Page 436 of 539
435 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the vehicle using the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*, open the driver’s door us-
ing the mechanical key.
Removing the mechanical key
SmartKey1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab1 in direction of
arrow.
The mechanical key2 comes out.
Slide the mechanical key2 out of
housing.
iUnlocking your vehicle with the me-
chanical key will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the
following:
Press buttonŒ or‹on the
SmartKey.
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
In vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Grasp the outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be outside the vehicle.
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be inside the vehicle.
Page 437 of 539

436 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyUnlocking the driver’s door
1Unlocking
2Mechanical key
Insert the mechanical key2 into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn the mechanical key2 counter-
clockwise to position1.
Pull the door handle until the locking
knob moves up (
page 117).
The driver’s door is unlocked.
Pull the door handle again to open the
driver’s door.
Locking the vehicle
If you cannot lock the vehicle using the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, do the follow-
ing:
Close the passenger door, the rear
doors and the tailgate.
Press the lower part of the central
locking switch in the door control panel
(page 126).
Check to see whether the locking
knobs on the doors have moved down.
If necessary push them down manually.
Except for the driver’s door, the vehicle
should now be locked.1Locking
2Mechanical key
Remove the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (
page 435).
Insert the mechanical key2 into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn the mechanical key2 clockwise
to position1.
The driver’s door is locked.
Page 438 of 539

437 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
If the tailgate can no longer be unlocked
and opened using the Œbutton on the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO* function,
use the manual release to unlock and open
the tailgate.
The manual release is located on the inside
of the tailgate.
1Release lever
2Cover
Remove cover2 from the trim on the
tailgate.
Push release lever1 all the way to the
left.
Lift the tailgate.!Always make sure there is sufficient
overhead clearance.iIf the vehicle has previously been
locked from the outside using the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*, opening the tailgate
from the inside will trigger the
anti-theft alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the
following:
With the SmartKey:
Press buttonŒ or‹ on the
SmartKey.
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*:
Grasp an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be within 3 ft (1 m) of the ve-
hicle.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be inside the vehicle.
Page 439 of 539
438 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyFuel filler flapFuel filler flap release
Open the tailgate (
page 118).
Open cover in cargo compartment
(page 479) behind the right trim pan-
el.
Pull red fuel filler flap release in
direction of arrow.
The fuel filler flap can now be opened.
Page 511 of 539

510 IndexBrake pads
Message in display 408
Brakes 300
Warning lamp 383
Break-in period 298
Bulbs, replacing 443
Additional turn signals 443
Backup lamps 444
Brake lamps 444
Fog lamps 443
Front fog lamp 449
Front lamps 443
High beam 443
License plate lamps 444, 451
Low beam 443
Parking, standing lamp 443
Rear fog lamps 450
Rear side marker lamp bulbs 450
Side marker lamp 443
Side marker lamps 444
Turn signal lamps 443, 444C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 501
Calibrating
Compass 171
California
Important notice 11
Call priority
Tele Aid* 287
Calling up
Range (distance to empty) 178
Service indicator 372
CAN system 501
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 493
Cargo compartment
Fuse box in 479
Interior lighting 145
Lamp 147
Tie-down rings 260
Cargo compartment cover* 265
Closing 265
Installing 265
Opening 265
Removing 265
Cargo tie-down rings 260Carpet
Cleaning 379
Catalytic converter 320
CD player
Operating 158
Center console 27
Lower part 28
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp 393
Upper part 27
Central locking
Automatic 125
Switch 126
Switching on/off
(control system) 172
Unlocking from inside 126
Central locking switch 126
Certification label 484
Changing
SmartKey setting 173
Charging
Vehicle battery 469
CHECK ENGINE malfunction
indicator lamp 385, 386
Page 515 of 539

