2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 tow

467 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
n
Level selection
not permitted
You are driving too fast for the desired
vehicle level*.

Reduce vehicle speed.

Set the desired vehicle level again
(page 271).
You are towing a trailer or using acces-
sories that are connected to the trailer
power socket, e.g. a bicycle rack.
Leveling cancelled
You have selected another vehicle
level*.
p
Reduce speed to
under 20 mph
You are driving too fast for the set vehi-
cle level*.

Do not drive faster than 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Visit workshop
The air suspension* functional only to a
limited extent.

Do not drive faster than 50 mph
(80 km/h) depending on the set
vehicle level.

Have the vehicle checked at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.

469 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located on the driver’s
side in the cargo compartment behind the
cover.
1Cover in left side trim panel
2Lock
Turn lock2 90°.

Fold down cover1.
The first aid kit can be removed.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit is stored under the
cargo compartment floor.
The vehicle tool kit includes:

Towing eye bolt


Wheel wrench


Alignment bolt


Vehicle jack


Fuse chart


Spare fuses


Fuse extractor


Collapsible wheel chock


Wheel bolts for spare wheel1Cargo compartment floor, lowered
2Handle cover

Open the tailgate (
page 119).

Push in handle cover2 and pull han-
dle in direction of arrow.

Lift cargo compartment floor1.
i
Check expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.


470 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?3Securing hook
Release securing hook3 (located be-
low the floor handle) from holder.3Securing hook
4Cargo compartment floor, raised
5Upper cargo compartment lip

Engage securing hook3 on upper
cargo compartment lip5.

Remove the Minispare wheel
(page 473).
orML 63 AMG:

Remove the collapsible tire
(page 474).
You can now access the vehicle tool kit.
6Wheel bolt wrench
7Vehicle jack
8Collapsible wheel chock
9Spare fuses, fuse chart, fuse extractor
aTowing eye bolt
bAlignment bolt
cSpare wheel bolts
!
With the cargo compartment cover blind
installed behind the rear seats (
page 286),
disengage cargo compartment cover blind and
flip it forward. Otherwise the strap of the
securing hook could damage the cargo compart-
ment cover blind.


473 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Minispare wheel (except ML 63 AMG)The Minispare wheel is located underneath
the cargo compartment floor
(
page 469).
Removing Minispare wheel
1Minispare wheel
2Towing eye bolt
3Alignment bolt
4Retaining screw
5Wheel bolt wrenchFor access the minispare wheel, see “Vehi-
cle tool kit” (
page 469).

Loosen retaining screw2 by turning it
counterclockwise.

Remove Minispare wheel1.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The Minispare wheel is for temporary use
only. When driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted, ensure proper tire inflation
pressure and do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
Minispare wheel replaced with a regular
road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
i
For information on how to mount the
Minispare wheel, see “Mounting the spare
wheel” (
page 498).
i
Remove Minispare wheel to gain access to
remaining tools in the vehicle tool kit
(
page 469).

474 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?Collapsible tire (ML 63 AMG only)The collapsible tire is located underneath
the cargo compartment floor
(
page 469).
Removing the collapsible tire
1Electric air pump
2Collapsible tire
3Vehicle tool kit storage well casing
4Alignment bolt
5Towing eye bolt
6Wheel bolt wrenchFor access the collapsible tire, see “Vehi-
cle tool kit” (
page 469).

Remove the vehicle tool kit storage
well casing3.
7Retaining screw

Loosen retaining screw7 by turning it
counterclockwise.

Remove collapsible tire2.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the collapsible tire are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a collapsible tire
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The collapsible tire is for temporary use
only. When driving with a collapsible tire
mounted, ensure proper tire inflation
pressure and do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
collapsible tire replaced with a regular road
wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one collapsible tire mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
collapsible tire is mounted.
i
For information on how to mount the
collapsible tire, see “Mounting the spare wheel”
(
page 498).
i
Remove collapsible tire to gain access to
remaining tools in the vehicle tool kit
(
page 469).

479 Practical hints
Resetting activated head restraints
Resetting activated head restraints
If the active head restraints have been trig-
gered in a rear-end collision, the active
head restraints must be reset. Otherwise,
the active head restraints cannot offer any
additional protection in the event of anoth-
er rear-end collision.
You can tell that the head restraints have
been activated when they have been
moved forward and cannot be adjusted.
1Reset tool
2Active head restraint

Take the reset tool1 out of the
Mercedes-Benz vehicle literature
pouch.

Guide reset tool1 into the rectangu-
lar opening of the active head
restraint2.

Press reset tool1 downward in direc-
tion of arrow until you hear the head re-
straint release mechanism audibly
disengage.

Pull out reset tool1.

Firmly press the active head restraint
cushion backward towards the head re-
straint cover in direction of arrow until
it engages.

Repeat this procedure on the active
head restraint for the second front
seat.

After resetting the active head
restraints store the reset tool1 in the
Mercedes-Benz vehicle literature
pouch.
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraint” (
page 80).
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 43).
i
For your convenience, we recommend that
you have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
You will find the reset tool for manually operating
the active head restraints in the Mercedes-Benz
vehicle literature pouch.Warning!
G
For safety reasons, have the active head re-
straints checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center after a
rear-end collision.
Warning!
G
When pushing back the head restraint cush-
ion, take care that your fingers do not be-
come caught between the head restraint
cushion and the cover. Failing to do so may
lead to injury.!
Be careful not to damage upholstery.

515 Practical hints
Jump starting
Jump starting
If the battery is discharged, the engine can
be started with jumper cables and the bat-
tery of another vehicle. Observe the follow-
ing:

Jump starting should only be performed
using the jump-start contacts located
in the engine compartment
(page 516).


Jump starting should only be performed
when the engine and catalytic
converter
1 are cold.


Do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw out first.


Only jump start from batteries with the
same voltage rating (12 V). Jump start-
ing with a more powerful battery could
damage the vehicle’s electrical system,
which will not be covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


Only use jumper cables with sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.


Always make sure the jumper cables
are not on or near pulleys, fans or other
parts that move when the engine is
started or running.
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these directions will cause
damage to the electronic components, and
can lead to a battery explosion and severe
injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting
or jump starting, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water, and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and very explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery
can result in it exploding, causing personal
injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
1Vehicles with gasoline engine only.
!
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!
Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine using a
battery quick charge unit.
If the engine does not run after several unsuc-
cessful starting attempts, have it checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by repeated
failed starting attempts may damage the catalyt-
ic converter
1.
Make sure the jumper cables do not have loose
or missing insulation.
Make sure the cable clamps do not touch any
other metal part while the other end is still at-
tached to a battery.

518 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleMercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the
vehicle may be towed with all wheels on
the ground only so far as necessary to have
the vehicle moved to a safe location where
the recommended towing methods can be
employed.!
Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment,
with the SmartKey in starter switch turned to
position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not tie
down vehicle by its chassis or suspension parts.
Use the towing eyes.
Switch off the ESP
® (page 99) and the auto-
matic central locking (page 126).
!
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!
Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so
could damage the transfer case, which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground. Observe
instructions for towing the vehicle with all
wheels on the ground.
!
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, the automatic transmission must be
in positionN and the starter switch must be in
position2 (
page 40).
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the vehicle may be towed only for
distances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed
not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
Keep in mind that it is important for the
SmartKey to be in the respective starter switch
positions as described above. As soon as the
SmartKey is removed from the starter switch or
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is removed
from the vehicle, the automatic transmission will
shift to park positionP see “Starter switch posi-
tions” (
page 39).