R
Brake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger othe rroad 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 instrument cluster 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 68).
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
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual
driving style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all
circumstances. An aggressive driving style Driving tips
185Driving and parking Z
R
Do not jump with the vehicle as this will
interrupt the vehicle's propulsion.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope.
R Do not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N.
i Do not use the HOLD function when
driving off-road, on steep uphill or downhill
gradients or on slippery or loose surfaces.
The HOLD functio ncannot hold the vehicle
on such surfaces.
Checklist before driving off-road !
If the engine oil warning lamp lights up
while the vehicle is in motion, stop the
vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible.
Chec kthe engine oil level. The engine oil
warning lamp warning must not be ignored.
Continuing the journey while the symbol is
displayed could lead to engine damage.
X Engine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add oil if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the
engine oil level must be sufficiently high to
ensure a correct oil supply in the vehicle.
X DEF tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check the
level and top up if necessary (Y page 177).
X Tire-changing tool kit: check that the jack
is working and make sure you have the lug
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tires: check the tire tread
depth and tire pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tires.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Rims: dented or bent rims can result in a
loss of tire pressure and damage the tire
bead. Therefore, check your rims before
driving off-road and replace them as
required. Checklist after driving off-road !
If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
X Deactivate DSR (Y page 246).
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
lower the vehicle to a ride height suitable
for the road conditions, e.g. to the
highway/high-speed level.
X Cleant he headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Cleant he front and rear license plates.
X Cleant he wheels/tires with a water jet and
remove any foreign objects.
X Cleant he wheels, wheel housings and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check
for any foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber
bellows of the axle joints and propeller
shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.
X After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on
normal roads. After driving off-road, check
the vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident
to yourself and other road users. Driving tips
189Driving and parking Z
angle of 45°. Note that the climbing ability
of your vehicle depends on the terrain
conditions.
R When driving down an incline, make use of
the engine's braking effect. Observe the
engine speed; do no toverrev the engine.
R Drive slowly.
R Avoid high engine speeds. Drive at
appropriate engine speeds (maximum
3,000 rpm).
R Use the left-hand paddle shifter to shift into
a lower gearing ood time on long and steep
downhill gradients.
R Check the brakes after prolonged off-road
driving.
i Hill start assist will aid you when pulling
away on a hill.
For further information about hill start
assist, see (Y page 161).
Do not switch to transmission position N
when driving off-road. If you try to brake the
vehicle using the service brake, you could
lose control of the vehicle. If the gradient is
too steep for your vehicle, drive back down in
reverse gear.
Always observe the approach/departure
angle values (Y page 454).
Maximu mgradient-climbing capability Always observe the maximum gradient
climbing ability values (Y page 455).
Hilltops When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator
immediately before reaching the brow of the
hill .Use the vehicle's own impetus to drive
over the top of the hill.
This style of driving prevents:
R the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side Driving downhill R
Drive slowly.
R Do not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight.
Otherwise, the vehicle could slip sideways,
tip and rollover.
R Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand
paddle shifter before tackling steep
downhill gradients.
R Activate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake
gently. When doing so, make sure that the
vehicle is facing in the direction of the line
of fall.
R Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
i The special off-road ABS setting enables
a precise, brief and repeated locking of the
front wheels. This causes them to dig into
loose earth. Be aware that the front wheels
easily skid across the ground surface if
completely braked and therefore lose their
ability to steer. Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. You must
select a lower gear in good time on long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By doing
so, you will make use of the braking effect of
the engine. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h). Driving systems
191Driving and parking Z
indicator lamp goes out and Blind Spot Assist
is operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the blind spot
monitoring range at speeds above 20 mph
(30 km/h), warning lamp 0002on the
corresponding side lights up red. This warning
is always emitted when a vehicle enters the
blind spot monitoring rang efrom behind or
from the side .When you overtake a vehicle,
the warning only occurs if the difference in
speed is less than 7mph (12 km/h).
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. In this event, Blind Spot
Assist is no longer active.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to
the ambient light.
Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the
corresponding turn signal, a double warning
tone sounds. Red warning lamp 0002flashes. If
the turn signal remains on, vehicles detected
are indicated by the flashing of red warning
lamp 0002.There are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that the radar sensor system
(Y page 276) and Blind Spot Assist (Y
page 273) are activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps 0002in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing atrailer
When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
correctly established the electrical
connection. This can be accomplished by
checking the trailer lighting. In this event,
Blind Spo tAssist is deactivated. The indicator
lamp in the exterior mirrors lights up yellow,
and the Blind Spot Assist Currently Unavailable See Operator's Manual
message appears in the multifunction
display.
i
You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors.
To do so, switch off Blind Spot Assist when:
R the SmartKey is in position 2in the
ignition lock
R the engine is not running
R the electrical connection to the trailer
has been established
Lane Keeping Assist General notes
0002
Lane Keeping Assist camera
Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area in
front of your vehicle by means of a Driving systems
235Driving and parking Z
of the towing vehicle, as the latter is
equipped with an anti-lock brake system.
