2011 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class center console

Cargo tie down rings ......................... 260
CD player/CD changer (on-board
computer) .......................................... 212
Center console ..................................... 31
Central locking Automatic locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 217
SmartKey ......................................... 72
Changing bulbs
Headlamps ..................................... 111
Changing gears .................................. 146
Changing the programming SmartKey ......................................... 75
Checklist
After driving off-road ...................... 168
Before driving off-road ...................167
Child-proof locks
Rear doors ....................................... 63
Special seat belt retractor ...............61
Children
In the vehicle ................................... 58
Restraint systems ............................ 59
Child seat
Automatic recognition .....................48
Automatic recognition/air bag
deactivation, self-test ......................50
ISOFIX (LATCH-type child seat
anchors) ........................................... 61
Special seat belt retractor ...............61
Top Tether ....................................... 62
Troubleshooting ............................... 51
Cigarette lighter ................................ 267
Climate control Activating/deactivating .................128
Activating/deactivating air-
recirculation mode .........................133
Controlling automatically ...............130
Cooling with air dehumidification ..129
Defrosting the windshield ..............132
Demisting the windows .................. 133
Dual-zone automatic climate
control ........................................... 123
Important safety information .........122
Indicator lamp ................................ 130
Multi-zone automatic climate
control ........................................... 124
Problems with "cooling with air
dehumidification" ........................... 130Problems with the rear window
heating .......................................... 133
Rear control panel .................125, 128
Refrigerant ..................................... 362
Setting the air distribution .............132
Setting the airflow .........................132
Setting the air vents ......................135
Setting the temperature ................131
Setting the temperature (rear
compartment) ................................ 131
Switching the MONO function on/
off .................................................. 132
Switching the rear window
heating on/off ............................... 133
Switching the residual heat
function on/off .............................. 134
Clock (on-board computer) ............... 215
Cockpit ................................................. 27
Collapsible spare wheel Inflating ......................................... 309
see Emergency spare wheel
Combination switch .......................... 109
Compass ............................................ 279
Calling up ....................................... 279
Consumption statistics (on-board
computer) .......................................... 219
Convenience closing feature .............. 86
Convenience opening feature ............ 86
Coolant (engine) Checking the level .........................285
Display message ............................ 233
Notes ............................................. 362
Temperature gauge ........................ 208
Cooling
see Climate control
Cornering light (display message) ... 230
Crash-responsive emergency
lighting ............................................... 111
Cruise control .................................... 171
Cruise control lever .......................172
Display message ............................ 239
Cup holder ......................................... 265
Center console .............................. 265
Rear compartment .........................266
Current fuel consumption (on-
board computer) ............................... 2206IndexBA 164.1 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 2, en-USd2mskotVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-21T17:25:06+02:00 - Seite 6

SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) Display message ............................ 224
Introduction ..................................... 36
Warning lamp ................................. 251
Warning lamp (function) ................... 36
Standard display (on-board
computer) .......................................... 208
Starting the engine Important safety instructions ......... 140
Station
see Radio
Status line (on-board computer)
Multifunction display .....................206
Selecting the display ...................... 214
Steering (display message) .............. 244
Steering wheel Adjusting (electrically) ...................100
Adjusting (manually) ........................99
Buttons (on-board computer) ......... 205
Cleaning ......................................... 292
Important safety instructions ...........99
Memory function (storing
settings) ......................................... 100
Steering wheel heating ..................100
Storing settings (memory
function) ........................................ 103
Steering wheel heating
Indicator lamp (Malfunction) ..........100
Steering wheel paddle shifters ........ 148
Stowage compartments Armrest (under) ............................. 257
Glove box ....................................... 257
Stowage space
Center console .............................. 257
Center console (rear) .....................258
Cup holders ................................... 265
Important safety information .........256
Submenu (on-board computer)
Convenience .................................. 218
Instrument cluster .........................214
Lighting .......................................... 215
Time/Date ..................................... 215
Vehicle ........................................... 217
Summer opening
see Convenience opening feature
Sun visor ............................................ 266Supplemental Restraint System
see SRS
Surround lighting (on-board
computer) .......................................... 215
SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) .......................21
Switching off the alarm (ATA) ............ 69
T
Tachometer ........................................ 204
Tailgate Display message ............................ 244
Emergency unlocking .......................84
Important safety guidelines .............80
Limiting the opening angle ...............83
Taillight
see Tail lamps
Tank contents
Gauge .............................................. 28
Technical data ................................... 354
ML 350 .......................................... 364
ML 350 4MATIC ............................. 364
ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC ...............363
ML 550 4MATIC ............................. 364
ML 63 AMG ................................... 365
Tires/wheels ................................. 347
TELEAID
Call priority .................................... 274
Display message ............................ 224
Downloading destinations
(COMAND) ..................................... 274
Emergency call .............................. 271
Important safety notes ..................270
Locating a stolen vehicle ...............275
MB info call button ........................273
Roadside Assistance button ..........272
Self-test ......................................... 271
System .......................................... 271
Vehicle remote unlocking ..............275
Telephone
Accepting a call ............................. 220
Display message ............................ 245
Menu (on-board computer) ............220
Number from the phone book ........ 221
Redialing ........................................ 221
Rejecting/ending a call .................221
Telephone compartment .................. 257
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Exterior view ....................................... 26
Cockpit ................................................. 27
Instrument cluster ..............................28
Multifunction steering wheel .............30
Center console .................................... 31
Overhead control panel ......................32
Door control panel .............................. 3325At a glanceBA 164.1 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 2, en-USd2mskotVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-21T17:25:06+02:00 - Seite 25

