2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 controls in detail

226 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Turn temperature control1
and/or7 (
page 220) slightly in any
direction.
Heating switches to the temperature
that was set before the front defroster
was switched on.
The indicator lamp on button|
goes out. The indicator lamp on
button9 comes on.
Deactivating
Press button| (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(
page 61).
Press buttonU (page 220).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. Air volume and air
distribution are controlled separately
for each zone.
If the automatic air distribution and
air volume are switched off:
Press buttons8 andY
(
page 220).
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the air distribution control as well as the
airflow volume control are set toU and
there is a high need for cooling, the
MAXCOOL function is activated.
“
MAXCOOL” appears in the front and rear
display.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof are closed).
iThe air conditioning compressor remains on
even if the indicator lamp in button| goes
out. This helps to prevent the windshield from
fogging.
iTo switch off, you can also press
button´ orU (
page 220).
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.


227 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.Activating
Press button: (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.DeactivatingPress button: (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26°C) the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air. A quantity of
outside air is added after approximately
30 minutes.
Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility,
endangering you and others. If the windows
begin to fog on the inside, switching off the
air recirculation mode immediately should
clear interior window fogging. If interior win-
dow fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 229) is activated, or
press button|.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated auto-
matically at high outside temperatures.
The indicator lamp on button: is not lit when
the air recirculation mode is automatically
switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after approxi-
mately 30 minutes.
If you have turned off the air conditioning
(
page 229) or the outside temperature is
below 41°F (5°C), the air recirculation mode will
not switch on automatically.
iTo cool the interior as fast as possible, the
automatic climate control automatically switch-
es to air recirculation. The indicator lamp on
button: is not lit when the system switches
to air recirculation automatically.
iThe air recirculation mode is deactivated
automatically

after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air conditioning and
air-drying is turned off

after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)

228 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Air recirculation mode with conve-
nience closing and opening feature
Convenience closing
Press button: for approximately
2 seconds.
The windows and/or tilt/sliding sun-
roof will close. You can release
button: once the closing proce-
dure has begun. The windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof continue closing
until they are fully closed. The indicator
lamp on the button comes on. The air
recirculation mode is activated.Convenience opening
Press button: for approximately
2 seconds.
The windows and/or tilt/sliding sun-
roof will return to their previous posi-
tions. You can release button:
once the opening procedure has be-
gun. The windows and tilt/sliding sun-
roof continue opening until they have
reached their previous positions. The
indicator lamp on the button goes out.
The air recirculation mode is deactivat-
ed.
Warning!G
Never operate the side windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof if there is the possibility
of anyone being harmed by the opening or
closing procedure.
When using the air recirculation mode with
convenience closing feature, should the up-
ward movement of a window be blocked by
some obstruction including but not limited
to arms, hands, fingers, etc., the automatic
reversal feature will not operate.
In case the procedure causes potential
danger:
Vehicles with or without tilt/sliding sunroof:
The closing of the windows can be immedi-
ately halted by pressing or pulling the re-
spective window switch. The closing of the
tilt/sliding sunroof can be immediately halt-
ed by moving the switch for the tilt/sliding
sunroof in any direction.
The closing of the side windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof can be reversed by again
pressing and holding the :button.
iA window or the tilt/sliding sunroof will only
return to its previous position if it has not been
moved to another position using the respective
window switch or tilt/sliding sunroof switch af-
ter it was closed with button:.

