2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 wheel bolts

348 Operation
Tires and wheels
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center for information on test-
ed and recommended rims and tires for
summer and winter operation. They can
also offer advice concerning tire service
and purchase.Important guidelines

Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.

Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.

Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.

Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss or
damage to the tire beads.

If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
inflation pressure and correct as
required.

Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths of less than
1/8in (3 mm).

When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Warning!G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for fur-
ther information. If incorrectly sized rims
and tires are mounted:

The wheel brakes or suspension
components can be damaged.

The operating clearance of the wheels
and the tires may no longer be correct.
Warning!G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, only use genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can
result in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on re-
treads. The operating safety of the vehicle
cannot be assured when such tires are used.

383 Operation
Tires and wheels
In some cases, such as when your vehicle
is equipped with mixed-size tires (different
tire dimension front vs. rear), tire rotation
is not possible.
If applicable to your vehicle’s tire configu-
ration, tires can be rotated according to
the tire manufacturer’s recommended in-
tervals in the tire manufacturer’s warranty
pamphlet located in your vehicle literature
portfolio. If none is available, tires should
be rotated every 3 000 to 6 000 miles
(5 000 to 10 000 km), or sooner if neces-
sary, according to the degree of tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction
must be maintained (
page 351).
Rotate tires before the characteristic tire
wear pattern becomes visible (shoulder
wear on front tires and tread center wear
on rear tires).
Thoroughly clean the mounting face of
wheels and brake disks, i.e. the inner side
of the wheels/tires, during each rotation.
Check for and ensure proper tire inflation
pressure.For information on wheel change, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 448) and
(
page 478).
Warning!G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
110 lb-ft (150 Nm).
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts specified for your vehicle’s rims.

448 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located on the driver’s
side in the cargo compartment behind the
cover.
1Cover in left side trim panel
2Lock
Turn lock1 90° in direction of arrow.
Fold down cover2.
The first aid kit can be removed.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit is stored under the
cargo compartment floor.
The vehicle tool kit includes:

Towing eye bolt

Wheel wrench

Alignment bolt

Vehicle jack

Fuse chart

Collapsible wheel chock

Wheel bolts for spare wheel1Cargo compartment floor, lowered
2Handle cover
Open the tailgate (page 119).
Push in handle cover2 and pull han-
dle in direction of arrow.
Lift cargo compartment floor1.
iCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.

450 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Example illustration1
6Wheel wrench
7Vehicle jack2
8Collapsible wheel chock
9Fuse chart
aTowing eye bolt
bAlignment bolt
cSpare wheel boltsVehicle jack
The vehicle jack is located underneath the
cargo compartment floor.
Remove vehicle jack (page 450).
1Depending on production date, your vehicle may
be equipped with a scissors-type vehicle jack.
Thus, appearance and alignment of the items may
vary.
2If your vehicle is equipped with a scissors-type
vehicle jack, a reversible ratchet is also included.
!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.
!To prevent damage, always disengage the
strap of the securing hook and lower the cargo
compartment floor (
page 448) before closing
the tailgate.
Warning!G
Only use the jack supplied with your vehicle
to lift the vehicle briefly for wheel changes.
If you use the jack for any other purpose,
you or others could be inj ure d, as the ja ck is
designed only for the purpose of changing a
wheel.
When using the jack, observe the safety
notes in the “Mounting the spare wheel”
section (
page 479) and the notes on the
jack.

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.


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.

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.