2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 cruise control

ContentsDriving systems ................................. 238
Cruise control............................... 238
Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) ............................................ 243
Off-road driving program .............. 248
Air suspension package* ............. 249
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* .......................................... 249
Vehicle level control* ................... 250
Parktronic* system
(Parking assist) ............................. 254
Loading .............................................. 259
Loading instructions ..................... 259
,Split rear bench seat ................... 261
Partition net* ............................... 263
Cargo compartment cover*.......... 265
Cargo management system*........ 265
Roof rack* .................................... 269Useful features .................................. 270
Storage compartments ................ 270
Cup holders.................................. 274
Armrest in rear seat bench........... 275
Ashtrays* ..................................... 275
Cigarette lighter* ......................... 277
12-V sockets ................................ 277
Floormats* ................................... 279
Telephone* .................................. 279
Tele Aid* ...................................... 280
Garage door opener ..................... 289
Compass ...................................... 295
Infrared reflecting windshield* ..... 296
Operation......................................... 297
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 298
Driving instructions ........................... 299
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 299
Drinking and driving ..................... 299
Pedals .......................................... 299
Power assistance ......................... 299
Brakes.......................................... 300
Driving off .................................... 301
Parking......................................... 301
Tires ............................................. 302
Hydroplaning................................ 303
Tire traction ................................. 303
Tire speed rating .......................... 303
Winter driving instructions ........... 304
Standing water............................. 305
Off-road driving ............................ 306
Trailer towing ............................... 314
Passenger compartment .............. 319
Driving abroad ............................. 319
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 320
Catalytic converter....................... 320
Emission control .......................... 321
Coolant temperature.................... 322

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Cruise control lever
238
2
Instrument cluster
24
3
Multifunction steering
wheel
26
4
Horn
5
Steering wheel gearshift
buttons
189
6
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
49
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicators
256
8
Overhead control panel
29
9
Glove box lid release,
glove box lock
270
Item
Page
a
Glove box
270
b
Power outlet
278
c
Center console
27
d
Starter switch
34
e
Steering wheel adjustment,
manual
41
f
Hood lock release
326
g
Parking brake release
52
h
Parking brake pedal
52
j
Door control panel
30
Item
Page
k
Headlamp washer switch*
194
l
Exterior lamp switch
54
138
m
Steering wheel adjustment,
electrical*
42
n
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
142
54
55
54

176 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonæ orç to switch
function
On or
Off
.
This setting is maintained until the ignition
is switched off.
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
programmed default speed
In the
Downhill Speed Regulation
menu,
you can program the default speed the
DSR is set to when it is activated.
You can program the default speed be-
tween 4 - 10 mph (Canada: 6 - 18 km/h).
The set value is increased in 1 mph
(Canada: 2 km/h) increments.

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

Pressj ork button repeatedly
until the message
DSR Speed
appears
in the display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç button repeatedly
until the desired speed is shown in the
multifunction display.
When DSR is switched on, DSR will use
the programmed default speed to regu-
late the vehicle’s speed.Tow-away alarm on/off
You can switch off the tow-away alarm,
e.g. before towing the vehicle, or when
parking on a surface subject to movement,
such as a ferry or auto train.

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

Pressj ork button repeatedly
until the message
Tow-away alarm

appears in the display.
iOnce DSR is switched on, you can
adjust the set speed using the cruise
control lever (
page 246).

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.

239 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Set current or higher speed
Adjustment in 1 mph increments (first
position) or 5 mph increments (second
position) (Canada: 1 km/h or
10 km/h)
2Set current or lower speed
Adjustment in 1 mph increments (first
position) or 5 mph increments (second
position) (Canada: 1 km/h or
10 km/h)
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume to last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The cruise control is activated.
The last set speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds.
Warning!
G
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded. The
brake pedal depresses when the cruise con-
trol engages the brakes.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
- your foot could become caught.
Keep in mind that the cruise control is a con-
venience system designed to assist the driv-
er during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.

240 Controls in detailDriving systems
Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 239).
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn uphill grades, the cruise control
may not be able to maintain the set
speed. Once the grade eases, the set
speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control
maintains the set speed with braking
from the vehicle’s braking system. In
addition, on longer downhill grades the
automatic transmission will automati-
cally downshift.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically when

you step on the brake pedal


you depress the parking brake
pedal
The cruise control also switches off au-
tomatically when


the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h)


the ESP
® is in operation or
switched off with the ESP
® switch
(
page 97)


you set the automatic transmission
toN while driving
An acoustic warning sounds and the
message
Cruise control OFF
appears
in the multifunction display.

241 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
You can increase the speed in two stages.
Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments
Lift the cruise control lever to the resis-
tance point in direction of arrow1
(page 239) and hold it up until the
desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments
!Setting the automatic transmission
toN while driving cancels the cruise
control. However, the automatic trans-
mission should not be set toN while
driving except to coast when the vehi-
cle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy
roads).iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate the cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing), the
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iThe set value is increased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each
time you lift the cruise control lever to
the resistance point.
Warning!
G
You can increase the vehicle speed in 5 mph
(Canada 10 km/h) increments. When using
this feature, keep in mind that it may take a
brief moment until the vehicle has reached
the set speed.
Increase the vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions permit. Other-
wise, sudden and unexpected acceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.iThe set value is increased in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments each
time you lift the cruise control lever
past the resistance point.

242 Controls in detailDriving systems
Briefly lift the cruise control lever past
the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 239).
The vehicle speed increases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
Setting a lower speed
You can reduce the speed in two stages.Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments

Press the cruise control lever down to
the resistance point in direction of
arrow2 (
page 239) and hold it
down until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments
iThe new speed is set and the vehicle
will accelerate. Keep in mind that it
may take a brief moment until the vehi-
cle has reached the set speed.iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will au-
tomatically brake the vehicle if the en-
gine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.
iThe set value is decreased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each
time you depress the cruise control
lever to the resistance point.
Warning!
G
You can decrease the vehicle speed in
5 mph (Canada 10 km/h) increments. When
using this feature, keep in mind that it may
take a brief moment until the vehicle has
reached the set speed.
Decelerate the vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions permit. Other-
wise, sudden and unexpected deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.iThe set value is decreased in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments each
time you press the cruise control lever
down past the resistance point.