2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV automatic transmission

Instrument cluster
113
Upshifting !
In manual gearshift program M, the auto-
matic transmission does not shift up auto-
matically even when the limiting speed for
the current gear is reached. When the lim-
iting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut
to prevent the engine from overrevving.
You must make sure that the engine speed
does not reach the red area of the rev coun-
ter. There is otherwise a risk of engine
damage.
If the engine speed reaches the red area, an
upshift indicator will be shown in the display
if the AMG display is switched on. 1
Gear indicator
2 Upshift indicator
X Press the right-hand button on the steering
wheel.
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear. Downshifting G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
X Press the left-hand button on the steering
wheel.
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear. Instrument cluster
Points to remember
You will find an illustration of the instrument
cluster in the "At a glance" section
(Y page 26). G
Risk of accident
If the instrument cluster or the multi-func-
tion display fails, no messages can be dis-
played.
This means that you will not see information
about the driving situation, such as the
speed, outside temperature, warning/indi-
cator lamps, display messages or system
failures. The handling characteristics may
be affected. Adapt your driving style and
speed accordingly.
Immediately consult a qualified specialist
workshop which has the necessary special-
ist knowledge and tools to carry out the
work required. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre for this purpose. In particu-
lar, work relevant to safety or on safety-
related systems must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Cont
rols
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Off-road driving
140
The DSR symbol and a message such as the
following appear in the multi-function display: If the current vehicle speed is too high, the
DSR symbol appears on the multi-function
display with the max. speed 30 km/h mes-
sage.
Deactivating
X Press button 1.
Indicator lamp 2goes out.
The DSR symbol appears in the multi-func-
tion display with the Offmessage
DSR switches off automatically if you drive
faster than 35 km/h. The DSR symbol
appears in the multi-function display with the
Off message. You also hear a warning tone.
Changing the set speed while the vehi-
cle is in motion When DSR is activated, you can change the
set speed to a value between 4 km/h and
18 km/h while the vehicle is in motion. 1
To increase set speed
2 To reduce set speed
X To increase or reduce the set speed by
1 km/h increments: briefly press the
cruise control lever to the pressure point
up 1 for a higher set speed or down 2for
a lower set speed.
The set value appears in the multi-function
display.
X To increase or reduce the set speed in
10 km/h increments: briefly press cruise
control beyond the pressure point up 1for
a higher set speed or down 2for a lower
set speed.
The set value appears in the multi-function
display. Off-road drive program
Only vehicles without the Off-Road Pro engi-
neering package* feature the off-road drive
program.
The off-road drive program assists you in driv-
ing off-road and when fording. The engine's
performance characteristics and the gear-
shifting characteristics of the automatic
transmission are adapted for this purpose.
ABS, ESP ®
and 4 ETS programs especially
adapted to off-road driving are also activated.
Do not use the off-road drive program on
roads that are snowy or icy or if you have fit-
ted your vehicle with snow chains.
ML 63 AMG You can activate and deactivate the off-road
drive program using the on-board computer
(Y
page 126). Controls
* optional
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Off-road driving
141
All models except ML 63 AMG
1
Off-road button
2 Indicator lamp 3
Off-road display
X To activate: press off-road button 1.
Indicator lamp 2lights up. Off-road indi-
cator 3appears in the multi-function dis-
play. X
To activate: press off-road button 1.
Indicator lamp 2and off-road indicator
3 go out. LOW RANGE* off-road gear
Only vehicles equipped with the Off-Road Pro
engineering package* feature the LOW
RANGE off-road gear.
The LOW RANGE off-road gear assists you in
driving off-road and when fording. When LOW
RANGE is engaged, the engine's performance
characteristics and the gearshifting charac-
teristics of the automatic transmission are
adapted for this purpose. ABS, ESP ®
and
4 ETS programs especially adapted to off-
road driving are also activated. You will find
information about driving off-road in the
"Operation" section (Y page 235). You will
find information about driving safety systems
in conjunction with LOW RANGE in the
"Safety" section (Y page 57). Shift ranges HIGH RANGE Road position for all nor-
mal driving situations
LOW RANGE Off-road position for driv-
ing off-road and fording
The gear ratio between the
engine and wheels is only
approximately one third of
that in the HIGH RANGE
road position. The drive
torque is correspondingly
higher as a result.
