2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320CDI ESP

108 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 the “Getting started” section
(page 38) and (
page 68).
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
2Š Unlock button* for tailgate
3Locking tab for mechanical key
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 95)

113 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Important notes on using KEYLESS-GO*

You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(page 108).


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.


The KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
must be inserted in the starter
switch (
page 41).


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.
i
Canada 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 interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
i
You can also open and close the power
windows and tilt/sliding sunroof* using the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO, see “Summer
opening feature” (
page 239) and see “Conve-
nience closing feature” (
page 239).

118 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
1Locking knob
2Inside door handleFront doors

Pull on inside door handle2 on the
respective front door to open door.
If the door was locked, locking knob1
will move up.
Rear doors

Pull up locking knob1 on the respec-
tive rear door to unlock door.

Pull on inside door handle2 on the re-
spective rear door to open door.
i
If the vehicle has previously been locked
from the outside with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*, opening a door from the inside
will trigger the anti-theft alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:
With the SmartKey


Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.


Press theŒ or ‹button on the
SmartKey.
With KEYLESS-GO*


Grasp an outside door handle.


Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(page 41).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
inside the vehicle.

122 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingClosing the tailgate from the outside
manually
1Handle
Lower tailgate by pulling firmly on
handle1.

Close tailgate with hands placed flat on
it.
Once the tailgate touches the latch, the
tailgate will pull itself shut automatical-
ly.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the cargo
compartment opening when closing the tail-
gate. Be especially careful when small chil-
dren are around.
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.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the
vehicle interior.i
To prevent an inadvertent lockout, do not
place the SmartKey in the cargo compartment.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To prevent a
possible inadvertent lockout, the tailgate will
open automatically if a SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is recognized inside the vehicle.
i
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, the tailgate
will lock automatically after closing it. The turn
signals flash three times to confirm locking.

123 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate from the outside
(vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with power tailgate* you can
close the tailgate from the outside using
the tailgate closing switch or the
Šbutton on the SmartKey.
1Tailgate closing switch
Press tailgate closing switch1 briefly.
The tailgate closes and an acoustic
warning sounds.If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
i
You can also close the tailgate manually
(
page 122).Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:

Press tailgate closing switch1.


Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey.


Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
(on the driver’s door).
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the tailgate closing switch
can be operated. Therefore, 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.Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehi-
cle interior.i
Do not place the SmartKey in the open
cargo compartment. You may lock yourself out.
i
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automatically after
closing it. The turn signals will flash three times
to confirm locking.

124 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingClosing the tailgate from the outside
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with power tailgate* and
KEYLESS-GO*, you can close the tailgate
separately from the outside using the tail-
gate closing switch or the Šbutton on
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
1Tailgate closing switch

Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you.

Press tailgate closing switch1 briefly.
The tailgate closes and an acoustic
warning sounds.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:

Press tailgate closing switch1.


Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO.


Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
(on the driver’s door).
Even with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the tailgate
closing switch can be operated. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehi-
cle interior.i
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automatically after
closing it. The turn signals will flash three times
to confirm locking.
i
You can also close the tailgate manually
(
page 122).

125 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate and locking the
vehicle from the outside (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with power tailgate and
KEYLESS-GO*, you can close the tailgate
and lock the vehicle simultaneously from
the outside using the KEYLESS-GO*
locking/closing switch or the Šbutton
on the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
1KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing switch

Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you.

Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch1 briefly.
The tailgate closes automatically. Once
the tailgate is closed, the vehicle locks
if doors are closed. The turn signals
flash three times to confirm locking.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:

Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch1.


Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*.


Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
(on the driver’s door).
Even with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the tailgate
closing switch can be operated. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehi-
cle interior.


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.