2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 ECU

171 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated,
the exterior lamp switch in positionU
(
page 135) and the interior lighting in au-
tomatic mode (
page 143), the following
lamps will switch on during darkness when
the vehicle is unlocked using buttonŒ
on the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO:

Parking lamps

Tail lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps

Front fog lamps*
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after
approximately 40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Surround Lighting
Function
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the locator lighting function
On orOff.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle.
The locator lighting feature is
activated.Setting night security illumination
(Headlamps delayed shut-off)
Use this function to set whether you would
like the exterior lamps to remain on for
15 seconds during darkness after exiting
the vehicle and closing all doors.
With the headlamps delayed shut-off
feature activated and the exterior lamp
switch in positionU before the engine
is turned off, the following lamps will
switch on when the engine is turned off:

Parking lamps

Tail lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps

Front fog lamps
If after turning off the engine you do not
open a door or do not close an opened
door, the lamps will automatically switch
off after 60 seconds.

187 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Transmission positions
The current transmission position appears
in the multifunction display.
1Current transmission position
!If the current transmission position does not
appear in the multifunction display due to a
malfunction, for example, make sure that the
automatic transmission is in the desired position
by carefully driving off with the transmission in
drive positionD.
ML 63 AMG:
Select program modeC (
page 194).
Do not limit the gear range.
Effect
ìPark position
Shift into park positionP only
when vehicle is stopped. The
park position is not intended to
serve as a brake when the vehi-
cle is parked. Rather, the driver
should always set the parking
brake in addition to shifting into
park positionP to secure the
vehicle.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the automatic
transmission could remain
locked in park positionP.
Have the vehicle checked as
soon as possible by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
!SmartKey:
If you turn off the engine using the SmartKey and

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or

open a front door
the transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically.
Keep in mind that turning off the engine with the
SmartKey alone only will automatically shift the
transmission to neutral positionN.
!KEYLESS-GO*:
If you turn off the engine using the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button and open a front door, the
transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically.
Keep in mind that turning off the engine using
the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button alone only
will automatically shift the transmission to
neutral positionN.

266 Controls in detail
Loading
Carriers*
Roof rails
For further information, contact your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Loading instructions
Warning!G
Only use carriers* when the basic carrier
bars* have been completely mounted. The
left and right roof rails are only stabilized by
means of the basic carrier bars* mounted.
Follow the manufacturer’s installation
instructions. Otherwise, an improperly at-
tached carrier system or its load could be-
come detached from the vehicle.
Do not exceed the maximum roof load of
220 lb (100 kg).
Take into consideration that when the roof is
loaded, the handling characteristics are dif-
ferent from those when operating the vehi-
cles without a roof loaded.
!Load the carriers* in such a way that the
vehicle cannot be damaged while driving.
Make sure

the tailgate can be completely opened

the tilt/sliding sunroof can be completely
raised at the rear
Warning!G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible using cargo tie-down rings and
fastening materials appropriate for the
weight and size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, always use tie
down rings, and if so equipped, always use
the cargo net* when transporting cargo.
Never drive vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.

267 Controls in detail
Loading
Load distribution
The gross vehicle weight which is the
weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools,
spare wheel, installed accessories, pas-
sengers and luggage/cargo must never
exceed the load limit and Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) for your vehicle as
specified on the placard located on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 510). In addi-
tion, the load must be distributed in such a
way so that the weight on each axle never
exceeds the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for the front and rear axle. The
GVWR and GAWR for your vehicle are indi-cated on the certification label which can
be found on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 510).
For more information, see “Tire and Load-
ing Information” (
page 352).
The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
Please pay attention to and comply with
the following instructions when loading the
vehicle and transporting cargo:

Always place items being carried
against front or rear seat backrests,
and fasten them as securely as possi-
ble.

The heaviest portion of the cargo
should always be kept as low as possi-
ble against front or rear seat backrests.For additional safety when transporting
cargo while the rear seats are unoccupied,
fasten the outer seat belts crosswise into
the opposite side buckles.
iThe cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects. The expanded cargo com-
partment (
page 269) should only be used for
items which do not fit in the cargo compartment
alone.

