2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Jack

451 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Screw-type vehicle jack
Storage position
Turn crank handle in the direction of
arrow as far as it will go.
Operational position
Turn crank handle clockwise.Before storing the vehicle jack in its
storage compartment:

The vehicle jack should be fully
collapsed.

The handle must be folded in (storage
position).
Scissors-type vehicle jack
Storage position
Take the reversible ratchet out of the
vehicle tool kit.
Operational position
1Scissors-type vehicle jack
2Reversible ratchet
Attach reversible ratchet2 to vehicle
jack in such a way that the wordUP
can be seen.
Before storing the vehicle jack in its stor-
age compartment:

It should be fully collapsed (storage
position).

The ratchet must be removed.

479 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the spare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(
page 478).
Vehicles with Minispare wheel:
Take the Minispare wheel out of the
cargo compartment (
page 453).
Take the wheel wrench, the collapsible
wheel chock, and the vehicle jack out
of the cargo compartment
(
page 448).
Vehicles with collapsible tire
(ML 63 AMG only):
Take the collapsible tire, wheel wrench,
wheel bolts, jack, and electric air pump
out of the cargo compartment
(
page 454).Lifting the vehicle
iVehicles with collapsible tire (ML 63 AMG
only):
You can use the power outlets, except for the
power outlet in the front center console, to
operate the electric air pump even when the
ignition is switched off, e.g. in order to inflate the
collapsible emergency spare tire (
page 485).
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.
!Depending on vehicle production date your
vehicle may be equipped with a scissors-type
jack (located under the cargo compartment
floor). If so equipped, only use this jack when
jacking up the vehicle as otherwise the vehicle’s
underbody can be damaged. See separate
instructions for scissors-type jack.
Warning!G
When jacking up the vehicle, only use the
jack which has been specifically approved
by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. Make
sure the jack arm is fully seated in the jack
take-up bracket.
The jack is intended only for lifting the
vehicle briefly for wheel changes. It is not
suited for performing maintenance work
under the vehicle. To help avoid personal in-
jury, use the jack only to lift the vehicle dur-
ing a wheel change.
Never get beneath the vehicle while it is sup-
ported by the jack. Keep hands and feet
away from the area under the lifted vehicle.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.


480 Practical hints
Flat tire
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
or other sizeable objects.One collapsible wheel chock is includ-
ed with the vehicle tool kit
(
page 448). For information on set-
ting up the collapsible wheel chock,
see (
page 452).
Changing wheel on a level surface
Changing rear wheel on passenger side
(Example illustration)
Place the wheel chock in front of and
another sizeable object behind the
wheel that is diagonally opposite to the
wheel being changed.
Changing wheel on a slight decline
Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack
on a level surface. However, should
circumstances require you to do so on a
slight decline, place the wheel chock and
another sizeable object as follows:
Changing wheel on passenger side
(Example illustration)
Always firmly set parking brake and block
wheels with wheel chocks or other sizeable
objects before raising vehicle with jack. Do
not disengage parking brake while the vehi-
cle is raised.
Make sure that the ground on which the ve-
hicle is standing and where you place the
jack is solid, level and not slippery. If neces-
sary, use a large underlay. On slippery sur-
faces, such as tiled floors, you should use a
non-slip underlay, for example a rubber mat.
Do not use wooden blocks or similar objects
to support the jack. Otherwise the jack may
not be able to achieve its load-bearing ca-
pacity if it is not at its full height.
Never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
Also observe the notes on the jack.
Warning!G
Only jack up the vehicle on level ground or
on slight inclines/declines. Otherwise, the
vehicle could fall off the jack and injure you
or others.


481 Practical hints
Flat tire
Place wheel chock (or another sizeable
object) in front of both wheels on the
side opposite to the side on which the
wheel is to be changed.
Changing wheel on a slight incline
Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack
on a level surface. However, should
circumstances require you to do so on a
slight incline, place the wheel chock and
another sizeable object as follows:
Changing wheel on passenger side
(Example illustration)
Place wheel chock (or another sizeable
object) behind both wheels on the side
opposite to the side on which the wheel
is to be changed.
1Wheel wrench
On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with wheel
wrench1).The jack take-up brackets are located
directly behind the front wheel housings
and in front of the rear wheel housings as
indicated by the arrows.

