189 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Transmission positions
The current transmission position appears
in the multifunction display.
1Current transmission position!
If the current transmission position does not
appear in the multifunction display due to a
malfunction, for example, make sure that the
automatic transmission is in the desired position
by carefully driving off with the transmission in
drive positionD.
ML 63 AMG:
Select program modeC (
page 195).
Do not limit the gear range.
Effect
ì
Park position
Shift into park positionP only
when vehicle is stopped. The
park position is not intended to
serve as a brake when the vehi-
cle is parked. Rather, the driver
should always set the parking
brake in addition to shifting into
park positionP to secure the
vehicle.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the automatic
transmission could remain
locked in park positionP.
Have the vehicle checked as
soon as possible by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
!
SmartKey:
If you turn off the engine using the SmartKey and
remove the SmartKey from the starter switch,
the transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically. Keep in mind that turning off the
engine with the SmartKey alone will not auto-
matically shift the transmission to park
positionP. Only when the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch, will the transmission
automatically shift to park positionP.
KEYLESS-GO*:
If you turn off the engine using the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button and open the driver’s door, the
transmission will shift to park positionP auto-
matically. Keep in mind that turning off the en-
gine using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
alone will not automatically shift the transmis-
sion to park positionP. Only when the driver’s
door is opened, will the transmission automati-
cally shift to park positionP.
Even though this is possible, make it a practice
to always shift into park positionP before turning
off the engine and removing the SmartKey from
the starter switch, or when using KEYLESS-GO*,
before turning off the engine with the start/stop
button and opening the driver’s door.
190 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission!
If you want the gear position to remain in
neutral positionN (for example when the vehicle
is pulled through a car wash)
do not remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or, when using KEYLESS-GO*
do not turn off the engine using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* and open
the driver’s door
Otherwise, the transmission will shift to park
positionP and lock the wheels, preventing the
vehicle from being pulled through a car wash.
Effect
í
Reverse gear
Shift into reverse gearR only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, avoid shifting into
neutral positionN while driving,
except:
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Shift into neutral positionN only
when the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.
!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other
reason in neutral positionN can result in trans-
mission damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle without shifting
into park positionP is dangerous. Also, park
positionP alone is not intended to or capa-
ble of preventing your vehicle from moving,
possibly hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 65).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
191 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.
Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
Leave the transmission in gear.
Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop for a longer period of time
with the engine idling and/or on a hill:
Set the parking brake.
Shift into park positionP.
Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:
Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.
Accelerate gently.
Never abruptly step on the accelerator.
Warning!
G
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. Children could shift the
automatic transmission out of park
positionP, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
199 Controls in detail
Transfer case
Transfer case
!
Operational or performance test must only
be conducted on a two-axle dynanometer. If
such tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake system or
the transfer case which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!
Because the ESP
® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in
position0or1) when testing the brakes on a
brake test dynamometer and such testing should
be no longer than 10 seconds.
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
i
The vehicle is equipped with full-time
four-wheel drive. Both the front and rear axles
are powered at all times when the vehicle is
being operated.
237 Controls in detail
Power windows
Opening the door windows
Press switch1, 2, 3, or4
(page 236) to the resistance point.
The corresponding door window moves
downwards until you release the
switch.
Closing the door windows
Pull switch1, 2, 3, or4
(page 236) to the resistance point.
The corresponding door window moves
upwards until you release the switch.
If a door window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you are closing a door window by pulling and
holding the switch, or by pressing and hold-
ing button‹on the SmartKey, by press-
ing and holding the lock button (vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO*) on a door handle, the
automatic reversal function will not operate.
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 can cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
i
You can also open or close the windows
using the SmartKey, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (page 239) and see “Convenience clos-
ing feature” (
page 239).
Depending on the current position, the power
windows may also open or close when the air
recirculation button: on the control panel of
the climate control (
page 208) or automatic
climate control* (
page 222) is pressed and
held.
i
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or removed from the starter switch,
the windows can be operated
until you open the driver’s or front passenger
door
for at least 5 minutes
Warning!