514 IndexDoors
Message in display 413
Opening from inside vehicle 117
Opening from outside 108
DOT 365
Downhill driving
Cruise control 240
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) 243
Switching off 245
Switching on 245
Drink holder see Cup holder
Drinking and driving 299
Drive sensibly-save fuel 299
Driving 46, 52
Abroad 319
In winter 304
Problems 58
Safety systems 93
Through standing water 305Driving abroad 319
Driving instructions
Towing a trailer 317
Driving off 301
Driving safety systems
4-ETS 98
ABS 93
BAS 95
ESP
®
95
Driving systems 238
Cruise control 238
Driving safety systems 93
EBP 98
Parktronic* 254
Driving through water 310
Driving tips 190
Accelerator position 190
Kickdown 190E
Easy-entry/exit feature
Vehicles with memory function* 128
Easy-entry/exit feature*
Activating 173
EBP 98
Electrical connections
Trailer 314
Electrical fuses 477
Electrical system
Technical data 490
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program
® see ESP
®
Electronic Traction System see 4-ETS
Emergency
Unlocking and opening
the tailgate in an 437
Emergency calls
Initiating an emergency call 284
With Tele Aid* 282
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 192
Page 516 of 539

515 Index
Emergency operations
Closing tilt/sliding sunroof* 439
Locking the vehicle 436
Opening tilt/sliding sunroof* 439
Remote door unlock 288
Unlocking the vehicle 435
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emission control 321
Ending
A call (telephone*) 180
Engine
Message in the display 410
Starting 49
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 50
Technical data 486
Turning off 62
Engine cleaning 376
Engine compartment
Hood 326
Main fuse box 478
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp 385, 410
Engine malfunction indicator
lamp (Canada only) 25
Engine malfunction indicator
lamp (USA only) 25Engine number 502
Engine oil 327, 495
Adding 331
Additives 495
Checking level 327
Checking with the
control system (ML 500 only) 328
Checking with the
oil dipstick (ML 350 only) 330
Consumption 327
Display messages 414–415
Messages in display 329, 414–415
Viscosity 502
ESP
®
25, 95, 502
Off-road-ESP
®
98
Switching off 97
Switching on 98
Warning lamp 387
ETD 502
Safety guidelines 70
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 76
Exterior mirrors
Folding 197
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 44
Parking position* for 174F
Fastening the seat belts 46
First aid kit 430
Flat tire 456
Lowering the vehicle 460
Preparing the vehicle 457
Spare wheel 433
Flexible Service System PLUS
(FSS PLUS) 502
Floormats* 279
Fluid level
Automatic transmission 332
Fog lamp, rear
Switching on 142
Fog lamps
Replacing bulbs 443
Fog lamps, front
Messages in display 418
Replacing bulbs 445
Switching on 142
Folding
Exterior mirrors 197
Folding the backrest forward 261
4-ETS 98
Off-road - 4-ETS 99
Page 517 of 539

516 IndexFront air bags 71
Front fog lamps
Indicator lamp 138
Switching on 142
Front lamps
Messages in display 418
Replacing bulbs 443, 445
Front turn signal bulbs
Replacing 448
Front wiper blades
Installing 453
Removing 453
FSS Plus
(Flexible Service System PLUS) 502
Fuel 324
Additives 497
Fuel tank reserve warning lamp 388
Gasoline additives 497
Premium unleaded gasoline 324,
496
Requirements 496
Fuel additives 497Fuel cap
Message in display 416
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 177
Since last reset 177
Fuel filler flap 323
Locking 323
Opening 438
Unlocking 323
Fuel requirements 496
Fuel reserve tank
Message in display 416
Fuel tank
Filler flap 323
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. 493
Functions (control system) 154
Resetting 162
Fuse box
In cargo compartment 479
Fuse chart 478
Fuse extractor 478
Fuses 477
Fuse chart 478
Main fuse box 478G
Garage door opener 289
Erasing in remote control 294
Gasoline additives 497
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 365
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) 502
Gear range 503
Limiting 187
Shifting into optimal 190
Gear range limit
Canceling 190
Gear ranges
Automatic transmission 187
Gear selector lever
Cleaning 379
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission 182
Message in the display 400
Position 185
Shifting procedure 184
Global
Locking 108
Unlocking 108