2010 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 warning

the vehicle lowers. When the temperature
rises, the vehicle raises.
The vehicle automatically regulates its ride
height based on the set vehicle height and the
current speed:
RAs your driving speed increases, the vehicle
is lowered by increments until it reaches
highspeed level.
RVehicles with ADS: If you are driving with
the ADS setting COMF or AUTO, the
vehicle is raised back to highway level as
your driving speed decreases.
RVehicles with ADS: You can select the
highspeed level via the ADS setting
SPORT. In ADS SPORT, the vehicle is
lowered directly to highspeed level as your
driving speed increases.
The vehicle begins adjusting to the set vehicle
level as soon as the doors or tailgate are
unlocked or opened or closed with the vehicle
unlocked.
In order to operate the vehicle level control
switch (Y page 157), however, the engine
must be running.
GWarning!
Make sure no one is near the wheel housing
or under the vehicle when you lower the
vehicle while it is standing still. Limbs could
become wedged into or under the vehicle.
For safety reasons, the vehicle can only be
lowered with all doors and the tailgate closed.
Lowering is interrupted if a door or the tailgate
is opened and will continue after the door is
closed again.
GWarning!
Please be aware that by raising the vehicle
level, the center of gravity also rises.
Therefore, always ensure that the vehicle
level is as low as possible. With higher ride
height the ESP® may activate earlier in certain
situations.
Adapt your speed and driving to possible
changed driving behavior of the vehicle after
changing the vehicle level. The ESP® cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed. The ESP® cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle.
! Keep in mind that in rough or uneven
terrain, adjusting the vehicle to a lower
level may cause the vehicle underbody to
come in contact with the ground and result
in damage to the vehicle underbody.
Always make sure the vehicle has sufficient
ground clearance before adjusting it to a
lower level.
! Before jacking up the vehicle with
equipment that lifts one or more of the
wheels completely off of the ground,
remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
For information on off-road driving, see “Off-
road driving” (Y page 248).
Basic settings (except ML 63 AMG)
The following vehicle chassis ride heights can
be selected using vehicle level control
switch : in the center console:
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GWarning!
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
RWhile driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
RWhile driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
RAdapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4MATIC cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
! Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so
could damage the transfer case, which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty. All wheels must be on or off the
ground. Observe instructions for towing the
vehicle with all wheels on the ground.
! Only conduct operational or performance
tests on a two-axle dynamometer. If such
tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake
system and/or the transfer case which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iIn winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the 4MATIC is only
achieved with winter tires (Y page 242) or
snow chains as required.
Parktronic system
The Parktronic system is an electronic
parking aid with ultrasonic sensors designed
to assist the driver during parking maneuvers.
The Parktronic system indicates the relative
distance between the vehicle and an obstacle
visually and audibly.
The Parktronic system is activated
automatically when
Ryou switch on the ignition
and
Ryou release the parking brake
and
Rthe automatic transmission is in drive
position D, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
The Parktronic system deactivates at speeds
above approximately 11 mph (18 km/h). At
lower speeds, the Parktronic system
activates again.
The Parktronic system also deactivates when
you shift the automatic transmission into
park position P or engage the parking brake.
The Parktronic system monitors the
surroundings of your vehicle with six sensors
in the front bumper and four sensors in the
rear bumper.
To function properly, sensors : must be free
of dirt, ice, snow and slush. Clean
sensors : regularly. Be careful not to
scratch or damage sensors :, see “Cleaning
the driving systems sensors” (Y page 263).
GWarning!
The Parktronic is a supplemental system. It is
not intended to, nor does it replace, the need
for extreme care. The responsibility during
parking and other critical maneuvers always
remains with the driver.
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GWarning!
Make sure no persons or animals are in or
near the area in which you are parking/
maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be
injured.
! Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes
(e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts,
elevated crossbars or road curbs). Such
objects may not be detected by the system
and can damage the vehicle.
During parking maneuvers, pay special
attention to objects located above or below
the height of the sensors (e.g. street curbs,
painted posts, or trailer hitches etc.). The
Parktronic system will not detect such
objects at close range and damage to your
vehicle or the object may result.
! Ultrasonic signals from outside sources
(e.g. truck air brakes, car wash, or
jackhammers) may impair the operation of
the Parktronic system.
