2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 controls in detail

138 Controls in detail
Lighting
USA only
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to positionC
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 135).Locator lighting and night security
illumination
The locator lighting and the night security
illumination are described in the “Control
system” section, see “Setting locator light-
ing” (
page 171) and “Setting night secu-
rity illumination” (
page 171).Fog lamps
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
positionM, you cannot switch on the high
beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to positionB orU to permit
activation of the high beam headlamps.
Warning!G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from positionU toB with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromU toB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps on. Fog
lamps should only be used in conjunction with
low beam headlamps. Consult your State or
Province Motor Vehicle Regulations regarding
permissible lamp operation.
iFog lamps cannot be switched on with the
exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To switch on the fog lamps, turn the exterior
lamp switch to positionB first.

139 Controls in detail
Lighting
Front fog lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC orB (
page 135).
Pull out the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps switch on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.
Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps switch off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 135).
Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The rear fog lamp switches on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.
Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasher
High beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 135).
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).

140 Controls in detail
Lighting
Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 135)
or

the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 135)
or

the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 137)Driving forward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Switch on the left or right turn signal
(
page 60), depending on whether
you are turning left or right.
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
or
Turn steering wheel in desired direc-
tion.
The front fog lamp on the side of your
steering direction comes on.
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.
iIf you are driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h) or have the front fog lamps switched
on, the corner-illuminating function is not avail-
able.
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps
temporarily come on on both sides of the vehicle
if you turn the steering wheel in one direction
and then again in the other direction shortly
thereafter.


141 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
were activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after
making the turn, the turn signal and the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps can be
switched off by returning the combination
switch to its original position.Driving in reverse
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Shift the automatic transmission to
reverse gearR (
page 185).
The front fog lamp opposite to your
steering direction comes on.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Shift the automatic transmission to a
gear other than reverse gearR
(
page 185).
The respective corner-illuminating
front fog lamp goes out.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchiThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
come on automatically depending on the steer-
ing angle and vehicle speed, even if you did not
switch on either turn signal. If the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps came on
automatically, they will also go out automatically
depending on the steering angle and vehicle
speed.
iThere may be a brief delay before the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps switch off.

142 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
The controls for interior lighting are locat-
ed in the overhead control panel.1Front left reading lamp switch
2Rear interior lighting switch
3Automatic control switch
4Front interior lighting switch
5Front right reading lamp switch
6Front right interior lamp
7Front right reading lamp
8Front left reading lamp
9Front left interior lampAutomatic control
Deactivating
Press switch3.
The switch engages in the recessed
position.
The interior lighting and the locator
lighting (
page 171) remain switched
off even when you

unlock the vehicle

open a door

open the tailgate

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
iWith the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left or
right turn, only the respective turn signals will
operate when the ignition is switched on.
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard warning
flasher switch1 once to switch it off.
!An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving an interior lamp switch in the ON
position for extended periods of time with the
engine turned off could result in a discharged
battery.
iThe interior lighting is factory-set to
automatic mode.

143 Controls in detail
Lighting
Activating
Press switch3.
The switch disengages from its
recessed position back to its original
position.
The interior lighting and the locator
lighting (
page 171) come on when
you

unlock the vehicle

open a door

open the tailgate

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
The interior lamps go out following an
adjustable time delay (
page 172).Manual control
Switching front/rear interior lighting on
and off
Press front/rear interior lighting
switch4 or2 to switch on the
respective interior light.
Press front/rear interior lighting
switch4 or2 again to switch off the
respective interior light.
Switching front reading lamps on and off
Press front reading lamp switch1
or5 to switch on the respective front
reading lamp.
Press front reading lamp switch1
or5 again to switch off the respective
front reading lamp.Switching rear interior reading lamps on
and off
The rear interior reading lamps are located
above the side windows.
Passenger side reading lamp
1Rear interior reading lamp
Press on reading lamp1 where indi-
cated by arrow.
The reading lamp comes on.
Press on reading lamp1 once more.
The reading lamp goes out.
iIf a door remains open, the interior lamps
switch off automatically after approximately
5 minutes when the SmartKey is removed or in
starter switch position0.
iAn interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.

144 Controls in detail
Lighting
Door entry lamps
For better orientation in the dark, the
corresponding door entry lamps comes on
when you open a door and the automatic
control is activated.
The door entry lamps will switch off when
the corresponding door is closed.Cargo compartment lamp
The cargo compartment lamp comes on
when the tailgate is opened.
If you leave the tailgate open for an extend-
ed period of time, the cargo compartment
lamp will switch off automatically after ap-
proximately 5 minutes.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 or remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch, the door entry lamps will
remain lit for approximately 5 minutes.

145 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(
page 26).
1To dim instrument cluster illumination
2Reset button
3To brighten instrument cluster
illumination
The instrument cluster is activated when
you

open a door

switch on the ignition (page 40)

press reset button2

switch on the exterior lamps
(
page 135)For information on changing the instru-
ment cluster settings, e.g. the language,
see “Instrument cluster submenu”
(
page 167).Adjusting instrument cluster illumina-
tion
Use button1 or3 to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster.
To brighten illumination
Press and hold button3 until the
desired level of illumination is reached.
To dim illumination
Press and hold button1 until the
desired level of illumination is reached.
iOpening a front door or pressing the reset
button without switching on the ignition or the
exterior lighting activates the multifunction
display illumination only for 30 seconds.
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am-
bient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.
iWith the exterior lighting switched on, the
brightness of the switches in the center console
will also be adjusted when using button
1 or3.