2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 162

Contents
Control system .................................. 147
Multifunction display .................... 147
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 148
Menus .......................................... 150
Standard display menu ................ 154
AMG menu ................................... 156
Off-road Mode menu .................... 159
AUDIO menu ................................ 160
NAV* menu .................................. 161
AIRMATIC*/Compass menu ........ 162
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 162
Settings menu .............................. 163
Vehicle configuration ................... 177
Trip computer menu..................... 178
TEL* menu ................................... 180
Automatic transmission ..................... 183
Gear selector lever ....................... 183
Shifting procedure ....................... 186
Transmission positions................. 187
Driving tips ................................... 190
Gear ranges ................................. 192
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 193
Shift program (ML 63 AMG only).. 194
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 197Transfer case ...................................... 198
Good visibility ..................................... 199
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 199
Rear view mirrors .......................... 199
Power folding exterior
rear view mirrors* ......................... 200
Sun visors ..................................... 201
Rear window defroster .................. 203
Climate control ................................... 204
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 208
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 208
Setting the temperature................ 209
Adjusting air distribution............... 209
Adjusting air volume ..................... 210
Front defroster.............................. 210
Air recirculation mode .................. 212
Air conditioning............................. 214
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 215
Rear climate control*.................... 2163-zone automatic climate control* ..... 218
Deactivating the
automatic climate
control system .............................. 222
Operating the automatic
climate control system
in automatic mode ........................ 223
Setting the temperature ............... 223
Adjusting air distribution .............. 224
Adjusting air volume ..................... 225
Front defroster ............................. 225
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 226
Air recirculation mode .................. 227
Air conditioning ............................ 229
Using driver-side settings
for all temperature zones.............. 229
Residual heat and ventilation........ 230
Rear automatic climate control..... 231
Power windows .................................. 235
Door windows ............................... 236
Synchronizing the door windows .. 237
Summer opening feature .............. 237
Convenience closing feature......... 238
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 240
Opening and closing ..................... 240
Synchronizing ............................... 242

151 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4Menu5Menu6
Standard displayAMG1
1AMG vehicles only.
Off-road Mode1AUDIONAV*AIRMATIC*/Compass
(page 154)(page 156)(page 159)(page 160)(page 161)(page 162)
Commands/submenus
Trip- and main odometerEngine oil tem-
peratureOff-road driving
program on/offSelecting radio
stationRoute guidance in-
structions, current
direction traveledCompass
Checking tire inflation
pressureVehicle supply
voltageSelecting satellite
radio station*Vehicle level*
Checking coolant tem-
peratureRACETIMEROperating CD
player
Calling up digital speed-
ometer or outside tem-
peratureOverall analysis
Calling up maintenance
service indicatorLap analysis
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within thesystem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays. The firstfunction displayed in each menu will automati-
cally show you which part of the system you are
in.

153 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu7Menu8Menu9MenuaMenub
Vehicle status message
memory1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
SettingsVehicle configurationTrip computerTEL*
(page 162)(page 163)(page 177)(page 178)(page 180)
Commands/submenus
Calling up malfunction
messages, warning mes-
sages, and system status
messages stored in mem-
oryResetting to factory
settingsDSR (Downhill Speed Reg-
ulation) programmed
default speedFuel consumption
statistics since startLoading phone book
Instrument cluster
submenuFuel consumption sta-
tistics since last resetSearching for name in
phone book
Time/Date submenuResetting fuel consump-
tion statistics
Lighting submenuDistance to empty
Vehicle submenu
Comfort submenu*
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within thesystem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays. The firstfunction displayed in each menu will automati-
cally show you which part of the system you are
in.

162 Controls in detail
Control system
Please refer to the COMAND system
manual for instructions on how to activate
the route guidance system.
AIRMATIC*/Compass menu
The
AIRMATIC/Compass menu displays the
messages for air suspension* and the
direction into which you are currently
driving.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until one of the following messages ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
Vehicles with steel suspension:
Vehicles with air suspension* or
ML 63 AMG:
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired setting is found.
For information on air suspension, see “Air
suspension program*” (
page 254).
For information on the compass, see
“Vehicle submenu” (
page 173) and
“Compass” (
page 307).
Vehicle status message memory menu
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the
system. Such messages appear in the
multifunction display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears, if messages have been
stored.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the vehicle status message
memory appears in the multifunction
display.
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center to address the malfunc-
tion and warning messages (
page 413).

413 Practical hints
What to do if …
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display
Warning and malfunction messages
appear in the multifunction display located
in the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(
page 162) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 145) or
buttonj,k,ÿ, orè on the
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and mes-
sages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 145) or
buttonj,k,ÿ, orè on the
multifunction steering wheel. They are
then stored in the vehicle status message
memory (
page 162). Remember that
clearing a message will only make the mes-
sage disappear. Clearing a message will
not correct the condition that caused the
message to appear.
Warning!G
All categories of messages contain
important information which should be
taken note of and, where a malfunction is
indicated, addressed as soon as possible at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.

