2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 Owner's Manual

128 Controls in detailSeatsFor information on seat adjustment, see
the “Getting started” section (
page 38).
For more information on seats, see “Load-
ing” (
page 259).
Easy-entry/exit feature (Vehicles with
memory function*)
This feature allows for easier entry into and
exit from the vehicle.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be
activated or deactivated in the Convenience
submenu of the control sys-
tem (
page 173).When exiting the vehicle, with the
easy-entry/exit feature activated and
depending on your selection, the steering
wheel tilts upwards and/or the driver’s
seat moves a few inches to the rear when
you:


remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch,
or


open the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch position 0
or 1 or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 36) in position1.
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel and driver’s seat when the
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
To stop seat/steering wheel movement, do
one of the following:

Press seat adjustment switch
(page 39).


Move steering column stalk*
(page 42).


Press one of the memory position but-
tons or the memory button
M*
(
page 136).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
!Do not activate the easy-entry/exit fea-
ture if the seat backrest is in an exces-
sively reclined position. Doing so could
cause damage the front or rear seats.
First move seat backrest to an upright
position.

129 Controls in detailSeats
When entering the vehicle, with the
easy-entry/exit feature activated, the
steering wheel or, depending on your se-
lection, the steering wheel and driver’s
seat will return to their last set memory po-
sition or a factory-set maximum forward
position when you:

close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on


insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (
page 36) once
with the driver’s door closed.
iIf the current position for the steering
wheel is in the uppermost tilt position,
the steering wheel will no longer be
able to move upward when the
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
If the current seat position falls into a
factory-set position range and the sys-
tem recognizes the current seat posi-
tion to be rearward enough for easy
entry and exit, the driver’s seat will not
move to the rear when the
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
iFor safety reasons, the driver’s seat will
not return to its last set position with
the easy-entry/exit feature activated if
the system recognizes the last set posi-
tion as an extreme forward position. In-
stead, the driver’s seat will remain at or
move to a factory-set maximum for-
ward position. To again fully return the
driver’s seat to your last set position or
to memory position, adjust the seat to
the desired position or press and hold
the respective memory position button
(page 136).

130 Controls in detailSeatsLumbar support
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back sup-
port and seating comfort.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in the direc-
tion of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
Rear seat head restraints Head restraint heightWarning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the
rear head restraints in the upright position
when the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are
intended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.

131 Controls in detailSeats
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
If the head restraint is fully retracted,
push release button in direction of ar-
row and pull the head restraint out.
Lowering:

To lower the head restraint, push
release button in direction of arrow and
press down on the head restraint.For more information on seats, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 38).Removing and installing rear seat head
restraints
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as possi-
ble.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.

132 Controls in detailSeatsRemoving rear seat head restraints
Pull head restraint to its highest
position.

Push release button in direction of ar-
row and pull out head restraint.
Installing rear seat head restraints

Insert head restraint and push it down
until it engages.

Push release button and adjust head
restraint to the desired position
(page 131).
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has inflatable air
cushions built into the backrest to provide
additional lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion depth, backrest cushion
height and curvature can be continuously
varied with switches on the right side of
the seat after the ignition is switched on
(page 34).
1Backrest center
2Backrest bottom
3Seat cushion depth
4Backrest side bolster

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

133 Controls in detailSeats
Seat cushion depth
Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg using
switch3.
Backrest contour

Adjust the contour of the backrest to
the desired position usingæ
orç.

Move the backrest support to the bot-
tom using button2 or to the center
using button1.
Backrest side bolsters

Adjust the side bolsters so that they
provide good lateral support using
switch4.
Seat heating*
Both switches for the front seats are locat-
ed in the center console. The red indicator
lamps in the switch1 come on to show
which heating level you have selected.
1Seat heating switch

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
Leveloff
No indicator lamps on.
1
One indicator lamp on (lowest
level).
2
Two indicator lamps on.
The seat heater automatically
switches to level 1 after approxi-
mately ten minutes.
3
Three indicator lamps on
(highest level).
The seat heater automatically
switches to level 2 after approxi-
mately five minutes.

134 Controls in detailSeatsSwitching on seat heating
Press switch1.
Three red indicator lamps in the switch
come on.

Continue pressing switch1 until
desired seat heating level is reached.
Switching off seat heating

Press switch1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps go out.iThe seat heater will be automatically
switched off after approximately
20 minutes.
iIf one or more of the indicator lamps on
the seat heater switch are flashing,
there is insufficient voltage available
since too many electrical consumers
are turned on. The seat heater switches
off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on
again automatically as soon as
sufficient voltage is available.

135 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Memory function*
You can store up to three different settings
for each SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
The following settings are saved for each
stored position on the entry side of the
driver seat:

Driver’s seat, head restraint height and
backrest position


Steering wheel position


Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
position


Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror position
The following are saved for each stored po-
sition on the entry side of the front passen-
ger seat:


Front passenger seat, head restraint
height and backrest position
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the
driver should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to
ensure adequate control, reach and
comfort. The head restraint should also
be adjusted for proper height. See also
the section on air bags (
page 67) for
proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the interior and
exterior rear view mirrors should be
adjusted for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.