2013 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class ignition

Problems with fuel and the fuel tank
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
Fuel is leaking from the
vehicle. The fuel line or the fuel tank is faulty.
G WARNING
Risk of explosion or fire.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0in the ignition lock and remove
it immediately (Y page 157).
X Do not restart the engine under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start. The fuel tank of a vehicle with a diesel engine has been run
completely dry.
X
Refuel the vehicle with at least 5.3 US qt (5 liters) of diesel.
X Turn the ignition on for approximately ten seconds
(Y page 157).
X Start the engine continuously for up to ten seconds until it runs
smoothly.
If the engine does not start:
X Turn the ignition on again for approximately ten seconds
(Y page 157).
X Start the engine again continuously for up to ten seconds until
it runs smoothly.
If the engine does not start after three attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The fuel filler flap
cannot be opened. The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The SmartKey battery is discharged.
X
Unlock the vehicle (Y page 79).
or
X Unlock the vehicle using the mechanical key (Y page 80).The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is
jammed.
X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. 176
RefuelingDriving and parking

is not permitted if the vehicle is not parked
on a level surface. There is a danger of
overfilling, which could result in damage to
components of the BlueTE
Cexhaus tgas
aftertreatment.
! Rinse surfaces that have come into
contact with DE Fimmediately with water or
remove DEF using a damp cloth and cold
water. If the DEF has already crystallized,
use a sponge and cold water to clea nit. DEF
residues crystallize after time and
contaminate the affected surfaces.
! DEF is not a fuel additive and must not be
added to the fuel tank. If DEF is added to
the fuel tank, this can lead to engine
damage.
For further information on DEF, see
(Y page 448).
Opening the DEF filler cap The fuel filler flap is unlocked or locked
automatically when you open or close the
vehicle with the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-
GO.
X
Switch the ignition off.
X Press the fuel filler flap in the directio nof
arrow 0002.
The fuel fille rflap swings up.
X Turn blue DE Ffiller cap 0003counter-
clockwise and remove it.
DEF filler cap 0003is secured with a plastic
strip. DEF refill bottle !
Only screw on the DE Frefill bottle hand-
tight .Itcould otherwise be damaged. X
Unscrew the protective cap from DEF refill
bottle 0002.
X Place DEFr efill bottle0002on the filler neck
as shown and screw it on clockwise until
hand-tight.
X Press DEFr efill bottle0002towards the filler
neck.
The DEFt ank is filled. This may take up to
one minute.
i When DE Frefill bottle 0002is no longer
pressed, filling stops and the bottle may be
taken off again after being only partially
emptied.
X Release DEFr efill bottle0002.
X Turn DEFr efill bottle 0002counter-clockwise
and remove it.
X Screw the protective cap onto DEF refill
bottle 0002again.
DEFr efill bottles can be obtained at many gas
stations or at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center .Refill bottles without a threaded cap
do not provide overfill protection. DEF may
leak if overfilled. Mercedes Benzo ffers
special refill bottles with a threaded seal.
These are available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. 178
RefuelingDriving and parking

Closing the DEF filler cap
X
Install DEF filler cap 0003on the filler neck
and turn it clockwise.
X To close the fuel fille rflap, press it in the
direction of arrow 0002.
X Drive faster than 10 mph (16 km/h).
The Check Additive See Operator's Manual message goes out after
approximately one minute.
i If the Check Additive See Operator's Manual message continues
to be shown in the multifunction display,
you must add more DEF. Parking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If flammable materials such as leaves, grass
or twigs are exposed to prolonged contac tto
parts of the exhaust system that heat up, they
could ignite. There is a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable
materials come into contact with parts of the
vehicle which are hot. Take particular care not
to park on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant function sare only available
with limitations, or not at all.T his could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect.Y ou will require considerably more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
the parking position P
R starting the engine.
They could also operate the vehicle's
equipment. There is a risk of an accident and
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
! Always secure the vehicle correctly
against rolling away.O therwise, the vehicle
or its drivetrai ncould be damaged.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
R the electric parking brake must be applied.
R the transmission must be in position Pand
the SmartKey must be removed from the
ignition lock.
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, turn
the front wheels towards the curb.
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, the
front axle of an empty vehicle must be
secured, for example with awheel chock.
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, the
rear axle of a laden vehicle must be
additionally secured, for example with a
wheel chock. Parking
179Driving and parking Z

Switching off the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral position Nwhen you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away.T here is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake.
Using the SmartKey X
Apply the electric parking brake.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
i If you turn off the engine with the
SmartKey and then remove it from the
ignition lock or open a front door, the
automatic transmission shifts to P
automatically.
Using KEYLESS-GO X
Apply the electric parking brake.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Press the Start/Stop button (Y page 158).
The engine stops and all the indicator
lamps in the instrumentc luster go out.
i If you use the Start/Stop button to switch
off the engine, the automatic transmission
shifts to Nautomatically. If you the nopen
one of the fron tdoors, the automatic
transmission shifts to P.
i In the event of an emergency, the engine
can be turned off while the vehicle is in
motion by pressing and holding the Start/
Stop button for three seconds. Electric parking brake
General notes G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
the parking position P
R starting the engine.
They could also operate the vehicle's
equipment. There is a risk of an accident and
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
i The electric parking brake performs a
function test at regular intervals while the
engine is switched off. The sounds that can
be heard while this is occurring are normal.
Applying/releasing manually X
To engage: push handle 0002.
When the electric parking brake is
engaged, the 0008(USA only) or 000D
(Canada only) red indicator lamp lights up
in the instrument cluster.
i The electric parking brake can also be
applied when the SmartKey is removed. 180
ParkingDriving and parking

