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.
328 OperationDriving instructionsHigh-performance brake system
(ML 63 AMG only)
The high-performance brake system is de-
signed to operate under the extremely high
operating demands required to accommo-
date the performance capabilities of the
vehicle. The brakes may produce a squeak-
ing-type noise depending on the
vehicle speed
brake force applied
ambient conditions, e.g. temperature
and humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of indi-
vidual brake system components such as
brake pads or disks strongly depends on
your driving style and the conditions under
which you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driv-
ing style calling for high demand braking
will cause your vehicle’s brakes to wear
more quickly.Parking brake
When driving on wet roads or dirt covered
surfaces, road salt and/or dirt can get into
the parking brake. To prevent corrosion
and a reduction in the braking power of the
parking brake, observe the following:
From time to time, lightly engage the
parking brake before driving off.
Drive a distance of approximately
110 yds (100 m) at a maximum speed
of 12 mph (20 km/h).
Warning!
G
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until
that time, you may need to use increased
brake pedal pressure while braking. Please
be aware of this and adjust your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in
period.
Excessive high demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition mes-
sages in the multifunction display. Especial-
ly for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
Warning!
G
While performing this procedure please
assure that the vehicle is stopped before
applying the parking brake. Otherwise the
rear wheels could lock up. You could lose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident.
In addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not
light up when the parking brake is engaged.
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when you engage the parking brake.
341 Operation
Driving instructions
Avoid high engine speeds.
Shift automatic transmission to
position1 (
page 193).
Drive next to the ruts rather than
through them if at all possible.
If the ruts are too deep to drive in, drive
with one side of the vehicle on the
grassy center strip if the route permits.Returning from off-road drivingOff-road driving increases strain on the
vehicle.
We recommend that you inspect the vehi-
cle for possible damage after each off-road
trip. Recognizing any damage and a subse-
quent timely repair reduces the chance of
a possible breakdown or accident later on.
Proceed as follows:
Switch off the off-road driving program
(page 268).
Switch off the DSR (
page 265).
Vehicles with air suspension package*:
Lower the vehicle back to a level
suitable for road conditions, e.g. High-
way/High-speed level (
page 270).
Clean all exterior lamps and check for
possible damage.
Clean the front and rear license plate.
!
Check that the ruts are not too deep and
your vehicle’s clearance is sufficient. Otherwise:
your vehicle may be damaged
the underbody of the vehicle may come in
contact with the ground and you may get
stuck
Warning!
G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from
the roadway.
Inspect the tires and under the vehicle for
possible damage. If the vehicle or tires ap-
pear unsafe, have it towed to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center or tire
dealer for repairs.
Damage to the vehicle may influence driving
comfort and pose the risk of accident to you
and other drivers.
358 OperationEngine compartmentClosing
Let the hood drop from a height of
approximately 1 ft (30 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.
Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Increased oil consumption
can occur when
the vehicle is new
the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.Checking engine oil level with the
control system (ML 500 only)
When checking the oil level
the vehicle must be parked on level
ground
with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 5 minutes with
the engine turned off
with the engine not at operating tem-
perature yet, the vehicle must have
been stationary for at least 30 minutes
with the engine turned off
To check the engine oil level via the
multifunction display, do the following:
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).
The standard display (
page 154)
should appear in the multifunction
display.
Warning!
G
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hands or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure that the hood is securely en-
gaged before driving off. Do not continue
driving if the hood can no longer engage af-
ter an accident, for example. The hood could
otherwise come loose while the vehicle is in
motion and injure you and/or others.
i
Do not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies.
