2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 Page 16

244 Controls in detailPower tilt/sliding sunroof*Synchronizing
The tilt/sliding sunroof must be
synchronized

after the battery has been
disconnected or discharged


after the tilt/sliding sunroof has been
closed manually (
page 478)


after a malfunction


if the tilt/sliding sunroof does not open
smoothly

Remove the fuse for the tilt/sliding
sunroof from the fuse box
(page 522).

Reinsert the fuse in the main box.

Switch on the ignition (
page 40).

Press and hold the sunroof switch in
the direction of arrow3 (
page 241)
until the tilt/sliding sunroof is fully
raised at the rear.

Hold the sunroof switch in the direction
of arrow3 for approximately
1 second.

Open the tilt/sliding sunroof using the
Express-open feature (
page 243).
If the tilt/sliding sunroof opens
completely, it is synchronized.
If the tilt/sliding sunroof does not open
completely:

Repeat the above steps.
i
For information on which fuse box contains
the fuse for the power tilt/sliding sunroof, see
the fuse chart provided with the vehicle tool kit
(
page 469).

245 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are
described on the following pages:

Cruise control (
page 245) and
Distronic* (
page 250), with which
the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed.


Distance warning function*
(page 263) is only available with
Distronic*, which warns of stationary
obstacle or slower moving vehicles that
you are closing in on too quickly.


Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)
(page 264), which supports you
when you are driving downhill.


Off-road driving program (
page 268),
which supports you when you are driv-
ing off-road.


Air suspension package*
The system consists of two compo-
nents.

Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
(page 269), which adjusts the
vehicle suspension characteristics.


Vehicle level control*
(page 270), which controls the
vehicle level.


Parktronic* (
page 274) and rear view
camera* (
page 279), which serve as
a parking aid.
For information on the ABS, BAS, EBP,
ESP
®, and 4-ETS, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (page 96).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of cruise control is recommended
for driving at a constant speed for extend-
ed periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above
20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 24).
i
The cruise control should not be activated
during off-road driving.

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.

249 Controls in detail
Driving systems

Briefly lift the cruise control lever up
past the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 246).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed increases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
Setting a lower speed
You can reduce the speed in two ways.Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments

Briefly press the cruise control lever
down to the resistance point in direc-
tion of arrow2 (
page 246).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed decreases in incre-
ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h).Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments
i
The new speed is set and the vehicle will
accelerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief
moment until the vehicle has reached the set
speed.
i
When you use the cruise control lever to
decelerate, the brake system will automatically
brake the vehicle if the engine’s braking power
does not brake the vehicle sufficiently.
i
The set value is decreased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you
press the cruise control lever down to the resis-
tance point.
Warning!
G
You can decrease 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.
Decelerate the vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions permit. Other-
wise, sudden and unexpected deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.i
The set value is decreased in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time you
press the cruise control lever down past the
resistance point.

250 Controls in detailDriving systems
Briefly press the cruise control lever
down past the resistance point in direc-
tion of arrow2 (
page 246).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed decreases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly pull the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow4 (
page 246).
The cruise control resumes to the last
set speed, or if no speed is stored, it
will set and store the current speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The last set speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds.
Distronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases the driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
while traveling on expressways and other
major roadways.

If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at your
preset following distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as standard cruise control
(page 245).
i
The new speed is set and the vehicle will
decelerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief
moment until the vehicle has reached the set
speed.
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.

254 Controls in detailDriving systemsIf Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision:

The distance warning lampl in the
instrument cluster comes on
(page 27).


An intermittent warning sounds.

Immediately apply the brake to avoid a
collision.
Under no circumstances should the
driver await the intermittent warning
sound before braking. See the follow-
ing warning note.
The intermittent warning sound ceases
and the distance warning lampl
goes out when the necessary distance
to the vehicle ahead is again estab-
lished.
Warning!
G
An intermittent warning sounds and the
distance warning lampl in the instru-
ment cluster is illuminated if the Distronic
system calculates that the distance to the
vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s current
speed indicate that Distronic will not be ca-
pable of slowing the vehicle sufficiently to
maintain the preset following distance,
which creates a danger of a collision.
Immediately brake the vehicle to increase
your distance to the preceding vehicle. The
warning sound is intended as a final caution
in which you should intercede with your own
braking inputs to avoid a potentially danger-
ous situation. Do not wait for the operation
of the warning signal to intercede with your
own braking. This will result in potentially
dangerous emergency braking which will
not always result in an impact being avoid-
ed.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.
Warning!
G
Distronic brakes your vehicle with a maxi-
mum deceleration of 6.5 ft/s
2 (2 m/s
2). This
corresponds to about 20% of the maximum
deceleration of your vehicle.
Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort to
restore the preset distance or to maintain
the set speed.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the Distronic system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
– your foot could become caught.

255 Controls in detail
Driving systems
DISTRONIC menu in the control system
Use the
DISTRONIC
menu to display the
current settings for your Distronic system.
The information shown in the multifunction
display depends on whether the Distronic
system is activated or deactivated.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following two
displays in the multifunction display.Distronic activated
When you turn Distronic on, you will see
the set speed in the multifunction display
for about 5 seconds. When Distronic is
activated, the following display appears in
the multifunction display.
1Distronic activated
2Set vehicle speedDistronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated, you will see
the standard Distronic display in the multi-
function display.
1Preceding vehicle, if detected
2Actual distance to the preceding vehi-
cle
3Preset distance threshold to the pre-
ceding vehicle
4Your vehicle
Cruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means
of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column.
i
For activating or deactivating the Distronic
system, see “Activating Distronic” (
page 256)
or, see “Deactivating Distronic” (
page 259).
For activating or deactivating the Distance warn-
ing function, see “Distance warning function*”
(
page 179).