X
To release: pull handle0002.
The red 0008(USA only) or 000D(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
i The electri cparking brake can only be
released:
R if the SmartKey is in position 1in the
ignition loc kor
R if the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button.
To ensure that you do not roll backwards
when pulling away on an uphill slope, engage
the electric parking brake (Y page 160).
Applying automatically The electric parking brake is applied
automatically:
R
if DISTRONIC PLUS brings the vehicle to a
standstill or
R if the HOL Dfunction is keeping the vehicle
stationary
In addition, at least on eofthe following
conditions must be fulfilled:
R the engine is switched off.
R the driver's door is open and the seat belt
is not fastened.
R the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy
period.
The red 0008(USA only) or 000D(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrumentc luster
lights up.
Releasing automatically The electric parking brake is released
automatically when all of the following
conditions are fulfilled:
R the engine is running.
R the transmission is in position Dor R.
R the seat belt has been fastened.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
If the transmission is in position R, the trunk
lid must be closed. If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake:
R
the driver's door is closed.
R you have shifted out of transmission
position Por you have previously driven
faster than 2 mph (3 km/h)
Emergency braking X
While driving, push handle 0002of the electric
parking brake.
The vehicle can also be braked during an
emergency by using the electric parking
brake.
i The vehicle is braked for as long as the
handle of the electric parking brake is
pressed. The longer the electric parking
brake handle is depressed, the greater the
braking force.
During braking:
R a warning tone sounds.
R the Release Park. Brake message
appears
R the red 0008(USA only) or 000D(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes.
When the vehicle has been braked to a
standstill, the electric parking brake is
engaged. Parking
181Driving and parking Z

Parking the vehicle for
along period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
X Connecting a trickle charger.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
six weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as
a result of lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice. Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignitio nwhile driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect.Y ou will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If you operate mobile communication
equipment while driving, you will be
distracted from traffic conditions. You could
also lose control of the vehicle. There is a risk
of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the
country in which you are driving. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers
a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m)
per second.
Drive sensibly
–save fuel Observe the following tips to save fuel:
X
The tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.
X Remove unnecessary loads.
X Remove roof carriers whe nthey are not
needed.
X Warm up the engine at low engine speeds.
X Avoid frequent acceleration or braking.
X Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or by the service
interval display.
Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-start traffic
and in hilly terrain.
Drinking and driving G
WARNING
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.
Emission control G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling 182
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt
residue may for
monthe brake discs and
brake pads. This can result in a significantly
longer braking distance.
R Brake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes !
If the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrumentc luster and you hear a
warning tone while the engine is running,
the brake fluid level may be too low.
Observe additional warning messages in
the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a2-axle
dynamometer. If you are planning to have
the vehicle tested on such a dynamometer,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to obtain further information first.
Otherwise, you could damage the drive
train or the brake system.
! Because ESP ®
is an automatic system,
the engine and ignition must be switched
off (SmartKey in position 0or 1or Start/
Stop button in position 0or 1) when the
electri cparking brake is being tested on a
brake dynamomete r(maximum
10 seconds).
Braking triggered automatically by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake system. All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop
.Consult a
qualified specialist workshop to arrange this.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of your brakes at regular
intervals. To do so, press firmly on the brake
pedal when driving at a high speed. This
improves the grip of the brake pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist
(BAS) on (Y page 67) or of BAS PLUS on
(Y page 67).
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your
vehicle which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which correspond
to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
pads/linings which have not been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your
vehicle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use brake fluid that has been specially
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz,
or which corresponds to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake fluid which has not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which is not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
High-performance brake system for
AMG vehicles The high-performance brake system is
installed only on the ML 63 AMG.
The high-performance brake system is
designed for heavy loads. This may lead to
noise when braking. This will depend on:
R Speed
R Braking force
R Environmental conditions, such as
temperature and humidity 184
Driving tipsDriving and parking

AIRMATIC package
General notes AIRMATIC regulates the level of your vehicle.
As well as level control ( Ypage 210), your
vehicle can be equipped with AD S(Adaptive
Damping System) (Y page 209) and ACTIVE
CURVE SYSTEM (Y page 209).
Observe the notes on driving with a trailer
(Y page 253).
ADS (Adaptive Damping System) General notes
ADS adapts the damping characteristics to
the current operating and driving situation.
This depends on:
R your driving style
R the road surface conditions
R the ADS setting
R the vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored eve nifyou
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Sports tuning Example: vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD
package
0002 Suspension tuning button
0003 Indicator lamp for sports tuning
001F Indicator lamp for comfort tuning
X Start the engine. X
Press button 0002.
Indicator lamp 0003lights up. Sports
suspension tuning is selected. The vehicle
is lowered by 0.6 in (15 mm).
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing a sporty
driving style, e.g. on winding country roads.
Comfort tuning Example: vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD
package
0002
Suspension tuning button
0003 Indicator lamp for sports tuning
001F Indicator lamp for comfort tuning
X Press button 0002.
Indicator lamp 001Flights up. Comfort tuning
is selected. The vehicle is raised by 0.6 in
(15 mm).
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable.
Therefore, select this mode if you favor a
more comfortable driving style. Select
comfor tmode also when driving fast on
straight roads, e.g. on straight stretches of
freeway.
Active Curve System The Active Curve System uses active
stabilizers to optimize both driving comfort
and vehicle agility. Depending on the ADS
mode selected (Y
page 209), the Active Curve
System also changes the setting. Driving systems
209Driving and parking Z