Page 394 of 585

393 Operation
Tires and wheels
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.Traction
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem-
perature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and ex-
cessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Warning!
G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Page 421 of 585
420 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ABS/ESP
® warning
lamp flashes while driving.
The ESP
®, ABS, or traction control has come
into operation because of detected traction
loss in at least one tire.
The cruise control and the Distronic* system
are deactivated.
When driving off, apply as little throt-
tle as possible.
While driving, ease up on the acceler-
ator.
Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.
Do not deactivate the ESP
®.
Exceptions: (
page 99).
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp in the fuel gauge
comes on while driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.
Refuel at the next gas station
(page 352).
Page 432 of 585

431 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
If the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv flashes while driving and
this message appears, the electron-
ic traction system has switched off
to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off,
the electronic traction system switches
on again.
The message in the multifunction dis-
play disappears and the ESP
® warning
lampv goes out.
The self-diagnosis has not yet been
completed yet.
The display will clear after driving a
short distance at a vehicle speed of
above 12 mph (20 km/h).
Cruise control and
SPEEDTRONIC
inoperative
The cruise control is malfunctioning.
Have cruise control checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Cruise control
--- mph
You have attempted to set a speed
while driving below 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the
speed (
page 245).
The ESP
® is switched off.
Switch on the ESP
® (page 98).
The automatic transmission is set to
positionP, R, orN.
Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 187).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.
Release the parking brake
(page 57).
Page 559 of 585

558 IndexDoor control panel 36
Door handle 36
Door windows see Power windows
DOT 389, 395
Downhill driving
Cruise control 247
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) 264
Messages in the
multifunction display 447
Drinking and driving 325
Driving 51, 325
Abroad 348
Hydroplaning 330
In winter 332, 399
Instructions 51, 325
Problems 63
Safety systems 96
Systems 245
Through standing water 333
Through water 338
With Distronic* 261
Driving off 58Driving safety systems
4-ETS 102
ABS 96
BAS 97
EBP 101
ESP
®
98
Driving systems 245
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* 269
Air suspension package* 269
Cruise control 245
Distronic* 250
Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) 264
Off-road driving program 268
Parktronic system* 274
Rear view camera* 279
Vehicle level control* 270
Driving tips 191
Accelerator position 191
Kickdown 191E
Easy-entry/exit feature
Activating (driver’s seat)* 177
Easy-entry/exit feature* 46
EBP 101
Indicator and warning lamps 416,
448
Electrical connections
Trailer 343
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical system, Technical data 540
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic Traction System see 4-ETS
Emergency calls
Tele Aid* 310
Emergency operation
Fuel filler flap 477
Locking/unlocking
the vehicle 475, 476
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*,
Manual operation 478
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) 198
Page 560 of 585

559 Index
Emergency operations
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 315
Unlocking/opening the tailgate 476
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 515
Engine shut-down 525
First aid kit 469
Flat tire 497
Fuses 522
Hazard warning flasher 142
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 414, 415, 416, 417, 418,
419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424
Roadside Assistance 12, 312
Towing the vehicle 518
Emission control 350
Information label 531
System warranties 10
Vacuum line routing diagram
label 531Engine
Belt layout (ML 320 CDI) 532
Belt layout (ML 350) 532
Belt layout (ML 500) 532
Belt layout (ML 63 AMG) 533
Block heater (Canada only) 400
Break-in recommendations 358
Cleaning 406
Compartment 356
Emergency engine shut-down 525
Malfunction indicator lamp 29, 449
Maximum engine speed 146, 534,
535
Messages in the
multifunction display 449
Number 531
Starting 54
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 55
Starting with the SmartKey 55
Tachometer 29, 146
Technical data 534
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 67
Turning off with the SmartKey 67Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 358, 546
Adding 361, 546
Additives 546
Changing 361, 546
Checking level 358
Checking level with the
control system (ML 500 only) 358
Checking with the oil dipstick
(except ML 500) 360
Consumption 358
Filler neck (ML 350, ML 320 CDI) 361
Filler neck (ML 500, ML 63 AMG) 361
Messages in display 359, 453
Messages in the
multifunction display 453
Recommended engine oils
and oil filters 546
Engine oil level 358
ESP
®
27, 98
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP
®
98
Messages in the
multifunction display 436, 437
Off-road-ESP®
101
Warning lamp 27, 419, 420
Page 576 of 585

575 Index
Towing the vehicle 520, 521
Tow-starting 515, 518
Traction 393, 397
4-ETS, Driving safety systems 96,
102
Trailer
Attaching 344
Checking weights 344
Electrical connections 343
Hitch* 342
Loading 343
Towing 342, 345
Weights and ratings 343
Transfer case 199
Transmission position indicator 147
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 348
Tread 397
Tread depth 367, 399
Treadwear indicators 397
Trip computer 180Trip odometer, resetting 146
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 408
Messages in the
multifunction display 463
Replacing bulbs 483
Turn signals 60
Additional in mirrors 483
Bulbs 483, 491
Cleaning lenses 408
Indicator lamps 27
Turning off the engine 67
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating) 397
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 397
Units, Settings
Speedometer 168
Temperature 168
Unlocking the vehicle see Key
Uphill driving
Cruise control 247
Upholstery
Cleaning and care of 412
Useful features 294V
Vacuum line routing diagram label 531
Vehicle
Battery 507
Break-in period 324
Care 404
Control system, Settings menu 164
Dimensions 541
Locking/unlocking 38, 65, 108
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency 475
Modifications and alterations,
Operating safety 17
Proper use of 17
Towing 518
Washing 404
Weights 542
Vehicle and trailer weights and
ratings 343
Vehicle care 404