2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 display

178 Controls in detailControl systemResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see the reading that you want
to reset in the display.

Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 24) until
the value is reset to 0.Calling up range (distance to empty)

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
Range:
In the display you will see the calculat-
ed range based on the current fuel tank
level.
TEL menu*Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop before placing or taking a tele-
phone call. If you choose to use the tele-
phone while driving, please use the
hands-free device and only use the tele-
phone when weather, road and traffic condi-
tions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving a ve-
hicle.

179 Controls in detail
Control system
You can use the functions in the
TEL
menu
to operate your telephone, provided it is
connected to a hands-free system and
switched on.

Switch on the telephone and Modular
COMAND system.

Press buttonÿ orè on the
steering wheel repeatedly until you see
the
TEL
menu in the display.Which messages will appear in the display
field depends on whether your telephone is
switched on or off:


If the telephone is off, the message in
the multifunction display is:
PHONE OFF
.


If the telephone is on:
The telephone will then search for a
network. During this time the display is
empty.
As soon as the telephone has found a
network,
READY
appears in the display.
This standby message indicates that your
telephone is ready for use and you can op-
erate it using the control system.Answering a call
When your telephone is ready to receive
calls, you can answer a call at any time. In
the display you will then see the message:

Press buttons.
You have answered the call. In the dis-
play you see the length of the call.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury.
iIf you do not wish to accept a call,
press buttont.

180 Controls in detailControl systemEnding a call
Press buttont.
You have ended the call. In the display
you will again see the standby mes-
sage.
Dialing a number from the phone book
If your telephone is ready to receive calls,
you may select and dial a number from the
phone book at any time.

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the
TEL
menu in the dis-
play.

Press buttonj ork.
The control system reads the phone
book which is stored in the telephone.
This may take up to four minutes. In the
display you will see the message Please wait
.
When the message
Please wait
disap-
pears, the phone book has been load-
ed.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
display.
The stored names are displayed in as-
cending or descending alphabetical or-
der.

Press buttons.
The system dials the selected phone
number.

If the connection is successful and
this feature is supported by your
network provider, the name of the
party (if stored in your phone book)
you called and the duration of the
call will appear in the display.


If no connection is made, the con-
trol system stores the dialed num-
ber in the redial memory.
iIf you press and holdj ork for
longer than one second, the system
scrolls rapidly through the list of names
until you release the button again.
Cancel the quick search mode by
pressingt.

181 Controls in detail
Control system
Redialing
The control system stores the most recent-
ly dialed phone numbers. This eliminates
the need to search through your entire
phone book.
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the
Tel
menu in the dis-
play.

Press buttons.
In the display you see the first number
in the redial memory.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
display.

Press buttons.
The control system dials the selected
phone number.

184 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionShifting from D, R, or N to P
If you want to select park positionP with
the transmission being in drive positionD,
reverse positionR or neutral positionN:
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
pressed.

Step firmly on parking brake pedal
(page 52).

Press button at the end of the gear
selector lever in direction of arrow
(page 182) to select park positionP.

Release the brake.
Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual drive gears automatically, depend-
ing on:

drive positionD with gear ranges
(page 187)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 190)


the vehicle speed
The current transmission gear selection
appears in the multifunction display.
With gear positionD selected, you can use
the steering wheel gearshift control but-
tons (
page 189) to influence transmis-
sion shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
!Shift the automatic transmission
directly from positionD toR, fromR
toD or dire c tly to pos itionP only when
the vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the
automatic transmission could be
damaged.
When trying to free a vehicle stuck in
mud or snow, see “Rocking the vehicle”
(page 191).
!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.

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.

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.

218 Controls in detail3-zone automatic climate control*1
Temperature control, left
2
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3
Left side air distribution
4
Defrosting
5
Increase air volume
6
Rear window defroster
7
Right side air distribution
8
Rear air conditioning
9
Temperature control, right
a
Automatic climate control on/off
b
Right side air distribution
c
Right side air distribution
d
AC cooling on/off (A/C)
Residual heat/ventilation (REST)
e
Display
f
Decrease air volume
g
Air recirculation
h
Left side air distribution
j
Left side air distribution
k
Interior temperature sensor
l
Adopt driver zone settings in other
zones