54 Getting startedDriving
Starting the engine Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information on how to operate
the gear selector lever, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 185).
Warning!
G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause un-
consciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one win-
dow fully open.
ProCarManuals.com
72 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
air bags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and front passenger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear their
respective seat belt.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the seat backrest.
Fasten your seat belt and make sure it is
properly positioned on your body
(page 51).
Since the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the air bag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the air bag can be seriously
injured or killed by an air bag as it inflates
with great force in the blink of an eye:
Sit properly belted in a nearly upright
position with your back against the seat
backrest.
Adjust the driver’s seat as far as possi-
ble rearward, still permitting proper op-
eration of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the air bag cover
on the steering wheel must be at least
10 inches (25 cm) or more. You should
be able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Do not lean your head or chest close to
the steering wheel or dashboard.
Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver’s front air bag inflates.
Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.
Always sit nearly upright, properly use
the seat belts and use an appropriately
sized infant or toddler restraint or boost-
er seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child.
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in severe injuries to you or other
occupants.
If you sell your vehicle, it is important that
you make the buyer aware of this safety
information. Be sure to give the buyer this
Operator’s Manual.
Warning!
G
Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in an automobile is in the
rear seat.
ProCarManuals.com
128 Controls in detailSeatsFor information on seat adjustment, see
the “Getting started” section (
page 43).
For more information on seats, see “Load-
ing” (
page 281).
Front seat active head restraintsYou cannot remove the active head
restraints on the driver’s and front
passenger’s seat.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 43).
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraint” (
page 80).
Rear seat head restraints
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is close
to the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
Warning!
G
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints installed when the rear seats
are occupied. Head restraints are intended
to help reduce injuries during an accident.
With a rear seat occupied, make sure to
move the respective head restraint up from
the lowest non-use position and have the oc-
cupant adjust the head restraint properly.
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports the
back of the head at eye level. This will re-
duce the potential for injury to the head and
neck in the event of an accident or similar
situation.
ProCarManuals.com
129 Controls in detailSeats
Head restraint height
1Head restraint
2Release button
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of head
restraint1 by pulling it upward to the
desired position.
Lowering:
To lower head restraint1, press
release button2 and push down on
head restraint1.Head restraint fore and aft adjustment
Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint.
While seated, reach behind you with
both hands and find lower edge of the
head restraint.
Adjust the head restraint to the desired
position by pushing or pulling on the
lower edge of the head restraint cush-
ion.Head restraints, removing and install-
ing
1Head restraint
2Release button
Removing
Pull head restraint1 to its uppermost
position.
Press release button2 and pull out
head restraint.
ProCarManuals.com
130 Controls in detailSeatsInstalling
Insert head restraint1 into openings
on the seat backrest.
Push head restraint1 down until it au-
dibly engages.
Press release button2 and adjust
head restraint1 to the desired posi-
tion (
page 129).
For more information on seats, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 43).
Lumbar support
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back sup-
port and seating comfort.
The lever for lumbar support adjustment is
located on the right hand side of the
driver’s seat backrest.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in direction
of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has an extendable
seat cushion and inflatable air chambers
built into the backrest to provide additional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion depth, seat backrest
cushion-height and curvature can be con-
tinuously varied with switches on the in-
side of each front seat base after the
ignition is switched on (
page 39).
