2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 spare tire

449 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
3Securing hook
Release securing hook3 (located be-
low the floor handle) from holder.3Securing hook
4Cargo compartment floor, raised
5Upper cargo compartment lip
Engage securing hook3 on upper
cargo compartment lip5.
Remove the Minispare wheel
(
page 453).
or
ML 63 AMG:
Remove the collapsible tire
(
page 454).
You can now access the vehicle tool kit.
!With the cargo compartment cover blind
installed behind the rear seats (
page 271),
disengage cargo compartment cover blind and
flip it forward. Otherwise the strap of the
securing hook could damage the cargo compart-
ment cover blind.

452 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Setting up the collapsible wheel chock
The collapsible wheel chock serves to ad-
ditionally secure the vehicle, e.g. while
changing the wheel.
1Tilt the plate upward
2Fold the lower plate outward
3Insert the plateTilt both plates upward1.
Fold the lower plate outward2.
Guide the tabs of the lower plate all the
way into the openings of base plate3.
For information on where to place wheel
chocks when changing a wheel, see “Lift-
ing the vehicle” (
page 479).
Minispare wheel (except ML 63 AMG)
Warning!G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The Minispare wheel is for temporary use
only. When driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted, ensure proper tire inflation
pressure and do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
Minispare wheel replaced with a regular
road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.

453 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
The Minispare wheel is located underneath
the cargo compartment floor
(
page 448).
Removing Minispare wheel
1Retaining screw
2Storage well casing
3Minispare wheelFor access the Minispare wheel, see “Vehi-
cle tool kit” (
page 448).
Loosen retaining screw1 by turning it
counterclockwise.
Remove storage well casing2.
Remove Minispare wheel3.
Collapsible tire (ML 63 AMG only)
iFor information on how to mount the
Minispare wheel, see “Mounting the spare
wheel” (
page 479).
iRemove Minispare wheel to gain access to
remaining tools in the vehicle tool kit
(
page 448).
Warning!G
The dimensions of the collapsible tire are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a collapsible tire
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The collapsible tire is for temporary use
only. When driving with a collapsible tire
mounted, ensure proper tire inflation
pressure and do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
collapsible tire replaced with a regular road
wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one collapsible tire mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
collapsible tire is mounted.

454 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
The collapsible tire is located underneath
the cargo compartment floor
(
page 448).
Removing the collapsible tire
1Electric air pump
2Collapsible tire
3Vehicle tool kit storage well casing
4Alignment bolt
5Towing eye bolt
6Wheel wrenchFor access the collapsible tire, see “Vehi-
cle tool kit” (
page 448).
Remove the vehicle tool kit storage
well casing3.
7Retaining screw
Loosen retaining screw7 by turning it
counterclockwise.
Remove collapsible tire2.
iFor information on how to mount the
collapsible tire, see “Mounting the spare wheel”
(
page 479).
iRemove collapsible tire to gain access to
remaining tools in the vehicle tool kit
(
page 448).

478 Practical hints
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Vehicles with air suspension program*:
Make sure the vehicle level is set to
highway (
page 257).
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher
(
page 141).
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight-ahead
position.
Set the parking brake (page 57).
Set the automatic transmission to park
positionP (
page 185).
Turn off the engine (page 39).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Vehicles with SmartKey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the
driver’s door (this puts the starter
switch in position0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch). The driver’s door then can be
closed again.
Remove the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button from the starter
switch.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel
(Minispare wheel or collapsible tire) are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a spare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with a spare wheel mounted,
ensure proper tire pressure and do not ex-
ceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
spare wheel replaced with a regular road
wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
Warning!G
Vehicles with air suspension program*:
Do not open or close any doors or the
tailgate while mounting a spare wheel. The
vehicle could rise or lower to a previously
selected level. You or others could be
injured as a result.
iOpen door only when conditions are safe to
do so.

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.


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.

486 Practical hints
Flat tire
Inflate the collapsible tire to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure given in
the “Technical data” section
(
page 515).
This takes about 5 minutes for the col-
lapsible tire.
Press 0 on electric air pump switch2.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
or
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button twice without depressing the
brake pedal.
If the tire inflation pressure is above
the recommended tire inflation pres-
sure given in this Operator’s Manual,
release excess tire inflation pressure
using the vent screw.
Detach the electric air pump.
Store the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the
electric air pump back in the cargo
compartment.
Warning!G
Air hose4 and union nut5 can become
hot during inflation. Exercise proper caution
to avoid burning yourself when using the
equipment.
!Do not operate the electric air pump longer
than 8 minutes without interruption. Otherwise it
may overheat.
You may operate the electric air pump again
after it has cooled off.
!Please compare the recommended tire
inflation pressure for your vehicle with the tire
inflation pressure on the yellow label located on
the spare wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label
on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the tire to
the recommended tire inflation pressure given
on the yellow label on the spare wheel rim.Warning!G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.