Range of the sensors
Front sensors
Centerapprox. 40 in (100 cm)Cornersapprox. 24 in (60 cm)
Rear sensors
Centerapprox. 48 in (120 cm)Cornersapprox. 32 in (80 cm)
Minimum distance
Centerapprox. 8 in (20 cm)Cornersapprox. 6 in (15 cm)
If the Parktronic system detects an obstacle
in this range, all the distance warning
segments illuminate and you hear a warning
signal. If the obstacle is closer than the
minimum distance, the actual distance may
no longer be indicated by the Parktronic
system.
Warning indicators
Visual signals indicate the relative distance
between the sensors and an obstacle.
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Front area warning indicators
Rear area warning indicators
Each warning indicator is divided into five
yellow and two red distance segments for left
side : and right side ; of the vehicle. The
Parktronic system is ready to measure when
the yellow readiness indicators = are
illuminated.
The current transmission position determines
which warning indicator will be activated.
Current
transmission
position
Warning indicatorDFront area activatedR or NFront and rear area
activated
As your vehicle approaches an object, one or
more distance segments will illuminate,
depending on the distance. When the seventh
distance segment illuminates, you have
reached the minimum distance.
RFront area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of 2 seconds
will sound as the first red distance segment
illuminates. A constant acoustic warning
lasting a maximum of 2 seconds will sound
for the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is shifted into park
position P or the parking brake is engaged.
RRear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of 2 seconds
will sound as the first red distance segment
illuminates. A constant acoustic warning
lasting a maximum of 2 seconds will sound
for the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is shifted into drive
position D, or park position P, or the
parking brake is engaged.
Switching the Parktronic system on/
off
The Parktronic system switches on
automatically when the ignition is switched
on.
Example illustration: All models, except ML 450HYBRID
XSwitching off: Press Parktronic
switch :.
Indicator lamp ; comes on.
XSwitching on: Press Parktronic switch :
again.
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Trailer towing
The rear Parktronic sensors will be
deactivated when you have established the
electrical connection between your vehicle
and the trailer you are about to tow.
! The distance between the sensors in the
bumpers and an obstacle is referred to as
the minimum range of the Parktronic. A
trailer hitch will reduce the distance to an
obstacle. Keep this in mind to avoid any
damage.
Parktronic system malfunction
There is a malfunction in the Parktronic
system, if only the red distance segments
illuminate and an acoustic warning sounds.
The Parktronic system will switch off
automatically after 20 seconds and indicator
lamp ; in Parktronic switch : comes on.
XHave the Parktronic system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
If only the red distance segments illuminate
and no acoustic warning sounds, the
Parktronic system sensors are dirty (e.g. dirt,
ice, snow and slush). Another cause could be
interference from other radio or ultrasonic
signals (e.g. truck air brakes, car wash, or
jackhammers). The Parktronic system will
switch off automatically after 20 seconds and
indicator lamp ; in Parktronic switch :
comes on.
XSwitch off the ignition.XClean the Parktronic system sensors
( Y page 263).XSwitch on the ignition.
orXCheck the Parktronic system operation at
another location to rule out interference
from outside radio or ultrasonic signals.
Rear view camera
The rear view camera is an optical parking aid.
The area behind the vehicle appears in the
COMAND system display as a mirror image,
like in the rear view mirror.
In addition, the rear view camera contains
guidelines to help you with driving in reverse.GWarning!
Make sure no persons or animals are in or
near the area in which you are parking/
maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be
injured.
GWarning!
The rear view camera is only an aid and may
display obstacles
R from a distorted perspective
R inaccurately
R may not display obstacles at all
The rear view camera does not relieve you of
the responsibility to be cautious. Take care
and pay careful attention. The rear view
camera may not show objects which are
R very close to the rear bumper
R under the rear bumper
R 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 and/or others.
GWarning!
The rear view camera either will not function
or will not function to its full capability if
R the tailgate is open
R it is raining very hard, snowing or foggy
R it is night or you are parking/maneuvering
your vehicle in an area where it is very dark
R the camera is exposed to a very bright white
light
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Rthe immediate surroundings are
illuminated with fluorescent light (the
display may flicker)
Rthere is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. if you drive into a heated garage from
the cold (lens condensation)
Rthe camera lens is dirty or covered
Rthe rear of your vehicle is damaged
In this case, have the position and setting
of the camera checked by a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you contact a Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose.
