13 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Change of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to
send in the “Change of Address Notice”
found in the Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Ser-
vice (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100. It is in
your own interest that we can contact you
should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it avail-
able to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used
Truck” found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes,
or Customer Service (in Canada) at
1-800-387-0100.Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:
service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,
unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,
gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.
353 Operation
At the gas station
Open the fuel filler flap completely.
Turn the fuel cap to the left and hold on
to it until possible pressure is released.
Take off the fuel cap.
To prevent fuel vapors from escaping
into open air, fully insert filler nozzle
unit.
Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle
unit cuts out – do not top up or over-
fill.
Replace the fuel cap by turning it
clockwise until it audibly engages.
Close the fuel filler flap.
You should hear the latch close shut.
!
The fuel filler cap is tethered to the fuel filler
neck. Do not drop the cap. It could damage the
vehicle paint finish.
Warning!
G
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create pres-
sure in the system which could cause a gas
discharge. This could cause the gas to spray
back out when removing the fuel pump noz-
zle, which could cause personal injury.
i
Leaving the engine running and the fuel cap
open can cause the yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp to flash and the ?malfunction
indicator lamp (USA only) or the± malfunc-
tion indicator lamp (Canada only) comes on.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 417).
i
Gasoline engine: Only use premium unlead-
ed gasoline with a minimum Posted Octane Rat-
ing of 91 (average of 96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can normally be
found on the fuel pump.
For more information on gasoline, see “Premium
unleaded gasoline (gasoline engine)”
(
page 547), see “Fuel requirements”
(page 548), and the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet.
i
Diesel engine: Only use commercially avail-
able vehicular diesel fuels No. 2 or No. 1 (ASTM
D975 No. 2-D or No. 1-D). Information on diesel
quality can normally be found on the fuel pump.
The sulfur content in diesel fuel should not
exceed 50 parts per million (ppm). When using
diesel fuel with a sulfur content of above
300 ppm, the engine oil interval should be
shortened.
For more information on diesel fuels, refer to the
Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet or
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
!
Diesel engine:
The engine is more susceptible to wear and
damage if you use
marine diesel fuel
heating oil
additives
The use of such non-approved fuels and/or
special additives is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
534 Technical dataEngineModel
ML 320 CDI (164.122
1)
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and
special equipment.
ML 350 (164.186
1)
Engine
642
272
Mode of operation
Diesel 4-stroke engine
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders
6
6
Bore
3.27 in (83.00 mm)
3.66 in (92.90 mm)
Stroke
3.62 in (92.00 mm)
3.38 in (86.00 mm)
Total piston displacement
182 cu in (2987 cm
3)
213 cu in (3498 cm
3)
Compression ratio
16.5:1
10.7:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349
221 hp/3800 rpm
(165 kW/3800 rpm)
268 hp/6000 rpm
2
(200 kW/6000 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349
398 lb-ft/1600-2400 rpm
(540 Nm/1600-2400 rpm)
258 lb-ft/2400-5000 rpm
(350 Nm/2400-5000 rpm)
Maximum engine speed
4500 rpm
6500 rpm
Firing order
1-4-2-5-3-6
1-4-3-6-2-5
Poly-V-belt
2 035 mm
2 404 mm
535 Technical data
Engine
Model
ML 500 (164.175
1)
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special
equipment.
ML 63 AMG (164.177
1)
Engine
113
156
Mode of operation
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders
8
8
Bore
3.82 in (97.00 mm)
4.02 in (102.20 mm)
Stroke
3.31 in (84.00 mm)
3.72 in (94.60 mm)
Total piston displacement
303 cu in (4966 cm
3)
378.8 cu in (6208 cm
3)
Compression ratio
10:1
11.3:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349
302 hp/5600 rpm
2
(225 kW/5600 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
503 hp/6800 rpm
2
(375 kW/6800 rpm)
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349
339 lb-ft/2700-4750 rpm
(460 Nm/2700-4750 rpm)
465 lb-ft/5200 rpm
(630 Nm/5200 rpm)
Maximum engine speed
6300 rpm
7200 rpm
Firing order
1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Poly-V-belt
2 370 mm
2 369 mm
545 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Fuel tank
All models
25.1 US gal (95.0 l)
Gasoline engines:
Premium unleaded gasoline
Minimum Posted Octane 91
(Avg. of 96 RON/86 MON)
Diesel engines:
Diesel fuels according to ASTM D 975 grades
No. 2-D or No. 1-D
including a reserve of
All except
ML 63 AMG
approx. 3.5US gal (13.0l)
including a reserve of
ML 63 AMG
approx. 4.0US gal (15.3l)
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lubricant
oil (never R-12)
Windshield washer and head-
lamp cleaning* system
All models
8.1 US qt (7.7 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and
commercially available premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing point. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 551).