Center consoleFunctionPage:COMAND APS; see the
separate operating
instructions
;Seat heating97=Seat ventilation98?PARKTRONIC184ALevel control181B42 indicator
lamp (USA only)42
42 indicator
lamp (Canada only)48
CStowage compartment256DATA indicator lamp69FunctionPageEESP®66FSelects ADS settings184GDSR192HHazard warning lamps109IOffroad program193AMG vehicles: selects the
drive program147
JAshtray267Cigarette lighter267KCup holder265LStowage compartment256Center console31At a glanceBA 164.1 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 2, en-USd2mskotVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-21T17:25:06+02:00 - Seite 31

The front air bags increase protection for the
driver's and front-passenger's head and
chest.
Driver's front air bag : deploys in front of
the steering wheel; front-passenger front air
bag ; deploys in front of and above the glove
box. They are deployed:
R in the event of certain frontal impacts
R if the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R if the seat belt is fastened
R independently of other air bags in the
vehicle
If the vehicle overturns, the front air bags are
generally not deployed unless the system
detects high vehicle deceleration in a
longitudinal direction.
Your vehicle has adaptive, dual-stage front air
bags. In the event of a collision, the air bag
control unit evaluates the vehicle
deceleration. When the first deployment
threshold is reached, the front air bag is filled
with enough gas to reduce the risk of injuries.
The front air bag is fully deployed if a second
deployment threshold is exceeded within a
few milliseconds.
Vehicles with OCS (USA only): front-
passenger front air bag deployment is also
influenced by the passenger's weight
category as identified by the Occupant
Classification System (OCS) ( Y page 42).
Vehicles with OCS (USA only): the lighter the
passenger side occupant, the higher the
vehicle deceleration rate required for second
stage inflation of the front-passenger front air
bag. In the second stage, the front air bags
are inflated with the maximum amount of
propellant gas available.
The air bags will not deploy in impacts which
do not exceed the system's preset
deployment thresholds. You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belts.
! Vehicles with BabySmart™ (Canada only):
do not place objects heavier than 20 lb
(9 kg) on the front-passenger seat, as this
could be interpreted as the seat being
occupied. In the event of an accident, the
restraint systems on the front-passenger
side are deployed. Have restraint systems
replaced that have been deployed.
The front-passenger front airbag will only
deploy if:
R the system, based on the OCS weight
sensor readings, detects that the front-
passenger seat is occupied (USA only).
R the 42 indicator lamp in the
center console is not lit, USA:
( Y page 42), Canada: ( Y page 48).
R the impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold.
Side impact air bagsGWarning
Observe "Important safety instructions"
( Y page 38).
GWarning!
The pressure sensors for side impact air bag
control are located in the doors. Do not
modify any components of the doors or door
trim panels including, for example, the
addition of door speakers.
Improper repair work on the doors or the
modification or addition of components to the
doors create a risk of rendering the side
impact air bags inoperative or causing
unintended air bag deployment. Work on the
doors must therefore only be performed by
40Occupant safetySafety
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Window curtain air bags : are deployed:
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate
of lateral vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, e.g. in a side impact
R regardless of whether the front-passenger
seat is occupied
R if the vehicle overturns and the system
determines that window curtain air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R independently of the front air bags
The window curtain air bags will not deploy in
impacts which do not exceed the system's
preset thresholds. You will then be protected
by the fastened seat belts.
Occupant classification system (OCS)
Operating principles of the Occupant
Classification System
The OCS is standard equipment in the USA.
OCS categorizes the occupant on the front-
passenger seat by means of a weight sensor.
The front-passenger front air bag is
automatically deactivated for certain weight
categories. The 42 indicator
lamp shows you the current status. If the
42 indicator lamp lights up, the
front-passenger front air bag is deactivated.
The system does not disable:
R the side impact air bag
R the window curtain air bag
R the Emergency Tensioning Device/belt
buckle tensioner (ETD)
To be classified correctly, the front passenger
must sit:
R with the seat belt properly fastened
R in a position that is as upright as possible
with the back against the seat backrest
R with their feet on the floor
The OCS weight sensor is distorted if the
occupant's weight is transferred to another
object in the vehicle, e.g. by leaning on the
armrest.
In addition, the occupant weight may appear
to increase or decrease due to the following:
R objects hanging on the seat
R objects lodged underneath the seat
R objects lodged between the seat and the
center console
R objects lodged between the seat and the
door
R other passengers exerting weight on the
seat
R objects applying pressure to the back of
the seat
Make sure that the seat always has clearance
in all directions.
If the front-passenger seat, the seat cover or
the seat cushion are damaged, have the
necessary repair work carried out at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use seat
accessories which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Both the driver and the front passenger
should observe the 42 indicator
lamp to determine whether or not the front
passenger is positioned correctly.42Occupant safetySafety
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If the key has been removed from the ignition
lock or is in position 0, indicator lamp
42 : does not light up.
GWarning
If the red + SRS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and the 42
indicator lamp light up simultaneously, OCS is
malfunctioning. The front-passenger front air
bag is disabled in this case. Have the system
checked as soon as possible by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
In order to ensure proper operation of the air
bag system and OCS:
R do not place any objects with a total weight
of more than 4.4 lb(2 kg) in the parcel net
on the back of the front-passenger seat.
OCS may otherwise be unable to correctly
assess the occupant's weight category.
R do not place any objects under or near the
front-passenger seat.
R do not hang or fasten any objects on the
seats.
R do not store any objects, such as books,
between the front-passenger seat and the
center console or the front-passenger door.
R do not slide the front-passenger seat
backwards against any hard objects.
R sit with the seat belt fastened correctly and
in a position that is as upright as possible
with your back against the backrest.
R while seated, an occupant should not
position him/herself in such a way as to
cause the occupant's weight to be lifted
from the seat bottom as this may result in
the OCS being unable to correctly
approximate the occupant's weight
category.
R read and observe all warnings in this
chapter.
System self-test
The 42 indicator lamp
illuminates when you:
R turn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock
R press the KEYLESS-GO Start-Stop button
once or twice
If an adult occupant is properly sitting on the
passenger seat and the OCS classifies the
occupant as an adult, the 42
indicator lamp illuminates and goes out again
after approximately 6 seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the OCS
classifies the front-passenger seat as being
unoccupied, the 42 indicator
lamp will illuminate and not go out.
GWarning!
If the 4 2 indicator lamp does
not illuminate, the system is not functioning.
You must contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center before seating any child on the
front passenger seat.
For more information, see "Problems with the
occupant classification system"
( Y page 47).
GWarning
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. a pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the OCS. The underside
and rear side child restraint system must be
placed entirely on the seat cushion and the
backrest of the front-passenger seat
backrest.
Occupant safety45SafetyBA 164.1 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 2, en-USd2mskotVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-21T17:25:06+02:00 - Seite 45Z

