2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML63AMG Owner's Manual

264 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Switch off the ignition (page 40).
Clean the Parktronic system sensors
(
page 394).
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
or
Check the Parktronic system operation
at another location to rule out interfer-
ence from outside radio or ultrasonic
signals.
Rear view camera*
Warning!G
The rear view camera is only an aid and may
display obstacles from a distorted perspec-
tive or inaccurately, or may not display ob-
stacles at all. The rear view camera does not
relieve you of the responsibility to be cau-
tious, take care and pay careful attention.
The rear view camera may not show objects
which are:

very close to the rear bumper

under the rear bumper

above the tailgate handle
You are responsible for safety at all times
and must continue to pay attention to the
immediate surroundings when parking and
maneuvering. This includes the area behind,
in front of and beside the vehicle. Otherwise
you could endanger yourself or others.
Warning!G
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
or near the area in which you are
parking/maneuvering. Otherwise, they
could be injured.
Warning!G
The rear view camera either will not function
or will not function to its full capability if:

the tailgate is open

it is raining very hard, snowing or foggy

it is night or you are parking/maneuver-
ing your vehicle in an area where it is
very dark

the camera is exposed to a very bright
white light

the immediate surroundings are illumi-
nated with fluorescent light (the display
may flicker)

265 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The rear view camera is an optical parking
aid. It shows you the area behind the vehi-
cle in the COMAND system display when
reverse gearR is engaged, for example
during parallel parking.
The rear view camera is located near the
tailgate handle.
1Rear view cameraSwitching the rear view camera on and
off
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Shift the automatic transmission in
positionR (
page 185).
The area behind the vehicle appears in
the COMAND system display.
Shift the automatic transmission
intoP,N orD to switch off the rear
view camera.

there is a sudden change in tempera-
ture, e.g. if you drive into a heated ga-
rage from the cold (lens condensation)

the camera lens is dirty or covered

the rear of your vehicle is damaged
In this case, have the position and set-
ting of the camera checked by a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
visit a Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for this purpose.
Do not use the rear view camera in these sit-
uations. Otherwise you could injure yourself
or others and/or damage property including
your vehicle while parking/maneuvering.
iThe area behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND system display as a mirror image, like
in the rear view mirror.
iThe image from the rear view camera will no
longer be displayed if you select another
function on the COMAND system while reverse
gearR is engaged. To display the image again,
disengage and reengage reverse gearR.

266 Controls in detail
Loading
Carriers*
Roof rails
For further information, contact your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Loading instructions
Warning!G
Only use carriers* when the basic carrier
bars* have been completely mounted. The
left and right roof rails are only stabilized by
means of the basic carrier bars* mounted.
Follow the manufacturer’s installation
instructions. Otherwise, an improperly at-
tached carrier system or its load could be-
come detached from the vehicle.
Do not exceed the maximum roof load of
220 lb (100 kg).
Take into consideration that when the roof is
loaded, the handling characteristics are dif-
ferent from those when operating the vehi-
cles without a roof loaded.
!Load the carriers* in such a way that the
vehicle cannot be damaged while driving.
Make sure

the tailgate can be completely opened

the tilt/sliding sunroof can be completely
raised at the rear
Warning!G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible using cargo tie-down rings and
fastening materials appropriate for the
weight and size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, always use tie
down rings, and if so equipped, always use
the cargo net* when transporting cargo.
Never drive vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.

267 Controls in detail
Loading
Load distribution
The gross vehicle weight which is the
weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools,
spare wheel, installed accessories, pas-
sengers and luggage/cargo must never
exceed the load limit and Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) for your vehicle as
specified on the placard located on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 510). In addi-
tion, the load must be distributed in such a
way so that the weight on each axle never
exceeds the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for the front and rear axle. The
GVWR and GAWR for your vehicle are indi-cated on the certification label which can
be found on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 510).
For more information, see “Tire and Load-
ing Information” (
page 352).
The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
Please pay attention to and comply with
the following instructions when loading the
vehicle and transporting cargo:

Always place items being carried
against front or rear seat backrests,
and fasten them as securely as possi-
ble.

The heaviest portion of the cargo
should always be kept as low as possi-
ble against front or rear seat backrests.For additional safety when transporting
cargo while the rear seats are unoccupied,
fasten the outer seat belts crosswise into
the opposite side buckles.
iThe cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects. The expanded cargo com-
partment (
page 269) should only be used for
items which do not fit in the cargo compartment
alone.

268 Controls in detail
Loading
Cargo tie-down rings
Your vehicle is equipped with six cargo
tie-down rings.
Carefully secure cargo by applying even
load on all rings with rope of sufficient
strength to hold down the cargo.Cargo compartment
Four cargo tie-down rings are located in
the cargo compartment.
1Cargo tie-down ringBehind front seats
Two cargo tie-down rings are located in the
footwell behind the driver’s and passenger
seat.
1Cargo tie-down ring
iWhile the cargo net* (page 272) will help
protect you from smaller objects, it cannot pre-
vent the movement of large, heavier objects into
the passenger compartment in an accident, dur-
ing hard braking or sudden maneuvers. Such
items must be properly secured using the cargo
tie-down rings in the cargo compartment floor.

269 Controls in detail
Loading
Hooks
Four hooks are located on the rear com-
partment trim panels, two on each side.
1Hook
Use the hooks to secure light weight items
only. The maximum permissible weight per
hook is 9lb(4kg).Expanding cargo compartment
You can separately fold the left and right
rear seat backrests to expand the cargo
compartment.
Folding the rear seat backrest forward
Warning!G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fully fold the corresponding seats
and, if so equipped, always use the
cargo net* (
page 272) when transporting
cargo.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause
injury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
Always use the cargo tie down rings
(
page 268).
Warning!G
Never drive the vehicle with the tailgate
open. Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases
may enter vehicle interior resulting in un-
consciousness and death.
!Always release the seat cushion and fold it
up before folding the seat backrest forward. The
covering on the seat backrest may otherwise be
damaged.
When the seat backrest are folded forward, the
front seats may not be moved to the rearmost
position. Otherwise you could damage the front
and second-row seats.


270 Controls in detail
Loading
1Release loop
2Seat cushion
Pull release loop1.
Fold seat cushion2 forward.3Release handle
4Seat backrest
Make sure the rear seat head restraints
are in the lowermost position
(
page 127).
Pull release handle3.A red indicator5 will be visible and the
seat backrest4 is released.
5Indicator
Fold seat backrest4 forward.


271 Controls in detail
Loading
Returning the rear seat backrest to
original position
1Seat backrest
2Seat cushion
Fold seat backrest1 rearward until it
engages.
The red indicator5 (
page 270)
should no longer be visible.
Fold seat cushion2 rearward until it
locks into position.
Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the seat backrest.
Cargo compartment cover blind
The cargo compartment cover blind can be
installed behind the rear seats.1Handle
2Mount
Rolling out blind
Pull blind on handle1 across the car-
go compartment.
Guide blind into mounts2 and re-
lease.
Rolling up blind
Disengage blind and guide retraction
by its handle1.
Warning!G
If a red indicator is visible with the backrest
up, then the backrest is not properly locked
into position.
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when the rear seats are occupied, or the ex-
tended cargo compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.
!With the cargo compartment cover blind in-
stalled, do not pile luggage higher than the lower
edges of the rear side windows.