Doing so will result in a loss of function of
the brake systems of both the vehicle and
the trailer.
X Make sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.
X Apply the vehicle's electric parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select highway level.
X Vehicles with ADS: set ADS toAUTOor
COMF.
X Switch off the engine.
X Close all doors and the tailgate.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish all electrical connections.
X Check that the trailer lighting system is
working.
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
with a trailer attached, the vehicle will
always remain at highway level. When
coupling up a trailer, please observe the
following:
R Unless highway level has been set
manually, the vehicle is automatically
lowered to highway level. This is the case
if a speed of 5mph(8km/h) is reached.
R High-speed level is not available.
These restrictions apply to all accessories
powered through a connectio nto the trailer
power socket of your vehicle, e.g. a bicycle
carrier.
Observe the maximum permissible trailer
dimensions (width and length).
Most U.S. states and all Canadia nprovinces
require by law:
R Safety chains between the towing vehicle
and the trailer. The chains should be cross-
wound under the trailer drawbar. They must
be fastened to the vehicle's trailer
coupling, not to the bumper or the axle. Leave enough play in the chains to make
tight cornering possible.
R As eparate brake system for certain types
of trailer.
R As afety switch for braked trailers. Check
the specific legal requirements applicable
to your state.
If the trailer detaches from the towing
vehicle, the safety switch applies the
trailer's brakes. Towing
atrailer
There are numerous legal requirements
concerning the towing of a trailer, e.g .speed
restrictions. Make sure that your vehicle/
trailer combination complies with the local
requirements not only in your area of
residence but also at any location to which
you are traveling. The police and local
authorities can provide reliable information.
Please observe the following when towing a
trailer:
R In order to accumulate driving experience
and accustom yourself to the new handling
characteristics, practice the following at a
location where there is no traffic:
-Cornering
- Stopping
- Backing up
R Before driving, check:
-the trailer tow hitch
- the safety switch for braked trailers
- the safety chains
- electrical connections
- the lights
- the wheels
R Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually
using the brake controller and check
whether the brakes function correctly. Towing
atrailer
257Driving an d parking Z
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
0004
Auto
Lamp Function
Inoperative The ligh
tsensor is defective.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 0004
Switch Off Lights The lights are still switched on when you leave the vehicle. A
warning tone also sounds.
X
Turn the light switch to 0006.Adaptive Highbeam
Assist Inoperative Adaptive Highbeam Assist is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Adaptive Highbeam
Assist Currently
Unavailable See
Operator's Manual Adaptive Highbeam Assist is deactivated and temporarily
inoperative. Possible causes are:
R
the windshield in the camera's field of vision is dirty.
R visibility is impaired due to heavy rain, snow or fog.
X Clean the windshield.
If the system detects that the camera is fully operational again,
the Adaptive Highbeam Assist Now Available message is
displayed.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is operational again. Engine
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
000F
Check Coolant
Level See
Operator's Manual The coolant level is too low.
!
Avoid making long journeys with too little coolant in the engine
cooling system. The engine will otherwise be damaged.
X Add coolant, observing the warning notes before doing so
(Y page 367).
X If coolant needs to be added more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. 000E The fan moto
ris faulty.
X At coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †) drive to the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-and-go traffic. 298
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
0007
(USA only)
000C (Canada only)
The red electric parking
brake indicator lamp
flashes or lights up
and/or
000C
warning lamp for the
electric parking brake
lights up. X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display. 001F
The red SRS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
There is a malfunction in the SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System).
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be
triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not
be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Drive on carefully.
X Have SRS checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
For further information about SRS, see (Y page 43).324
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
Engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
0010
The yellow Check
Engine warning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running.
There may be a malfunction, for example:
R
in the engine management
R in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (for vehicles with a gasoline engine)
R in the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engin emay
be running in emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop.
i In some states, you must immediately visit a qualified
specialist workshop as soon as the yellow Chec kEngine warning
lamp lights up .This is due to the legal requirements in effect in
these states. If in doubt, check whether such legal regulations
apply in the state in which you are currently driving. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the fuel tank has been run dry
(Y
page 176).
X Start the engine three to four times after refueling.
If the yellow Check Engine warning lamp goes out, emergency
running mode is canceled. The vehicle need not be checked. 0012
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp lights up
while the engine is
running.
The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
X
Refuel at the nearest gas station. 0012
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp flashes
while the vehicle is in
motion.
In addition, the
0010
Check Engine warning
lamp may light up. The fuel system pressure is too low. The fuel filler cap is not closed
correctly or the fuel system is leaking.
X
Check that the fuel filler cap is correctly closed.
X If the fuel filler cap is not correctly closed: close the fuel filler
cap.
X If the fuel filler cap is closed: visit a qualified specialist
workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
325On-board computer and displays Z