2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Transmission

198 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionKickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 195) repeatedly until
Cor
S appears in the multifunction
display.
or

Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be activated.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.

Shift to park positionP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.

201 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The rear view mirror will not react if


the automatic transmission is set to
positionR


the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!
G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, when transporting cargo
which covers the rear window.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic con-
ditions and could cause an accident.Warning!
G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape from the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not
allow the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.!
Electrolyte liquid coming into contact with
the vehicle paint finish can be completely
removed only while in the liquid state and by
applying plenty of water.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

247 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Activating cruise control
You can activate the cruise control when
the vehicle speed is above
20 mph (30 km/h).
In the following cases you cannot activate
the cruise control:

when you brake


when you have set the parking brake


when the automatic transmission is set
to positionP, R, or N


if the ESP
® is switched off


if the ESP
® has switched off due to a
malfunctionSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 or depress in
direction of arrow2.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The cruise control is activated.
The current set speed appears in the
multifunction display for approximately
5 seconds.Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:

Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 246).
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
i
The vehicle speed displayed in the speedom-
eter can briefly vary from the speed setting for
the cruise control system.
i
On uphill grades, the cruise control may not
be able to maintain the set speed. Once the
grade eases, the set speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control maintains
the set speed by braking with the vehicle’s
braking system. In addition, on longer downhill
grades the automatic transmission will down-
shift automatically.
i
The last stored set speed is canceled when
the engine is turned off.

248 Controls in detailDriving systems
Setting a higher speed
You can increase the speed in two ways.
Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments
Briefly lift the cruise control lever up to
the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 246).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed increases in incre-
ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1km/h).Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments
i
The cruise control switches off
automatically when


you step on the brake pedal


you depress the parking brake pedal
The cruise control switches off automatically and
an acoustic warning will sound when


the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h)


the ESP
® is in operation


the ESP
® is switched off with the ESP
®
switch (
page 99)


the ESP
® has switched off due to a
malfunction (
page 419)


you set the automatic transmission toN
while driving
Observe additional messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.
!
Setting the automatic transmission toN
while driving cancels the cruise control.
However, the automatic transmission should not
be set toN while driving except to coast when
the vehicle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy
roads).
i
Depressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate the cruise control. After a brief accel-
eration (e.g. for passing), the cruise control will
resume the last set speed.
i
The set value is increased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you lift
the cruise control lever up to the resistance
point.
Warning!
G
You can increase the vehicle speed in
5 mph (Canada 10 km/h) increments.
When using this feature, keep in mind that it
may take a brief moment until the vehicle
has reached the set speed.
Increase the vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions permit. Other-
wise, sudden and unexpected acceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.i
The set value is increased in
5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time
you lift the cruise control lever past the
resistance point.

256 Controls in detailDriving systems1Setting current or higher speed
Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to
the resistance point) or 5 mph
increments (past the resistance point)
(Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h)
2Setting current or lower speed
Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to
the resistance point) or 5 mph
increments (past the resistance point)
(Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h)
3Deactivating Distronic
4Activating Distronic or resuming to last
set speedActivating Distronic
You can activate Distronic when the vehi-
cle speed is between 20 mph (30 km/h)
and 110 mph (180 km/h).
When Distronic is activated the multifunc-
tion display will show a message such as
DISTRONIC 55 mph
.
If Distronic has not been activated after
pressing the cruise control lever, you will
see the message DISTRONIC Off
in the
multifunction display.
In the following cases you cannot activate
Distronic:


up to 2 minutes after starting the
engine


when you brake


when you have set the parking brake


when the automatic transmission is set
to positionP, R, or N


if the ESP
® is switched off


if the ESP
® has switched off due to a
malfunctionSetting the current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 or depress in
direction of arrow2 (
page 255).
Distronic is activated and the current
speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
i
If you do not take your foot off of the accel-
erator pedal and continue to accelerate past the
set speed, the following message will appear in
the multifunction display:
DISTRONIC OverrideThe distance to a slower moving vehicle in front
of you will not be set. Your vehicle speed will
then be determined only by the accelerator
pedal position.