Do not use LOW RANGE:
R
on slippery road surfa-
ces, e.g. in the case of
slush
R on snow or ice-covered
roads
R if you have snow chains
on your vehicle G
Risk of accident
Always wait for the gear change process
from HIGH RANGE to LOW RANGE – and
from LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE – to Controls
* optional
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Off-road driving
142 complete. Do not turn off the engine while
changing gear and do not switch the auto-
matic transmission to another gear.
If you do not wait for the gear change proc-
ess to complete, it may not be correctly
implemented. The transfer case may then
be in neutral and the connection between
the engine and the drive axles may be dis-
engaged. The vehicle could then move
freely, even if a gear is engaged, and could
inadvertently start moving, particularly if it
is on a slope.
Observe the messages in the multi-function
display. 1
LOW RANGE button
2 Indicator lamp 3
LOW RANGE display
From HIGH RANGE to LOW RANGE
! Only carry out the gear change process if:
R the engine is running
R the automatic transmission is in N
R you are not driving above 40 km/h
X Press LOW RANGE button 1.
Indicator lamp 2flashes. LOW RANGE
indicator 3appears in the multi-function
display.
When the gear change is complete, indica-
tor lamp 2lights up.
While indicator lamp 2is flashing, you can
cancel the gear change by pressing LOW
RANGE button 1again. From LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE
!
Only carry out the gear change process if:
R the engine is running
R the automatic transmission is in N
R you are not driving above 70 km/h
X Press LOW RANGE button 1.
Indicator lamp 2flashes.
If the gear change process has taken place,
indicator lamp 2and LOW RANGE indica-
tor 3in the multi-function display go out.
While indicator lamp 2is flashing, you can
cancel the gear change by pressing LOW
RANGE button 1again.
Messages in the multi-function display
If a gear change process has not been suc-
cessful, the following messages may be dis-
played in the multi-function display:
R Max. speed 40 km/h
You have been driving faster than
40 km/h. Indicator lamp 2also flashes.
X Drive more slowly to carry out the gear
change process.
R Engage N briefly
The automatic transmission is in Dand you
are now driving below 40 km/h. Controls
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Driving sys
tems 147
X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you 3.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The first time cruise control is activated it
stores the current speed or regulates the
speed of the vehicle to the previously
stored speed.
Setting a speed X
Press the cruise control lever to the pres-
sure point, up 1for a higher speed or
down 4for a lower speed.
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed until
the desired speed is reached.
X Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is stored.
i Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. For exam-
ple, if you accelerate briefly to overtake,
cruise control adjusts the vehicle's speed
to the last speed stored after you have fin-
ished overtaking. Making fine adjustments in 1 km/h
increments X
Briefly press the cruise control lever to the
pressure point, up 1for a higher speed or
down 4for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.
Making adjustments in 10 km/h incre-
ments X
Briefly press the cruise control lever
beyond the pressure point, up 1for a
higher speed or down 4for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.
Deactivating cruise control There are several ways to deactivate cruise
control:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards 6.
or
X Brake.
or X
Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow 5.
Variable Speedtronic is selected. LIM indi-
cator lamp 2in the cruise control lever
lights up.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if,
for example:
R you depress the parking brake
R you are driving at less than 30 km/h
R ESP ®
is intervening or you deactivate
ESP ®
.
R you shift the automatic transmission to N
while driving
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear
a warning tone. You will see the Cruise con-
trol Off message in the multi-function dis-
play for approximately five seconds.
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine. Controls
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Driving sys
tems 150
R
when the parking brake is applied
R if ESP ®
is deactivated (Y page 58)
R when the automatic transmission is in posi-
tion P,Ror N
X Accelerate the vehicle to the desired
speed.