Using special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
More information on this subject is available at
any Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
555 Index
Bead 395
Belt reel 291
Beverage holder see Cup holder
Block heater (Canada only) 400
Bolts, Collapsible tire
(ML 63 AMG only) 474
Bolts, Minispare wheel
(except ML 63 AMG) 473
Brake fluid 546
Checking 354
Messages in the
multifunction display 449
Brake lamp
Cleaning lenses 408
Messages in the
multifunction display 458
Replacing bulbs 490
Brake pads 326
Messages in the
multifunction display 447
Brakes 326
Warning lamp 415
Break-in period 324
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbs
Button for Voice control*
system 30, 148C
California retail buyers and lessees,
Important notice for 11
Camera see Rear view camera*
Can holder see Cup holder
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants 543
Card holder 32, 35, 299
Cargo compartment cover blind 286
Cargo tie-down rings 283
Carpets, Cleaning 411
Catalytic converter
(gasoline engine) 349
CD changer* 161, 294
CD player 161
Center console
Lower part 32
Upper part 31
Central locking
Automatic 126
Locking/unlocking from
the inside 126
Switch 126
Certification label 530CHECK ENGINE malfunction
indicator lamp 417, 418
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*,
(Canada only) 381
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), (USA only) 379
Checklist
Off-road driving 336
Returning from off-road driving 341
Children in the vehicle 82
Air bags 73, 82
Blocking rear door window
operation 93
Indicator lamp, Front passenger front
air bag 89
Infant and child restraint systems 77,
82
LATCH-type child seat anchors 91
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 85
Cigarette lighter* 301
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
566 IndexMON 353, 548
Multicontour seat* 130
Multifunction display 147
Changing settings see Control
system menus and Control system
submenus
Selecting display 168
Selecting language 167
Multifunction display messages 428
ABS 430
Air suspension package* 467
Brake fluid 449
Brake lamps 458
Brake pads 447
Check engine 449
Coolant 452
Cruise control 431
Distronic* 432
Doors 455
Downhill Speed Regulation 447
EBP 448
Engine coolant 450, 452
Engine oil 453
ESP
®
419Fog lamps, Front 458
Fog lamps, Rear 461
Front passenger front air bag 440,
441, 442, 443
Fuel cap 455
Gear selector lever 438
Headlamps 458, 460, 461, 463
Hood 455
Key, SmartKey 457
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 456, 457
Lamps 458, 460, 461, 463
Low tire pressure 444, 465, 466
Parking brake 438, 448
Parking lamps 459
Tele Aid* 464
Telephone* 464
Turn signals 463
Vehicle battery 446
Windshield washer fluid 464
Multifunction steering wheel 30, 148
Button operation 148N
Navigation system* 161
See separate COMAND system
operating instructions
Net, Parcel 297
Net, Partition* 287
Neutral gear position, Automatic
transmission 185, 189
New vehicle, Break-in period 324
Night security illumination 139, 172
Normal occupant weight 396
Number, Vehicle Identification (VIN) 530
O
Occupant distribution 396
Occupant safety 70
Active head restraint 80
Air bags 71
Children and air bags 73, 82, 84
Children in the vehicle 82
Fastening the seat belt 51
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp 86, 89, 90
Infant and child restraint systems 82
575 Index
Towing the vehicle 520, 521
Tow-starting 515, 518
Traction 393, 397
4-ETS, Driving safety systems 96,
102
Trailer
Attaching 344
Checking weights 344
Electrical connections 343
Hitch* 342
Loading 343
Towing 342, 345
Weights and ratings 343
Transfer case 199
Transmission position indicator 147
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 348
Tread 397
Tread depth 367, 399
Treadwear indicators 397
Trip computer 180Trip odometer, resetting 146
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 408
Messages in the
multifunction display 463
Replacing bulbs 483
Turn signals 60
Additional in mirrors 483
Bulbs 483, 491
Cleaning lenses 408
Indicator lamps 27
Turning off the engine 67
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating) 397
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 397
Units, Settings
Speedometer 168
Temperature 168
Unlocking the vehicle see Key
Uphill driving
Cruise control 247
Upholstery
Cleaning and care of 412
Useful features 294V
Vacuum line routing diagram label 531
Vehicle
Battery 507
Break-in period 324
Care 404
Control system, Settings menu 164
Dimensions 541
Locking/unlocking 38, 65, 108
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency 475
Modifications and alterations,
Operating safety 17
Proper use of 17
Towing 518
Washing 404
Weights 542
Vehicle and trailer weights and
ratings 343
Vehicle care 404