2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV towing

Loading and stowing
201
Telescopic rod
1
Telescopic rod
2 Mounting element
i The telescopic rod can be used to secure
the load against the rear seats to prevent it
from moving around.
X Insert one mounting element 2into each
loading rail.
X Turn mounting elements 2in the loading
rail to N.
X Insert telescopic rod 1into mounting ele-
ments 2.
X Turn mounting element 2to‹ until
you feel it clearly engage in loading rail. Stowage compartments
G
Risk of injury
The stowage compartments must be closed
when items are stored in them. Luggage
nets are not designed to secure heavy
items of luggage.
You or other vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if
you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
Sharp-edged and fragile objects must not
be placed in the luggage net.
i You will find an overview of the stowage
compartments on (Y page 36).
Glove compartment i
Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
there is an AUX-IN connection installed in
the glove compartment, or a Media Inter-
face*, which is a universal interface for
portable audio equipment, e.g. for an iPod
or USB device. 1
Handle
2 Cover
The glove compartment can be locked and
unlocked using the emergency key element
(Y page 308).
X To open: pull handle 1in the direction of
the arrow and fold down cover 2.
X To close: fold cover 2upwards until it
engages. Controls
* optional
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Loading and stowing
202
Stowage compartment in the centre
console* 1
Stowage compartment
2 Marking
X To open: briefly press marking 2.
X To close: push stowage compartment 1
in the direction of the arrow until it
engages. Stowage compartment under the arm-
rest 1
Handle
X To open: pull handle 1and fold the arm-
rest upwards. Stowage compartment in the rear
centre console X
To open: press lightly on the top of the
stowage compartment.
The stowage compartment moves out auto-
matically. Controls
* 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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Tyres and wheels
228
R
you adopt a very sporty driving style (cor-
nering at high speeds or driving with high
rates of acceleration)
R you are towing a very heavy or large trailer
R you are driving with a heavy load (in the
vehicle or on the roof)
Restarting the tyre pressure loss warn-
ing system Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system
if you have:
R changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
X Before restarting, consult the table of tyre
pressures on the inside of the fuel filler flap
to ensure that the tyre pressure in all four
tyres is set correctly for the operating con-
ditions concerned.
X Also observe the notes in the section on
tyre pressures (Y page 226). G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure loss warning system can
only give reliable warnings if you have set
the correct tyre pressure. If an incorrect tyre pressure is set, these
incorrect values will be monitored.
A tyre with insufficient pressure results in
vehicle instability when driving, thus
increasing the risk of an accident.
X Make sure that the key is in position
2(Y page 75) in the ignition lock.
The standard display appears in the multi-
function display (Y page 117).
X Press korj to select the tyre pres-
sure function:
Run Flat Indicator active
Menu: R-Buttonæ
X Press the reset button on the left of the
instrument cluster.
The following message appears in the
multi-function display:
Restart Run Flat Indicator?
Yes Cancel
If you wish to confirm the restart:
X Press the æbutton.
The following message appears in the
multi-function display:
Run Flat Indicator restarted
After a teach-in period, the tyre pressure
loss warning system will monitor the set
tyre pressures of all four tyres. If you wish to cancel the restart:
X
Press the çbutton.
or
X Wait until the message
Restart Run Flat Indicator?
Yes Cancel disappears.
The tyre pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored. Checking the tyre pressure electroni-
cally*
The tyre pressure monitor only functions if
the correct wheel electronics are fitted to all
wheels. These monitor the pressure in all four
tyres, which you have set when restarting the
tyre pressure monitor. The monitor warns you
when the pressure drops in one or more of
the tyres. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure monitor does not warn
you of an incorrectly set tyre pressure. The
table on the inside of the fuel filler flap will
help you decide whether the tyre pressures
should be corrected.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to
warn you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. Operation
* optional
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Driving
tips 233
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must select shift range
1,2or 3in good
time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, Speedtronic or Distronic*.
This uses the braking effect of the engine and
you will not have to brake to such an extent
to maintain the same speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking,
depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously.
Heavy and light loads If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet roads If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes, when brak-
ing for the first time. You must brake harder.
You must therefore maintain a greater dis-
tance from the vehicle in front.
Brake firmly after driving on a wet road. This
way the brake discs will become warm, drying
more quickly, which will protect them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salted
roads
G
Risk of accident
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in
the braking effect, resulting in a signifi- cantly longer braking distance, which could
lead to an accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R
occasionally brake carefully, without put-
ting other road users at risk, when you
are driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are
removed from the brake disc.
