
bags repaired. This will help to make sure the
air bags will continue to provide supplemental
crash protection for occupants.
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD)
and air bag GWarning!
R Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been subjected to stress in an accident
must be replaced. Their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use seat belts
installed or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
R Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency
Tensioning Devices (ETDs) contain
perchlorate material, which may require
special handling and regard for the
environment. Check with your local
government’s disposal guidelines.
California residents, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Perchlorate/index.cfm .
R Air bags and ETDs are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An air bag or ETD
that has deployed must be replaced. PRE-
SAFE ®
has electrically operated reversible
pre-tensioners in addition to the
pyrotechnic ETDs.
R Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
R Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat belts.
R Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
R No modifications of any kind may be made
to any components or wiring of the SRS.
R Do no change or remove any component or
part of the SRS.
R Do not install additional trim material, seat
covers, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, front passenger front air bag
cover, outboard sides of the seat
backrests, door trim panels, or door frame
trims.
R Do not install additional electrical/
electronic equipment on or near SRS
components and wiring.
R Keep area between air bags and occupants
free of objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).
R Do not hang items such as coat hangers
from the coat hooks or handles over the
door. These items may be thrown around in
the vehicle and cause head and other
injuries when the window curtain air bag is
deployed.
R Air bag system components will be hot after
an air bag has inflated. Do not touch them.
R Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
R Improper repair work on the SRS creates a
risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended air bag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefore only be
performed by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
R For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit or
ETD, our safety instructions must be
followed. These instructions are available
from any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
R Given the considerable deployment speed,
required inflation volume, and the material
of the air bags, there is the possibility of
abrasions or other, potentially more serious
injuries resulting from air bag deployment.
If you sell your vehicle, we strongly
recommend that you inform the subsequent
owner that the vehicle is equipped with SRS.
Also refer them to the applicable section in
the Operator’s Manual.Occupant safety39Safety and security164_AKB; 7; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:07:36+02:00 - Seite 39Z

tie-down rings in the cargo compartment
(Y page 188).
XOpen the hook and loop fasteners on the
cargo net package.
XRoll out the cargo net.XUnfold the cargo net.XEngage the upper cargo net bar.
The cargo net bar must engage audibly.
Installing the cargo net
Cargo net installed behind the C-pillar
XHang cargo net bar ; on holder : as
indicated by the arrow.
XPush cargo net bar ; forward into
holder : in direction of arrow.
XEngage lower cargo net bar.
The cargo net bar must engage audibly.
Pulling the cargo net tight
Belt hook attached behind the rear seat backrests
XHook belt hook : into cargo tie-down
ring ; in direction of arrow.
XPull tightening belt = by the loose end in
direction of arrow until the cargo net is
pulled tight.
XAfter driving a short distance, make sure
the cargo net is still tight and, if necessary,
pull it tight again.
Loosening the cargo net
Belt hook attached behind the rear seat backrests
XLoosen the tightening belt by pulling
buckle : upward in direction of arrow.
XRemove belt hook ; from cargo tie-down
ring =.
Removing and storing the cargo net
XTake cargo net bar ; (Y page 192) out of
holder : (Y page 192).
XPress the red button on the upper and lower
cargo net bar.
XFold the cargo net.XRoll up the cargo net.XClose the hook and loop fasteners on the
cargo net package.
Front storage compartments
GWarning!
To help avoid personal injury during a collision
or sudden maneuver, exercise care when
192Loading and storingControls in detail
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Driving in steep terrain
Slope angle
:Overhang angle, front;Overhang angle, rearVehicles with
steel
suspension
::21;27°22°26°Vehicles with
air suspension
program
::21;Raised level31°25°29°Highway25°18°24°ML 63 AMG:;Raised level26°28°Highway21°24°
RComply with the warnings (Y page 248) and
rules for off-road driving (Y page 248).
RDriving on embankments, slopes and other
steep inclines should only be done straight
up or downhill, i.e. in the line of gravity.
Maximum vehicle climbing ability is a
100% grade which is equivalent to a slope
angle of 45°. Keep in mind that the
climbing ability of the vehicle depends on
terrain conditions.
RShift automatic transmission into gear
range 1 (Y page 113).
RDrive slowly.
RAvoid excessive engine speeds – drive with
moderate engine speeds (max. 3 000 rpm).
RUtilize the engine’s braking power when
descending a slope, observe the engine
speed (do not overrev the engine). Apply
the service brake as needed.
iFor maximum engine speed, see
“Tachometer” (Y page 119) and see vehicle
specification for your vehicle
(Y page 348).
