
SmartKey (
page 106).Opening the tailgate from the inside
electrically*
You can open the tailgate from the inside if
the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The switch is located on the door control
panel.
1Remote tailgate switch with indicator
lamp
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance.
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*: To stop the opening proce-
dure, press buttonŠ on the
SmartKey. The tailgate stops moving.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally after closing it (
page 120). The
turn signals will flash three times to
confirm locking.

119 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

Pull remote tailgate switch1 until
tailgate begins to open.
The tailgate opens. The indicator lamp
in the remote tailgate switch comes on
and remains lit until the tailgate is
closed. While the tailgate is opening an
acoustic signal sounds.Limiting opening height of tailgate*
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*:
The tailgate opening height can be limited
when transporting goods on a roof rack
(e.g. presence of an MB sport luggage con-
tainer*). When activated, the tailgate
opens to approximately 6.4 ft (1.95 m).

Activate the limiting opening height of
tailgate using the control system
(page 173).
Warning!
G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door-mounted remote tailgate switch or
with the Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. Monitor the
opening procedure carefully to make sure
no one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the opening procedure, press or
pull the door-mounted remote tailgate
switch or press the Šbutton on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance. To stop
the opening procedure, press or pull re-
mote tailgate switch1 or press the
Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. The
tailgate stops moving.iVehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*:
The tailgate can also be opened using
the buttonŠ on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.

120 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingClosing the tailgate
Closing the tailgate from the inside
electrically*
In vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system* you can close the tailgate from
the inside using the remote tailgate switch.
Press remote tailgate switch1
(page 118) until tailgate begins to
close.
The tailgate closes. The indicator lamp
in the remote tailgate switch goes out.
While the tailgate is closing an acoustic
signal sounds.
To interrupt the closing procedure:

Press or pull remote tailgate switch1. If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high) the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.iYou can also close the tailgate by hand.
Warning!
G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door mounted switch. Monitor the
closing procedure carefully to make sure no
one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the closing procedure, press or
pull the door mounted remote tailgate
switch.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the start-
er switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the remote tailgate switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the
vehicle interior.