2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 controls in detail

202 Controls in detail
Good visibility
1Sun visor
2Additional sun visor
3Mirror lamp
4Vanity mirror cover
5Vanity mirror
6Holder for gas cards
7MountingGlare through the windshield
Swing sun visor1 down.
Make sure sun visor1 is properly en-
gaged in mounting7.
When you do not experience glare any-
more, swing sun visor1 up.
Vanity mirror
Swing sun visor1 down.
Flip up cover4 to access vanity
mirror5.
Vanity mirror lamp3 comes on.
After using vanity mirror5, flip down
cover4.
Swing sun visor1 up.Glare through a side window
1Sun visor
2Additional sun visor
Swing sun visor1 down.
Disengage sun visor1 from
mounting7 (
page 202).
Pivot sun visor1 to the side.

203 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Adjust sun visor1 by pushing or pull-
ing in the direction of arrows.
Swing down additional sun visor2
when you experience additional glare
through the windshield.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep battery drain to
a minimum, switch off the defroster as
soon as the rear window is clear. The de-
froster is automatically deactivated after
approximately 6 to 17 minutes of
operation depending on the outside tem-
perature.
Switch on the ignition (page 40).Activating
Press button1 on the climate con-
trol panel (
page 206) or the automat-
ic climate control* panel (
page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press button1 once more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
!To avoid damage to vanity mirror cover4
(
page 202), make sure it is closed before
pivoting sun visor1 to the side.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.!If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp starts flashing, too
many electrical consumers are operating simul-
taneously and there is insufficient voltage in the
battery. The system responds automatically by
switching the rear window defroster off.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster switches back on auto-
matically.

204 Controls in detail
Climate control

205 Controls in detail
Climate control
1Driver’s door air vent, fixed
2Left side air vent, adjustable
3Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side and door air vent
4Windshield air vents
5Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
6Left center air vent, adjustable
7Right center air vent, adjustable
8Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
9Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side and door air vent
aRight side air vent, adjustable
bFront passenger door air vent, fixed
cClimate control panel
dFootwell air vents
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the sliders
for center air vents and side air vents to the
middle position.

206 Controls in detail
Climate control
1Temperature control, left
2Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3Front defroster
4Increasing air volume
5Air distribution (directs air through
the windshield and side air vents)
6Rear climate control* on/off
Air supply for rear passenger
compartment on/off
:USA only
7Temperature control, right
8AC cooling on/off
Residual heat/ventilation
9Air distribution (directs air through
center and side air vents)
aAir distribution (directs air through
the footwells and side air vents)
bAir volume display
cDecreasing air volume
dRear window defroster
eAir recirculation
fInterior temperature sensor
gClimate control on/off

207 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate
the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode is deactivated
(
page 214).
Warning!G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite to unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
controls (
page 206) to direct the air to air
vents in the vehicle interior that are not in
the immediate area of unprotected skin.
Warning!G
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled interval. A clogged filter will
reduce the air volume to the interior and the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others. Have a
clogged filter replaced as soon as possible
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iIf the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the in-
terior before driving off, see “Summer opening
feature” (
page 237). The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to the set
value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.

208 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating the climate control
system
Deactivating
Press button´ (page 206).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Reactivating
Press buttonU (page 206).
Operating the climate control system
in automatic modeActivating
Press buttonU (page 206) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.
Use temperature controls1 and7
(
page 206) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The interior air temperature is adjusted
automatically.
Deactivating
Press button
orQ
(
page 206).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. The automatic operation of
air volume switches off. The selected
blower speed is shown in the air
volume displayb (
page 206).
Warning!G
When the climate control system is
switched off, the outside air supply and cir-
culation are also switched off. Only choose
this settings for a short time. Otherwise the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others.
iYou can also press button´
(
page 206) on the climate control panel.
If you press button| (
page 206) to
reactivate the climate control system, the
defrosting mode is activated.
iWhen operating the climate control system
in automatic mode, you will only rarely need to
adjust the temperature, air volume and air distri-
bution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehumidify is
switched on. This function can be switched off if
necessary (
page 215).
iThe settings for the passenger side are also
used for the rear passenger compartment.

209 Controls in detail
Climate control
or
Press air distribution button5,9,
ora (
page 206).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. The automatic operation of
air distribution switches off.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and7
(
page 206) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.Increasing
Turn temperature control1
and/or7 (
page 206) slightly clock-
wise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing
Turn temperature control1
and/or7 (
page 206) slightly coun-
terclockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Press air distribution button5,9, ora
(
page 206) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
controls:
Press the desired air distribution
button5,9, ora (
page 206).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out.
SymbolFunction
aDirects air through the center
and side air vents
ZDirects air to the windshield
and side air vents
YDirects air to the footwells and
side air vents