2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 locking and unlocking

280 Controls in detail
Useful features
Closing CD changer*
1CD changer
Gently push CD changer1 up in direc-
tion of arrow until it engages.
For information on CD changer operation,
see separate COMAND system operating
instructions.Locking and unlocking the glove box
separately
You can lock the glove box separately, e.g.
when the vehicle is in the shop for service.
Take the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (
page 455).
1Unlocking glove box
2Locking glove box
Insert mechanical key into glove box
lock.
Turn mechanical key to position3 to
lock the glove box.
Turn mechanical key to position2 to
unlock the glove box.
iThe glove box can only be locked or
unlocked with the mechanical key (
page 455).

301 Controls in detail
Useful features
Remote door unlock
In case you have locked your vehicle unin-
tentionally (e.g. SmartKey inside vehicle),
and the reserve SmartKey is not handy:
Contact the Mercedes-Benz Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
You will be asked to provide your pass-
word which you provided when you
completed the subscriber agreement.
Then return to your vehicle and pull the
tailgate recessed handle for minimum
of 20 seconds until the SOS button is
flashing.
The message
Connecting Call ap-
pears in the multifunction display.As an alternative, you may unlock the vehi-
cle via Internet using the ID and password
sent to you shortly after the completion of
your acquaintance call.
The Response Center will then unlock your
vehicle with the remote door unlocking
feature.Stolen Vehicle Recovery services
In the event your vehicle was stolen:
Report the incident to the police.
The police will issue a numbered
incident report.
Pass this number on to the
Mercedes-Benz Response Center along
with your password issued to you when
you subscribed to the service.
The Response Center will then attempt
to covertly contact the vehicle’s
Tele Aid system. Once the vehicle is
located, the Response Center will
contact the local law enforcement and
you. The vehicle’s location will only be
provided to law enforcement.
If you have any questions, please call the
Response Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in
the USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
!If the indicator lamp continues to flash or
the system does not reset, contact the Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada), or Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) in the USA or Customer
Service at 1-800-387-0100 in Canada.
iThe remote door unlock feature is available
if the relevant cellular phone network is avail-
able.
The SOS button will flash and the message
Connecting Call will appear in the multifunc-
tion display to indicate receipt of the door unlock
command.
Once the vehicle is unlocked, a Response Center
specialist may attempt to establish voice contact
with the vehicle occupants.
If the tailgate recessed handle was pulled for
more than 20 seconds before door unlock autho-
rization was received by the Response Center,
you must wait 15 minutes before pulling the tail-
gate recessed handle again.
iWhen the anti-theft alarm stays on for more
than 30 seconds, a call is initiated automatically
to the Response Center. See anti-theft alarm
system (
page 106).

337 Operation
At the gas station
At the gas station
Refueling
The fuel filler flap is located on the
right-hand side of the vehicle towards the
rear. Locking/unlocking the vehicle with
the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* automatically
locks/unlocks the fuel filler flap.1Fuel filler flap
2Fuel filler cap
Turn off the engine.
Vehicles with SmartKey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the
driver’s door (this puts the starter
switch in position0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch). The driver’s door then can be
closed again.
Warning!G
Gasoline and diesel fuels are highly flamma-
ble and poisonous. They burn violently and
can cause serious personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline or diesel fuel!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline or diesel
fuel, avoid inhaling fumes and skin or cloth-
ing contact, extinguish all smoking materi-
als.
Direct skin contact with gasoline or diesel
fuels and the inhalation of gasoline or diesel
fuel vapors are damaging to your health.
Warning!G
Do not fill diesel tanks with gasoline. Do not
mix diesel fuel with gasoline. Otherwise the
fuel system and engine could be damaged.
In addition, the vehicle could catch fire.
!Damage resulting from mixing gasoline with
diesel is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
!Diesel engine: When filling the diesel fuel
tank using fuel containers, place a filling filter, a
suede cloth or a clean flannel cloth as a filter.
Otherwise, particles from the fuel container
could clog the fuel lines and/or the diesel injec-
tion system.
iIn case the central locking system does not
release the fuel filler flap, see “Fuel filler flap”
(
page 457).


455 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, open the
driver’s door using the mechanical key.Removing the mechanical key
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab1 in direction of
arrow.
The mechanical key2 comes out.
Slide mechanical key2 out of the
housing.Unlocking the driver’s door
Insert mechanical key2 into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key2 counterclock-
wise to position1 and hold it there.
Pull the door handle until the locking
knob moves up (
page 118).
The driver’s door is unlocked.
Pull the door handle once more to open
the driver’s door.
iUnlocking the driver’s door with the
mechanical key will trigger the anti-theft alarm
system.
To cancel the alarm, insert the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in the starter
switch.
1Unlocking
2Mechanical key