New brake pads/linings For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to your vehicle that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which corre-
spond to an equivalent quality standard.
Brake pads/linings which have not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your vehi-
cle's operating safety. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
241country in which traffic drives on the same
side of the road as in the country in which
your vehicle was registered. You may oth-
erwise dazzle the oncoming traffic and
could cause an accident.
Trailer towing*
Folding out the ball coupling
Before you can tow a trailer with your vehicle,
you must fit the ball coupling.
The telescopic lever is under the boot/lug-
gage compartment mat on the left-hand side. 1
Telescopic lever
2 Indicator lamp G
Risk of accident
Make sure that the ball coupling is fully
engaged both when it is folded in and when
it is folded out. The indicator lamp is not lit.
Do not pull the telescopic lever if a trailer
is attached. The trailer could otherwise
come loose. X
Pull telescopic lever 1out forwards.
X Pull telescopic lever 1upwards.
The ball coupling disengages and folds out
from under the rear bumper.
Indicator lamp 2flashes. The trailer power
socket folds away automatically.
X Guide telescopic lever 1back again. X
Press the ball coupling in the direction of
the arrow by hand until it engages in a ver-
tical position.
Indicator lamp 2goes out.
The Trailer tow hitch Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
242Check locking mech.
message is shown
in the multi-function display until the ball
coupling is engaged.
X Remove the protective cap from the ball
coupling. Coupling up and uncoupling a trailer
Coupling up a trailer Steel-spring vehicles
X
Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package* G
Risk of injury
Never lock, unlock, open or close a vehicle
door or tailgate when coupling up or decou-
pling a trailer. The vehicle level could
change and you could endanger yourself or
others. Never press the ADS button* or operate the
level control* while you are coupling up or
decoupling a trailer.
X Make sure the DIRECT SELECT selector
lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Set the vehicle to highway level
(Y page 159).
X Set the adaptive damping system (ADS)
setting to AUTOorCOMF (Ypage 157).
X Switch off the engine.
X Close the doors and tailgate.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
i If you have coupled a trailer, the vehicle
will remain at highway level.
The vehicle automatically lowers to high-
way level if you drive faster than 8 km/h
with a trailer. The vehicle is not lowered to
the high-speed level even if you are travel-
ling at higher speeds. This also applies when using accessories
that are plugged into the socket of the
trailer coupling (e.g. a bicycle rack).
Decoupling a trailer G
Risk of injury
Do not connect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your hand could
become trapped between the bumper and
drawbar.
! Do not uncouple a trailer with overrun
brake between the bumper and drawbar,
otherwise your vehicle could be damaged
by the spring action of the overrun brake.
Steel-spring vehicles
X Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Secure the trailer against rolling away.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package*
X Make sure the DIRECT SELECT selector
lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Start the engine. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
243
X
Close the doors and tailgate.
X Secure the trailer against rolling away. G
Risk of injury
The vehicle is lowered as soon as you dis-
connect the trailer cable. Make sure that
nobody is in the vicinity of the wheel arch
or the underbody. You could otherwise trap
yourself or others.
As soon as you decouple the trailer, the
unladen vehicle rises slightly. Make sure
that you or others are not injured in the
process.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
X Switch off the engine. Notes on towing a trailer
G
Risk of accident
When reversing the vehicle towards the
trailer, make sure there is nobody between
the trailer and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R The permitted trailer drawbar nose-
weight
R The permitted trailer load
R The permitted rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R The maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
You will find the applicable permissible val-
ues which must not be exceeded in the
vehicle documents.
You will find the values approved by the
manufacturer on the vehicle identification
plates and those for the towing vehicle in
the "Technical data" section. You will find installation dimensions and loads
in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 365).
The maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight on the ball coupling is 140 kg.
However, the actual noseweight must not
exceed the value given on the trailer coupling
and trailer identification plates. The lowest
weight applies.
! Use a noseweight as close as possible to
the maximum permissible noseweight. Do
not use a noseweight of less than 50 kg,
otherwise the trailer may come loose.
Bear in mind that the payload and the rear
axle load are reduced by the actual nose-
weight.
i On vehicles without level control, the
height of the ball coupling will alter accord-
ing to the load placed on the vehicle. In this
case, you should use a trailer with a height-
adjustable drawbar.
Driving tips i
Observe the notes on ESP ®
trailer stabi-
lisation (Y page 59).
In Germany, the maximum permitted speed
for vehicle/trailer combinations is 80 km/h. Operation
* optional
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