X Briefly press the cruise control lever up
1 or down 5to the pressure point.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Distronic is activated. The vehicle main-
tains the stored speed until the distance to
the vehicle in front becomes too small.
i If you do not fully release the accelerator
pedal, the DISTRONIC Override message
appears in the multi-function display. The
distance to a slower-moving vehicle in front
will then not be governed. You will be driv-
ing at the speed you determine with the
accelerator pedal. Setting a speed X
Press the cruise control lever to the pres-
sure point, up 1for a higher speed or
down 5for a lower speed.
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed until
the desired speed is reached.
X Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is stored.
i Deceleration of the vehicle by means of
the cruise control lever is assisted by auto-
matic application of the brakes. On long
downhill gradients, the automatic trans-
mission also shifts down.
Making adjustments in 1 km/h incre-
ments X
Briefly press the cruise control lever to the
pressure point, up 1for a higher speed or
down 5for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced. Making adjustments in 10 km/h incre-
ments X
Briefly press the cruise control lever to the
pressure point, up 1for a higher speed or
down 5for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.
Storing the current speed or calling up
the last stored speed G
Risk of accident
Only select a stored speed if you know what
that speed is and whether it is suitable for
the current situation. Otherwise, sudden
acceleration or braking could endanger you
or others.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you 4.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Distronic is activated and accepts the cur-
rent speed if it is activated for the first time,
or adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last
speed stored. Controls
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Driving sys
tems 153
R
ESP ®
is intervening or you deactivate
ESP ®
.
R you shift the automatic transmission to N
while the vehicle is in motion
If Distronic is deactivated, you will hear a
warning tone. You will see the DISTRONIC
Off message in the multi-function display for
approximately five seconds.
Tips for driving with Distronic The following contains descriptions of certain
road and traffic conditions in which you must
be particularly attentive. In such situations,
brake if necessary. Distronic is then deacti-
vated.
Cornering, entering and exiting a bend The ability of Distronic to detect vehicles
when cornering is limited. Your vehicle may
brake unexpectedly or belatedly.
Vehicles travelling in a different line
Distronic may not detect vehicles travelling
on a different line. The distance to the vehicle
in front will be too short.
Other vehicles changing lane Distronic has not yet detected the vehicle
cutting in. The distance to this vehicle will be
too short.
Narrow vehicles Distronic has not yet detected the vehicle in
front on the edge of the carriageway, because Controls
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Driving sys
tems 164
While the adjustment is taking place, a mes-
sage appears in the multi-function display,
e.g. : If you press the
æorç button on the
multi-function steering wheel, the messages
will disappear.
Once highway level has been reached, all indi-
cator lamps 3go out. You will see a message
in the multi-function display, for example: If you have not previously selected the off-
road menu (Y page 126) in the on-board
computer, the message disappears after
about five seconds.
The vehicle automatically selects highway
level if you are driving at a speed above 115 km/h or if you drive at between
100 km/h and 115 km/h for around 20 sec-
onds. At high speeds, the vehicle is lowered
to high-speed level in accordance with the
ADS basic setting (Y
page 157). Parktronic*
G
Risk of accident
Parktronic is only an aid and may not detect
all obstacles. It is not a substitute for atten-
tive driving.
You are always responsible for safety and
must continue to pay attention to your
immediate surroundings when parking and
manoeuvring. You could otherwise endan-
ger yourself and others. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that no persons or animals are
in the manoeuvring range. Otherwise, they
could be injured.
Parktronic is an electronic parking aid. It indi-
cates visually and audibly the distance
between your vehicle and an object. Parktronic is activated automatically when
you:
R
switch on the ignition
R release the parking brake
R shift the automatic transmission to D,Ror
N
Parktronic is deactivated at speeds above
18 km/h. It is reactivated at lower speeds.
Parktronic monitors the area around your
vehicle using six sensors in the front bumper
and four sensors in the rear bumper. 1
Example: sensors in the front bumper,
left-hand side Controls
* optional
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