2015 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class chains

qualified workshop. You could otherwise
damage the drive train or the brake system.
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are per-
manently driven. Together with ESP ®
and
4ETS, it improves the traction of your vehicle whenever a drive wheel spins due to insuffi-
cient grip.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 191).
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) Important safety notes
DSR assists you when driving downhill. It
keeps the speed of travel at the speed set on
the on-board computer. The steeper the
downhill gradient, the greater the DSR brak-
ing effect on the vehicle. When driving on flat stretches of road or on an uphill gradient, the
DSR braking effect is minimal or nonexistent.
DSR controls the set speed when it is active
and the automatic transmission is in the D,R
or Nposition. By accelerating or braking, you
can always drive at a higher or a lower speed
than that set on the on-board computer.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 191).
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DSR can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. DSR cannot take
account of road, weather and traffic condi-
tions. DSR is only an aid. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in front, for
vehicle speed, for braking in good time and for
staying in your lane.
You are always responsible for keeping con-
trol of the vehicle and for assessing whether
the downhill gradient can be managed. DSR
may not always be able to keep to the set
speed, depending on road surface and tire
conditions. Select a set speed suitable for the prevailing conditions and when necessary,
apply the brakes manually. G
WARNING
If the speed driven and the set speed deviate and you activate DSR on a slippery road sur-
face, the wheels may lose traction. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Before switching DSR on, please take into
consideration the road surface and the differ- ence between driving speed and the set
speed.
Activating DSR G
WARNING
If you drive faster than the set speed and acti-
vate DSR, the vehicle will decelerate on down- hill gradients. If you do not know the set
speed, the vehicle could decelerate unexpect-edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Decelerate the vehicle to the set speed before
activating DSR. If you do not know what the
stored set speed is, store the desired set
speed again. Example: vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package
0043 DSR button
0044 DSR indicator lamp
X Press button 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up.
The 00C6 DSR symbol appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
You can only activate DSR when driving at
speeds below 25 mph (40 km/h). 250
Driving systemsDriving and parking

If the current vehicle speed is too high, the
00C6 DSR symbol appears in the multifunc-
tion display with the Max. speed 25 mph
Max. speed 25 mph
message (Canada: 40 km/h
40 km/h).
i You cannot activate DSR if the SPORT on-
road program is activated. The 00C6DSR
symbol and the Not in Drive Program
Not in Drive Program
SPORT
SPORT message then appears in the multi-
function display.
Deactivating DSR
X Press button 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044goes out.
The 00C6 DSR symbol appears in the mul-
tifunction display with the Off
Off message.
DSR switches off automatically if you drive
faster than 28 mph (Canada: 45 km/h). The
00C6 DSR symbol appears in the multifunc-
tion display with the Off
Off message. The status
indicator in the multifunction display goes
out. You also hear a warning. On vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package, if you select a
different on-road/off-road program, DSR is
also deactivated.
Changing the set speed X
To increase or decrease in 1 mph incre-
ments (Canada: 1 km/h increments):
briefly press the cruise control lever up 0043for a higher set speed or down
0044for a
lower set speed.
The set speed appears in the multifunction display with the 00C6DSR symbol. It is also
displayed in status indicator 0087.
When DSR is activated, you can change the
set speed to a value between 1 mph and
11 mph (Canada: between 2 km/h and
18 km/h).
i The DSR set speed is always changed in
1 mph increments (Canada: 1 km/h incre-
ments). This is regardless of whether you
press the cruise control lever to or beyond
the pressure point.
Off-road programs (vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package) General notes
The off-road programs assist you in driving
off-road. The engine's performance charac-
teristics and the gearshifting characteristics
of the automatic transmission are adapted for
this purpose. ABS, ESP ®
and 4ETS programs
especially adapted to off-road driving are acti-
vated. An accelerator pedal curve suitable for the terrain is selected, i.e. the accelerator
pedal must be depressed further to acceler-
ate.
Do not use the off-road programs on roads
that are snow-covered or icy or if you have
mounted snow chains on your vehicle.
For information on driving off-road, see
(Y page 191).
The following program messages are shown
in the multifunction display until the applica-
ble vehicle level is set. Up to off-road level 2,
you can hide the program messages using the 0038 or the 0076button on the multifunction
steering wheel. Driving systems
251Driving and parking Z

