2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV warning lights

31, 2, 3 ...
2-zone Thermatic Malfunction indicator lamp . . . . . .286
4-ETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel
drive) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138 A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) . . . ..57
Display message . . . . . . . . . .260, 261
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288
Acceleration
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .353
Accident
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .294
Active Service System PLUS
see Service indicator
Adaptive brake lamps . . . . . . . . . . . ..58
Adaptive Damping System see ADS
Additional functions (on-board
computer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
ADS (Adaptive Damping System) . ..1 57
Airbag Activatio n.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Control unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Driver's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Driver's knee airba g.. . . . . . . . . . ..45
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45Front passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.45
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning
lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286
Sidebag s.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Windowbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Air cleaner
Display message . . . . . . . . . . . . . .279
Air conditioning
2-zone Thermatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
Activating/deactivating . . . . . . . . .176
Activating/deactivating air-recir-
culation mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Air-recirculation mode with con-
venience opening/closing feature .183
Auxiliary heating/ventilation . . . . .184
Controlling automatically . . . . . . . .177
Cooling with air dehumidification . .177
Demisting the windscreen . . . . . . .181
Malfunction indicator lamp . . . . . .286
Misted-up windows . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Multi-zone Thermotronic . . . . . . . .173
Rear-compartment air condition-
ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Rear window heating . . . . . . . . . . .182
Setting the air distribution . . . . . . .181
Setting the airflow . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Setting the air vents . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Setting the temperature . . . . . . . . .178 Setting the temperature (rear
compartment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.179
Switching the residual heat func-
tion on/off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
see Climate control
AIRMATIC package . . . . . . . . . . . . ..156
Antifreeze concentration . . . . . . . ..371
Anti-glare film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
Anti-lock braking system see ABS
Anti-theft alarm system
see ATA
Anti-theft systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..62
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203
ASSYST PLUS see Service indicator
ASSYST PLUS service indicator . . ..246
ATA (anti-theft alarm system) . . . . ..62
Switching off the alarm . . . . . . . . . .63
Audible warning signal . . . . . . . . . ..293
AUTO lights Display message . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276
Automatic car wash . . . . . . . . . . . ..248
Automatic transmission Display message . . . . . . . . . .264, 265
Driving tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Emergency running mode . . . . . . .299
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .299
Program selector button . . . .111, 112
Selector lever positions . . . . . . . . .107 Index
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 3Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

9K
Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Changing the battery . . . . . . . . . . .311
Checking the battery . . . . . . . . . . .311
Convenience closing . . . . . . . . . . .102
Display message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281, 282
Factory setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66, 67
Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .303
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .303
Modifying the programming . . . . . . .66
KEYLESS GO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Changing the battery . . . . . . . . . . .311
Checking the battery . . . . . . . . . . .311
Closing the boot lid automatically . .72
Convenience closin g.. . . . . . . . ..102
Factory settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Losing the key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .306
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .305
Modifying the programming . . . . . . .68
Starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Key positions
Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
KEYLESS GO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Kickdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109, 111 L
Lamp Display message . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275
Lamps
see Indicator and warning lamp
Lashing eyelets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193
Level control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
Licence plate lighting Display message . . . . . . . . . . . . . .278
Lighting
see Lights
Lights
Automatic headlamp mode . . . . . . .93
Constant headlamp mod e.. . . . . ..93
Cornering light function . . . . . . . . . .96
Dipped-beam headlamps . . . . . . . . .93
Display message . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275
Foglamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Hazard warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . .95
Headlamp flasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Headlamp range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Light switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Main-beam headlamps . . . . . . . . . . .95
Rear fog lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Switching off (display message) . . .278
Turn signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94LIM indicator lamp
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
Distronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Variable Speedtronic . . . . . . . . . . .154
Loading guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . ..192
Locking Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Emergency locking . . . . . . . . . . . . .309
From the inside (central locking
button) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
LOW RANGE
Display message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .273, 274
Off-road gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
LOW RANGE off-road gear . . . . . . ..141
Luggage compartment enlarge-
ment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194
Luggage cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
Luggage net Front-passenger footwell . . . . . . . .191
Front seats (behind) . . . . . . . . . . . .191
Lumbar support
4-way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 M
Main-beam headlamps Display message . . . . . . . . . . . . . .277
Maintenance
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334 Index
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 9Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Instrument cluster
27Function Page
1 ABS warning lamp
288
2 LIM indicator lamp
154
3
ESP
®
warning lamp 289
4 Display unit for the speed-
ometer
5
Distance warning lamp*
1 61
6 Brake system warning lamp
290
7 Tyre pressure warning
lamp*
2 291
8 Turn signal indicator lamp,
left
94
9 Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: dimmer
a Reset button
114
b Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: brighter Function Page
c Turn signal indicator lamp,
right
94
d Seat belt warning lamp
291
e Diesel engine: preglow indi-
cator lamp
103
f SRS warning lamp 41,
290 g Engine diagnostics warning
lamp
291
h Main-beam indicator lamp
95
j Rev counter
114
k Fuel gauge
l Fuel filler cap location: cap
is on the right at the rear Function Page
m Reserve tank warning lamp
293
n Total distance recorder
120
o Trip meter
114
p Multi-function display
114
q Gearshift program display
111
r Transmission position dis-
play
108
s Depending on the setting in
the on-board computer:
120
• outside temperature
3
• digital speedometer t Speedometer (the unit can
be changed to miles in the
on-board computer)
128
u Clock
129
1
On vehicles without Distronic* the symbol lights up briefly but has no function.
