Page 485 of 585

484 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs
Notes on bulb replacement
Only use 12-volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.
Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.
Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.
If the newly installed bulb does not
come on, visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.Have the LEDs and bulbs for the following
lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center:
the additional turn signal lamps in the
exterior rear view mirrors
the high mounted brake lamp
the Bi-Xenon* low beam lamps
the Bi-Xenon high beam flasher spot-
light*
Warning!
G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot.
Allow the lamp to cool down before chang-
ing a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas.
A bulb can explode if you:
touch or move it when hot
drop the bulb
scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
!
Do not replace the LEDs yourself. You could
otherwise damage the LEDs or parts of the vehi-
cle. Only have the LEDs replaced by a qualified
specialist workshop having the necessary skills
and tools for carrying out the work required.
i
Replacing the bulbs for the front lamps is a
technically complex process. For your conve-
nience, we recommend that you have this work
carried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Have the headlamp adjustment checked
regularly.
Page 486 of 585
485 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a
front lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM (
page 136).
Open the hood (
page 356).1Housing cover for low beam halogen
headlamp
2Housing cover for high beam halogen
bulb (high beam and high beam flasher)
3Bulb socket for parking and standing
lamp bulb
4Bulb socket for turn signal lamp bulb
5Bulb socket for side marker lamp bulbLow beam bulb (halogen headlamp)
1Low beam headlamp cover
2Bulb socket for low beam headlamp
i
ML 500 only:
Before replacing a bulb in the right headlamp,
the fusebox in the engine compartment must be
removed. This should be performed by a quali-
fied specialist workshop, for instance by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Page 487 of 585
486 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs
Turn cover1 counterclockwise.
Remove cover1.
Turn bulb socket2 counterclockwise.
Pull bulb socket2 out of the
headlamp housing.
Pull the low beam bulb out of bulb
socket2.
Insert the new low beam bulb into bulb
socket2.
Insert bulb socket2 into the
headlamp housing.
Turn bulb socket2 clockwise until it
engages.
Place cover1 on the opening in the
headlamp housing.
Turn cover1 clockwise until it engag-
es.Bi-Xenon* low beam/high beam
headlampHigh beam bulb (halogen headlamp)
1High beam headlamp cover
2Bulb socket for high beam headlamp
Warning!
G
Do not remove the low beam/high beam
cover for the Bi-Xenon* headlamp. Because
of high voltage in Xenon* lamps, it is danger-
ous to replace the bulb or repair the lamp
and its components. We recommend that
you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
Page 488 of 585

487 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Turn cover1 counterclockwise.
Remove cover1.
Turn bulb socket2 counterclockwise.
Pull bulb socket2 out of the
headlamp housing.
Pull the high beam bulb out of bulb
socket2.
Insert the new high beam bulb into bulb
socket2.
Insert bulb socket2 into the
headlamp housing.
Turn bulb socket2 clockwise until it
engages.
Place cover1 on the opening in the
headlamp housing.
Turn cover1 clockwise until it engag-
es.Turn signal lamp bulb
1Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
Turn bulb socket1 counterclockwise.
Pull bulb socket1 out of the
headlamp housing.
Pull the turn signal bulb out of bulb
socket1.
Insert the new turn signal bulb into bulb
socket1.
Insert bulb socket1 into the
headlamp housing.
Turn bulb socket1 clockwise until it
engages.Parking and standing lamp bulb
Turn bulb socket3 (
page 485)
counterclockwise.
Pull bulb socket3 out of the
headlamp housing.
Pull the bulb out of bulb socket3.
Insert the new bulb into bulb
socket3.
Insert bulb socket3 into the
headlamp housing.
Turn bulb socket3 clockwise until it
engages.
Page 489 of 585

488 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsSide marker lamp bulb
Turn bulb socket5 (
page 485)
counterclockwise.
Pull bulb socket5 out of the
headlamp housing.
Pull the side marker bulb out of bulb
socket5.
Insert the new side marker bulb into
bulb socket5.
Insert bulb socket5 into the
headlamp housing.
Turn bulb socket5 clockwise until it
engages.Front fog lamp bulbs
Removing front fog lamp cover:
1Cover
2Front fog lamp or corner-illuminating
front fog lamp*
Insert a suitable object (e.g. screwdriv-
er) at point indicated by the arrow and
pry out cover1.
Cover1 is released.
Swing cover1 outwards and take it
off.
Removing front fog lamp cover (Vehicles
with AMG Sport Package* or ML 63 AMG):
1Cover
2Front fog lamp
Use a suitable object (e.g. hook or a
screwdriver) and place the hook or
screwdriver carefully between lower
end of cover and bumper.
!
If not done carefully and properly, damage
to the bumper can result. We therefore recom-
mend that you have this work carried out by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Page 493 of 585
492 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsLicense plate lamp
1License plate lamp cover
2Screws
Loosen screws2.
Remove license plate lamp cover1.
Replace the tubular bulb.
Reinstall license plate lamp cover1.
Retighten screws2.
Adjusting headlamp aim
VVertical centerline
HHeadlamp mounting high, measured
from the centerCorrect headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. To check and readjust a head-
lamp, follow the steps described:
Park the vehicle on a level surface
25 feet (7.6 m) from a vertical test
screen or wall.
Switch the headlamps on
(page 136).
If the beam does not show a beam pattern
as indicated in the figure left, then follow
the steps below:
Open hood (
page 356).
i
High beam adjustments simultaneously aim
the low beam.
Vehicle should have a normal tailgate load.
Page 494 of 585
493 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Example headlamp, driver’s side2Headlamp vertical adjustment screw
3Headlamp vertical adjustment screw
Always turn adjustment screws2
and3 simultaneously for vertical ad-
justment until the headlamp is adjust-
ed as shown1 (
page 492). Turn
clockwise for upward movement and
counterclockwise for downward move-
ment.
Graduations:
screw2: 0.50° pitch
screw3: 0.67° pitch
The left and right headlamps must be ad-
justed individually.
i
If it is not possible to obtain a proper head-
lamp adjustment, have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Page 518 of 585
517 Practical hints
Jump starting
Connect positive terminal1 and2
with the jumper cable. Clamp cable to
charged battery1 first.
Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.
Connect negative terminals3 and4
of the batteries with the second jumper
cable. Clamp the cable to negative
terminal3 of the charged battery
first.
Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.You can now turn on the electrical con-
sumers. Do not switch on the headlamps
under any circumstances.
Remove the jumper cables first from
negative terminals4 and3 and then
from positive terminals2 and1.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
!
Never invert the terminal connections!