268 Controls in detail
Loading
Cargo tie-down rings
Your vehicle is equipped with six cargo
tie-down rings.
Carefully secure cargo by applying even
load on all rings with rope of sufficient
strength to hold down the cargo.Cargo compartment
Four cargo tie-down rings are located in
the cargo compartment.
1Cargo tie-down ringBehind front seats
Two cargo tie-down rings are located in the
footwell behind the driver’s and passenger
seat.
1Cargo tie-down ring
iWhile the cargo net* (page 272) will help
protect you from smaller objects, it cannot pre-
vent the movement of large, heavier objects into
the passenger compartment in an accident, dur-
ing hard braking or sudden maneuvers. Such
items must be properly secured using the cargo
tie-down rings in the cargo compartment floor.

269 Controls in detail
Loading
Hooks
Four hooks are located on the rear com-
partment trim panels, two on each side.
1Hook
Use the hooks to secure light weight items
only. The maximum permissible weight per
hook is 9lb(4kg).Expanding cargo compartment
You can separately fold the left and right
rear seat backrests to expand the cargo
compartment.
Folding the rear seat backrest forward
Warning!G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fully fold the corresponding seats
and, if so equipped, always use the
cargo net* (
page 272) when transporting
cargo.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause
injury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
Always use the cargo tie down rings
(
page 268).
Warning!G
Never drive the vehicle with the tailgate
open. Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases
may enter vehicle interior resulting in un-
consciousness and death.
!Always release the seat cushion and fold it
up before folding the seat backrest forward. The
covering on the seat backrest may otherwise be
damaged.
When the seat backrest are folded forward, the
front seats may not be moved to the rearmost
position. Otherwise you could damage the front
and second-row seats.


271 Controls in detail
Loading
Returning the rear seat backrest to
original position
1Seat backrest
2Seat cushion
Fold seat backrest1 rearward until it
engages.
The red indicator5 (
page 270)
should no longer be visible.
Fold seat cushion2 rearward until it
locks into position.
Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the seat backrest.
Cargo compartment cover blind
The cargo compartment cover blind can be
installed behind the rear seats.1Handle
2Mount
Rolling out blind
Pull blind on handle1 across the car-
go compartment.
Guide blind into mounts2 and re-
lease.
Rolling up blind
Disengage blind and guide retraction
by its handle1.
Warning!G
If a red indicator is visible with the backrest
up, then the backrest is not properly locked
into position.
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when the rear seats are occupied, or the ex-
tended cargo compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.
!With the cargo compartment cover blind in-
stalled, do not pile luggage higher than the lower
edges of the rear side windows.

272 Controls in detail
Loading
Installing blind
Place left side of blind2 in left mount.
Position right side of blind2 over right
mount.
Press release button1 and guide
cover2 into mount.
Make sure the cargo compartment
cover blind is securely fastened.Removing blind
1Release button
2Blind
Roll the blind up (page 271).
Push release button1.
Pull blind2 to the left against the
spring pressure until the spring in the
cover audibly engages.
Remove the blind.
Cargo net*
iBefore installing cargo compartment cover
blind behind the front seats, fold the rear seats
forward.
iBefore removing cargo compartment cover
blind behind the rear seats, fold the left or right
rear seat forward. Afterwards, return the left or
right rear seat into its original position.
Warning!G
Make sure the cargo net is properly engaged
at top and bottom position and the tighten-
ing belts are securely fastened.
Never use a damaged cargo net.
To help avoid personal injury from smaller
objects being thrown around in the occu-
pant compartment during a collision or sud-
den maneuver, always use cargo net when
transporting cargo.
The cargo net cannot prevent the movement
of large, heavier objects into the passenger
compartment in an accident. Such items
must be properly secured using the cargo
tie-down rings (
page 268) in the cargo
compartment floor.
Passenger use of seats behind installed
cargo net is restricted because of the
footwell being taken up by the net.