Differential lock
General notes
i Differential locks are available only in
vehicles with the Off-Road Pro engineering
package.
Your vehicle is equipped with the following:
R A differential lock for the transfer box: this
controls the balance between the front and
rear axles.
R A differential lock for the rear axle: this
controls the balance between the wheels
and the rear axle.
Differential locks improve the vehicle's
traction. 4ETS ( Y page 67)controls the
balance between the wheels on the front axle.
Information on "Off-road driving"; see
( Y page 166).
Information about the differential and
differential locks
When the vehicle is driving around a curve,
the wheels on the outside of the curve have
to cover a greater distance and therefore
have to turn faster than the wheels on the
inside. The differential, a transmission in the
drive train, balances these different rotational
speeds out, making cornering possible.
The disadvantage of a differential: the wheels
with the least grip are driven the hardest.
Example: one wheel on a driven axle is on a
snow-covered surface and therefore has no
traction. This wheel has the most driving
force, since the differential distributes most
of the force to the wheel with the least
resistance. The wheel on the opposite side of
this axle, which is on a solid surface and could
therefore enable traction, does not have any
driving force. 4ETS eliminates this
disadvantage and ensures good steerability
by braking the spinning wheel automatically
and thereby directing more force to the wheel
that is on a solid surface and can provide
traction.
ESP ®
and 4ETS are traction systems that are
ideally suited to road driving and driving on
easily negotiable off-road terrain. The LOW
RANGE off-road gear also improves off-road
capability.
Difficult off-road conditions require additional
measures, such as locking one or more
differentials. Your vehicle has two differential
locks: one (central) differential lock for the
transfer case and one differential lock for the
rear axle. Both differential locks can be
activated using the selector wheel on the
center console. When the (central)
differential for the transfer case is locked, the
speed of the front wheels is the same as the
speed of the rear wheels. When the
differential for the rear axle is locked, both of
the rear wheels turn at the same speed,
independent of their individual torques. Note
that activating the differential locks
significantly reduces the steerability of the
vehicle.
For your safety, the safety of others and to
prevent damage to the vehicle, the
differential locks must not be activated on
paved roads. Note that the differential
function is necessary when driving on paved
roads and that the differentials must never be
locked on paved roads. Otherwise, the
vehicle can no longer be steered. The
differential locks must therefore only be
activated when driving off-road, and then only
if activating the other driving systems (4ETS,
ESP ®
and LOW RANGE off-road gear) is no
longer sufficient.
Engaging the differential locks
! Drive off slowly when the differential
locks are engaged.
Function or performance tests may only be
performed on a 2-axle dynamometer. If you
wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
beforehand. You could otherwise damage
the drive train or the brake system.
196Off-road driving systemsDriving and parking
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