520 Technical data
Main Dimensions
ModelML 320 CDI, ML 350, ML 550ML 63 AMG
Overall vehicle length188.5 in (4788 mm)189.5 in (4812 mm)
Vehicle width (exterior rear view mirrors folded out)83.7 in (2127 mm)83.7 in (2127 mm)
Vehicle width (exterior rear view mirrors folded in)76.0 in (1930 mm)76.8 in (1951 mm)
Overall vehicle height (vehicles with steel suspen-
sion)71.5 in (1815 mm)-
Overall vehicle height, depending on set vehicle level
(vehicles with air suspension program*)69.8 in - 73.0 in
(1774 mm - 1854 mm)69.5 in - 72.6 in
(1764 mm - 1844 mm)
Wheelbase114.8 in (2915 mm)114.8 in (2915 mm)
Ground clearance (vehicles with steel suspension)8.3 in (210 mm)-
Ground clearance, depending on set vehicle level
(vehicles with air suspension program*)7.1 in - 10.3 in (181 mm - 261 mm)8.0 in - 10.9 in (203 mm - 276 mm)
Turning circle39 ft (11.6 m)39 ft (11.6 m)
Track, frontML 320 CDI, ML 350:
64.0 in (1627 mm)
ML 550:
63.7 in (1619 mm)64.8 in - 65.5 in
(1647 mm - 1664 mm)
Track, rearML 320 CDI, ML 350:
64.1 in (1629 mm)
ML 550:
63.8 in (1621 mm)64.9 in - 65.3 in
(1649 mm - 1667 mm)

534 Index
Climate control 204
Air conditioning, Cooling 214, 215
Air distribution, Front 209
Air distribution, Rear 217
Air recirculation mode 212
Air vents, Front 210
Air volume 210
Control panel*, Rear 216
Control panel, Front 206
Deactivating system 208
Defogging 212
Defrosting 210
Rear window defroster 203
Residual engine heat (REST) 215
Clock 27, 169
Cloth upholstery,
Cleaning and care of 397
Cockpit 24
Cockpit Management and Data System
see COMAND system
Cold tire inflation pressure 380
Collapsible tire 518
Collapsible tire (ML 63 AMG only) 453
Collapsible wheel chock 452COMAND system see separate operating
instructions
Combination switch 59, 60, 62, 139
Compass 307
Adjustment 173
Calibration 174
Calling up the compass 307
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 334
Control system 147
Multifunction display 147
Multifunction steering wheel 148
Resetting to factory default 164
Control system menus 147
AIRMATIC*/Compass 162
AMG menu 156
AUDIO 160
NAV* 161
Settings 163
Standard display 154
TEL* 180
Trip computer 178
Vehicle configuration 177
Vehicle status message memory 162Control system submenus 151, 153, 166
Comfort* 176
Instrument cluster 167, 168
Lighting 170
Time/Date 169
Vehicle 173
Coolant 345, 528
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
mixing ratio and quantity 529
Capacities 522
Checking coolant level 339, 345
Messages in the multifunction
display 431, 433
Temperature 336
Temperature display 154
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 140
Messages in the multifunction
display 439
Replacing bulbs 469
Crossing obstacles 325
Cruise control 244
Activating 246
Messages in the multifunction
display 416

535 Index
Cup holders 284
Cleaning 285
Front center console 285
Front center console,
Removing/Installing 285
Rear armrest 284
Curb weight 380
Current transmission program mode
(AMG vehicles only) 147
D
Date display, Setting 169
Daytime running lamp mode 137
Setting 170
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging windshield 210, 225
Defrosting, Front 210, 225
Defrosting, Rear 203
Delayed shut-off
Exterior lamps 171
Interior lighting 172
Department of Transportation see DOT
Diesel engine
Preglow indicator lamp 29Difficulties
While driving 63
While starting 57
Digital clock see Clock
Digital speedometer 147, 155
Dimensions, Vehicle 520
Direction of rotation (tires) 351
Displays
Digital speedometer 147, 155
Maintenance service indicator 386
Messages in the multifunction
display 413
Multifunction display 147
Outside temperature 147, 155
Selecting 168
Symbol messages 427
Text messages 415
Vehicle status message 162, 413
Vehicle system settings,
Control system 151, 153, 163
Distance to empty (range), Trip
Computer 178Door
Entry lamps 144
Locking, In an emergency 456
Locking/unlocking,
KEYLESS-GO* 39, 69
Locking/unlocking, SmartKey 38, 68
Messages in the multifunction
display 435
Opening from inside/outside 112,
118
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 301
Unlocking, Mechanical key 455
Door control panel 36
Door handle 36
Door windows see Power windows
DOT 374, 380
Downhill driving
Cruise control 246
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) 249
Messages in the multifunction
display 428
Drinking and driving 311