259 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow4 (
page 255).
The Distronic resumes to the last set
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The last set speed or, if no speed is stored,
the current set speed appears in the
multifunction display for approximately
5seconds.Deactivating Distronic
There are several ways to deactivate the
Distronic system:

Step on the brake pedal.
or

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 256).
Distronic will be deactivated. The last set
speed will be stored in memory.
Warning!
G
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions
permit. Possible acceleration or decelera-
tion differences arising from returning to the
preset speed could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.
i
The following message appears in the multi-
function display for approximately 5 seconds:
DISTRONIC Off
.
The last stored set speed is deleted when the
engine is turned off.
i
The Distronic switches off automatically
when


you step on the brake pedal


you depress the parking brake pedal
In this case, the Distronic speed segments in the
speedometer (
page 253) will go out.


the vehicle speed falls below 20 mph
(30 km/h)


the ESP
® is in operation


the ESP
® is switched off with the ESP
®
switch (
page 99)


the ESP
® has switched off due to a
malfunction (
page 419)


you set the automatic transmission toN
while driving
The Distronic speed segments in the
speedometer (
page 253) will go out and an
acoustic warning will sound.

260 Controls in detailDriving systems
Setting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following
distance for Distronic by varying the time
setting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Us-
ing this time setting and the current speed
of your vehicle, Distronic calculates and
sets the required following distance to the
preceding vehicle. The set distance will be
shown in the multifunction display
(page 255).
The distance setting switch for the time
setting is located on the cruise control le-
ver on the left-hand side of the steering
column.1Distance setting switch
2To decrease distance
3To increase distance
Increasing distance
Increasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a greater following
distance to the preceding vehicle.

Turn distance setting switch1 in
direction of arrow3.
Warning!
G
Distronic switches off and releases the
brakes when the vehicle decelerates below
the minimum speed of 20 mph (30 km/h)
by operation of the system. At that time the
driver must apply the brakes in order to
reduce vehicle speed further or bring it to a
stop.!
Setting the automatic transmission toN
while driving cancels the Distronic. However, the
automatic transmission should not be set toN
while driving except to coast when the vehicle is
in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy roads).
i
Depressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate the Distronic. After a brief accelera-
tion (e.g. for passing), the Distronic will resume
the last set speed.
Warning!
G
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving recom-
mendations for safe following distance.

264 Controls in detailDriving systemsDownhill Speed Regulation (DSR)For more information, see “Off-road driv-
ing” (
page 333).
The DSR is an aid for driving downhill. DSR
regulates your vehicle’s speed when driv-
ing downhill to the value set in the control
system (page 179). The steeper the
downhill gradient is, the greater the brake
application. On flat road surfaces, DSR
brakes only slightly or not at all.
DSR regulates the vehicle’s speed in auto-
matic transmission positionsD, orR.
You can drive slower or faster than the set
speed at any time by braking the vehicle or
depressing the accelerator pedal.
Warning!
G
Downhill Speed Regulation is a convenience
system designed to assist the driver during
vehicle operation. The system must be set
to be appropriate for the topographical and
weather conditions encountered which can
change quickly. The driver is and must
remain at all times responsible for the vehi-
cle speed and for safe brake operation.
Depending on the programmed speed
(page 179), actual vehicle speed and gra-
dient, switching on the DSR while driving
can cause the vehicle to slow down rapidly
and you may hear a sound which is caused
by the activation of the vehicle’s brake sys-
tem through the DSR. Sudden and unex-
pected deceleration can result in loss of
vehicle control, causing an accident and/or
serious personal injury to you and others.
Do not switch on the DSR in a circumstance
where rapid deceleration could result in a
loss of vehicle control.
i
In addition, make use of the engine’s braking
effect by shifting the automatic transmission
into a lower gear.
i
Whenever DSR is switched on, DSR will use
the programmed default speed to regulate the
vehicle’s speed. The default speed programmed
at the factory is 4 mph (Canada: 6 km / h). The
default speed can be reprogrammed using the
control system (
page 179). The next time DSR
is switched on, DSR will use the newly pro-
grammed default speed to regulate the vehicle’s
speed.
Once DSR is switched on, you can adjust the set
speed using the cruise control lever
(
page 255). Keep in mind that adjusting the
set speed using the cruise control lever with DSR
switched on will not change the programmed
default speed. If DSR is switched off and then
switched on again, DSR will use the programmed
default speed.
Depending on the road surface and level of
downhill grade, the DSR may not be able to
maintain the set speed. To maintain the set
speed, apply the brakes if necessary.