RCheck the brakes after a lengthy
downgrade drive.
GWarning!
Never turn the vehicle around on steep
inclines. The vehicle might roll over. If the
vehicle cannot complete the attempted climb,
back it down in reverse gear.
iThe hill-start assist system supports you
when driving uphill.
For more information, see “Hill-start assist
system” (Y page 152).
Traction in steep terrain
The maximum vehicle climbing ability is a
100% grade which is equivalent to a slope
angle of 45°. Keep in mind that the climbing
ability of the vehicle depends on terrain
conditions.
Be easy on the accelerator and watch for
continuous wheel traction when driving in
steep terrain.
iThe 4-ETS helps greatly when starting out
on a steep incline when the front wheels
have then the tendency to slip due to the
weight shifting towards the rear axle.
21Vehicles with AMG Sport-Package250Driving instructionsOperation
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Vehicles with AMG Sport Package
XPress mark on cover : as indicated by the
arrow.
XLift cover : off to reveal the threaded hole
for the towing eye bolt.
Removing cover in rear bumper
GWarning!
In order to avoid possible serious burns or
injury, use extreme caution when removing
the rear cover, because the rear exhaust pipe
is extremely hot.
Vehicles with Sport Package
Vehicles with AMG Sport Package
XPress mark on cover : as indicated by the
arrow.
XVehicles with Sport Package: Pry
cover : with a flat, blunt object as a lever.
XVehicles with AMG Sport Package: Press
mark on cover : as indicated by the arrow.
XLift cover : off to reveal the threaded hole
for the towing eye bolt.
340Towing the vehiclePractical hints
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Same size tiresModelML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC
ML 350 4MATIC
ML 350 4MATIC (Sport Package)
ML 550 4MATIC18" wheelsRims (light alloy)
Wheel offset8 J x 18 H2
2.36 in (60 mm)Winter tires 50,51,52255/55 R18 105H M+S
iAll-terrain tires50,51,52255/55 R18 105H M+SModelML 350
ML 350 4MATIC
ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC 5319" wheelsRims (light alloy)
Wheel offset8 J x 19 H2
2.36 in (60 mm)All-season tires 50255/50 R19 107H XL (Extra Load) M+SWinter tires50,51255/50 R19 107H XL (Extra Load) M+S
iModelML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC5319" wheelsRims (light alloy)
Wheel offset8 J x 19 H2
2.36 in (60 mm)All-season tires 50255/50 R19 107H XL (Extra Load) M+S
MOExtended 54Winter tires 50,51255/50 R19 107H XL (Extra Load) M+S
i
MOExtended 5450
Radial-ply tires.
51 Not available as factory equipment.
52 ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC: Standard tire without run-flat characteristics. Equipping the vehicle with TIREFIT
is strongly recommended.
53 ML 350 BlueTEC: Availabilty in Canada depending on vehicle production date.
54 Must be used in conjunction with Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System (U.S. vehicles) or tire pressure
loss warning system (Canada vehicles) only.354Rims and tiresTechnical data
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ModelML 550 4MATIC (Sport Package)19"wheelsAMG rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset8.5 J x 19 H2
2.28 in (58 mm)All-season tires 55255/50 R19 107H XL (Extra Load) M+SWinter tires55,56255/50 R19 107H XL (Extra Load) M+S
iModelML 63 AMG19" wheelsAMG rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset9.5 J x 19 H2
1.81 in (46 mm)Winter tires 55,56285/45 R19 107H M+S
iModelML 350 (Appearance Package)
ML 350 4MATIC (Appearance Package)20" wheelsRims (light alloy)
Wheel offset8.5 J x 20 H2
2.17 in (55 mm)All-season tires 55265/45 R20 108H XL (Extra Load) M+SModelML 550 4MATIC (Sport Package)20" wheelsAMG rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset8.5 J x 20 H2
2.36 in (60 mm)All-season tires 55,57265/45 R20 108H XL (Extra Load) M+SModelML 63 AMG20" wheelsAMG rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset10 J x 20 H2
1.81 in (46 mm)Summer tires 55,57295/40 ZR20 106YModelML 63 AMG21" wheelsAMG rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset10 J x 21 H2
1.81 in (46 mm)Summer tires 55,57295/35 ZR21 107Y XL (Extra Load)55
Radial-ply tires.
56 Not available as factory equipment.
57 Must not be used with snow chains.Rims and tires355Technical data164_AKB; 7; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:07:36+02:00 - Seite 355Z