2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 Owner's Manual

96 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 381).
Warning!
G
Never switch off the ESP
® when you see the
ESP
®-warning lampv flashing in the
speedometer. In this case, proceed as fol-
lows:


While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.


While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents. The capabili-
ties of an ESP
® equipped vehicle must nev-
er be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user’s
safety or the safety of others.
!The ESP
® will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size (page 487).
!Because of the ESP’s
® automatic oper-
ation, the engine and ignition must be
shut off (SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button* in position0 or1
(
page 34)) when


the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer


the vehicle is being towed with the
front or rear axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
®
may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
Operational tests with the engine
running can only be conducted on a
two-axle dynamometer.

97 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:


starting out on slippery surfaces and in
deep snow in conjunction with snow
chains


in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®


the ESP
® does not stabilize the vehicle


the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip


the 4-ETS will still brake a spinning
wheel


the ESP
® continues to operate when
you are brakingThe switch is located on the upper center
console.
1ESP
® switch

With the engine running, press ESP
®
switch1.
The ESP
®warning lampv in the
instrument cluster comes on. The
ESP
® is deactivated.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
!Turn ESP
® on immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply
anymore.
iWhen the ESP
® is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the
ESP
® warning lampv in the instru-
ment cluster flashes. However, the
ESP® will then not stabilize the vehicle.

98 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
Switching on the ESP
®

Press ESP
® switch1.
The ESP
® warning lampv in the
instrument cluster goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 381).
Off-road – ESP
®
With the off-road driving program switched
on (
page 248), the ESP
® designed for
off-road use is automatically activated. At
speeds below 27 mph (45 km/h), the
ESP
® assists in over-/understeering, thus
improving vehicle traction.
EBP
The EBP enhances braking effectiveness
by allowing the rear brakes to supply a
greater proportion of the braking effort
without a loss of vehicle stability.4-ETS
The 4-Electronic Traction System (4-ETS)
improves vehicle’s ability to utilize avail-
able traction, especially under slippery
road conditions. The brakes are applied to
the spinning wheel and power is trans-
ferred to the wheel(s) with traction.
The ESP
® warning lampv in the instru-
ment cluster, starts to flash at any vehicle
speed, as soon as a tire loses traction and
the wheel begins to spin.
Warning!
G
When the ESP
® warning lampv is
illuminated continuously, the ESP
® is
switched off.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP
®.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period of time with the ESP
®
switched off. This may cause serious
damage to the drivetrain which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!Turn on the ESP
® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not
apply anymore.
iIf conditions require, switch on
Off-road driving program*
(page 248).

99 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Off-road - 4-ETS
With the off-road driving program switched
on (
page 248), the 4-ETS designed for
off-road use is automatically activated.
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 382) and
(
page 387).
Warning!
G
When you see ESP
®-warning lampv
flashing in the speedometer, then proceed
as follows:


While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.


While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4-ETS cannot prevent accidents resul-
ting from excessive speed.
!Because of the ESP’s
® automatic oper-
ation, the engine must be shut off
(
page 34) when the parking brake is
being tested on a brake test dynamom-
eter.
Active braking action through ESP
®
may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
Operational tests with the engine
running can only be conducted on a
two-axle dynamometer.
iIf the yellow ESP
® warning lampv
comes on while driving, the 4-ETS is be-
ing switched off temporarily to prevent
overheating of the drive wheel brakes.
In addition, the message
ESP unavail-
able See Operator’s Manual
appears
in the multifunction display.

100 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsImmobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Press the start/stop button on the
starter switch once.
The engine is turned off.

Open the driver’s door.Deactivating
With the SmartKey

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position2 (
page 34).
With KEYLESS-GO*

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the tailgate


the hood
The alarm will stay on, even if the activat-
ing element (a door, for example) is imme-
diately closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when someone attempts to raise the vehi-
cle, see “Tow-away alarm” (
page 102).
iStarting the engine will also deactivate
the immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),
the system is not operational. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid* system (
page 280) provid-
ed Tele Aid service was subscribed to
and properly activated, and that neces-
sary cellular service and GPS coverage
are available.

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.

102 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsCanceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:
With the SmartKey
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
or

Press theŒ or ‹button on the
SmartKey.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Grasp an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be within 3 ft (1 m) away from the
respective door.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be inside the vehicle.
Tow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.Arming the tow-away alarm

Make sure all doors and the tailgate are
closed.

Lock your vehicle.
The tow-away alarm is automatically
armed after about ten seconds.
Disarming the tow-away alarm

Unlock your vehicle.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is
lifted on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid* system (
page 280), provid-
ed that the Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated, and
that necessary cellular service and GPS
coverage are available.
iWhen you unlock your vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms automati-
cally.
The tow-away alarm remains disarmed
until you lock your vehicle again.

103 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Switching off the tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm
feature, switch off the tow-away alarm be-
fore towing the vehicle, or when parking on
a surface subject to movement, such as a
ferry or auto train.
If the tow-away alarm is set to default en-
abled (On) in the control system and you
wish to retain the default setting, you can
switch off the tow-away alarm temporarily
on a one-time basis as follows:

Switch off the ignition (
page 34).
With the tow-away alarm set to default
enabled (On) in the control system, the
following message appears in the
multifunction display.

If you now wish to deactivate the
tow-away alarm on a one-time basis,
pressæ orç button on the
multifunction steering wheel.
The tow-away alarm is switched off.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display.

Exit vehicle and lock the vehicle
(page 60).
The alarm system is armed indepen-
dently of whether the tow-away alarm
is switched on or off.
iThe tow-away alarm feature can be set
to default enabled (On) or disabled (Off)
using the control system (
page 176).
iThe tow-away alarm is switched off on
a one-time basis only. It will be armed
automatically the next time you lock
the vehicle.
If you have disabled the tow-away
alarm feature in the control system
(page 176), you can also switch on
the tow-away alarm on a one-time basis
as described above.