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest side bolsters
3Backrest center
4Backrest bottom
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562 IndexHeadlamps
Automatic headlamp mode 137
Bi-Xenon* 458, 486
Cleaning lenses 408
Cleaning system* 200, 363
Halogen 485
High beam see High beam flasher
High beam see High beam headlamps
Light sensor, Messages in the
multifunction display 460
Low beam see Low beam headlamps
Manual headlamp mode 137
Messages in the
multifunction display 458, 459,
460, 461, 462, 463
Replacing bulbs 482, 483
Switch 59, 136
Heated seats see Seat heating*
Heated steering wheel* 304
Height adjustment
Vehicle level control (Vehicles with
Air suspension package*) 271High beam flasher 59, 140
High beam headlamps
Indicator lamp 29
Messages in the
multifunction display 459
Replacing bulbs 483, 485, 486
Switching on 59, 140
High mounted brake lamp 483
Hood 356
Messages in the
multifunction display 455
Opening 356
Hooks
Loading 284
Horn 25
HVAC see Climate control or
automatic climate control (3-zone)*
Hydroplaning 330I
Identification labels see Labels
Ignition 40, 42, 55
Immobilizer 103
Indicator lamps see Lamps, Indicator and
warning
Infant and child restraint systems see
Children in the vehicle
Inflation pressure see Tires,
Inflation pressures
Information button see Tele Aid*
Infrared reflecting windshield* 322
Inside door handle 118
Instrument cluster 26, 28, 145
Illumination brightness 145
Lamps 414
Messages in display see
Multifunction display messages
Multifunction display 147
Outside temperature indicator 146
Selecting language 167
Instrument lighting see Instrument cluster,
Illumination brightness 145
Instrument panel see Instrument cluster
Instruments and controls see Cockpit
ProCarManuals.com
570 IndexSeat belts 77
Children in the vehicle 82
Cleaning 412
Fastening 51
Height adjustment 53
Messages in the
multifunction display 421, 422
Proper use of 53, 78
Safety guidelines 73
Telltale 29, 77, 421
Warning lamp 422
Seat cushion depth see Seats
Seat heating* see Seats
Seat ventilation* see Seats
Seating capacity 370
Seats 43, 128
Adjusting 43
Cushion depth, Multicontour
seat* 130
Folding the backrest forward 284
Heating* 131
Lumbar support 130
Memory function* 134
Multicontour seat* 130
Returning seat backrest to original
position 286Ventilation* 132
Securing cargo 283
Cargo tie-down rings 283
Hooks 284
Selector lever see Gear selector lever
Self-test
Lamps in the instrument cluster 414
OCS 90
Tele Aid* 309
Vehicle battery 507
Service and warranty information 10
Service intervals see Maintenance, Service
indicator
Service life
Tires 366
Service see Maintenance
Service system see FSS PLUS
(Canada vehicles) or
Maintenance System (US vehicles)
Service, Parts 528Settings
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* 269
Air suspension* 269
Clock 169
Comfort functions* 177
Control system menus 150, 152
Control system submenus 151, 153,
166
Date 153, 166, 169
Daytime running lamp mode 171
Factory, SmartKey 109
Factory, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 115
Individual, Vehicle 164
Instrument cluster 167
Language, multifunction display 167,
168
Lighting 171
Memory function* 135
Resetting all, Control system 165
Selective, SmartKey 110
Selective, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 115
Time 169
Vehicle configuration 178
ProCarManuals.com
571 Index
Vehicle level control* 270
Shift program (ML 63 AMG only) 195
Shifting
Automatic transmission 54
Shifting, Automatic transmission 185
Side impact air bags 76
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 408
Messages in the
multifunction display 461
Replacing bulbs 483, 488, 491
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 396
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*
Snow chains 400
Snow tires see Winter tires
Spare fuses 469
Spare wheel 538
Bolts 470
Mounting 498
Wheel bolts 501
Spare wheel (except ML 63 AMG) 473Speed settings
Cruise control 247
Distronic* 256
Speedometer 27, 253
Spinning see Tires, Direction of rotation
SRS 78
Indicator lamp 29, 423
Messages in the
multifunction display 423
Standing lamps 136
Replacing bulbs 482, 483, 487, 490
Standing water, Driving through 338
Starter switch 25, 40
Positions 40
Starting difficulties, Engine 57
Starting, Engine 54
Steep terrain, Driving 336
Steering column 47, 48
Steering wheel 46
Adjustment, Electrically* 48
Adjustment, Manually 47
Buttons 30, 148
Cleaning 411Steering wheel gearshift control
Automatic transmission 194
Stolen Vehicle Recovery services 315
Storage compartments 34, 294
Armrest, Front 296
Cup holder 299
Cup holders 299
Door pockets 34
Front center console 296
Glove box 294
Parcel net, Front passenger
footwell 298
Parcel nets, Front seat backrest 298
Rear seats, In front of 297
Storing tires 367
Stranded vehicle 521
Submenus see Control system submenus
Sun visors 203
Sunroof see Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Suspension tuning see Air suspension
package*
Symbols used in this Operator’s
Manual 16
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