The differential lock improves the vehicle's
traction. 4ETS (Y page 73) controls the bal-
ance between both wheels on an axle.
You can only activate off-road program 2
when driving at speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h)
or below.
LOW RANGE off-road gear (vehicles
with the ON&OFFROAD package) Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you select the LOW RANGE off-road gear on a slippery road surface, the wheels could lose traction:
R if you remove your foot from the accelera-
tor pedal when driving
R if off road ABS intervenes when braking
If the wheels lose traction. the vehicle can no
longer be steered. There is an increased dan-
ger of skidding and accidents.
Never select the LOW RANGE off-road gear
when driving on slippery road surfaces. G
WARNING
If you do not wait for the transfer case gear
change process to complete, the transfer
case could remain in the neutral position. The power transmission to the driven wheels is
then interrupted. There is a danger of the
vehicle rolling away unintentionally. There is a
risk of an accident.
Wait until the transfer case shift process is
completed.
Do not turn off the engine while changing gear
and do not shift the automatic transmission
to another position. General notes 0043
LOW RANGE off-road gear button
0044 LOW RANGE off-road gear indicator lamp HIGH RANGE
Position for all normal on-
road driving conditions
LOW RANGE
Off-road position for driv-
ing off-road and fording
The transmission ratio
between the engine and
wheels is only approx-
imately one third of that in
the HIGH RANGE road
position. Drive torque is
thus proportionately
higher.
Do not use LOW RANGE:
R on slippery road surfa-
ces, e.g. in the case of
slush
R on snow or ice-covered
roads
R if you have mounted
snow chains to your
vehicle The LOW RANGE off-road gear assists you in
driving off-road and when fording. When LOW
RANGE is engaged, the engine’s performance
characteristics and the gearshifting charac-
teristics of the automatic transmission are
adapted for this purpose.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 191). You will find information about
driving safety systems in conjunction with Driving systems
253Driving and parking Z

of the towing vehicle, as the latter is equip-
ped 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 cou-
pling up a trailer, please observe the fol-
lowing:
R Unless highway level has been set man-
ually, the vehicle is automatically low-
ered to highway level. This is the case if a
speed of 5 mph (8 km/h) is reached.
R High-speed level is not available.
These restrictions apply to all accessories
powered through a connection to 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 Canadian provinces
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 cou-
pling, not to the bumper or the axle. Leave enough play in the chains to make
tight cornering possible.
R A separate brake system for certain types
of trailer.
R A safety switch for braked trailers. Check
the specific legal requirements applicable
to your state.
If the trailer detaches from the towing vehi- cle, the safety switch applies the trailer's
brakes. Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements con-
cerning the towing of a trailer, e.g. speed
restrictions. Make sure that your car/trailer
combination complies with the local regula-
tions: R in your place of residence
R in the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide
reliable information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
R To gain driving experience and to become
accustomed to the new handling charac-
teristics, you should practice the following
in a traffic-free location:
- cornering
- stopping
- backing up
R Before driving, check:
- trailer tow hitch
- safety switch for braked trailers
- safety chains
- electrical connections
- lights
- 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 260
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

Only winter tires bearing the
004Dsnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide the best possible grip in wintry road con- ditions.
Only these tires will allow driving safety sys-
tems such as ABS and ESP ®
to function opti-
mally in winter. These tires have been devel-
oped specifically for driving in snow.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on
all wheels to maintain safe handling charac-
teristics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
Once the winter tires are mounted:
X Check the tire pressures (Y page 407).
X Restart the tire pressure monitor
(Y page 408).
X Vehicles for Canada: restart the tire pres-
sure loss warning system (Y page 408).
For more information on driving with the
emergency spare wheel, see (Y page 440).Snow chains
G
WARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R never install snow chains to the front
wheels
R always install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
! You must drive at raised vehicle level
(height 1) if snow chains have been instal-
led. The vehicle may otherwise be dam-
aged.
! Vehicles with Adaptive Damping Sys-
tem (ADS): do not use the sports mode if you have installed snow chains. The vehicle
may otherwise be damaged.
! On some tire sizes there is not enough
space for snow chains. To avoid damage to
the vehicle or tires, observe the "Wheel and tire combinations" section under "Tires and
wheels".
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specially approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a correspondingstandard of quality.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please
bear the following points in mind:
R Only use snow chains when driving on
roads completely covered by snow.
Remove the snow chains as soon as possi-
ble when you come to a road that is not
snow-covered.
R Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
R Local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Observe the appropriate reg-
ulations if you wish to mount snow chains.
R Snow chains may not be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. Permissible
wheel-tire combinations (Y page 428).
i You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when
pulling away with snow chains installed
(Y page 73). You can thereby allow the
wheels to spin in a controlled manner, ach-
ieving an increased driving force (cutting
action).
For more information on driving with the
emergency spare wheel, see (Y page 440). Winter operation
403Wheels and tires Z

