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
27 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
2
To dim instrument cluster
illumination
145
3
Reset button for:
Resetting trip odometer
Resetting all settings
146
165
4
To brighten instrument
cluster illumination
145
5
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
6
Clock
Item
Page
7
Speedometer with:-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp
414
’Variable speed limiter
indicator lamp
1
lDistance warning
lamp
2
423
1Lamp without function. It illuminates when the
ignition is on. It should go out when the engine is
running.2Vehicles without Distronic*: Warning lamp without
function. It illuminates when the ignition is on.
It should go out when the engine is running.
Item
Page
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
415
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
415
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP
®)
warning lamp
419
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale,
USA only
Low tire pressure
telltale*, Canada only
424
424
335 Operation
Driving instructions
Off-road driving rules
Engage the off-road driving program
(page 268) before driving under
off-road conditions.
Vehicles with air suspension package*:
Make sure you select a vehicle level
(page 270) appropriate to the topo-
graphical conditions. Always make
sure the vehicle has enough ground
clearance.
Fasten items being carried as securely
as possible (
page 281).
Always navigate gradients with the en-
gine on and with the transmission en-
gaged in a gear. Switch on the DSR
(page 265) to help maintain a preset
speed.
!
Observe the following during off-road
driving:
Keep doors, tailgate, windows, and
tilt/sliding sunroof* closed whenever driving
off-road.
Adjust vehicle speed to condition of terrain.
The more uneven, rutty and steeper the ter-
rain, the lower the speed should be. Drive
through water slowly at an even speed,
avoiding a bow wave.
Be especially careful when driving in un-
known territory. It may be necessary to get
out of the vehicle and scout the path you in-
tend to take.
Watch out for obstacles, such as rocks,
holes, tree stumps and ruts.
Before driving through water, determine its
depth.
Do not stop vehicle while immersed in water,
and do not shut off the engine.
In sandy soil, drive at a steady speed as al-
lowed by conditions. This helps overcome
the vehicle rolling resistance and reduces
the likelihood of the vehicle sinking into the
ground.
Do not initiate jumps with the vehicle. It
interrupts the forward momentum of the
vehicle.
Always drive onto slopes with the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.
Do not shift automatic transmission to
positionN.Warning!
G
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure (
page 375) before continuing
your trip. Driving with reduced tire inflation
pressure increases the risk of losing control
of the vehicle and rolling over.
378 OperationTires and wheelsReactivating the Run Flat Indicator
The tire inflation pressure monitor must be
reactivated in the following situations:
If you have changed the tire inflation
pressure
If you have replaced the wheels or tires
If you have installed new wheels or
tires
Using the tire placard on the driver’s
door B-pillar or, if available, the inside
of the fuel filler flap, make sure the tire
inflation pressure of all four tires is cor-
rect.
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).
Make sure the standard display menu
appears in the multifunction display
(
page 147).
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the following message appears in
the multifunction display:
Press the reset button on the instru-
ment cluster (
page 145).
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:
Restart
Run Flat Indicator?
Yes
Cancel
If you wish to confirm activation:
Press buttonæ.
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:Run Flat Indicator
restarted
After a certain “learning phase”, the Run
Flat Indicator checks the set pressure val-
ues for all four tires.
If you wish to cancel activation:
Press buttonç.
or
Wait until the messageRestart
Run Flat Indicator?
Yes
Canceldisappears.
Warning!
G
The Run Flat Indicator can only warn you in
a reliable manner if you have set the correct
tire inflation pressures for each tire.
If an incorrect tire inflation pressure was
set, the system will monitor the pressure ac-
cording to the incorrect value.
381 Operation
Tires and wheels
Press buttonè orÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display menu ap-
pears in the multifunction display
(page 147).
Press thej or kbutton repeat-
edly until you see the following
message:Tire pressure monitor
active
Menu: R-Button
Press the reset button (
page 145).
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:
Restart tire
pressure monitor?
Press the æbutton.
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:Tire pressure monitor
restartedAfter driving a few minutes the system
verifies that the current tire inflation
pressures are within the system’s
specified range. Afterwards the current
tire inflation pressures are accepted as
reference pressures and then moni-
tored.
If you wish to cancel activation:
Press the çbutton.Checking tire pressure electronically
with the Advanced Tire Pressure Moni-
toring System (Advanced TPMS)*,
(Canada only)
The TPMS only functions on wheels that
are equipped with the proper electronic
sensors. It monitors the tire inflation pres-
sure, as selected by the driver, in all four
tires. A warning is issued to alert you to a
decrease in pressure in one or more of the
tires.
Tire pressure inquiries are made using the
multifunction display. The present inflation
pressures are displayed only after a few
minutes’ travel time.
i
Reactivate the TPMS after adjusting the tire
inflation pressure to the inflation pressure rec-
ommended for the vehicle operating condition.
