
GWarning!
If the distance warning lamp · in the
instrument cluster comes on while driving
and/or an intermittent warning sounds,
immediate attention on the part of the driver
is required. As required by the traffic
situation, apply the brakes and navigate
around a possible obstacle. However, do not
drive by relying on the distance warning
function, as this will result in an emergency
braking application. This will not always
enable you to avoid a collision, especially
when traveling on varying road surface
conditions and with varying driver reaction.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by the distance warning
function. This could result in wrong or missing
distance warnings.
XActivating/deactivating:  Activate or
deactivate the distance warning function in
the control system ( Y page 137).
When activated, the distance warning
function indicator  Ä appears in the
multifunction display.
Hill-start assist system
GWarning!
The hill-start assist system is not designed to
function as a parking brake. It does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when parked
on an incline.
Always engage the parking brake in addition
to shifting the automatic transmission into
park position  P.
On uphill grades, the hill-start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake system
for approximately 1 second after you have
released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can
start off smoothly without the vehicle moving
immediately after releasing the brake pedal.
XDepress the brake pedal.XShift the automatic transmission into drive
position  D or reverse gear  R.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The hill-start assist system is inactive
R when starting off on a level road or downhill
grades
R with the automatic transmission in neutral
position  N
R with the parking brake engaged
R if the ESP ®
 has switched off due to a
malfunction
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)
For information on off-road driving, see “Off-
road driving” ( Y page 248).
The DSR is an aid for driving downhill. The
DSR regulates your vehicle’s speed when
driving downhill to the value set in the control
system ( Y page 138). The steeper the
downhill gradient is, the greater the brake
application. On flat road surfaces, the DSR
brakes only slightly or not at all.
GWarning!
The Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) is a
convenience system designed to assist the
driver during vehicle operation. The system
must be set to be appropriate for the
topographical and weather conditions
encountered which can change quickly. The
driver is and must remain at all times
responsible for the vehicle speed and for safe
brake operation.
Depending on the programmed speed, actual
vehicle speed and gradient, switching on the
DSR while driving can cause the vehicle to
slow down rapidly and you may hear a sound
which is caused by the activation of the
vehicle’s brake system through the DSR.
Sudden and unexpected deceleration can
result in loss of vehicle control, causing an
accident and/or serious personal injury to
you and others. Do not switch on the DSR in
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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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20 seconds until the indicator lamp in the
SOS button is flashing.
The message Connecting Call appears in
the multifunction display.
As an alternative, you may unlock the vehicle
via Internet in the “My Tele Aid” section of
“Owner’s Online”, using your ID and password
(USA only).
iThe remote door unlock feature is
available if the relevant cellular phone
network is available.
The SOS button will flash and the message
Call Connected will appear in the
multifunction display to indicate receipt of
the door unlock command.
If the tailgate recessed handle was pulled
for more than 20 seconds before door
unlock authorization was received by the
Customer Assistance Center, you must
wait 15 minutes before pulling the tailgate
recessed handle again.
Stolen Vehicle Recovery Services 
In the event your vehicle was stolen:
XReport the incident to the police.
The police will issue a numbered incident
report.
XPass this number on to the Customer
Assistance Center along with your
password.
The Customer Assistance Center will then
attempt to covertly contact the vehicle’s
Tele Aid system. Once the vehicle is
located, the Customer Assistance Center
will contact the local law enforcement and
you. The vehicle’s location will only be
provided to law enforcement.
iIf the anti-theft alarm stays on for more
than 30 seconds, the Tele Aid system will
notify the Customer Assistance Center
automatically.
Garage door opener
The integrated remote control can operate up
to three separately controlled devices
compatible with HomeLink® or some other
systems.
GWarning!
Before programming the integrated remote
control to a garage door opener or gate
operator, make sure people and objects are
out of the way of the device to prevent
potential harm or damage. When
programming a garage door opener, the door
moves up or down. When programming a gate
operator, the gate opens or closes.
Do not use the integrated remote control with
any garage door opener that lacks safety stop
and reverse features as required by U.S.
federal safety standards (this includes any
garage door opener model manufactured
before April 1, 1982). A garage door that
cannot detect an object - signaling the door
to stop and reverse - does not meet current
U.S. federal safety standards.
When programming a garage door opener,
park vehicle outside the garage.
Do not run the engine while programming the
integrated remote control. Inhalation of
exhaust gas is hazardous to your health. All
exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide (CO),
and inhaling it can cause unconsciousness
and possible death.
Interior rear view mirror with integrated remotecontrol
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position N. Try to keep the vehicle under
control by corrective steering action.
i For information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains” ( Y page 243).
Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce the
normal brake effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically when
traveling at length on salt-strewn roads can
bring road-salt-impaired braking efficiency
back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven on
salt-treated roads, the braking efficiency
should be tested as soon as possible after
driving is resumed.GWarning!
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
To save fuel you should:
R Keep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.
R Remove unnecessary loads.
R Remove carriers when not in use.
R Allow engine to warm up under low load
use.
R Avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration.
R Have all maintenance work performed at
the intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet and as required by the
Maintenance system. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by driving
in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic, on
short trips and in mountainous areas.
Drinking and drivingGWarning!
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Pedals
GWarning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure that the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers,
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Power assistance
GWarning!
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is
in motion.
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Only install brake pads and use brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.GWarning!
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that safe
braking is substantially impaired. This could
result in an accident.
!  Vehicles with 4MATIC:
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 or the transfer case which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!  Vehicles without 4MATIC:
Because the ESP ®
 operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position  0 or
1  or KEYLESS-GO start/stop button in
position  0 or  1) when the parking brake is
being tested on a brake test dynamometer
or the vehicle is being towed with one axle
raised.