G
If you pull and hold the switch up when clos-
ing the door window, and upward movement
of the door window is blocked by some ob-
struction including but not limited to arms,
hands, fingers, etc., the automatic reversal
will not operate.
239 Controls in detail
Power windows
Summer opening feature
If the weather is warm, you can ventilate
the vehicle before driving off by simulta-
neously:
opening the door windows
opening the tilt/sliding sunroof*
switching on the seat ventilation* for
the driver’s seat
Aim transmitter eye of the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* at the
driver’s outside door handle.
The SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* must be in close proxim-
ity to the driver’s outside door handle.
Press and hold buttonŒ on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* until the windows and
the tilt/sliding sunroof* have reached
the desired position.
Release buttonŒ on the SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* to
interrupt the opening procedure.
Convenience closing feature
When locking the vehicle, you can close
the windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof*
simultaneously.Warning!
G
When closing the windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof*, make sure that there is
no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
If potential danger exists, proceed as fol-
lows:
Release button‹ to stop the closing
procedure. To open, press and hold
buttonŒ. To continue the closing
procedure after making sure that there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by
the closing procedure, press and hold
button‹.
240 Controls in detailPower windows
Aim transmitter eye of the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* at the
driver’s outside door handle
(page 239).
The SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* must be in close proxim-
ity to the driver’s outside door handle.
Press and hold button‹ on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* until the windows and
the tilt/sliding sunroof* are completely
closed.
Release button‹ on the SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* to
interrupt the closing procedure.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press and hold the lock button on an
outside door handle (
page 68) until
the windows and the tilt/sliding sun-
roof* are completely closed.
Release the lock button on the outside
door handle to interrupt the closing
procedure.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Release the lock button (
page 68) on
the driver’s outside door handle to stop
the closing procedure.
Immediately pull on the same outside
door handle and hold firmly. The win-
dows and the tilt/sliding sunroof* will
open for as long as the door handle is
held but the door is not opened.
242 Controls in detailPower tilt/sliding sunroof*Warning!
G
When closing the tilt/sliding sunroof, make
sure that there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
If the tilt/sliding sunroof encounters an ob-
struction that blocks its path in a circum-
stance where you are closing the tilt/sliding
sunroof by moving the tilt/sliding sunroof
switch past the resistance point, or by
pressing and holding button‹ on the
SmartKey, by pressing and holding the lock
button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*) on the
door handle, the automatic reversal function
will not operate.
The opening/closing procedure of the
tilt/sliding sunroof can be immediately halt-
ed by releasing the switch or, if the switch
was moved past the resistance point and re-
leased, by moving the switch in any direc-
tion.
The tilt/sliding sunroof is made out of glass.
In the event of an accident, the glass may
shatter. This may result in an opening in the
roof.
In a vehicle rollover, occupants not wearing
their seat belts or not wearing them properly
may be thrown out of the opening. Such an
opening also presents a potential for injury
for occupants wearing their seat belts prop-
erly as entire body parts or portions of them
may protrude from the passenger compart-
ment.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment can cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.!
To avoid damaging the seals, do not trans-
port any objects with sharp edges which can
stick out of the tilt/sliding sunroof.Do not open the tilt/sliding sunroof if there is
snow or ice on the roof, as this could result in
malfunctions.
The tilt/sliding sunroof can be opened or closed
manually should an electrical malfunction occur
(
page 478).
i
When the tilt/sliding sunroof is open, reso-
nance noises may result in addition to the usual
wind noises. They are caused by minimal pres-
sure changes in the passenger compartment. To
reduce or eliminate these noises, change the po-
sition of the tilt/sliding sunroof or open a side
window slightly.
i
You can also open or close the tilt/sliding
sunroof using the SmartKey or the
KEYLESS-GO* function, see “Summer opening
feature” (
page 239) and see “Convenience
closing feature” (
page 239).
i
Depending on the current position, the
tilt/sliding sunroof may also open or close when
the air recirculation button: on the control
panel of the climate control (
page 208) or
automatic climate control* (
page 222) is
pressed and held.