2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 steering wheel

187 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear ranges
With the automatic transmission in drive
positionD, you can limit the transmis-
sion’s gear range by pressing the inside of
one of the steering wheel gearshift but-
tons, and reverse the gear range limit by
pressing the outside of one of the steering
wheel gearshift buttons. The steering
wheel gearshift buttons are located on the
back of the steering wheel (
page 189).
The selected gear range appears in the
multifunction display.
If you press on the accelerator when the
engine has reached its rpm limit, the trans-
mission will upshift beyond any gear range
limit selected.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could shift the
transmission out of positionP, which could
result in an accident and/or serious person-
al injury.
Effect
ê
The transmission shifts through
all seven forward gears.
ï
The transmission shifts through
sixth gear only.
î
The transmission shifts through
fifth gear only.
é
The transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.

188 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Steering wheel gearshift control
With drive positionD selected, you can use
the steering wheel gearshift control but-
tons to manually shift the gears. When
doing so, you are also limiting or extending
the gear range.
Effect
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
downshifting with steering wheel
gearshift buttons, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

189 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1Button, inside: downshift
2Button, outside: upshiftDownshifting

Briefly press the inside of one of the
buttons1 on the steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously limits
the gear range of the transmission
(
page 187).Upshifting

Briefly press the outside of one of the
buttons2 on the steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the transmission
(
page 187).
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the
transmission is in positionP,N orR.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.

190 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionShifting into optimal gear range
Press and hold the inside of one of the
buttons1 on the steering wheel
(page 189).
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.
Canceling gear range limit
Press and hold the outside of one of the
buttons2 on the steering wheel
(page 189) until
D reappears in the
multifunction display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:

Leave the transmission in gear.

Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop longer with the engine
idling and/or on a hill:

Set the parking brake.

Shift into park positionP.
Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:

Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.

Accelerate gently.

Never abruptly step on the accelerator.

238 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed.


Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR),
which supports you when you are
driving downhill.


Off-road driving program, which
supports you when you are driving
off-road.


Air suspension package* which adjusts
the vehicle suspension characteristics
automatically and controls the vehicle
level.


Parktronic*, which serves as a parking
aid.
For information on the ABS, BAS, EBB,
ESP®, and 4-ETS driving systems, see
“Driving safety systems” (
page 93).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above
20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
iThe cruise control should not be acti-
vated during off-road driving.
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must remain at
all times responsible for the vehicle speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it ad-
visable to travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

253 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting the raised level
Only select the raised level if appropriate
for the driving situation encountered.
Otherwise:

fuel consumption may increase


handling characteristics of the vehicle
may be unfavorable

Start the engine (
page 34).
If the indicator lamp2 is off:

Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 flashes. The vehicle
adjusts to the raised level.
The following message appears in the mul-
tifunction display while the level is being
set:When the raised level is reached, the
following message appears in the multi-
function display for five seconds:
Indicator lamp2 (
page 252) comes on
continuously.
You can select the raised level at speeds
up to 40 mph (64 km/h). At higher speeds,
the message
Level selection not
permitted appears in the multifunction
display.Setting the highway/high-speed level

Start the engine (
page 34).
If the indicator lamp2 (page 252) is
on:

Press switch1 (
page 252).
Indicator lamp2 flashes. The vehicle
adjusts to the highway/high-speed
level.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display while the level is
being set:
iThe message can be cleared by press-
ing theèÿk or
buttonj on the multifunction
steering wheel.
iThe message can be cleared by press-
ing theèÿk or
buttonj on the multifunction
steering wheel.


257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
As your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will come on,
depending on the distance. When the
second red distance segment illuminates,
you have reached the minimum distance.

Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of two seconds will sound for
the second red segment. The signal is
canceled when the automatic trans-
mission is set toP, or the parking brake
is activated.


Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of two seconds will sound for
the second red segment. The signal is
canceled when the automatic trans-
mission is set toD, P, or the parking
brake is activated.
Switching Parktronic* system on/off
The Parktronic system can be switched off
manually using the control system
(
page 175).
As your vehicle approaches an object, and
three or more distance segments will
come on, the following message appears in
the multifunction display.

Pressæ orç to switch function
off.
Automatic trans-
mission position
Warning indicator
D
Front area activated
R or N
Front and rear area
activated
P
Neither activated
iThe display disappears automatically
within ten seconds if you continue to
approach an object.
If the vehicle comes closer to the ob-
ject and the first red distance segment
comes on, the display appears continu-
ously. It disappears if:

you clear the message by pressing
theèÿkor
buttonj on the multifunction
steering wheel
or


the distance is increased and the
third yellow distance segment goes
out.


258 Controls in detailDriving systems
Parktronic* system malfunction
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and an acoustic warning sounds,
there is a malfunction in the Parktronic
system. The Parktronic system will auto-
matically switch off after 20 seconds.
Have the Parktronic system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and no acoustic warning sounds, the
Parktronic system sensors are dirty or
there is an interference from other radio or
ultrasonic signals. The Parktronic system
will automatically switch off after
20 seconds.

Switch off the ignition (
page 34).

Clean the Parktronic system sensors
(page 377).

Switch on the ignition.
or

Check the Parktronic system operation
at another location to rule out interfer-
ence from outside radio or ultrasonic
signals.
iThe message
Parktronic on
reappears
as soon as the system senses that you
get closer to the object again, even if
you cleared the message before by
pressingèÿk or
buttonj on the multifunction
steering wheel.
iThe Parktronic system is automatically
switched on when the ignition is
switched on.
Vehicles with original equipment
Mercedes-Benz Trailer Hitch Kit:
The rear Parktronic sensor will auto-
matically disengage when towing a
trailer as soon as the electrical connec-
tion between the vehicle and the trailer
has been established.