456 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Locking the vehicle
If you cannot lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, lock the vehi-
cle carrying out the following steps.
Close the front passenger door, the
rear right door and the tailgate.
Open the driver’s door and the rear left
door.
Press the central locking switch on the
driver’s door (
page 126).
The locking knobs of the front passen-
ger door and the rear doors move
down.
If the vehicle battery is disconnected or
drained:
Press down the locking knobs of
the front passenger door and the
rear doors manually.
Exit the vehicle.
Close the driver’s door.
Enter the vehicle through the rear left
door.
Press down the locking knob of the
driver’s door.
Exit the vehicle.
Close the rear left door.
The vehicle is locked.
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
A minimum height clearance of 7.2 ft
(2.20 m) is required to open the tailgate.If the tailgate can no longer be unlocked
and opened using the Œbutton on the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO* function,
use the emergency release lever to unlock
and open the tailgate.
The emergency release lever is located on
the inside of the tailgate.
1Emergency release lever
2CoverRemove cover2 from the trim on the
tailgate.
Push release lever1 all the way to the
left.
Lift the tailgate.
!To prevent inadvertent lockout, make sure
to have the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you before proceeding with
the next step. The next step will lock the vehicle.
iThis procedure does not arm the anti-theft
alarm system, nor does it lock the fuel filler flap.

457 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Fuel filler flap
Open the tailgate (page 119).
The fuel filler flap release is located behind
a cover in the right side trim panel of the
cargo compartment.
1Lock
2Cover
Insert a suitable object such as a coin
into the slot of lock1.
Turn lock1 by 90° in direction of
arrow.
Remove cover2.3Fuel filler flap release
Pull yellow fuel filler flap release3 in
direction of arrow.
The fuel filler flap is unlocked.
Open the fuel filler flap (page 337).
!Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
iIf the vehicle has previously been locked
from the outside using the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*, opening the tailgate from the
inside using the emergency release lever will
trigger the anti-theft alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:

Insert the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch.

Press buttonŒ or‹ on the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
In vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:

Pull an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be
within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 41).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
inside the vehicle.

533 Index
Bead 380
Belt reel 276
Beverage holder see Cup holder
Block heater (Canada only) 385
Bolts, Collapsible tire
(ML 63 AMG only) 453
Bolts, Minispare wheel
(except ML 63 AMG) 452
Brake fluid 525
Checking 339
Messages in the multifunction
display 430
Brake lamp
Cleaning lenses 393
Messages in the multifunction
display 438
Replacing bulbs 471
Brake pads 312
Messages in the multifunction
display 428
Brakes 312
Warning lamp 401
Break-in period 310
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbs
Button for Voice control* system 30,
148C
California retail buyers and lessees,
Important notice for 11
Camera see Rear view camera*
Can holder see Cup holder
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants 522
Card holder 32, 35, 284
Cargo compartment cover blind 271
Cargo net* 272
Cargo tie-down rings 268
Carpets, Cleaning 397
Catalytic converter
(gasoline engine) 335
CD changer* 161, 279
CD player 161
Center console
Lower part 32
Upper part 31
Central locking
Automatic 125
Locking/unlocking from the
inside 126
Switch 126Certification label 510
CHECK ENGINE malfunction
indicator lamp 403, 404
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*,
(Canada only) 365
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), (USA only) 362
Checklist
Off-road driving 322
Returning from off-road driving 327
Children in the vehicle 89
Air bags 75, 89
Blocking rear door window
operation 96
Indicator lamp, Front passenger front
air bag 83
Infant and child restraint systems 84,
90
LATCH-type child seat anchors 93
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 79
Cigarette lighter (Depending on vehicle
configuration) 286

535 Index
Cup holders 284
Cleaning 285
Front center console 285
Front center console,
Removing/Installing 285
Rear armrest 284
Curb weight 380
Current transmission program mode
(AMG vehicles only) 147
D
Date display, Setting 169
Daytime running lamp mode 137
Setting 170
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging windshield 210, 225
Defrosting, Front 210, 225
Defrosting, Rear 203
Delayed shut-off
Exterior lamps 171
Interior lighting 172
Department of Transportation see DOT
Diesel engine
Preglow indicator lamp 29Difficulties
While driving 63
While starting 57
Digital clock see Clock
Digital speedometer 147, 155
Dimensions, Vehicle 520
Direction of rotation (tires) 351
Displays
Digital speedometer 147, 155
Maintenance service indicator 386
Messages in the multifunction
display 413
Multifunction display 147
Outside temperature 147, 155
Selecting 168
Symbol messages 427
Text messages 415
Vehicle status message 162, 413
Vehicle system settings,
Control system 151, 153, 163
Distance to empty (range), Trip
Computer 178Door
Entry lamps 144
Locking, In an emergency 456
Locking/unlocking,
KEYLESS-GO* 39, 69
Locking/unlocking, SmartKey 38, 68
Messages in the multifunction
display 435
Opening from inside/outside 112,
118
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 301
Unlocking, Mechanical key 455
Door control panel 36
Door handle 36
Door windows see Power windows
DOT 374, 380
Downhill driving
Cruise control 246
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) 249
Messages in the multifunction
display 428
Drinking and driving 311