547 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants
Premium unleaded gasoline (gasoline engine)
Gasoline additives (gasoline engine)
A major concern among engine manufac-
turers is carbon build-up caused by gaso-
line. Mercedes-Benz recommends only the
use of quality gasoline containing additives
that prevent the build-up of carbon depos-
its.
After an extended period of using fuels
without such additives carbon deposits
can build up, especially on the intake
valves and in the combustion area, leading
to engine performance problems such as:
Warm-up hesitation
Unstable idle
Knocking/pinging
Misfire
Power loss
Warning!
G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid in-
haling fumes and skin or clothing contact,
extinguish all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the inha-
lation of fuel vapors can damage your
health.
!
To maintain the engine’s durability and per-
formance, premium unleaded gasoline must be
used. If premium unleaded is not available and
low octane fuel is used, follow these precau-
tions:
Have the fuel tank only partially filled with
unleaded regular and fill up with premium
unleaded as soon as possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt acceler-
ation.
Do not exceed an engine speed of 3000 rpm
if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such
as two persons and no luggage.
Do not exceed
2/3 of maximum accelerator
pedal position if the vehicle is fully loaded or
operating in mountainous terrain.
548 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricantsIn areas where carbon deposits may be
encountered due to lack of availability of
gasolines which contain these additives,
Mercedes-Benz recommends the use of
additives approved by us for use on
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Refer to Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet for a
listing of approved product(s). Follow
directions on product label.
Do not blend other fuel additives with fuel.
This only results in unnecessary costs and
may be harmful to the engine operation.
Damage or malfunction resulting from
poor fuel quality or from blending addition-
al fuel additives other than those tested
and approved by us for use on
Mercedes-Benz vehicles listed in the
Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet are not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Fuel requirements
Gasoline engine
Only use premium unleaded fuel.
The octane number (posted at the
pump) must be 91 min. It is an average
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number:
(R+M) /2). This is also known as the
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not
exceed 10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of ethanol and methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains
10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline,
can be used.These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
Diesel engine
Only use commercially available vehicular
diesel fuels No. 2 or No. 1 (ASTM D975 No.
2-D or No. 1-D).
To prevent malfunctions, diesel fuel with
improved cold flow characteristics is of-
fered in the winter months. Check with
your fuel retailer.
!
Do not fill the tank with gasoline. Do not
blend diesel fuel with gasoline or kerosine. The
fuel system and engine will otherwise be dam-
aged, which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
560 IndexETD 80, 423
Safety guidelines 73
Expanding cargo compartment 284
Exterior rear view mirrors 49, 201
Folding 202
Power folding* 202
Synchronizing 202
F
Fastening the seat belts 51
Filler neck, Engine oil
(ML 350, ML 320 CDI) 361
Filler neck, Engine oil
(ML 500, ML 63 AMG) 361
First aid kit 469
Flat tire 497
Collapsible tire
(ML 63 AMG only) 474, 538
Lifting the vehicle 498
Lowering the vehicle 504
Minispare wheel
(except ML 63 AMG) 473
Mounting the spare wheel 498
Preparing the vehicle 498
Spare wheel 538Flexible Service System PLUS see FSS
PLUS
Floormats* 303
Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 362
Brake fluid 354, 544, 546
Capacities 543
Engine coolant 354, 362, 549
Engine oil 358, 546
Power steering fluid 544
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system* 355,
545, 551
Fog lamps 139
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 140
Messages in the
multifunction display 458
Rear fog lamp 139
Replacing bulbs 488
4-ETS 102
Off-road - 4-ETS 102Front air bags 75
Front defroster 213, 227
Front lamps see Headlamps
Front passenger front air bag 70, 75
Messages in the multifunction
display 440, 441, 442, 443
Front passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 31, 89, 426, 427
Front seat heat restraints see
Head restraints
Front towing eye 520
FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles) 361, 402
Fuel 353
Additives 547
Capacities, Fuel tank 545
Consumption statistics 180, 181
Diesel fuel 545
Filling the tank 352
Fuel filler flap and cap 352, 477
Fuel gauge 29
Fuel tank reserve warning lamp 29,
420
Premium unleaded gasoline 353,
547, 548
Requirements, Octane rating 548