2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 controls in detail

114 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO to high
levels of electromagnetic radiation.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iYou can also open and close

the door windows

the tilt/sliding sunroof
using the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO, see
“Summer opening feature” (
page 237) and
see “Convenience closing feature”
(
page 238).
!If you cannot lock or unlock the vehicle with
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO, the batteries in
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO are discharged,
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is malfunction-
ing or the vehicle battery is drained.

Check the batteries in the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO (
page 118) and replace
them if necessary (
page 461).

Use the mechanical key to unlock the
driver’s door (
page 455).

Lock the vehicle as described in the “Practi-
cal hints” section (
page 456).

Have the vehicle battery and the vehicle
battery connections checked (
page 489).
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is malfunc-
tioning, contact Roadside Assistance or an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

115 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Important notes on using KEYLESS-GO*

You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(
page 110).
The starter switch is located under the
KEYLESS-GO button. Pull the
KEYLESS-GO button out in order to ac-
cess the starter switch (
page 41).

You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with the ‹button).

Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.

Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:

electronic items such as a cellular
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO

metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.

To lock or unlock the vehicle, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located outside the vehicle within ap-
proximately 3 ft (1 m) of the respective
door or the tailgate.

If the vehicle has been parked for more
than 72 hours, you must pull an outside
door handle in order to activate the
KEYLESS-GO function.

In order to start the engine with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO:

The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be located in the vehicle.

The KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
must be inserted in the starter
switch (
page 41).

The brake pedal must be firmly
depressed. Do not depress the
accelerator.

If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
positioned farther away from the vehi-
cle, the system may no longer recog-
nize the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.
The vehicle then cannot be locked or
the engine started via the KEYLESS-GO
system.

If you have started the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(
page 55), you can turn it off again by

pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button (
page 67)

inserting the SmartKey into the
starter switch when the vehicle is at
a standstill and the automatic
transmission is in positionP
(
page 67)

116 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
removed from the vehicle (e.g. if a
passenger exits the vehicle with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO)

when pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button or trying to lock
the vehicle with the look button on
an outside door handle the mes-
sage
Key Not Detected appears in
the multifunction display

with the engine running, the mes-
sage
Key Not Detected appears in
the multifunction display while
driving off.
Find the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO or
change its present location immediate-
ly (e.g. place it on the front passenger
seat or insert it in shirt pocket).

Remember that the engine can be
started by anyone with a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO that is left inside the
vehicle.
Possibility 1 (One SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO in the vehicle, one
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO outside
the vehicle):
If you leave the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO behind when exiting and
locking the vehicle, no message
appears in the multifunction display.
Possibility 2 (One SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO in the vehicle, no
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO outside
the vehicle):
When exiting and trying to lock the
vehicle, the message
Key Detected In
Vehicle
will appear in the multifunction
display. The vehicle will not be locked.Factory setting
Global unlocking
Grasp an outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
and rearm the anti-theft alarm system
within approximately 40 seconds of
unlocking if

neither a door nor the tailgate is
opened

the central locking switch is not
activated
iThe vehicle could be inadvertently unlocked
if the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is within 3 ft
(1 m) of the vehicle and

an outside door handle is splashed with
water
or

you attempt to clean an outside door handle

117 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Global locking
Press the lock button on an outside
door handle (
page 69).
With the tailgate and all doors closed,
the turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO so when you grasp the
driver’s door handle only the driver’s door
and the fuel filler flap unlocks.
Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about 5 seconds
until battery check lamp5
(
page 113) flashes twice.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO will
then function as follows:Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler
flap
Grasp the driver’s outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knob in the driver’s door moves
up. The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Global unlocking
Grasp any outside door handle other
than the driver’s outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.Global locking
Press the lock button on an outside
door handle (
page 69).
All turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
Restoring to factory setting
Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about 5 seconds
until battery check lamp5
(
page 113) flashes twice.

118 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Checking the batteries in the SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Press button‹orŒ.
The battery check lamp (
page 110)
or (
page 113) comes on briefly to in-
dicate that the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO batteries are in
order.Loss of the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*
If you lose your SmartKey, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO or mechanical key, you
should do the following:
Have the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO deactivated by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Report the loss of the SmartKey,
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO or the me-
chanical key immediately to your car
insurance company.
Have the mechanical lock replaced if
necessary.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center will be glad to supply you with a re-
placement.
Opening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
1Locking knob
2Inside door handle
iIf the battery check lamp does not come on
briefly during check, the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 461).
You can obtain the required batteries at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within signal
range of the vehicle, pressing the
button‹orŒ will lock or unlock the
vehicle accordingly.

119 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Front doors
Pull on inside door handle2 on the
respective front door to open door.
If the door was locked, locking knob1
will move up.
Rear doors
Pull up locking knob1 on the respec-
tive rear door to unlock door.
Pull on inside door handle2 on the re-
spective rear door to open door.
Tailgate/Power tailgate*
A minimum height clearance of 7.0 ft
(2.13 m) is required to open the tailgate.
Vehicles with vehicle level control*:
Depending on the set vehicle level a mini-
mum height clearance of 7.2 ft (2.20 m) is
required to open the tailgate.iIf the vehicle has previously been locked
from the outside with the SmartKey or with
KEYLESS-GO*, opening a door from the inside
will trigger the anti-theft alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:
With the SmartKey

Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.

Press theŒ or ‹button on the
SmartKey.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Grasp an outside door handle.

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 41).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be
inside the vehicle.
Warning!G
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter vehicle interior resulting in
unconsciousness and death.
!The tailgate swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.

120 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens slightly.
Pull tailgate upwards to open.Closing the tailgate from the outside
1Handle
Lower tailgate by pulling firmly on
handle1.
Close tailgate with hands placed flat on
it.
Once the tailgate touches the latch,
the tailgate will pull itself shut automat-
ically.
iVehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked (
page 38).
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the cargo
compartment opening when closing the
tailgate. Be especially careful when small
children are around.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
iTo prevent an inadvertent lockout, do not
place the SmartKey in the cargo compartment.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To prevent a
possible inadvertent lockout, the tailgate will
open automatically if a SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is recognized inside the vehicle.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, the tailgate
will lock automatically after closing it. The turn
signals flash three times to confirm locking.

121 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Power tailgate*
In vehicles with power tailgate, you can

open and close the tailgate from the
inside and the outside electrically

limit the opening height of the tailgate

interrupt the opening/closing proce-
dure at any time by

pressing or pulling the
door-mounted remote tailgate
switch (
page 122)

pressing the Šbutton on the
SmartKey (
page 110) or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(
page 113)

pressing the tailgate closing switch
(
page 123)

pressing the tailgate
closing/locking switch (vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO*) (
page 123)Opening the tailgate from the outside
You can unlock and open the tailgate
simultaneously from the outside when the
vehicle is at a standstill.
Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* until the tailgate unlocks
and opens.
While the tailgate is opening, an
acoustic signal sounds.
or
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Pull on the handle (
page 120).
The tailgate is unlocked and opens.
While the tailgate is opening, an acous-
tic signal sounds.Opening the tailgate from the inside
You can unlock and open the tailgate si-
multaneously from the driver’s seat when
the vehicle is at a standstill.
!The tailgate swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
Warning!G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door-mounted remote tailgate switch or
with the Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. Monitor the
opening procedure carefully to make sure
no one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the opening procedure, press or
pull the door-mounted remote tailgate
switch or press the Šbutton on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.