Page 520 of 585

519 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:
the engine will not run
there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical sys-
tem
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the starter switch is
in position2 (
page 40).
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
i
To signal turns while being towed with
hazard warning flasher in use, set the starter
switch to position2 and activate combination
switch for left or right turn signal in usual manner
– only the selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher will operate again.
i
If the battery is disconnected or discharged,
the automatic transmission will remain locked in
positionP and the SmartKey will not turn in the
starter switch. For more information, see “Bat-
tery” (page 507) and “Jump starting”
(
page 515).
!
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the ignition in position2 (
page 40), the vehicle
doors lock if the left front wheel is turning at a
speed of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
above.
To prevent the vehicle doors from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 126).
Towing of the vehicle should only be done using
the towing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable, tow
rope or tow rod to vehicle chassis, frame or sus-
pension parts.
Page 522 of 585
521 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
Take the towing eye bolt and wheel bolt
wrench from the vehicle tool kit
(page 469).
Screw towing eye bolt in clockwise to
its stop and tighten with wheel wrench.
Removing towing eye bolt
Loosen towing eye bolt counterclock-
wise with wheel wrench.
Unscrew towing eye bolt.
Store the towing eye bolt and wheel
bolt wrench back into the vehicle tool
kit (
page 469).
Installing cover
Engage cover1 at top and press at
bottom.
Stranded vehicle
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the
wheels are dug into sand or mud, should
be done with the greatest of care, especial-
ly if the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Avoid pulling the vehicle abruptly or diago-
nally, since it could result in damage to the
chassis alignment.
Never try to free a vehicle that is still cou-
pled to a trailer.
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer
hitch receiver should be pulled backward
in its own previously made tracks.
Page 524 of 585
523 Practical hintsFuses
Fuse box in engine compartment
The fuse box is located on the passenger
side of the engine compartment.
Open the hood (
page 356).
Example fuse box ML 350 (ML 320 CDI,
ML 63 AMG similar)1Clamp
2Fuse box cover
Fuse box ML 5001Clamp
2Fuse box cover
Pull clamp1 in direction of arrow.
Lift fuse box cover2 up.
Install fuse box cover in reverse order.
Close the hood after checking or
replacing fuses (
page 358).
Fuse box in cargo compartment
The fuse box is located in the cargo com-
partment behind the passenger side trim
panel.
1Lock
2Cover
!
The fuse box cover must be installed
properly to prevent moisture and/or dirt from
entering the fuse box and possibly impairing fuse
operation.
Page 525 of 585
524 Practical hintsFusesRemoving/installing cover
Open the tailgate (
page 119).
Insert a suitable object such as a coin
into the slot of lock1 (
page 523).
Turn lock1 counterclockwise by 90°
in direction of arrow.
Remove cover2.
Install cover2 in reverse order.
Fuse box in passenger compartment
The fuse box is located behind a cover in
the dashboard on the front passenger side.
1CoverOpening
Open the front passenger door.
Open the glove box (
page 294).
Insert flat, blunt object as a lever into
the edge of the cover1 at the position
indicated by the arrow.
Loosen cover1 from dashboard using
lever.
Using your hands, pull cover1 out
and remove.
Closing
Hook cover1 into the opening at the
front.
Press cover1 back on until it engag-
es.
!
Do not use sharp objects such as a screw-
driver to open the fuse box cover1 in the dash-
board, as this could damage the fuse box cover
or the dashboard.
Page 554 of 585

553 Index
A
ABS 96
Indicator lamp 414
Messages in the multifunction
display 430
Off-road - ABS 97
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 191
Accessory weight 394
Accident 64
Active head restraint 80, 128, 479
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)* 269
Air bags 71
Children 73, 82
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp 31, 89, 426
Front, Driver 75
Front, Passenger 75
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 85
Safety guidelines 73
Side impact (front and rear*) 76
Window curtain 76Air conditioning refrigerant 546
Air conditioning system see
Climate control or Automatic climate
control (3-zone)*
Air conditioning, Cooling 216, 230
Air distribution, Front 212, 226
Air distribution, Rear 219, 234
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air pump, electric (ML 63 AMG) 502
Air recirculation mode 214, 228
Air suspension package* 269
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* 269
Messages in the multifunction
display 467
Vehicle level control* 270
Air vents 219
Air vents, Front 212, 226
Air vents, Rear 235
Air volume 212, 227Alarm system see Anti-theft systems
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 470, 500
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 550
Antiglare, Interior rear view mirror 200
Antiglare, Rear view mirrors* 201
Antilock Brake System see ABS
Anti-theft systems 104
Anti-theft alarm system 103, 104
Immobilizer 103
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest storage compartments
Front 296
Ashtrays* 300
Aspect ratio 394
ATF 362
Attaching a trailer 344
Audio menu 159
CD operation 161
Radio operation 160
Satellite radio* operation
(USA only) 160
Auto-dimming*, Rear view mirrors 201
Automatic central locking,
Control system 176
Page 555 of 585

