2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 sunroof

Contents
Control system .................................. 150
Multifunction display .................... 150
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 151
Menus .......................................... 153
Standard display menu ................ 156
AUDIO menu ................................ 157
NAV* menu .................................. 158
Off-road menu .............................. 159
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 159
Settings menu .............................. 161
Vehicle configuration ................... 175
Trip computer menu..................... 177
TEL menu* ................................... 178
Automatic transmission ..................... 182
Gear selector lever ....................... 182
Shifting procedure ....................... 184
Transmission positions................. 185
Gear ranges ................................. 187
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 188
Shifting into optimal gear range ... 190
Canceling gear range limit ........... 190
Driving tips ................................... 190
Towing a trailer ............................ 191
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 192Transfer case ...................................... 193
Good visibility ..................................... 194
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 194
Rear view mirrors.......................... 194
Power folding exterior
rear view mirrors*......................... 197
Sun visors ..................................... 198
Rear window defroster .................. 200
Climate control ................................... 202
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 206
Rear air conditioning ..................... 206
Setting the temperature................ 207
Adjusting air distribution............... 207
Adjusting air volume ..................... 208
Defrosting ..................................... 208
Air recirculation mode .................. 209
Air conditioning............................. 211
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 212
Rear air conditioning ..................... 2133-zone automatic climate control* ..... 216
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 220
Rear air conditioning..................... 221
Setting the temperature ............... 221
Adjusting air distribution .............. 222
Adjusting air volume ..................... 222
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 223
Defrosting ..................................... 223
Air recirculation mode .................. 223
Air conditioning ............................ 225
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 226
Rear air conditioning..................... 227
Power windows .................................. 230
Opening and closing
the windows ................................. 230
Synchronizing power windows ...... 232
Summer opening feature .............. 233
Convenience closing feature......... 234
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 235
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 235
Synchronizing the
power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 237

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 323
Refueling ...................................... 323
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 324
Engine compartment ......................... 326
Hood ............................................ 326
Engine oil ..................................... 327
Transmission fluid level ................ 332
Coolant level ................................ 332
Windshield/rear window
washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ........ 333
Tires and wheels ................................ 335
Important guidelines .................... 335
Tire care and maintenance........... 336
Direction of rotation ..................... 338
Loading the vehicle ...................... 338
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 345
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 347
Tire labeling.................................. 355
Load identification ....................... 359
DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ............................... 360Maximum tire load ........................ 361
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 362
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 362
Tire ply material ............................ 364
Tire and loading terminology......... 365
Rotating tires ................................ 368
Winter driving ..................................... 369
Winter tires ................................... 369
Block heater (Canada only) ........... 370
Snow chains.................................. 370
Maintenance....................................... 371
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 372
Maintenance service
term exceeded .............................. 372
Calling up the service indicator..... 372
Resetting the
maintenance service indicator ...... 373
Vehicle care........................................ 374
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 374
Practical hints.................................. 381
What to do if … ................................... 382
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 382
Lamp in center console ................ 393
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 395
Where will I find ...? ............................ 430
First aid kit.................................... 430
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 430
Spare wheel .................................. 433
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 435
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 435
Locking the vehicle ....................... 436
Unlocking and opening
the tailgate ................................... 437
Fuel filler flap ................................ 438
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 439
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 439
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 440
SmartKey ...................................... 440
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ....... 441

29 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Left reading lamp on/off
145
2
Cargo compartment lighting
on/off
147
3
Automatic interior lighting
145
4
Front interior lighting on/off
146
5
Right reading lamp on/off
147
6
Front right interior lamp
7
Tilt/sliding sunroof* switch
235
8
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system) button
280
9
Garage door opener
289
a
Rear view mirror
194
Item
Page
b
Right reading lamp
146
c
Vehicles with telephone*
installed:
Hands-free microphone for
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system) and telephone*
d
Left reading lamp
e
Vehicles without
telephone* installed:
Hands-free microphone for
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system)
f
Front left interior lamp

77 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Preventive occupant safety* (PRE-SAFE)
®
Your vehicle automatically takes preven-
tive measures to better protect the occu-
pants in the following hazardous
situations:

You execute an emergency braking
maneuver and the Brake Assist System
(page 95) is activated.


The PRE-SAFE
® system detects a criti-
cal driving dynamics situation.In such cases, the following systems are
automatically activated:


The front seat belts are pre-tensioned
electrically.
Vehicles with front passenger seat
memory function*:


If the OCS senses that the front pas-
senger seat is occupied and the seat is
in an unfavorable position, it will be
adjusted to a better position.
Vehicles with power tilt/sliding sunroof*:


The tilt/sliding sunroof closes if the
vehicle is in a severe skid or is
spinning.If the seat belts do not release:

Adjust the backrest or seat slightly to
the rear until the seat belt tension is di-
minished.
The locking mechanism releases.
Warning!
G
The PRE-SAFE
® system is intended to re-
duce the effects of an accident on properly
seat-belted vehicle occupants. Despite
having the PRE-SAFE
® system in your vehi-
cle, the possibility of injuries occurring as a
result of an accident cannot be eliminated.
Therefore, you should always drive carefully
and adjust your driving to the prevailing
road, weather, and traffic conditions.
iIf the closing procedure of the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof is blocked, the tilt/sliding
sunroof will stop and open slightly.
iThe PRE-SAFE
® system is activated in
the previously described circumstanc-
es only at speeds exceeding 22 mph
(35 km/h).
When the critical driving dynamic situa-
tion has passed without an accident oc-
curring, the pre-tensioning on the seat
belts is deactivated.
You can then adjust the seat and the
tilt/sliding sunroof to their previous
position.

105 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Transfer case
Good visibility
Climate control
3-zone automatic climate control*
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

107 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
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. It is possible
for children to open a locked door from the
inside, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey to high levels of
electromagnetic radiation.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.iYou can also open and close the power
windows (
page 230) and tilt/sliding
sunroof* (page 235) using the
SmartKey.

111 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 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.!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO to high levels of electro-
magnetic radiation.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.iYou can also open and close the power
windows (
page 230) and tilt/sliding
sunroof* (page 235) using the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.

209 Controls in detail
Climate control


The climatic compressor is
switched on at outside tempera-
tures above approximately 41°F
(5°C) for air-drying
Deactivating

Press button0.
The yellow indicator lamp on the button
goes out. Defrosting is turned off.
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before a tunnel trav-
el). This setting cuts off the intake of out-
side air and recirculates the air in the
passenger compartment.Activating

Press button:.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
iTo switch off, you can press also
button´ orU.
Warning!
G
Fogged windows impair visibility,
endangering you and others. If the windows
begin to fog on the inside, switching off the
air recirculation mode immediately should
clear interior window fogging. If interior win-
dow fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 204) is activated, or
press button0.
iPress and hold button: for approx.
two seconds. The side windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof* will close. You can
release button: once the closing
procedure has begun. The windows
and tilt/sliding sunroof* continue clos-
ing until they are fully closed.