Do not use the rear view camera in these
situations. Otherwise you could injure
yourself or others and/or damage property
including your vehicle while parking/
maneuvering.
GWarning!
Use of rear view camera can be dangerous if
you are color-blind or have impaired color
vision.
Only use rear view camera if you can see and
distinguish all colored guidelines shown by
rear view camera on the COMAND system
display.
Camera lens : must be free of dirt, ice,
snow, and slush to function properly. Clean
the camera lens regularly. Being careful not
to scratch or damage the camera lens, see
“Cleaning the rear view camera lens”
(Y page 263).
Switching on/offXSwitching on: Switch on the ignition.XSwitch on the COMAND system.XShift the automatic transmission to reverse
gear R.
The COMAND system display will show the
area behind the vehicle with guidelines.
GWarning!
Please note that objects which do not touch
the ground may appear to be further away
than they actually are, for example:
Rthe bumper of a vehicle parked behind you
Ra trailer hitch
Rthe back of a truck
In such cases, you should not use the
guidelines to judge the distance. You may
misjudge the distance which increases the
risk of impacting the objects.
Even when the object you approach is directly
on the ground do not approach the object any
closer than the red guideline.
Red guideline = indicates an approximate
distance of 10 in (0.25 m) from the rear of the
vehicle. Yellow guidelines ; indicate an
approximate distance of 3 ft (1 m) from the
rear of the vehicle. Blue guidelines :
indicate the approximate width required for
the vehicle.
iThe image from the rear view camera will
no longer be displayed if you select another
function on the COMAND system while
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Rear automatic climate
control (Y page 177)
The rear automatic climate control allows
separate climate settings for the rear
compartment.
Air vents
GWarning!
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature). This
may cause burns or frostbite to unprotected
skin in the immediate area of the air vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between
unprotected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
adjustment to direct the air to air vents in the
vehicle interior that are not in the immediate
area of unprotected skin.
For best possible performance of the climate
control:
XKeep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow, leaves, sticks, and
any other debris.
XAlways keep all air vents and grilles in the
passenger compartment free from
obstruction.
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the
adjustable center and side air vents to the
middle position.
Center air vents:Left center air vent, adjustable;Right center air vent, adjustable=Thumbwheel for air volume control for
adjustable right center air vent
?Thumbwheel for air volume control for
adjustable left center air vent
XOpening/closing: Turn thumbwheels =
and ? in the required direction.
Side air vents
Example illustration driver’s side
:Left side defroster air vent, fixed;Left side air vent, adjustable=Thumbwheel for air volume control for
adjustable left side air vent
XOpening/closing: Turn thumbwheel = in
the required direction.
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FunctionRecommendation/NotesKInterior temperature sensorLClimate control on/offiSwitches on the climate
control system. The indicator
lamp in button ^ goes out.(Y page 169)Notes on climate control
The climate control is operational whenever
the engine is running. You can operate the
climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system cools
or heats the interior depending on the
selected interior temperature and the current
outside temperature.
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and odors
are filtered out before outside air enters the
passenger compartment through the air
distribution system.GWarning!
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled replacement interval. A clogged
filter will reduce the air volume to the interior
and the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and others.
Have a clogged filter replaced as soon as
possible at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode is deactivated
( Y page 169).
GWarning!
Follow the recommended settings for heating
and cooling given on the following pages.
Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
i If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the
interior before driving off, see “Summer
opening feature” (Y page 102). The climate
control will then adjust the interior
temperature to the set value much faster.
Deactivating the climate control
system
GWarning!
When the climate control system is switched
off, the outside air supply and circulation are
also switched off. Only choose this setting for
a short time. Otherwise the windows could fog
up, impairing visibility and endangering you
and others.
XDeactivating: Press button ^.
The indicator lamp in the button comes on.XReactivating: Press button Ã.
i
You can also press button ^ on the
climate control panel.
If you press button ¦ to reactivate the
climate control system, the defrosting
mode is activated.
Deactivating the rear climate control
from the front
XDeactivating: Press button ±.
The indicator lamp in the button comes on.XReactivating: Press button ±.
The indicator lamp in the button goes out.
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while the
engine is running and cools the interior air to
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