2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 center console

281 Controls in detail
Useful features
Storage compartment in front center
console
Briefly press the front of the cover.
The cover opens automatically.
Briefly press the front of the cover.
The cover opens automatically.Storage/telephone* compartment un-
der front center armrest
1Button to open storage/telephone*
compartment
iDepending on vehicle configuration, the
lower storage compartment contains an ashtray
(
page 285).
iDepending on vehicle configuration your
vehicle may not equipped with an upper storage
compartment.
iThe mobile phone cradle* (page 292), the
Roadside Assistance button• (
page 298)
and the Information button¡ (
page 299)
are located in the storage/telephone* compart-
ment.

284 Controls in detail
Useful features
Cup holders
Cup holder in front of armrest
A cup holder and a card/ticket holder are
located in the front center console.
1Cup holderCup holder in rear armrest
1Cup holder
Pull the armrest down by its top.
Warning!G
In order to help prevent spilling liquids on
vehicle occupants and/or vehicle equip-
ment, only use containers that fit into the
cup holder. Use lids on open containers and
do not fill containers to a height where the
contents, especially hot liquids, could spill
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or an
accident. Liquids spilled on vehicle occu-
pants may cause serious personal injury.
Liquids spilled on vehicle equipment may
cause damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
When not in use, keep rear cup holder
closed. An open cup holder may cause injury
to you or others when contacted during
braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an acci-
dent.
Keep in mind that objects placed in a cup
holder may come loose during braking,
vehicle maneuvers, or an accident and be
thrown around in the vehicle interior.
Objects thrown around in the vehicle interi-
or may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iThe front cup holder can be removed for
cleaning purposes (
page 285).
!Close the cup holder before folding the arm-
rest upwards.

285 Controls in detail
Useful features
Removing and reinstalling cup holder
The front cup holder can be removed for
cleaning purposes.
1Cup holder
2Bridge with card, ticket holder
Hold cup holder at its bridge2 and
pull out bridge in direction of arrow.
Pull cup holder1 out in direction of ar-
row.
First, insert the cup holder1 and then
insert bridge2.
Ashtrays
Depending on vehicle configuration, your
vehicle is equipped with an ashtray and a
cigarette lighter (
page 287) located in
the front center console and an ashtray lo-
cated in front of the rear seats
(
page 286).
Ashtray in the center console
1Ashtray insert
2Cover plateOpening the ashtray
Briefly touch cover plate2.
The ashtray opens automatically.
Removing ashtray insert
Grip the ashtray insert1 on the sides
and pull it out upwards.
Reinstalling ashtray insert
Install ashtray insert1.
Close ashtray cover plate2.
iIf your vehicle is not equipped with an ash-
tray, it has a storage compartment (
page 281)
with a power outlet (
page 288) instead.
Warning!G
Remove ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Set the parking brake to secure vehicle
from movement. Set automatic transmis-
sion toP. With the automatic transmission
set toP, turn off the engine.

286 Controls in detail
Useful features
Rear center console ashtray (front of
rear seats)
1Ashtray
2Ashtray coverOpening rear ashtray
Briefly press ashtray cover2.
The ashtray1 opens automatically.
Removing rear ashtray insert
Grip the insert on the sides and pull it
out upwards.
Reinstalling rear ashtray insert
Install ashtray insert.
Close the ashtray.
Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Push in cigarette lighter.
The cigarette lighter will pop out auto-
matically when hot.
Cigarette lighter
Depending on vehicle configuration your
vehicle is equipped with a cigarette lighter
and an ashtray (
page 285) located in the
front center console and an ashtray locat-
ed in front of the rear seats (
page 286).
!Close the ashtray when not in use and be-
fore folding the rear seats
Warning!G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the cigarette lighter; they are extremely hot.
Hold the knob only.
Make sure that any children traveling with
you do not injure themselves or start a fire
with the hot cigarette lighter.
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. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.

287 Controls in detail
Useful features
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
1Cigarette lighter
Open the ashtray (page 285).
Push in cigarette lighter1.
The cigarette lighter will pop out auto-
matically when hot.
Power outlets!The lighter socket can accommodate
12V DC electrical accessories (up to a maximum
of 180 W) designed for use with the standard
“cigarette lighter” plug type. Keep in mind, how-
ever, that connecting accessories to the lighter
socket (for example extensive connecting and
disconnecting, or using plugs that do not fit prop-
erly) can damage the lighter socket. With the
socket damaged, the lighter may no longer be
able to be placed in the heating (pushed-in) posi-
tion, or the lighter may pop out too early with the
lighter not hot enough.
To help avoid damaging the cigarette lighter
socket, we recommend connecting 12V DC elec-
trical accessories designed for use with the stan-
dard “cigarette lighter” plug type to the 12V
power outlets (
page 287) in your vehicle
whenever possible.
iIf the engine is off, and the cigarette lighter
is being used extensively, the vehicle battery
may become discharged.
!If you use all power outlets in the vehicle,
make sure that the maximum current drawn
does not exceed 55 A.
iThe power outlets can be used to
accommodate 12V DC electrical accessories
(e.g. air pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a maximum
of 240 W.
If the engine is off, the battery may become dis-
charged if used for long periods of time.
iYou can use the power outlets, except for
the power outlet in the front center console,
even if the ignition is switched off.
An emergency shut-off feature ensures that the
vehicle’s electrical voltage does not fall below a
minimum level. If the voltage drops to this mini-
mum level, the power outlets are automatically
switched off. This ensures that enough power re-
mains to start the engine.

288 Controls in detail
Useful features
Power outlets are located

in the front center console
(
page 288)

in the front passenger footwell
(
page 288)

in the rear center console (page 288)

on the right-hand side of the cargo
compartment (
page 289)
Power outlet in front center console
1Power outlet cover
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Open cover plate (page 281).
Pull out cover1 and insert electrical
plug (cigarette lighter type).
Power outlet in front passenger
footwell
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).Power outlet in rear center console
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).
iDepending on vehicle configuration, the
storage compartment contains an ashtray with
cigarette lighter (
page 287) instead.

411 Practical hints
What to do if …
Lamp in center console
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
59The front passenger
front air bag off indica-
tor lamp illuminates
and remains illuminat-
ed with the weight of a
typical adult or some-
one larger than a small
individual on the front
passenger seat.The system is malfunctioning.Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Also read and observe any messages
in the multifunction display and follow
corrective steps (
page 421).
Warning!G
If the59indicator lamp
illuminates and remains illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult or someone larger
than a small individual on the front passen-
ger seat, do not have any passenger use the
front passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.

422 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible
cause/conse-
quencePossible solution
Monitor the 59indicator lamp on the center console (page 83) and
the multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 26) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition turned on,

the 59indicator lamp on the center console should illuminate and
remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 79) has deactivated the air
bag.

the message Front Passenger Airbag Enabled See Operator’s Manual or the
message
Front Passenger Airbag Disabled See Operator’s Manual should not
appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccupied. Wait at
least 60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary check cycles and to
make sure neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again.
Depending on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS (
page 79),
the59indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have the system
checked as soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!G
If the 59indicator lamp
remains out even after performing the above
corrective steps, do not have any children
12 years old and under and other smallindividuals use the front passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.