2 Only on vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*.
3 Vehicles for the United Kingdom: the outside temperature is always displayed in the digital speedometer. At a glance
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 27Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Instrument cluster
29Function Page
1 ABS warning lamp
288
2 LIM indicator lamp
154
3
ESP
®
warning lamp 289
4 Display unit for the speed-
ometer
5
Distance warning lamp*
4 61
6 Brake system warning lamp
290
7 Tyre pressure warning
lamp*
5 291
8 Turn signal indicator lamp,
left
94
9 Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: dimmer
a Reset button
114
b Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: brighter
c Turn signal indicator lamp,
right
94 Function Page
d Seat belt warning lamp
291
e Diesel engine: preglow indi-
cator lamp
103
f SRS warning lamp 41,
290 g Engine diagnostics warning
lamp
291
h Main-beam indicator lamp
95
j Rev counter
114
k Fuel gauge
l Fuel filler cap location: cap
is on the right at the rear
m Reserve tank warning lamp
293
n Total distance recorder
120
o Trip meter
114
p Multi-function display
114
q Gearshift program display
111 Function Page
r Transmission position dis-
play
108
s Depending on the setting in
the on-board computer:
120
• outside temperature
6
• digital speedometer t Speedometer
128
u Clock
129
4
On vehicles without Distronic* the symbol lights up briefly but has no function.
5 Only on vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*.
6 Vehicles for the United Kingdom: the outside temperature is always displayed in the digital speedometer. At a glance
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 29Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Centre console
31Centre console
Upper section (not ML 63 AMG) Function Page
1
Controls COMAND APS*
and the audio system – see
the respective operating
instructions
2 Controls Thermatic or
Thermotronic*
171
Switches the rear window
heating on/off
182
3 Switches the hazard warn-
ing lamps on/off
95
4 Automatic transmission
gearshift program selection
button
111
5 Switches the right-hand
seat heating* on
/off 82
6 Switches the right-hand
seat ventilation* on
/off 81
7 Switches the auxiliary heat-
ing* on
/off 184
8 59
warning
lamp 8 50 Function Page
9 Engages the differential
locks*
143
a Selects
/deselects LOW
RANGE* off-road gear 141
b Activates/deactivates DSR
139
c
Vehicle level control*: rai-
ses/lowers the vehicle
158
d Deactivates/activates
ESP
® 59
e
Selects ADS* settings 157
f Switches the left-hand seat
ventilation* on/off
81
g Switches the left-hand seat
heating* on/off
82
h Deactivates/activates
Parktronic (PTS)*
166
8
The warning lamp also lights up briefly when you turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock on vehicles without automatic child seat recognition on the front-
passenger seat*. It has no function, however, and does not indicate that the front-passenger seat is equipped with automatic child seat recognition*. At a glance
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 31Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Centre console
32 Upper section (only ML 63 AMG)
Function Page
1
Controls COMAND APS*
and the audio system – see
the respective operating
instructions
2 Controls Thermatic or
Thermotronic*
171
Switches the rear window
heating on/off
182
3 Switches the hazard warn-
ing lamps on/off
95
4 Automatic transmission
gearshift program selection
button*
112
5
Vehicle level control*: rai-
ses/lowers the vehicle
158
6 Switches the right-hand
seat heating* on
/off 82
7 Switches the right-hand
seat ventilation* on
/off 81 Function Page
8 Switches the auxiliary heat-
ing* on
/off 184
Deactivates/activates
Parktronic (PTS)*
166
9 59
warning
lamp 9 50
a Deactivates/activates
ESP
® 59
b
Selects ADS* settings 157
c Switches the left-hand seat
ventilation* on/off
81
d Switches the left-hand seat
heating* on/off
82
e Activates/deactivates DSR
139
9
The warning lamp also lights up briefly when you turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock on vehicles without automatic child seat recognition on the front-
passenger seat*. It has no function, however, and does not indicate that the front-passenger seat is equipped with automatic child seat recognition*. At a glance
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 32Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Occupant safety
41carry out any modifications on the restraint
systems.