554 IndexAutomatic climate control (3-zone)* 220
Air conditioning, Cooling 230, 231
Air distribution, Front 226
Air distribution, Rear 234
Air recirculation mode 228
Air vents, Front 226
Air volume 227
Control panel, Front 222
Control panel, Rear 232
Deactivating system 224
Defogging 227
Defrosting 227
Maximum cooling, MAX COOL 228
Rear passenger compartment 232
Rear window defroster 205
Residual engine heat (REST) 232
Using driver-side settings for
all temperature zones 231
Automatic headlamp mode 137
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 143
Automatic locking when driving 126
Automatic shift program
(ML 63 AMG only) 196Automatic transmission 54
Accelerator position 191
Automatic shift program
(ML 63 AMG only) 196
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) 198
Gear ranges 193
Gear selector lever 54, 185
Gear shifting malfunctions 198
Hill start assist system 192
Kickdown 191
Kickdown, manual shift program
(ML 63 AMG only) 198
Manual shift progam
(ML 63 AMG only) 196
Program mode selector switch
(ML 63 AMG only) 195
Shift program (ML 63 AMG only) 195
Shifting procedure 188
Starting the engine 54
Steering wheel gearshift control 194
Towing a trailer 192
Transmission fluid level 362
Transmission positions 189
Automatic Transmission Fluid see ATFB
Backrest
Seat 44
Seat, Lumbar support 130
Seat, Multicontour* 130
Backup lamps
Messages in the
multifunction display 458
Replacing bulbs 490
Bar 395
BAS 97
Lamps in instrument cluster 414
Messages in the
multifunction display 430
Basic carrier bars* 281
Batteries, SmartKey
Check lamp 108, 112
Checking battery condition 111
Messages in the
multifunction display 446
Replacing 480
Battery, Vehicle 507
Charging 514
Disconnecting and connecting 509
Jump starting 515
Removing and installing 509
Page 556 of 585

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
Page 557 of 585

556 IndexClimate control 206
Air conditioning, Cooling 216
Air distribution, Front 212
Air distribution, Rear 219
Air recirculation mode 214
Air vents, Front 212
Air volume 212
Control panel*, Rear 217
Control panel, Front 208
Deactivating system 210
Defogging 213
Defrosting 213
Rear window defroster 205
Residual engine heat (REST) 216
Clock 27, 169
Setting time 169
Cloth upholstery,
Cleaning and care of 412
Cockpit 24
Cockpit Management and Data System
see COMAND system
Cold tire inflation pressure 395
Collapsible tire 538
Collapsible tire (ML 63 AMG only) 474
Collapsible wheel chock 472COMAND system see separate operating
instructions
Combination switch 59, 60, 62, 140
Compass 321
Adjustment 174
Calibration 175
Calling up the compass 321
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 348
Control system 147
Multifunction display 147
Multifunction steering wheel 148
Resetting to factory default 165
Control system menus 147
AIRMATIC*/Compass 162
AMG menu 156
Audio 159
Distronic* 162
Nav* 161
Settings 164
Standard display 154
Tel* 182
Trip computer 180
Vehicle configuration 178
Vehicle status message memory 163Control system submenus 151, 153, 166
Comfort* 177
Instrument cluster 167, 168
Lighting 171
Time/Date 169
Vehicle 174
Coolant 362, 549
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
mixing ratio and quantity 550
Capacities 543
Checking coolant level 354, 362
Messages in the multifunction
display 450, 452
Temperature 350
Temperature display 154
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 140
Messages in the
multifunction display 458
Replacing bulbs 488
Crossing obstacles 339
Cruise control 245
Activating 247
Messages in the
multifunction display 431