2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV Owners Manual

Features
214 Do not place floormats on top of one
another. 1
Press-studs
2 Retainers
X Slide seat backwards.
X To fit: place the floormat in position.
X Press stud 1onto retainer 2.
X To remove: pull floormat off retainers 2.
X Remove the floormat. Infrared reflecting windscreen*
The infrared reflecting glass prevents the
vehicle interior from becoming too hot. It also
blocks radio waves up into the gigahertz
range. 1
Areas transparent to radio waves
In order to operate radio-controlled equip-
ment (e.g. toll recording systems), areas 1
on the windscreen are transparent to radio
waves. You can install radio-controlled sys-
tems here. These areas can best be seen from
outside the vehicle by observing the light
reflected off the windscreen. Retrofitted anti-glare film
Anti-glare film retrofitted to the insides of the
windows could interfere with radio or mobile
phone reception, especially if it is conductive
or metal-coated film. Information about anti-
glare film can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Cont
rols
* optional
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215
Running-in notes
............................... 216
Refuelling ........................................... 216
Engine compartment ........................219
Tyres and wheels .............................. 224
Winter driving ................................... 231
Driving tips ........................................ 232
Off-road driving ................................. 235
Driving abroad ................................... 240
Trailer towing* .................................. 241
Service ............................................... 246
Care .................................................... 247 Operation
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Refuelling
216 Running-in notes
The first 1,500 km
If you treat the engine with sufficient care
from the very start, you will be rewarded with
excellent performance for the remainder of
the engine's life.
R You should therefore drive at varying road
and engine speeds for the first 1,500 km.
R Avoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throt-
tle, during this time. Do not exceed 2
/ 3 of
the maximum permissible engine speed for
each gear.
R Change gear in good time.
R Do not shift down a gear manually in order
to brake.
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the pressure point (kick-
down).
R Only use ranges 3,2or 1for slow driving,
e.g. in mountainous terrain.
After 1,500 km you may gradually bring the
vehicle up to full road and engine speeds. Additional driving tips for AMG vehicles:
R
Do not drive faster than 140 km/h for the
first 1,500 km.
R Only bring the engine up to a maximum
speed of 4,500 rpm for a brief period.
R It is advisable to select drive program Cfor
comfort mode.
i You should also observe these notes if the
engine or rear axle transmission on your
vehicle has been replaced. Refuelling
Refuelling
G
Risk of explosion
Fuel is highly flammable. Fire, naked flames
and smoking are therefore prohibited when
handling fuels.
Switch off the engine and the auxiliary heat-
ing* before refuelling. G
Risk of injury
Avoid any contact with fuels.
You can damage your health if your skin
comes into direct contact with fuel or if you
inhale fuel vapours. G
Risk of fire
Do not use petrol to refuel vehicles with a
diesel engine. Never mix diesel with petrol.
This causes damage to the fuel system and
engine and could result in the vehicle catch-
ing fire.
! Do not use petrol to refuel vehicles with a
diesel engine. Do not use diesel to refuel
vehicles with a petrol engine. Even a small
quantity of the wrong fuel will damage the
injection system. Damage resulting from Operation
* optional
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Refuelling
217
adding the wrong fuel is not covered by the
warranty.
! Do not start the engine if you accidentally
refuel with the wrong fuel. Otherwise, the
fuel could enter the fuel lines. This would
require draining of the fuel tank and fuel
lines. Notify a qualified specialist workshop
and have the fuel tank and fuel lines
drained completely.
When you open or close the vehicle with the
key or KEYLESS GO*, the fuel filler flap is
automatically unlocked or locked.
The fuel filler flap is to the rear on the right. 1
To open the fuel filler flap
2 To insert the fuel cap
3 Fuel type
4 Tyre pressure table X
To open: press the fuel filler flap in the
direction of arrow 1.
The fuel filler flap opens slightly.
X Open the fuel filler flap.
X Turn the fuel filler cap to the left and
remove it.
X Insert the fuel filler cap into the holder
bracket on the inside of filler flap 2.
X Only fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off.
! Overfilling the tank could damage the fuel
system.
X To close: replace the fuel filler cap and turn
it clockwise. The fuel filler cap audibly
engages.
X Close the fuel filler flap.
i Vehicles with a diesel engine:
If the tank has been run completely dry, it
will be necessary to bleed the fuel system
(Y page 296). Petrol (EN 228)
! Refuel using only unleaded premium
grade petrol with a minimum octane num-
ber of 95 RON/85 MON conforming to
European standard EN 228.
You could otherwise impair engine output
or damage the engine.
You will find further information about pet-
rol under "Fuel" in the index.
i As a temporary measure, but only when
the recommended fuel is not available, you
may also use regular unleaded petrol,
91 RON/82.5 MON. This may reduce per-
formance and increase petrol consump-
tion. Avoid driving at full throttle.
In some countries, the available petrol qual-
ity may not be sufficient and could cause
coking around the inlet valve. In such
cases, and in consultation with a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, the petrol
may be mixed with the additive recommen-
ded by Mercedes-Benz (part no.
A000989254510). You must observe the
notes and mixing ratios given on the con-
tainer. Operation
* optional
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Refuelling
218
ML 63 AMG !
Refuel using only super unleaded petrol
with a minimum octane number of
98 RON/88 MON conforming to European
standard EN 228.
You could otherwise impair engine output
or damage the engine.
You will find further information about pet-
rol under "Fuel" in the index.
i If the recommended fuel is not available
and only as a temporary measure, you may
also use premium unleaded petrol,
95 RON/85 MON. This may reduce per-
formance and increase petrol consump-
tion. You must avoid driving at full throttle.
! In emergencies, and only when the rec-
ommended fuel is not available, you may
also use standard unleaded petrol,
91 RON/82.5 MON. However, using this
fuel results in considerably higher petrol
consumption and significantly reduced per-
formance. Avoid driving at full throttle, and
only drive in drive program C.
If no fuel other than regular petrol fuel 91
RON/82.5 MON or a lower grade is per-
manently available, you should have the vehicle adapted to run on this fuel by the
local after-sales service. Diesel (EN 590)
! Only use diesel that complies with the
EN 590 European standard.
You could otherwise impair engine output
or damage the engine.
You will find further information about die-
sel under "Fuel" in the index.
! When refuelling vehicles with a diesel par-
ticle filter in countries outside the EU, only
low-sulphur Euro diesel with less than
0.005 percent sulphur content by weight
should be used. In countries in which diesel
with a higher sulphur content is available
(e.g. 0.035 percent by weight), the engine
oil should be renewed at more frequent
intervals. More information about intervals
for changing the engine oil can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
! Using fuel that does not comply with EN
590 can increase wear and damage the
engine and the exhaust system. Do not use the following:
R
marine diesel
R heating oil
R bio-diesel
R vegetable oil
R petrol
R paraffin
R kerosene
Do not add such fuels to diesel fuel and do
not use any special additives (exception:
flow improvers – see "Low outside temper-
atures").
Damage caused by the use of unapproved
fuels or additives is not covered by the war-
ranty.
Low outside temperatures The flow properties of diesel may be insuffi-
cient at low ambient temperatures.
To prevent operating problems, diesel fuel
with improved cold flow qualities is available
during the winter months. Your vehicle must
be refuelled with this winter diesel at temper-
atures of -5 °C or below.
You can use this winter diesel at tempera-
tures down to about -20 °C without problems.Operation
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Engine compartment
219
If only summer diesel fuel or less cold-resist-
ant winter diesel fuel (e.g. in Mediterranean
regions) is available, you should add an
amount of flow improver to the fuel corre-
sponding to the outside temperature.
Mix the additive with the diesel in good time,
before the flow properties of the diesel
become insufficient. Otherwise, malfunctions
can only be rectified by heating the entire fuel
system, e.g. by parking the vehicle in a heated
garage. G
Risk of fire
Do not use petrol to refuel vehicles with a
diesel engine. Never mix diesel with petrol.
This would damage the fuel system and
engine and could result in a vehicle fire.
Flow improver
The effectiveness of a flow improver is not
guaranteed with every fuel. Observe the infor-
mation provided by the manufacturer when
using a flow improver. Only use flow improv-
ers that have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Information about flow
improvers that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Engine compartment
Bonnet
G
Risk of accident
Do not pull the release lever while the vehi-
cle is in motion. If you do so, the bonnet
may open up and block your view.
Opening G
Risk of injury
There is a risk of injury if the bonnet is open,
even if the engine is not running.
Some engine components can become
very hot.
To avoid the risk of burns, only touch those
components described in the Owner’s Man-
ual and observe the relevant safety notes. G
Risk of injury
The radiator fan between the radiator and
the engine can start automatically, even if
the key has been removed from the ignition
lock. For this reason you must not reach
into the turning area of the fan. You can
otherwise be injured. Vehicles with a petrol engine:
The electronic ignition system uses high
voltage. For this reason, you must never
touch components of the ignition system
(ignition coil, ignition cable, spark plug con-
nector or test socket) when:
R the engine is running
R the engine is being started
R the ignition is switched on and the engine
is being cranked by hand
Vehicles with a diesel engine:
The electronic injection control uses high
voltage. Therefore, never touch fuel injec-
tion system components when:
R the engine is running
R the engine is being started
R the ignition is switched on
X Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off. G
Risk of injury
The windscreen wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion.
When the bonnet is open, you or others
could be injured by the wiper rods. Operation
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Engine compartment
220 Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off and that the key has been
pulled out of the ignition lock before open-
ing the bonnet.
The bonnet release lever is located in the
driver's footwell. 1
Bonnet release lever
X Pull bonnet release lever 1.
The bonnet is released.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers
are not folded out away from the wind-
screen. You can otherwise damage the
windscreen wipers or the bonnet. The handle for opening the bonnet is located
above the radiator grille.
2
Bonnet catch handle
X Reach into the gap, pull bonnet catch han-
dle 2up and lift the bonnet.
Closing G
Risk of injury
Make sure that nobody can become trap-
ped as you close the bonnet.
X Lower the bonnet and let it fall from a
height of approximately 20 cm.
X Check that the bonnet has engaged prop-
erly. i
If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is
not properly engaged. Open it again and
close it with a little more force. Engine oil
Depending on driving style, the vehicle con-
sumes a maximum of 0.8 l oil per 1,000 km.
The oil consumption may be higher than this
when the vehicle is new or if you frequently
drive at high engine speeds. You can only
estimate the oil consumption after you have
driven a considerable distance.
You will find further information about engine
oil in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 369).
Checking the engine oil level To do so:
R
the vehicle should be parked on level
ground.
R the engine should be switched off for at
least five minutes if the engine was at nor-
mal operating temperature.
R the engine should be switched off for at
least 30 minutes if the engine was not at Operation
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Engine compartment
221
operating temperature (i.e. if you only star-
ted the engine briefly).
Via the on-board computer*
i Only possible on the ML 420 CDI. On all
other models a dipstick is used to check
the engine oil level (Y page 222).
X Make sure that the key is in position
2(Y page 75) in the ignition lock.
X Press the jork button to select the
following message: The measurement takes a few seconds. You
will see one of the following messages in the
display:
R
Engine oil level OK
R Add 1.0 litre to reach maximum oil
level R
Add 1.5 litres to reach maximum oil
level
R Add 2.0 litres to reach maximum oil
level
X Top up the oil if necessary ( Ypage 222).
Other messages in the multi-function dis-
play
If the engine is at normal operating tempera-
ture and there is too much oil, you will see the
following message:
Eng. oil level
Reduce oil level
X Have excess oil siphoned off.
! There is a risk of damage to the engine or
the catalytic converter if there is excess oil
in the engine.
If the Switch ignition on to check
engine oil level message appears:
X Turn the key to position 2(Y page 75) in
the ignition lock.
You will see the following message if you did
not observe the required waiting period:
Observe waiting period X
Repeat the measurement after about five
minutes if the engine is at normal operating
temperature.
X Repeat the measurement after about
30 minutes if the engine is not at normal
operating temperature (if the engine was
only started briefly).
The following message appears if the engine
is running:
Engine oil level Not when engine on
X Switch off the engine and wait for five
minutes if the engine is at normal operating
temperature, or for about 30 minutes if the
engine is not at normal operating temper-
ature (if the engine was only started
briefly), before measuring.
i If you wish to cancel the measurement,
press the korj button on the multi-
function steering wheel. Operation
* optional
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