Never tamper with electronic components
and their software.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
The SRS reduces the risk of occupants com-
ing into contact with the vehicle's interior in
the event of an accident. It can also reduce
the forces to which occupants are subjected
during an accident.
The SRS consists of:
R The 1 warning lamp
R belt tensioners
R belt force limiters
R airbags
The 1 1 warning lamp The SRS functions are checked regularly
when you turn on the ignition and when the
engine is running. Malfunctions can therefore
be detected in good time.
The
1 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out no later than a few seconds
after the engine is started. G
Risk of injury
If SRS is malfunctioning, individual systems
may be activated unintentionally or not be
deployed in the event of an accident with
heavy braking.
A malfunction has occurred if the 1
warning lamp:
R does not light up when you switch on the
ignition
R does not go out after the engine has been
running for a few seconds
R lights up again once the engine is running
In this case, have SRS checked immedi-
ately at a qualified specialist workshop.
Triggering of belt tensioners, belt force
limiters and airbags In the event of a collision, the sensor in the
airbag control unit evaluates important phys-
ical data such as duration, direction and force
of the vehicle deceleration or acceleration.
Based on the evaluation of this data and
depending on the vehicle's rate of longitudi-
nal deceleration in a collision, in the first
stage the airbag control unit pre-emptively
triggers the belt tensioners.i
The front belt tensioners can only be trig-
gered if the belt tongue is correctly
engaged in the seat belt buckle.
The front airbags are only deployed if there is
an even higher rate of vehicle deceleration in
a longitudinal direction.
Your vehicle has adaptive, dual stage front
airbags. When the first activation threshold is
reached, the front airbag is filled with enough
propellant gas to reduce the risk of injuries.
The front airbag is only fully inflated if a sec-
ond threshold is reached within a few milli-
seconds, due to the control unit having
detected further deceleration.
Criteria for triggering belt tensioners and
airbags
In the first stage of a collision, the airbag con-
trol unit evaluates the duration and direction
of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in
order to determine whether it is necessary to
trigger the belt tensioner and/or airbag.
The belt tensioner and airbag triggering
thresholds are variable and are adapted to the
rate of deceleration of the vehicle. This proc-
ess is pre-emptive in nature as the airbag
must be deployed during – and not at the end
of – the collision. Safety
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 41 ZDateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Occupant safety
42
i
Airbags are not deployed in all types of
accidents. They are controlled by complex
sensor technology and evaluation logic.
This process is pre-emptive in nature as
airbag deployment must take place during
the impact and must be adapted to provide
calculated, additional protection for the
vehicle occupants. Not all airbags are
deployed in an accident.
The different airbag systems work inde-
pendently of each other. However, the
deployment of each individual system will
depend on the type of accident determined
by the control system in the first stages of
the collision (head-on collision, side impact
and overturn) and the extent of the acci-
dent (in particular, the vehicle's rate of
deceleration or acceleration).
The rate of vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion and the direction of the force are basi-
cally determined by:
R the distribution of forces during the colli-
sion
R the collision angle R
the deformation characteristics of the vehi-
cle
R the characteristics of the object with which
the vehicle has collided, e.g. the other vehi-
cle
Factors which can only be seen and measured
after a collision has occurred do not play a
decisive role in the deployment of an airbag,
nor do they provide an indication of it.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly,
e. g. on the bonnet or the wing, without an
airbag being deployed. This is the case if only
parts which are relatively easily deformed are
affected and the necessary deceleration does
not occur. Conversely, airbags may be
deployed even though the vehicle suffers only
minor deformations. This is the case if, for
example, very rigid vehicle parts such as lon-
gitudinal body members are affected and suf-
ficient deceleration occurs as a result.
Belt tensioners, belt force limiters The front seat belts and the outer seat belts
in the 2nd row are equipped with belt ten-
sioners. The front seat belts are also fitted
with belt buckle tensioners.
!
Do not engage the seat belt tongue in the
buckle on the front-passenger seat if the seat is not occupied. Otherwise the belt
tensioner could be activated in an emer-
gency.
If the seat belt is also equipped with a belt
force limiter, the force exerted by the seat
belt on the seat occupant is reduced.
Belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in an
accident, pulling them close against the body.
i Belt tensioners do not correct incorrect
seat positions or incorrectly fastened seat
belts.
Belt tensioners do not pull occupants back
towards the backrest.
The front belt force limiters are synchronised
with the front airbags, which distribute the
forces exerted by the belt force limiters on
the occupant over a greater area.
The belt tensioners/belt buckle tensioners
are triggered when the ignition is switched
on:
R only if the restraint systems are operational
(the 1 warning lamp lights up after the
ignition is switched on and goes out once
the engine is running)(Y page 41)
R for each three-point seat belt in the front of
the vehicle when the belt tongue is
engaged in the buckle Safety
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 42Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight