Contents
Oxidation catalyst
(diesel engine).............................. 349
Emission control .......................... 350
Coolant temperature .................... 350
At the gas station .............................. 352
Refueling ...................................... 352
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 354
Engine compartment ......................... 356
Hood ............................................ 356
Engine oil ..................................... 358
Transmission fluid level ................ 362
Coolant level ................................ 362
Windshield/rear window
washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ........ 363
Tires and wheels ................................ 365
Important guidelines .................... 365
Tire care and maintenance........... 366
Direction of rotation ..................... 368
Loading the vehicle ...................... 368
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 374
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 375
Tire labeling.................................. 385
Load identification ....................... 389DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) .............................................. 389
Maximum tire load ........................ 391
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 391
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 392
Tire ply material ............................ 394
Tire and loading terminology......... 394
Rotating tires ................................ 397
Winter driving ..................................... 399
Winter tires ................................... 399
Block heater (Canada only) ........... 400
Snow chains.................................. 400
Maintenance....................................... 401
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 401
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 403
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 403
Vehicle care........................................ 404
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 404
Practical hints.................................. 413
What to do if … ................................... 414
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 414
Lamp in center console ................ 426
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 428
Where will I find ...? ............................ 469
First aid kit.................................... 469
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 469
Minispare wheel
(except ML 63 AMG) ..................... 473
Collapsible tire
(ML 63 AMG only) ......................... 474
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 475
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 475
Locking the vehicle ....................... 476
Unlocking and opening
the tailgate ................................... 476
Fuel filler flap ................................ 477
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 478
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 478
Resetting activated head restraints.... 479
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 480
336 OperationDriving instructionsChecklist before off-road driving
Engine oil level
Check the engine oil level with the
control system (ML 500 only)
(page 358), or with the oil dipstick
(except ML 500) (
page 360).
Only with a proper oil level can the
vehicle obtain a trouble-free oil supply,
even on steep gradients.Tires
Check the tread depth and maintain
specified tire inflation pressure
(a placard with the recommended tire
inflation pressures is located on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 369)).
Check tires for possible damage and
remove foreign objects.
Replace missing valve caps.
Rims
Dented or bent rims can cause tire in-
flation pressure loss and damage the
tire beads. For this reason, check and,
if necessary, change rims before driv-
ing off-road.
Vehicle tool kit
Check if the vehicle jack (
page 471)
is functional.
In all cases take the vehicle tool kit, a
strong tow rope, a shovel and a small
plank (to put under the vehicle jack on
sandy soil) with you.Driving in steep terrain
Slope angle1 Overhang angle, front
2Overhang angle, rear
!
If the engine oil level warning lamp
(
page 453) comes on while driving, stop the
vehicle in a safe location or as soon at is safe to
do so. Check the engine oil level (
page 360).
The engine oil level warnings should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol
displayed could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Vehicles with
steel suspen-
sion
1
1
1
1Vehicles with AMG Sport-Package*
2
31°
22°
29°
367 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tread depth
Do not allow your tires to wear down too
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are
sharply reduced at tread depths under 1/8in (3 mm).
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:
Summer tires
1/8in (3 mm)
Winter tires
1/6in (4 mm)
1TWI (T
read W
ear I
ndicator)
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Storing tires
Cleaning tires
Warning!
G
Although the applicable federal motor safety
laws consider a tire to be worn when the
treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible at
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we recom-
mend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
approaches
1/8in (3 mm), the adhesion
properties on a wet road are sharply re-
duced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
!
Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place
with as little exposure to light as possible.
Protect tires from contact with oil, grease and
gasoline.
!
Never use a round nozzle to power wash
tires. The intense jet of water can result in
damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
546 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricantsEngine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines and durability for
our service intervals. Therefore, only use
approved engine oils and oil filters re-
quired for vehicles with Maintenance
System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Cana-
da vehicles). For a listing of approved en-
gine oils and oil filters, refer to the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet, or
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil are used in the air condition-
ing system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil. Otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center will provide you with additional in-
formation.
!
Using engine oils and oil filters of
specification other than those expressly
required for the Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles),
or changing of oil and oil filter at change intervals
longer than those called for by the Maintenance
System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada ve-
hicles) will result in engine or emission control
system damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Please follow Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles)
recommendations for scheduled oil changes.
Failure to do so could result in engine or
emission control system damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
During vehicle operation, the boiling point of
the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from the
atmosphere. Under extremely strenuous op-
erating conditions, this moisture content
can lead to the formation of bubbles in the
system, thus reducing the system’s efficien-
cy.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced
regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s
Maintenance Booklet for replacement inter-
val.
559 Index
Emergency operations
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 315
Unlocking/opening the tailgate 476
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 515
Engine shut-down 525
First aid kit 469
Flat tire 497
Fuses 522
Hazard warning flasher 142
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 414, 415, 416, 417, 418,
419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424
Roadside Assistance 12, 312
Towing the vehicle 518
Emission control 350
Information label 531
System warranties 10
Vacuum line routing diagram
label 531Engine
Belt layout (ML 320 CDI) 532
Belt layout (ML 350) 532
Belt layout (ML 500) 532
Belt layout (ML 63 AMG) 533
Block heater (Canada only) 400
Break-in recommendations 358
Cleaning 406
Compartment 356
Emergency engine shut-down 525
Malfunction indicator lamp 29, 449
Maximum engine speed 146, 534,
535
Messages in the
multifunction display 449
Number 531
Starting 54
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 55
Starting with the SmartKey 55
Tachometer 29, 146
Technical data 534
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 67
Turning off with the SmartKey 67Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 358, 546
Adding 361, 546
Additives 546
Changing 361, 546
Checking level 358
Checking level with the
control system (ML 500 only) 358
Checking with the oil dipstick
(except ML 500) 360
Consumption 358
Filler neck (ML 350, ML 320 CDI) 361
Filler neck (ML 500, ML 63 AMG) 361
Messages in display 359, 453
Messages in the
multifunction display 453
Recommended engine oils
and oil filters 546
Engine oil level 358
ESP
®
27, 98
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP
®
98
Messages in the
multifunction display 436, 437
Off-road-ESP®
101
Warning lamp 27, 419, 420