Active braking action through the ESP ®
may otherwise seriously damage the brake
system which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!  Vehicles with 4MATIC:
Because the ESP ®
 operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position  0 or
1  or KEYLESS-GO start/stop button in
position  0 or  1) when the parking brake is
being tested on a brake test dynamometer.
Such testing should be no longer than 10
seconds.
Active braking action through the ESP ®
may otherwise seriously damage the brake
system which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
If your brake system is only subjected to
moderate loads, you should occasionally test
the effectiveness of the brakes by applying
above-normal braking pressure at higher
speeds. This will also enhance the grip of the
brake pads.GWarning!
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) ( Y page 63).
High-performance brake system 
The high-performance brake system is only
available on ML 63 AMG.
GWarning!
New vehicle brake pads and disks, and
replacement brake pads and disks may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until that
time, you may need to use increased brake
pedal pressure while braking. Please be aware
of this and adjust your driving and braking
accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive high-demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition
messages in the multifunction display.
Especially for high-performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
The high-performance brake system is
designed to operate under the extremely high
operating demands required to
accommodate the performance capabilities
of the vehicle.
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VehicleDisplay messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsDepress 
brake to 
shift out 
of P.You have attempted to shift the automatic transmission into
drive position  D, reverse gear  R or neutral position  N without
depressing the brake pedal.XDepress the brake pedal.Door OpenVehicle 
Not In 
ParkYou have opened the driver’s door and the automatic
transmission is still in drive position  D, reverse gear  R or
neutral position  N.XBefore you leave the vehicle, make sure the automatic
transmission is in park position  P and the parking brake is
engaged.Drive to 
workshop 
without 
shifting 
gears.The automatic transmission cannot be shifted out of the
current transmission position because of a malfunction.
If the automatic transmission is in drive position  D:XWithout shifting the automatic transmission out of drive
position  D, drive to an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the automatic transmission is set to neutral position  N,
reverse gear  R or park position  P:
XDo not drive.XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.Only 
shift to 
P when 
vehicle 
is at a 
standstill
.You have attempted to shift the automatic transmission into
park position  P although the vehicle was still in motion.XStop the vehicle.Shift to 
P or N to 
start 
engine.You have attempted to start the engine with the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button while the automatic transmission was in
reverse gear  R or drive position  D.XShift the automatic transmission into park position  P or
neutral position  N. Make sure the brake pedal is depressed.Auxiliary 
BatteryMalfunctio
nThe backup battery for the automatic transmission is no
longer charging.XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.280Vehicle status messages in the multifunction displayPractical hints
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Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions$
(USA only)
J
(Canada
only)EBV, ABS, 
ESP 
Inoperativ
e See 
Operator’s
 ManualThe brake system is still functioning normally but due to a
malfunction, the ABS, the BAS, the EBP, the ESP ®
, and the
PRE-SAFE ®
 system are unavailable.XContinue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering capability.XAdjust driving to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.XHave the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.$
(USA only)
!
(Canada
only)Release 
Parking 
BrakeYou are driving with the parking brake engaged. In addition
an acoustic warning sounds.XRelease the parking brake.$
(USA only)
J
(Canada
only)Check 
Brake 
Fluid 
LevelThere is insufficient brake fluid in the reservoir.
Risk of accident!XStop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as it is safe
to do so.XEngage the parking brakeXDo  not  drive any further.XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the problem.
GWarning!
Driving with the message  Check Brake Fluid Level  displayed can result in an accident. Have
your brake system checked immediately.
Do not add brake fluid before checking the brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can
result in spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You can be
seriously burned.
!  If you find that the brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark
or below, have the brake system checked for brake pad thickness and leaks.
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GWarning!
The air hose can become hot during inflation.
Please exercise appropriate caution.
! Do not operate the electric air pump
longer than 8 minutes without interruption.
Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again after
it has cooled off.
If the tire inflation pressure of at least 
26 psi (1.8 bar) is not attained:
XTurn off the electric air pump by pressing
0 on electric air pump switch =.
XDetach filler hose D from tire valve E.XDrive vehicle back or forth very slowly
approximately 30 ft (10 m).
This serves to better distribute the TIREFIT
sealant material inside the tire.
XInflate the tire again.GWarning!
If a tire inflation pressure of 26 psi (1.8 bar)
is not attained, the tire is too severely
damaged for TIREFIT to provide a reliable tire
repair.
In this case, TIREFIT cannot properly seal the
tire.
Do not drive the vehicle.
Contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center or
call Roadside Assistance.
After attaining a tire inflation pressure of 
at least 26 psi (1.8 bar):
XPress 0 on electric air pump switch =.
The electric air pump is switched off.
XDetach the TIREFIT kit from the tire valve.GWarning!
The air hose may still be hot. Exercise proper
caution to avoid burning yourself when
detaching the electric air pump.
! Remaining TIREFIT sealant could escape
from the filler hose after it has been
detached from the tire valve. TIREFIT
sealant may cause stains.
Therefore, cover the filler hose, e.g. by
inserting it into the plastic bag the TIREFIT
kit was packed in.
XDrive off immediately.GWarning!
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h). A TIREFIT repair is not designed to
operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the
instrument cluster where it will be easily seen
by the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics of a TIREFIT
repaired tire may change. Adapt your driving
accordingly.
Version 2
XAfter driving the vehicle for an initial
10 minutes, check the tire inflation
pressure using pressure gauge G on the
air pump.
GWarning!
If tire inflation pressure has fallen below
20 psi (1.3 bar) do not continue to drive the
vehicle.
Park your vehicle safely away from the
roadway and contact the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or Roadside
Assistance.
Have the damaged tire replaced.
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