2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 Page 106

32 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will provide you with further
information. The corresponding page
references are located at the end of each
segment.Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button* for tailgate
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 91)

Press unlock buttonΠon the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
vehicle unlocks. The locking knobs in
the doors move up. The anti-theft alarm
system is disarmed.

Get in the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 106).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.

63 Getting started
Parking and locking

After exiting the vehicle, press the lock
button‹ on the SmartKey
(page 32).
The turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs on the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 106).Turning off with KEYLESS-GO*

Shift automatic transmission to
positionP.

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button to shut off the engine.
With the driver’s door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the
driver’s door opened, the starter switch
is set to position0, same as SmartKey
removed from starter switch
(page 34).

Press the seat belt release button.
Allow the retractor to completely
rewind the seat belt by guiding the
latch plate.
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. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iIf you turn off the engine using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and
open the driver’s door with the trans-
mission in a position other thanP, the
transmission will automatically shift
toP.
Keep in mind that turning off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button alone will not automatically shift
the transmission toP. Only when the
driver’s door is opened will the trans-
mission automatically shift toP.


64 Getting startedParking and locking
1Lock button
After exiting the vehicle, press lock
button1 at the outside door handle or
on the tailgate (
page 121).
All turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs on the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 106).
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have
forgotten to turn off the lights.
Turn off the lights.Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.


106 Controls in detailIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed in your vehicle.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions of your vehicle, this section will
be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are
given at the beginning of each segment.Locking and unlocking
For more information on locking and un-
locking, see “Getting started” (
page 31)
and (
page 62).
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key
portion of the two SmartKeys are a differ-
ent color to help distinguish each
SmartKey unit.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors


the tailgate


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button* for tailgate
3Locking tab for mechanical key
4ŒUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6ÂPanic button (
page 91)

112 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingImportant notes on using KEYLESS-GO*

You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(page 106).


You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with the ‹button).


Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.


Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:

Electronic items such as a cellular
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO


Metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.


To lock or unlock the vehicle, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located outside the vehicle within ap-
proximately 3 ft (1 m) of the respective
door or the tailgate.


In order to start the engine with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO:

The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be located in the vehicle.


All doors must be closed.


The brake pedal must be firmly de-
pressed. Do not depress the accel-
erator.


If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
positioned farther away from the vehi-
cle, the system may no longer recog-
nize the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.
The vehicle then cannot be locked or
the engine started via the KEYLESS-GO
system.


If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is re-
moved from the vehicle while starter
switch position1 (e.g. if passenger ex-
its the vehicle with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO), the message
Key not
recognized
will appear in the multi-
function display while driving off.
Find the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO or
change its present location immediate-
ly (e.g. place it on the front passenger
seat or insert it in shirt pocket).

118 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens.The tailgate can also be opened using the
SmartKey (
page 106).Opening the tailgate from the inside
electrically*
You can open the tailgate from the inside if
the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The switch is located on the door control
panel.
1Remote tailgate switch with indicator
lamp
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance.
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*: To stop the opening proce-
dure, press buttonŠ on the
SmartKey. The tailgate stops moving.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally after closing it (
page 120). The
turn signals will flash three times to
confirm locking.

358 OperationTires and wheelsSummer tires

At the tire manufacturer’s option, any
tire with a speed capability above
149 mph (240 km/h) can include a
“ZR” in the size designation (for exam-
ple: 245/40 ZR18). To determine the
maximum speed capability of the tire,
the service description for the tire must
be referred to. The service description is comprised of the tire load rating5
(
page 355) and the tire speed
rating6 (
page 355).
If your tire includes “ZR” in the size
designation and no service
description5 and6 (
page 355) is
given, the tire manufacturer must be
consulted for the maximum speed ca-
pability.
If a service description5 and6
(
page 355) is given, the speed capa-
bility is limited by the speed symbol in
the service description.
Example: 245/40 ZR18 97Y.
In this example, “97Y” is the service
description. The letter “Y” designates
the speed rating and the speed capabil-
ity of the tire is limited to 186 mph
(300 km/h).


Any tire with a speed capability above
186 mph (300 km/h) must include a
“ZR” in the size designation AND the
service description must be placed in
parenthesis. Example: 275/40 ZR 18
(99Y). The “(Y)” speed rating in paren-
thesis designates the maximum speed
capability of the tire as being above
186 mph (300 km/h). Consult the tire
manufacturer for the actual maximum
permissible speed of the tire.
All-season and winter tires
Index
Speed rating
Q
up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
R
up to 106 mph (170 km/h)
S
up to 112 mph (180 km/h)
T
up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H
up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V
up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
W
up to 168 mph (270 km/h)
Y
up to 186 mph (300 km/h)
(Y)
above 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR
above 149 mph (240 km/h)
Index
Speed rating
QM+S
1
1or M+S.for winter tires
up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
TM+S
1
up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
HM+S
1
up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
VM+S
1
up to 149 mph (240 km/h)