Page 359 of 585

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.
Page 432 of 585

431 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
If the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv flashes while driving and
this message appears, the electron-
ic traction system has switched off
to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off,
the electronic traction system switches
on again.
The message in the multifunction dis-
play disappears and the ESP
® warning
lampv goes out.
The self-diagnosis has not yet been
completed yet.
The display will clear after driving a
short distance at a vehicle speed of
above 12 mph (20 km/h).
Cruise control and
SPEEDTRONIC
inoperative
The cruise control is malfunctioning.
Have cruise control checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Cruise control
--- mph
You have attempted to set a speed
while driving below 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the
speed (
page 245).
The ESP
® is switched off.
Switch on the ESP
® (page 98).
The automatic transmission is set to
positionP, R, orN.
Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 187).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.
Release the parking brake
(page 57).
Page 433 of 585
432 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
DISTRONIC
--- mph
You have attempted to set a speed
while driving below 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Accelerate to a speed exceeding 20 mph
(30 km/h) and set the speed (
page 250).
The ESP
® is switched off.
Switch on the ESP
® (page 98).
The automatic transmission is set to
positionP, R, orN.
Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 187).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.
Release the parking brake (
page 57).
inoperative
Override
The Distronic* or the Distronic*
display are malfunctioning.
Have the system checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
You have accelerated. The
Distronic* has switched off.
Stop accelerating.
Page 441 of 585

440 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible
cause/consequence
Possible solution
Front passenger airbag
enabled
See Operator’s Manual
Front passenger front air bag
is activated while driving even
though a child, small
individual, or object below
the system’s weight thresh-
old is on the front passenger
seat, or the front passenger
seat is empty. Objects on the
seat or forces acting on the
seat may make the system
sense supplemental weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Apply the parking brake (
page 65).
Switch off the ignition (
page 40).
Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and properly
secure the child in rear seat employing the child restraint if necessary.
Remove any other items from on and around the front passenger seat
and make sure the storage bag on the back of the front passenger seat
is empty.
Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present
(e.g. objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind or around the
seat, head restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system may recog-
nize such forces as supplemental weight and sense that an occupant on
the front passenger seat is of a greater weight than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch
on the ignition (
page 40).
(Continued on next page)
Page 471 of 585
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.
Page 472 of 585

471 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Vehicle jackThe vehicle jack is located underneath the
cargo compartment floor.
Storage position
Remove vehicle jack from its storage
compartment (
page 470).
Turn crank handle in the direction of ar-
row as far as it will go.
!
Vehicles with factory-mounted
running-boards*:
Your vehicle is equipped with a scissors-type
jack (located under the cargo compartment
floor) designed for use with factory-mounted
running boards. Only use this jack when jacking
up vehicles with factory-mounted running boards
as otherwise the vehicle’s underbody can be
damaged. See separate instructions for scis-
sors-type jack.
!
To prevent damage, always disengage the
strap of the securing hook and lower the cargo
compartment floor (
page 469) before closing
the tailgate.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage the parking brake while
the vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack
is always vertical (plumb line) when in use,
especially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on a level surface.
Make sure that the jack arm is fully seated
in the jack take-up bracket. Always lower
the vehicle onto jackstands of sufficient
capacity before working under the vehicle.
Page 473 of 585
472 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?Operational position
Turn crank handle clockwise.
Before storing the vehicle jack in its stor-
age compartment:
The vehicle jack should be fully col-
lapsed.
The handle must be folded in (storage
position).Setting up the collapsible wheel chock
The collapsible wheel chock serves to ad-
ditionally secure the vehicle, e.g. while
changing the wheel.
1Tilt the plate upward
2Fold the lower plate outward
3Insert the plate
Tilt both plates upward1.
Fold the lower plate outward2.
Guide the tabs of the lower plate all the
way into the openings of base plate3.
For information on where to place wheel
chocks when changing a wheel, see “Lift-
ing the vehicle” (
page 498).
Page 496 of 585

495 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Installing
1Installing
2Tab
3Attachment
4Guide tab
5Cover
Slide the wiper blade into
attachment3 in direction of
arrow1.
Make sure guide tab4 will be placed
under cover5 when fully inserting the
wiper blade into attachment.
Let tab2 latch into both recesses of
attachment3.
Check if the wiper blade is securely
fastened.
Fold the wiper arm backward to rest on
the windshield.
Make sure you hold on to the wiper arm
when folding it back.
Rear wiper bladeWarning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status
0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise the motor could suddenly turn on
and cause injury.
!
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the impact
from the tensioning spring could crack the rear
window.
Do not allow the wiper arm to contact the rear
window glass without a wiper blade inserted.
Make sure the wiper blade is properly installed.
Improperly installed wiper blades may cause
rear window damage.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.