2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Mil km

38 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will provide you with further
information. The corresponding page
references are located at the end of each
segment.Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button* for tailgate
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 95)

Press unlock buttonΠon the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
vehicle unlocks. The locking knobs in
the doors move up. The anti-theft alarm
system is disarmed. The locator light-
ing comes on if the feature is enabled
in the control system (
page 172).

Enter the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 108).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.

45 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch up or down in
direction of arrow2 until your upper
legs are lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or backward
in direction of arrow4 until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.
Head restraint height
Vehicles with memory function*:

Press switch1 (
page 44) up or
down in direction of arrow.Vehicles without memory function*:
1Head restraint
2Release button
Raising:

Manually adjust the height of head
restraint1 by pulling it upward.
If head restraint1 is fully retracted,
push release button2 in direction of
arrow and pull head restraint1 up-
ward.
Lowering:

To lower head restraint1, push
release button2 in direction of arrow
and press down on head restraint1.
Warning!
G
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
With a rear seat occupied, make sure to
move the respective head restraint up from
the lowest non-use position and have the
occupant adjust the head restraint properly.
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned and engaged head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible and the center
of the head restraint supports the back of
the head at eye level. This will reduce the po-
tential for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.!
Do not attempt to remove front seat head
restraints. They can only be removed by qualified
technicians. We recommend that you have this
work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

81 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
You cannot remove the active head
restraint on the driver’s and front
passenger’s seats.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 43).
For information on resetting the activated
active head restraints, see “Resetting acti-
vated head restraints” (page 479).
Rear head restraints
Do not attach any objects (e.g. hangers) to
the head restraints posts. Otherwise, the
active head restraints may not be able to
function properly or offer the intended
degree of protection in the event of an
accident.Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that it is as close to
the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
Warning!
G
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints installed when the rear seats
are occupied. Head restraints are intended
to help reduce injuries during an accident.
With a rear seat occupied, make sure to
move the respective head restraint up from
the lowest non-use position and have the
occupant adjust the head restraint properly.
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible and the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.

108 Controls in detailIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed in your vehicle.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions of your vehicle, this section will
be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are
given at the beginning of each segment.Locking and unlocking
For more information on locking and un-
locking, see the “Getting started” section
(page 38) and (
page 68).
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key
portion of the two SmartKeys are a differ-
ent color to help distinguish each
SmartKey unit.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors


the tailgate


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹ Lock button
2Š Unlock button* for tailgate
3Locking tab for mechanical key
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 95)

128 Controls in detailSeatsFor information on seat adjustment, see
the “Getting started” section (
page 43).
For more information on seats, see “Load-
ing” (
page 281).
Front seat active head restraintsYou cannot remove the active head
restraints on the driver’s and front
passenger’s seat.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 43).
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraint” (
page 80).
Rear seat head restraints
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is close
to the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
Warning!
G
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints installed when the rear seats
are occupied. Head restraints are intended
to help reduce injuries during an accident.
With a rear seat occupied, make sure to
move the respective head restraint up from
the lowest non-use position and have the oc-
cupant adjust the head restraint properly.
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports the
back of the head at eye level. This will re-
duce the potential for injury to the head and
neck in the event of an accident or similar
situation.

167 Controls in detail
Control system
Instrument cluster submenu
Access the
Instr. cluster
submenu via
the
Settings
menu. Use the
Instr.
cluster
submenu to change the instru-
ment cluster display settings.
The following functions are available:Selecting speedometer display mode

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Instr.
cluster
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Display unit
Digital speedometer
appears in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ or ç to set
speedometer unit to
km or
miles
.Selecting language

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Instr.
cluster
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Language
appears in
the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select
the language to be used for the
multifunction display messages.
Function
Page
Selecting speedometer display
mode
167
Selecting language
167
Selecting display (digital
speedometer or outside
temperature) for status indica-
tor
168


181 Controls in detail
Control system
Resetting fuel consumption statistics
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
From start
appears
in the multifunction display.

Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 145) until
the value is reset to 0.
Fuel consumption statistics since the
last reset

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
From start
appears
in the multifunction display.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
After reset
appears
in the multifunction display.1Distance driven since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average speed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last
reset
Resetting fuel consumption statistics
manually

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
From start
appears
in the multifunction display.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
After reset
appears
in the multifunction display.

Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 145) until
the value is reset to 0.Distance to empty

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
From start
appears
in the multifunction display.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Range:
appears in
the multifunction display.
The calculated remaining driving range
based on the current fuel tank level
appears in the multifunction display.
i
The fuel consumption statistics reset auto-
matically to 0 when either of the following values
is exceeded:


distance covered: 100 000 miles


time elapsed: 10 000 hours

251 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not
however, intended to, nor does it, replace
the need for extreme care. The responsibili-
ty for the vehicle’s speed, distance to the
preceding vehicle and, most importantly,
brake operation to ensure a safe stopping
distance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take road and traffic condi-
tions into account.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by Distronic. This could
result in wrong or missing distance
warnings.
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no
substitute for active driving involvement. It
does not react to pedestrians or on station-
ary objects, nor does it recognize or predict
the lane curvature or the movement of
preceding vehicles.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to the road, weather and traffic
conditions. Additionally, the driver must
provide the steering, braking and other
driving inputs necessary to remain in control
of the vehicle.
High-frequency sources such as toll
stations, speed measuring systems etc. can
cause the Distronic system to malfunction.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take road and traffic condi-
tions into account. Only use Distronic if the
road, weather and traffic conditions make it
advisable to travel at a constant speed.Warning!
G
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on slip-
pery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.