Page 8 of 539

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
Page 308 of 539

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.
Page 521 of 539

520 IndexLoading 259
Cargo compartment cover* 265
Cargo tie-down rings 260
Hooks 261
Instructions 259
Partition net* 263
Roof rack* 269
Trailer 315
Loading terminology 365
Loading the vehicle 338
Locator lighting 141
Setting 168
Lock buttons
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 64
Locking 106
Automatic while driving 125
Centrally from inside 126
Fuel filler flap 323
Global (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 113
Global, SmartKey 108
Vehicle in an emergency 436Locking knob 503
Locking knobs 32
Locking the vehicle 116
Loss of Service and
Warranty Information Booklet 483
Loss of SmartKey 110
Loss of Smartkey with
KEYLESS-GO* 116
Low beam bulbs
Replacing bulbs 446
Low beam headlamps
Replacing bulbs 443
Switching on 54
Lowering
Vehicle 460M
Main dimensions 491
Main fuse box 478
Maintenance 12
Maintenance service
Resetting maintenance
service indicator 373
Term exceeded 372
When due 371
Maintenance service indicator 371
Resetting 373
Malfunction
Parktronic* system 258
Manual headlamp mode 139
Manual operations
Fuel filler flap 438
Interior lighting control 146
Locking the vehicle 436
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* 439
Unlocking the driver’s door 435
Manual seat
Adjusting head restraint tilt 41
Page 531 of 539

530 IndexSubmenus
Convenience 173
For settings 152
In control system 154
Instrument cluster 164, 165
Lighting 167
Resetting functions in Control
system 162
Selecting 162
Settings menu 162
Vehicle 171
Sun visor 198
Supplemental Restraint System see SRS
Switching off
Automatic central locking
(control system) 172
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 144
Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) 245
ESP
®
97
Hazard warning flasher 145
Headlamps 62
Seat heating* 134Switching on
Automatic central locking
(control system) 172
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 143, 144
Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) 245
ESP
®
98
Front fog lamps 142
Hazard warning flasher 145
Headlamps 54
High beams 142
Low beam headlamps 54
Rear fog lamp 142
Seat heating* 134
Windshield wipers 55
Synchronizing
Power windows 232
Tilt/sliding sunroof* 237T
Tachometer 149
Displaying gear range 187
Overspeed range 149
Tail lamps
Cleaning 377
Tailgate
Closing 120
Closing from the inside
electrically* 120
Closing from the outside (vehicles
without KEYLESS-GO*) 121
Message in display 427
Opening 118
Opening from the inside
electrically* 118
Opening from the outside 118
Unlocking and opening the tailgate in
an emergency 437
Unlocking and opening with
KEYLESS-GO* 115
Unlocking with SmartKey 109