229 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Air conditioning
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the vehi-
cle down to the selected interior tempera-
ture. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thereby preventing the windows from fog-
ging up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the vehi-
cle will then no longer be cooled or dehu-
midified.
Press button9 (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The cooling function switches off
after a short delay.
Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button9 again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R-134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Using driver-side settings for all tem-
perature zones
You can use the settings of the driver’s
side, such as temperature, air volume and
air distribution, for all temperature zones.
These settings only need to be made once
and the automatic climate control system
will automatically regulate the settings for
all temperature zones quickly and comfort-
ably.
iCondensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
interior air is not dried. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned on
again, this indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has turned
off.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

230 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Activating
Adjust the temperature, air volume and
air distribution (
page 220).
Press button; (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The driver-side settings are used for all
temperature zones.
Deactivating
Press button; (page 220) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Residual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.Activating
Switch off the ignition (page 39).
Press button9 (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press button9.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iIf you manually set the temperature, air vol-
ume or air distribution for the passenger side or
the rear passenger compartment when the
MONO setting is active, the MONO setting will
be switched off.
iHow long the system will provide heating
depends on

the coolant temperature

the battery voltage
Regardless of the temperature and air volume
set on the automatic climate control panel, an
interior temperature is aimed at by 72°F (22°C)
and the blower runs on low speed to protect the
vehicle battery.
iThe residual heat is automatically turned off:

when the ignition is switched on

after about 30 minutes

if the coolant temperature is too low

if the battery voltage drops

231 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Rear automatic climate control
The control panel is located at the rear of
the front center console.Activating rear automatic climate
control
Press buttonU.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The temperature, air vol-
ume, and air distribution are adjusted
automatically.
Deactivating rear automatic climate
control
Press button´.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The cooling function switches off after
a short delay.
1Left rear center air vent, adjustable
2Right rear center air vent, adjustable
3Temperature control
4Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
5Air distribution (directs air through
the center air vents)
6Air distribution (directs air through
the footwells and side air vents)
7Rear automatic climate control
on/off
8Decreasing air volume
9Indicator lamps for air volume
settings
aIncreasing air volume
iThe stored values for the rear automatic
climate control are erased from memory after
the ignition has been switched off for more than
30 minutes. Once the front automatic climate
control is switched on again, the rear automatic
climate control operates in automatic mode at a
preset temperature of 72°F (22°C).
iThe automatic climate control must be
switched on (
page 223).
iSwitch off the rear automatic climate con-
trol for improved cooling or heating output in the
front passenger compartment.
You can also switch off the rear automatic
climate control from the front passenger com-
partment (
page 220).

232 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Operating from the front
Deactivating
Press button> (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
In displaye (
page 220), you will see
the> symbol followed by
MODE for
approximately 3 seconds.
Press button´ (page 220).
In displaye (
page 220), you will see
the> symbol followed by
OFF.
The rear automatic climate control is
switched off.Reactivating
Press button> (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
In displaye (
page 220), you will see
the> symbol followed by
ON and
MODE. The MODE display is cleared and
the indicator lamp on button>
goes out after approximately
3 seconds.
The rear automatic climate control
switches on.Setting the temperature
Press button> (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
In displaye (
page 220), you will see
the> symbol followed by
MODE.
Set the desired temperature for the
rear passenger compartment using
temperature control3 (
page 231).
After approximately 3 seconds after
the last adjustment, the display switch-
es back to its standard display and the
indicator lamp on button> goes
out.
iYou can also press the>button once
more to switch back to the standard display.

233 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls5 or6
to adjust the air distribution for the rear
passenger compartment.
The symbols on the controls represent the
following functions:
Adjusting manually
Press the desired air distribution con-
trol.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out.Adjusting automatically
Press buttonU while the engine is
running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air distribution is adjust-
ed automatically.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature control3 (
page 231)
to separately adjust the air temperature of
the rear passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C). The automatic cli-
mate control will adjust to the set temper-
ature as fast as possible.Increasing the temperature
Turn temperature control3
(
page 231) slightly clockwise.
The rear automatic climate control will
correspondingly adjust the interior air
temperature for the rear passenger
compartment.
Decreasing the temperature
Turn temperature control3
(
page 231) slightly counterclock-
wise.
The rear automatic climate control will
correspondingly adjust the interior air
temperature for the rear passenger
compartment.
SymbolFunction
ZDirects air to the center air
vents
YDirects air to the footwells and
the side air vents
iThe rear automatic climate control will not
cool the air when the air conditioning is switched
off (
page 229).