Page 167 of 585
166 Controls in detailControl systemThe table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus.
Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
TIME/DATE
LIGHTING
VEHICLE
COMFORT*
(page 167)
(page 169)
(page 171)
(page 174)
(page 177)
Selecting speedometer
display mode
Setting the time (hours)
Setting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)
Compass adjustment
Activating
easy-entry/exit
feature*
Selecting language
Setting the time (minutes)
Setting locator lighting
Compass calibration
Setting fold-in func-
tion* for exterior rear
view mirrors
Selecting display (digital
speedometer or outside
temperature) for status in-
dicator
Setting the date (month)
Setting night security
illumination
Audio search function
Setting the date (day)
Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-off
Setting automatic
locking
Setting the date (year)
Limiting opening
height of tailgate*
Page 172 of 585

171 Controls in detail
Control system
Lighting submenu
Access the
Lighting
submenu via the
Settings
menu. Use the
Lighting
submenu to change the lamp and lighting
settings on your vehicle.
The following functions are available:
Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Lamp circuit
headlamp
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to select
manual operation (
Manual
) or daytime
running lamp mode (
Constant
).
With daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch at
positionMorU, the low beam
headlamps are switched on when the
engine is running.In low ambient light conditions the
following lamps will switch on additionally:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime
running lamp mode, see “Lighting”
(
page 136).
Function
Page
Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
171
Setting locator lighting
172
Setting night security illumination
172
Setting interior lighting delayed
shut-off
173
i
This function is not available in countries
where the daytime running lamp mode is
mandatory and therefore in a constant mode.
i
For safety reasons, changing the setting for
the daytime running lamp mode is not possible
while the vehicle is in motion. The following
message appears in the multifunction display:
Settings
only possible
at standstillFor safety reasons, resetting to factory settings
(page 165) while driving will not deactivate the
daytime running lamp mode.
Page 173 of 585

172 Controls in detailControl systemSetting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated,
the exterior lamp switch in positionU
(page 136) and the interior lighting in
automatic mode (
page 143), the follow-
ing lamps will switch on during darkness
when the vehicle is unlocked using
buttonŒ on the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps*
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after
approximately 40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Function Surround
lighting
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the locator lighting function
On or
Off
.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle.
The locator lighting feature is
activated.Setting night security illumination
(Headlamps delayed shut-off)
Use this function to set whether you would
like the exterior lamps to remain on for
15 seconds during darkness after exiting
the vehicle and closing all doors.
With the headlamps delayed shut-off
feature activated and the exterior lamp
switch in positionU before the engine
is turned off, the following lamps will
switch on when the engine is turned off:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps*
If after turning off the engine you do not
open a door or do not close an opened
door, the lamps will automatically switch
off after 60 seconds.
Page 174 of 585

173 Controls in detail
Control system
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Headlamp delayed
shut-off
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the headlamps delayed shut-off feature On or
Off
.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU before turning off the
engine.
The headlamps delayed shut-off
feature is activated.
You can temporarily deactivate the
headlamps delayed shut-off feature:
Before exiting the vehicle, turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position0.
Then turn it to position2 and back
to0.
The headlamps delayed shut-off
feature is deactivated. It will reactivate
as soon as you reinsert the SmartKey in
the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
in the starter switch (
page 41).Setting interior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether you would
like the interior lighting to remain on for
10 seconds during darkness after you have
removed the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Int. light.
delayed shut-off appears in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the interior lighting delayed shut-off
feature
On or
Off
.
Page 190 of 585

189 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Transmission positions
The current transmission position appears
in the multifunction display.
1Current transmission position!
If the current transmission position does not
appear in the multifunction display due to a
malfunction, for example, make sure that the
automatic transmission is in the desired position
by carefully driving off with the transmission in
drive positionD.
ML 63 AMG:
Select program modeC (
page 195).
Do not limit the gear range.
Effect
ì
Park position
Shift into park positionP only
when vehicle is stopped. The
park position is not intended to
serve as a brake when the vehi-
cle is parked. Rather, the driver
should always set the parking
brake in addition to shifting into
park positionP to secure the
vehicle.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the automatic
transmission could remain
locked in park positionP.
Have the vehicle checked as
soon as possible by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
!
SmartKey:
If you turn off the engine using the SmartKey and
remove the SmartKey from the starter switch,
the transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically. Keep in mind that turning off the
engine with the SmartKey alone will not auto-
matically shift the transmission to park
positionP. Only when the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch, will the transmission
automatically shift to park positionP.
KEYLESS-GO*:
If you turn off the engine using the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button and open the driver’s door, the
transmission will shift to park positionP auto-
matically. Keep in mind that turning off the en-
gine using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
alone will not automatically shift the transmis-
sion to park positionP. Only when the driver’s
door is opened, will the transmission automati-
cally shift to park positionP.
Even though this is possible, make it a practice
to always shift into park positionP before turning
off the engine and removing the SmartKey from
the starter switch, or when using KEYLESS-GO*,
before turning off the engine with the start/stop
button and opening the driver’s door.
Page 192 of 585

191 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.
Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
Leave the transmission in gear.
Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop for a longer period of time
with the engine idling and/or on a hill:
Set the parking brake.
Shift into park positionP.
Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:
Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.
Accelerate gently.
Never abruptly step on the accelerator.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could shift the
automatic transmission out of park
positionP, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Page 199 of 585

198 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionKickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 195) repeatedly until
Cor
S appears in the multifunction
display.
or
Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be activated.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Shift to park positionP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
Page 200 of 585
199 Controls in detail
Transfer case
Transfer case
!
Operational or performance test must only
be conducted on a two-axle dynanometer. If
such tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake system or
the transfer case which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!
Because the ESP
® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in
position0or1) when testing the brakes on a
brake test dynamometer and such testing should
be no longer than 10 seconds.
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
i
The vehicle is equipped with full-time
four-wheel drive. Both the front and rear axles
are powered at all times when the vehicle is
being operated.