2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 keyless

121 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Power tailgate*
In vehicles with power tailgate, you can

open and close the tailgate from the
inside and the outside electrically

limit the opening height of the tailgate

interrupt the opening/closing proce-
dure at any time by

pressing or pulling the
door-mounted remote tailgate
switch (
page 122)

pressing the Šbutton on the
SmartKey (
page 110) or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(
page 113)

pressing the tailgate closing switch
(
page 123)

pressing the tailgate
closing/locking switch (vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO*) (
page 123)Opening the tailgate from the outside
You can unlock and open the tailgate
simultaneously from the outside when the
vehicle is at a standstill.
Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* until the tailgate unlocks
and opens.
While the tailgate is opening, an
acoustic signal sounds.
or
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Pull on the handle (
page 120).
The tailgate is unlocked and opens.
While the tailgate is opening, an acous-
tic signal sounds.Opening the tailgate from the inside
You can unlock and open the tailgate si-
multaneously from the driver’s seat when
the vehicle is at a standstill.
!The tailgate swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
Warning!G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door-mounted remote tailgate switch or
with the Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. Monitor the
opening procedure carefully to make sure
no one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the opening procedure, press or
pull the door-mounted remote tailgate
switch or press the Šbutton on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.

122 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
The switch is located in the driver’s door.
1Remote tailgate switch
Pull remote tailgate switch1 until
tailgate begins to open.
The tailgate opens. While the tailgate is
opening, an acoustic signal sounds.Limiting opening height of tailgate*
In vehicles with power tailgate*, the tail-
gate opening height can be limited when
transporting goods on a roof rack* (e.g.
presence of an MB roof cargo container*).
When activated, the tailgate opens to
approximately 6.6 ft (2.00 m).
Activate the limiting opening height of
tailgate using the control system
(
page 176).
Closing the tailgate from the inside
You can close the tailgate from the inside
using the remote tailgate switch.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high) the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Warning!G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door-mounted switch. Monitor the
closing procedure carefully to make sure no
one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the closing procedure, press or
pull the door-mounted remote tailgate
switch or press the Šbutton on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the remote tailgate switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
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.

123 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Press remote tailgate switch1
(
page 122) until tailgate begins to
close.
The tailgate closes. While the tailgate is
closing an acoustic signal sounds.
To interrupt the closing procedure:
Press or pull remote tailgate switch1
(
page 122).Closing the tailgate from the outside
You can close the tailgate from the outside
using the tailgate closing switch or
theŠbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. In vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO*, you can also simulta-
neously lock the vehicle.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high) the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*
1Tailgate closing switch
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
1Tailgate closing switch
Press tailgate closing switch1 or the
Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* briefly.
The tailgate closes and an acoustic
warning sounds.
Warning!G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,


124 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate and locking the
vehicle from the outside (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with power tailgate and
KEYLESS-GO*, you can close the tailgate
and lock the vehicle simultaneously from
the outside using the KEYLESS-GO*
locking/closing switch.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you.1KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing switch
Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch1 briefly.
The tailgate closes automatically. Once
the tailgate is closed, the vehicle locks
if doors are closed. The turn signals
flash three times to confirm locking.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:

Press tailgate closing switch1
(
page 123).

Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch*1 (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*) (
page 124).

Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
(
page 110) or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (
page 113).

Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
on the driver’s door (
page 122).
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the tailgate closing switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
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.
iDo not place the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the open cargo compartment.
You may lock yourself out.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automatically after
closing it. The turn signals will flash three times
to confirm locking.


125 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Automatic central locking
The doors and the tailgate lock automati-
cally when the ignition is switched on and
the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
For information on towing the vehicle, see
“Towing the vehicle” (
page 499).
You can deactivate the automatic central
locking mode using the control system
(
page 175).
Warning!G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:

Press tailgate closing switch1
(
page 123).

Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch*1 (
page 124).

Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* (
page 113).

Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
on the driver’s door (
page 122).
Even with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the tailgate
closing switch can be operated. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle, 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.
iTo prevent a possible inadvertent lockout,
the tailgate will open automatically if a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* is recognized inside the
vehicle.
iYou can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact exceeds a
preset threshold.
The vehicle automatically locks when the ignition
is switched on and the wheels are turning at
vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h) or more. You could therefore lock
yourself out when the vehicle

is pushed or towed

is on a test stand

126 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
tailgate from inside using the central lock-
ing or unlocking switch. This can be useful,
for example, if you want to lock the vehicle
before starting to drive.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or un-
locked with the central locking or unlock-
ing switch.The switches are located in the drivers
door.
1Central unlocking switch
2Central locking switch
Locking
Press central locking switch2.
If all doors and the tailgate are closed,
the vehicle locks.Unlocking
Press central unlocking switch1.
The vehicle unlocks.
Warning!G
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.
iYou can open a locked door from inside at
any time. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO*, it will
not unlock using the central unlocking switch.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the
central locking switch:

and the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is set to factory settings, the
complete vehicle is unlocked when a front
door is opened from the inside

and the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is set to selective settings,
only the front door opened from the inside is
unlocked
iWith the passenger-side door opened, you
cannot lock the vehicle with the central locking
switch.

136 Controls in detail
Lighting
Low beam headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed once, the
following lamps will switch on:

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position2 or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed twice, the
following lamps will switch on addition-
ally:

Low beam headlamps

High beam headlamps (when the
combination switch is pushed for-
ward)Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch toB when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromUtoB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.

137 Controls in detail
Lighting
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed once, only
the parking lamps and the side marker
lamps will switch on and off depending
on the brightness of the ambient light.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.Daytime running lamp mode
In Canada the daytime running lamp mode
is mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
In the USA the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated by default. Activate the day-
time running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 170).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on
additionally:

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lampsCanada only
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP
with the vehicle at a standstill, the low
beam headlamps will switch off with a
three-minute delay.
When the engine is running, and you

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the low beam head-
lamps, the tail and parking lamps, the
side marker lamps and the license
plate lamps switch on

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode
iCanada only:
High beam headlamps are only available with the
exterior lamp switch in positionB.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, you cannot
switch off the low beam headlamps manually.
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
positionM orU, you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to positionB to permit activation of
the high beam headlamps.