Tire pressure should only be adjusted on cold
tires. Observe the recommended tire inflation
pressure on the placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar (
page 369). Some vehicles may have
supplemental tire pressure information for driv-
ing at high speeds (
page 375) or for vehicle
loads less than the maximum loaded vehicle con-
dition (
page 375). If such information is pro-
vided, it can be found on the inside of the fuel
filler flap.
i
Possible differences between the readings
of a tire pressure gauge of an air hose, e.g. gas
station equipment, and the vehicle’s control
system can occur. Usually the readings issued by
the control system are more precise.
384 OperationTires and wheels
Press the reset button (
page 145).
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:
Restart tire
pressure monitor?
Press the æbutton.
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:Tire pressure monitor
restartedAfter a few minutes driving, the current
tire inflation pressure values are ac-
cepted as reference values and then
monitored.
If you wish to cancel activation:
Press the çbutton.Potential problems associated with
underinflated and overinflated tires
Underinflated tires
Underinflated tires can:
cause excessive and uneven tire wear
adversely affect fuel economy
lead to tire failure from being
overheated
adversely affect handling
characteristicsOverinflated tires
Overinflated tires can:
adversely affect handling
characteristics
cause uneven tire wear
be more prone to damage from road
hazards
adversely affect ride comfort
increase stopping distance
Warning!
G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being
overheated.
Warning!
G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.
556 IndexClimate control 206
Air conditioning, Cooling 216
Air distribution, Front 212
Air distribution, Rear 219
Air recirculation mode 214
Air vents, Front 212
Air volume 212
Control panel*, Rear 217
Control panel, Front 208
Deactivating system 210
Defogging 213
Defrosting 213
Rear window defroster 205
Residual engine heat (REST) 216
Clock 27, 169
Setting time 169
Cloth upholstery,
Cleaning and care of 412
Cockpit 24
Cockpit Management and Data System
see COMAND system
Cold tire inflation pressure 395
Collapsible tire 538
Collapsible tire (ML 63 AMG only) 474
Collapsible wheel chock 472COMAND system see separate operating
instructions
Combination switch 59, 60, 62, 140
Compass 321
Adjustment 174
Calibration 175
Calling up the compass 321
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 348
Control system 147
Multifunction display 147
Multifunction steering wheel 148
Resetting to factory default 165
Control system menus 147
AIRMATIC*/Compass 162
AMG menu 156
Audio 159
Distronic* 162
Nav* 161
Settings 164
Standard display 154
Tel* 182
Trip computer 180
Vehicle configuration 178
Vehicle status message memory 163Control system submenus 151, 153, 166
Comfort* 177
Instrument cluster 167, 168
Lighting 171
Time/Date 169
Vehicle 174
Coolant 362, 549
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
mixing ratio and quantity 550
Capacities 543
Checking coolant level 354, 362
Messages in the multifunction
display 450, 452
Temperature 350
Temperature display 154
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 140
Messages in the
multifunction display 458
Replacing bulbs 488
Crossing obstacles 339
Cruise control 245
Activating 247
Messages in the
multifunction display 431
569 Index
Rear towing eye, Vehicles with Sport
Package* 520
Rear view camera* 279
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 205
Rear window wiper/washer 62
Rear windows see Power windows
Rear wiper blade 495
Recommended tire inflation
pressure 396
Recovery services, Stolen vehicle
(Tele Aid*) 315
Refrigerant, Air conditioning 546
Refueling 352
Regular checks 354
Reminder, Seat belt see Seat belts, Telltale
Remote control
SmartKey 108
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 112
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 315
Removing rear seat cushions (Vehicles
with cargo management system*) 292Replacing bulbs 482
Additional turn signals, Exterior rear
view mirrors 489
Backup lamps 482, 490
Brake lamps 482, 490
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 482, 483, 488
Fog lamp, Rear 482, 490
Fog lamps, Front 482, 483, 488
High beam headlamps 482, 483, 486
License plate lamps 482, 492
Low beam headlamps 482, 483, 485
Parking/standing lamps 482, 487,
490, 491
Side marker lamps, Front 482, 483,
485, 488
Side marker lamps, Rear 482, 490
Tail lamps 482, 483, 490, 491
Turn signal lamps, Front 482, 483,
487
Turn signal lamps, Rear 482, 490
Reporting safety defects 19
Reset button, In instrument cluster 165Reset tool
Active head restraints,
Depository 479
Residual heat and ventilation 216, 232
Reverse gear position, Automatic
transmission 185, 189
Rims 396, 536
Roadside Assistance 12
Roadside Assistance button see Tele Aid*
RON 353, 548
Roof rails 281
Rubber parts, Cleaning 411
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 377
S
Safety
Driving safety systems 96
Occupant safety 70
Reporting safety defects 19
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio* 160
Seat belt force limiter 80