25 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Cruise control lever
246
2
Instrument cluster
26
3
Multifunction steering
wheel
30
4
Horn
5
Steering wheel gearshift
buttons
194
6
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
54
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicators
276
8
Overhead control panel
33
Item
Page
9
Glove box release
Glove box lock
294
295
a
Glove box
294
b
Center console
31
c
Starter switch
40
d
Steering wheel adjustment,
manual
47
e
Hood lock release
356
f
Parking brake release
57
g
Parking brake pedal
65
h
Power tailgate switch*
119
j
Door control panel
36
Item
Page
k
Headlamp washer switch*
200
l
Exterior lamp switch
59,
136
m
Steering wheel adjustment,
electrical*
Heated steering wheel*
48
304
n
Combination switch
High beam
Turn signals
Windshield wipers
Rear window wiper
140
59
60
60
62
29 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
8
Multifunction display with:
Trip odometer
146
Main odometer
147
9
Tachometer with:
421
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp
70,
423
qPreglow indicator
lamp
1
1Vehicles with Diesel engine only.
55
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
417
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
417
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator
59,
140
Item
Page
a
Fuel gauge with:Fuel tank reserve warning
lamp
420
4Fuel filler flap indica-
tor: The fuel filler flap
is located on the rear
right-hand side
352
b
Multifunction display
with:
Outside temperature
display or digital speed-
ometer (depending on
selected setting in the
control system)
147,
168
Transmission position
indicator
189
Gear range indicator
193
Selected program mode
indicator
1
196
1AMG vehicles only.
Item
Page
Distance warning func-
tion* indicator
179
Downhill Speed Regula-
tion (DSR) indicator
265
Off-road driving program
indicator
268
Rear window wiper
indicator
62
40 Getting startedUnlockingSmartKeyStarter switch0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 414).
3Starting position
i
When you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning lamps (ex-
cept high beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps if activated) will go
out when the engine is running. This indicates
that the respective systems are operational.
i
When the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch and the automatic transmission is
in a position other thanP, the automatic trans-
mission automatically shifts toP.
!
If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be sufficient-
ly charged.
Check the battery and charge it if necessary
(page 507).
Get a jump start (
page 515).
To prevent accelerated battery discharge or a
completely discharged battery, always remove
the SmartKey from the starter switch when the
engine is not in operation.
42 Getting startedUnlockingPosition 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (as with
SmartKey removed).
Position 1
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button once.
This supplies power for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or Position 2)
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button twice.
This supplies power for all electrical
consumers.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 414).For information on starting the engine
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 55).
For more information on KEYLESS-GO, see
“SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*”
(page 112).
i
If you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button
once more, the ignition (position
2) is
switched on
twice more, the power supply is again
switched off
i
If you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once more, the power supply
is again switched off.
i
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp and turn signal indica-
tor lamps unless activated) in the instrument
cluster come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except high beam headlamp indicator
lamp and turn signal indicator lamps if activated)
should go out when the engine is running. This
indicates that the respective systems are
operational.
59 Getting started
Driving
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 325).
For information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” (
page 333).
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The low beam headlamps come on.High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 136).
!
Shift the automatic transmission to
positionPorR only when the vehicle is stopped
in order to avoid damaging the transmission.
!
Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high engine
speeds may shorten the service life of the
engine.
ML 63 AMG:
At engine temperatures below 68°F (20°C), the
engine’s maximum speed is restricted in order to
protect it from damage. Avoid driving your vehi-
cle at full speed when the engine is cold to pre-
vent premature engine wear and/or diminished
comfort.
!
Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brake reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
136 Controls in detailLightingFor information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 59)
and “Turn signals” (
page 60).
Exterior lamp switchExterior lamp switchMOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 138)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 137)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps,
license plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)BLow beam headlamps or high beam
headlamps when the combination
switch is pushed forward. The tail
lamps, license plate lamps, side
marker lamps, parking lamps and
instrument panel lamps also come
on.
ˆStanding lamps, right
(turn left one stop)
‚Standing lamps, left
(turn left two stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
i
If you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country in
which the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
i
Vehicles equipped with active Bi-Xenon*
headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon* headlamps monitor the
vehicles steering angle and vehicle speed, then
automatically shift their beams to either side to
better follow the curvature of the road ahead,
increasing usable illumination over conventional
headlamps.
i
If you hear a warning signal you have
forgotten to switch off the headlamps before
opening the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the headlamps.
138 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on
additionally:
Tail and parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Canada only
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a 3 minute delay.
When the engine is running, and you
turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps and
the side marker lamps switch on
additionally
turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 59).USA only
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime
running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 171).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to positionC
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 136).
i
With the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, you cannot
switch off the low beam headlamps manually.
i
With the exterior lamp switch in
positionM orU, you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to positionB to permit activation of
the high beam headlamps.
i
With the exterior lamp switch in
positionM, you cannot switch on the high
beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to positionB orU to permit
activation of the high beam headlamps.
140 Controls in detailLightingCombination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasher
High beam
Canada only: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to positionB (
page 136).
or
USA only: Turn the exterior lamp switch
to positionB orU
(page 136).
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with
the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 136)
or
the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 136)
or
the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 138)
i
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.
If you are driving faster than 25 mph (40 km/h)
or have the front fog lamps switched on, the
corner-illuminating function is not available.