2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 mirror controls

175 Controls in detail
Control system

Press buttonæ orç to switch
function
On or
Off
.
Setting fold-in function* for exterior
rear view mirrors
Using this function, you can set the exteri-
or rear view mirrors to be automatically
folded (
page 197) in when you lock your
vehicle.

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the

Convenience
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message
Fold in
mirrors when locking
appears in the
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to switch
function
On or
Off
.
Vehicle configuration
The following functions are available:
Parktronic system* on/off
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

Pressè orÿ button repeatedly
until the
Vehicle configuration
menu
appears in the display.

Pressj ork repeatedly until
the message
PARKTRONIC
appears in
the display.
Function
Page
Parktronic* on/off
175
DSR set speed
176
Tow-away alarm on/off
176

194 Controls in detailGood visibilityFor information on the windshield wipers,
see “Windshield wipers” (
page 55).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The switch is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer switch

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

Press headlamp washer switch1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system*” (
page 333).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 43).Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position
1Lever

Tilt the mirror to the antiglare position
by moving lever1 towards the wind-
shield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.

195 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Auto-dimming rear view mirror*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gearR is engaged


the interior light is turned on
Warning!
G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, when transporting cargo
which covers the rear window.
Glare can endanger you and others.Warning!
G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape from the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not
allow the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can be
completely removed only while in the
liquid state and by applying plenty of
water.Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

196 Controls in detailGood visibilityActivating exterior rear view mirror
parking position*
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the
passenger-side exterior rear view mirror
will be turned downward to the stored
position.
The buttons are located on the door
control panel.
1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
button
2Adjustment button
3Passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror button

Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 137).

Make sure the
Mirror adjustment
parking assist function in the
Conve-
nience
submenu of the control system
is switched to
On (page 174).

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

Place the gear selector lever in reverse
gearR.
The indicator lamp on the driver’s side
or passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button comes on, dependent
from the last setting.When the driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror button comes on:

Press button3 for the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror.
The passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror will be turned downward to the stored
position.
When the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror button comes on:
The passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror will be turned downward to the stored
position.iThe exterior rear view mirror parking
position is key-dependent. For more in-
formation on storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position, see “Storing
exterior rear view mirror parking posi-
tion” (
page 137).

197 Controls in detail
Good visibility
The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position:

when you switch off the ignition


ten seconds after you put the gear
selector lever out of positionR
Approximately 15 seconds later the in-
dicator lamp on the exterior rear view
mirror button goes out.


immediately once your vehicle exceeds
a speed of approx. 6 mph (10 km / h)


immediately when you press button1
for driver’s side mirror (
page 196)Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors*
Folding the exterior mirrors in and out
automatically
When the corresponding function in the
control system is activated (
page 175):


The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold in as soon as the vehicle is
locked from the outside.


The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold out as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front pas-
senger door are subsequently opened.Folding the exterior mirrors in and out
manually
The button is located on the door control
panel.
1Button for folding exterior mirrors in
and out

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
iWith gear selector lever in reverse
gearR you can deactivate the exterior
rear view mirror parking position by
pressing button1, or activate by
pressing button3. The indicator lamp
of the selected button is on.
!Before you drive the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, fold the exterior
mirrors in, otherwise they may get
damaged.

198 Controls in detailGood visibilityFolding in
Briefly press button1.
Both mirrors fold in.Folding out

Briefly press button1 again.
Both mirrors fold out.
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
iIf you are driving at more than approxi-
mately 30 mph (47 km/h), you will not
be able to fold the exterior mirrors in.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing
is forcibly pushed forward (hit from the
rear) or forcibly pushed rearward (hit
from the front) press button1 to fold
mirrors in, then press button1 again
to fold mirrors out. Do not force mirrors
b y h a n d a s t h i s m a y d a m a g e t h e a d j u s t -
ment mechanism.
The mirror housing is now properly po-
sitioned and you can adjust the mirror
normally.
Warning!
G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.

199 Controls in detail
Good visibility
1Mounting
2Sun visor
Swing sun visor2 down when you
experience glare.1Mounting
2Additional visor*
3Sun visor
If sunlight enters through a side window:

Swing sun visor3 down.

Disengage sun visor3 from mounting
by pulling the visor up at an angle1.

Pivot sun visor3 to the side.The sun visors are extendable.

Adjust the sun visors by pushing or
pulling in the direction of the arrows.

Swing additional visor*2 down when
you experience glare.
1Sun visor
2Mirror cover
3Mirror lamp
4Vanity mirror
iIf sunlight enters through a side win-
dow, disengage sun visor from
mounting1 and pivot to the side.
Mirror lamp3 (
page 199) will
switch off.

200 Controls in detailGood visibility
Make sure the sun visor is properly en-
gaged in the mounting.

Lift the mirror cover2 to access the
mirror.
Mirror lamp3 switches on.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated
after approximately 6 to 17 minutes of
operation depending on the outside tem-
perature.Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts flashing, this means that too
many electrical consumers are operat-
ing simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating
the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically turns itself back on.