when adjusting the tire pressure
(Y
page 404).
i The actual values for tires are vehicle-
specific and may deviate from the values in
the illustration. Checking the tire pressures
Important safety notes Observe the notes on tire pressure
(Y
page 404).
Information on air pressure for the tires on
your vehicle can be found:
R on the vehicle's Tire and Loading Informa-
tion placard on the B-pillar (Y page 412)
R on the tire pressure label on the fuel filler
flap (Y page 179)
R in the "Tire pressure" section
R under "Tire pressure" (Y page 404)
Checking tire pressures manually To determine and set the correct tire pres-
sure, proceed as follows:
X Remove the valve cap of the tire that is to
be checked.
X Press the tire pressure gauge securely onto
the valve.
X Read the tire pressure and compare it with
the recommended value on the Tire and
Loading Information placard (Y page 404).
X If the tire pressure is too low, increase it to
the recommended value.
X If the tire pressure is too high, release air by
pressing down the metal pin in the valve.
Use the tip of a pen, for example. Then,
check the tire pressure again using the tire
pressure gauge.
X Screw the valve cap onto the valve.
X Repeat these steps for the other tires. Tire pressure loss warning system
General notes While the vehicle is in motion, the tire pres-
sure loss warning system monitors the set
tire pressure using the rotational speed of the wheels. This enables the system to detect
significant pressure loss in a tire. If the speed
of rotation of a wheel changes as a result of a loss of pressure, a corresponding warning
message will appear in the multifunction dis- play.
You can recognize the tire pressure loss warn-
ing by the Run Flat Indicator Active Run Flat Indicator Active
Press 'OK' to Restart
Press 'OK' to Restart message which
appears in the Service
Servicemenu of the multi-
function display. Information on the message
display can be found in the "Restarting the tire
pressure loss warning system" section
(Y page 408).
Important safety notes The tire pressure warning system does not
warn you of an incorrectly set tire pressure.
Observe the notes on the recommended tire
pressure (Y page 404).
The tire pressure loss warning does not
replace the need to regularly check the tire
pressure. An even loss of pressure on several tires at the same time cannot be detected by
the tire pressure loss warning system.
The tire pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tire is penetrated by a foreign object. In the
event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Avoid
abrupt steering maneuvers.
The function of the tire pressure loss warning system is limited or delayed if:
R snow chains are mounted on your vehicle's
tires.
R road conditions are wintry.
R you are driving on sand or gravel. Tire pressure
407Wheels and tires Z

Tires
ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC Summer tires
R 18
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 255/5
5 R 18 105 V BA: 8.0 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 2.20 in (56 mm)
BA: 255/55 R 18 105 V BA: 8.0 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 2.22 in (56.5 mm)
R 19
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 225/50 R 19 103 W
3 BA: 8.0 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 2.20 in (56 mm)
BA: 255/50 R 19 103 W
3, 4 BA: 8.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 2.32 in (59 mm)
BA: 255/50 R 19 103 W
3, 4 BA: 8.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 2.44 in (62 mm)
R 20
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 265/45 R 20 104 Y
3, 4 BA: 9.0 J x 20 H2
Wheel offset: 2.24 in (57 mm)
R 21
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 265/40 R 21 105 Y XL
4, 5, 6 BA: 9.0 J x 21 H2
Wheel offset: 2.09 in (53 mm)
3
Available as MOExtended tires.
4 Use of snow chains is not permitted. Observe the notes under "Snow chains".
5 Observe the notes on "Large wheels" under "General notes" in the "Wheel/tire combinations" section.
6 Only for vehicles with air suspension. 430
Wheel and tire combinationsWheels and tires

All-weather tires
R 18
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 255/55 R 18 105 H M+S BA: 8.0 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 2.20 in (56 mm)
R 19
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 225/50 R 19 103 W
3 BA: 8.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 2.44 in (62 mm)
BA: 255/50 R 19 107 H XL M+S
3 BA: 8.0 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 2.20 in (56 mm)
BA: 255/50 R 19 107 H XL M+S
3, 7 BA: 8.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 2.32 in (59 mm)
BA: 255/50 R 19 107 H XL M+S
3, 8 BA: 8.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 2.44 in (62 mm)
R 20
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 265/45 R 20 108 H XL M+S
3, 8 BA: 9.0 J x 20 H2
Wheel offset: 2.24 in (57 mm)
Winter tires
R 17
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 235/65 R 17 104 H M+S
004D BA: 7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset: 2.09 in (53 mm)
R 18
Tires Alloy wheels
BA: 255/55 R 18 105 H M+S
004D BA: 8.0 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 2.20 in (56 mm)
3
Available as MOExtended tires.
7 Snow chains not permitted. Observe the notes under "Snow chains".
8 Snow chains not permitted. Observe the notes under "Snow chains". Wheel and tire combinations
431Wheels and tires Z