482 Practical hints
Flat tire
Depending on production date, your vehi-
cle may be equipped with either a
screw-type vehicle jack or a scissors-type
jack, see “Vehicle jack” (
page 450).
Screw-type jack
2Take-up bracket
3Jack
4Crank
Scissors-type jack
2Take-up bracket
3Jack
4Ratchet
Vehicles with scissors-type jack:
Attach reversible ratchet4 to vehicle
jack in such a way that the wordUP
can be seen.
Place jack3 on firm ground.
Position jack3 under the take-up
bracket2 so that it is always vertical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side,
even if the vehicle is parked on an
incline.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for
jacking up the vehicle at the jack take-up
brackets. Make sure the jack arm is fully
seated in the jack take-up bracket.
If you do not position the jack correctly in
the jack take-up bracket, the vehicle can:

fall off the jack

seriously or fatally injure you or others
!Do not position the jack on the body of the
vehicle, as this may cause damage to the
vehicle.
!Depending on vehicle production date your
vehicle may be equipped with a scissors-type
jack (located under the cargo compartment
floor). If so equipped, only use this jack when
jacking up the vehicle as otherwise the vehicle’s
underbody can be damaged. See separate
instructions for scissors-type jack.

483 Practical hints
Flat tire
Screw-type jack (example illustration)
Scissors-type jack (example illustration)
Vehicles with screw-type jack: Turn
crank4 clockwise until jack3 is fully
seated in take-up bracket2 and the
jack base evenly meets the ground.
Vehicles with scissors-type jack:
Turn ratchet4 up and down until
jack3 is fully seated in take-up
bracket2 and the jack base evenly
meets the ground.
Continue to turn crank/ratchet4
until the wheel is a maximum of 1.2 in
(3 cm) from the ground.Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt
Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and
remove it.
Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied with the tool kit
(
page 448).
Remove the remaining wheel bolts.
Remove the wheel.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolts and wheel
hub threads.

484 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the new wheel
1Wheel bolt for 18", 19" and 20" light
alloy wheels and collapsible tire (AMG
vehicles)
2Wheel bolt for 17" light alloy wheels or
Minispare wheel (located in vehicle tool
kit (
page 448))
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
Guide spare wheel onto the alignment
bolt and push it on the wheel hub.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when mount-
ing 17" light alloy rims or the Minispare wheel.
The use of any wheel bolts other than wheel
bolts2 for 17" light alloy rims or the Minispare
wheel will damage the vehicle’s brakes.
!To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat
against hub and hold it there while installing first
wheel bolt.
Warning!G
Always replace wheel bolts that are
damaged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident.
Make sure to use the correct wheel bolts.
Warning!G
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts. Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the
vehicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle
could fall off the jack.

487 Practical hints
Flat tire
Lowering the vehicle
Vehicles with scissors-type jack:
Attach ratchet to vehicle jack in such a
way that the wordDOWN can be seen.
Lower the vehicle until its resting fully
on its own weight.
Vehicles with screw-type jack:
Turn crank counterclockwise.
Vehicles with scissors-type jack:
Turn ratchet in Direction of DOWN.
Remove the jack.1-5Wheel bolts
Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly, fol-
lowing the diagonal sequence illustrat-
ed (1 to 5), until all bolts are tight.
Observe a tightening torque of
110 lb-ft (150 Nm).
Store jack and all other vehicle tool kit
items back into the storage well.
Warning!G
Vehicles with collapsible tire
(ML 63 AMG only):
Inflate collapsible tire only after the wheel is
properly mounted.
Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric
pump (
page 485) before lowering the
vehicle.
Warning!G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque of
110 lb-ft (150 Nm).
iThe removed road wheel cannot be stored in
the spare wheel well under the cargo compart-
ment floor, but should be transported in the car-
go compartment wrapped in a protective cover.
Vehicles with TPMS or Advanced TPMS*:
Do not activate the tire inflation pressure moni-
tor until a full size wheel/tire with functioning
sensor has been placed back into service on the
vehicle.