height MERCEDES-BENZ M-CLASS 2007 Owner's Manual

298 Controls in detailUseful featuresParcel net in front passenger footwell
A small convenience parcel net is located
in the front passenger footwell. It is intend-
ed for small and light items, such as road
maps, mail, etc.
1Parcel netParcel nets on front seat backrests
A small convenience parcel net is located
on each of the front seat backrests. It is in-
tended for small and light items, such as
road maps, mail, etc.
1Parcel net
Cup holdersWarning!
G
In order to help prevent spilling liquids on
vehicle occupants and/or vehicle equip-
ment, only use containers that fit into the
cup holder. Use lids on open containers and
do not fill containers to a height where the
contents, especially hot liquids, could spill
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or an
accident. Liquids spilled on vehicle occu-
pants may cause serious personal injury.
Liquids spilled on vehicle equipment may
cause damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
When not in use, keep rear cup holder
closed. An open cup holder may cause injury
to you or others when contacted during
braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an acci-
dent.
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334 OperationDriving instructions
Read this chapter carefully before you be-
gin off-road travel.
Familiarize yourself with the vehicle char-
acteristics and gear changing before you
attempt any difficult terrain off-road driv-
ing. We recommend that you start out with
easy off-road travel.Special driving features for off-road
driving
The following driving features are available
for specific kind of operation:


Off-road – ABS (
page 97)


Off-road – ESP
® (page 101)


Off-road – 4-ETS (
page 102)


Hill start assist system (
page 192)


Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)
(page 264)


Off-road driving program (
page 268)


Air suspension* (
page 269)
Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle.
You may lose control of the vehicle if you
use only the service brake. For information
on driving downhill, see “Driving downhill”
(page 338).
Warning!
G
Sand, dirt, mud and other material having
friction property can cause exceptional wear
and tear as well as brake failure.
Have the brakes checked for dirt build-up
and cleaned. There is otherwise a risk that
full braking power may not be available in an
emergency.
Warning!
G
Vehicles with air suspension package*:
Please be aware that by raising the vehicle
level, the center of gravity also rises. There-
fore, always ensure that the vehicle level is
as low as possible. With higher ride height
the ESP
® may activate earlier in certain
situations.

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357 Operation
Engine compartment
The hood lock release lever is located in
the driver’s footwell.
1Release lever
Pull release lever1 downwards.
The hood is unlocked. Handle2 pro-
trudes slightly from the radiator grille.
If not, lift the hood slightly.2Handle for opening the hood

Press and hold handle2.
The hood is unlocked.

Pull up on the hood in direction of ar-
row and then release it.
The hood will be automatically held
open at shoulder height by gas-filled
struts.
Warning!
G
Vehicles with diesel engine:
The engine is equipped with a high-voltage
electronic control unit for the injection
system. Because of the high voltage it is
dangerous to touch any components of the
injection system (injectors, electrical wires)

with the engine running


while starting the engine


when the ignition is switched on
!
To avoid damage to the windshield wipers or
hood, never open the hood if the wiper arms are
folded forward away from the windshield.
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358 OperationEngine compartmentClosing
Let the hood drop from a height of
approximately 1 ft (30 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.

Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Increased oil consumption
can occur when

the vehicle is new


the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.Checking engine oil level with the
control system (ML 500 only)
When checking the oil level


the vehicle must be parked on level
ground


with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 5 minutes with
the engine turned off


with the engine not at operating tem-
perature yet, the vehicle must have
been stationary for at least 30 minutes
with the engine turned off
To check the engine oil level via the
multifunction display, do the following:

Switch on the ignition (
page 40).
The standard display (
page 154)
should appear in the multifunction
display.
Warning!
G
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hands or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure that the hood is securely en-
gaged before driving off. Do not continue
driving if the hood can no longer engage af-
ter an accident, for example. The hood could
otherwise come loose while the vehicle is in
motion and injure you and/or others.
i
Do not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies.
Using special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
More information on this subject is available at
any Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
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386 OperationTires and wheelsGeneral:
Depending on the design standards used,
the tire size molded into the sidewall may
have no letter or a letter preceding the tire
size designation.
No letter preceding the size designation
(as illustrated above): Passenger car tire
based on European design standards.
Letter “P” preceding the size designation:
Passenger car tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “LT” preceding the size designation:
Light Truck tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “T” preceding the size designation:
Temporary spare tires which are high
pressure compact spares designed for
temporary emergency use only.Tire width
The tire width1 (
page 385) indicates
the nominal tire width in mm.
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio2 (page 385) is the
dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width and is
expressed in percentage. The aspect ratio
is arrived at by dividing section height by
section width.
Tire code
The tire code3 (
page 385) indicates
the tire construction type. The “R” stands
for radial tire type. Letter “D” means diag-
onal or bias ply construction; letter “B”
means belted-bias ply construction.
At the tire manufacturer’s option, any tire
with a speed capability above 149 mph
(240 km/h) can include a “ZR” in the size
designation (for example: 245/40 ZR 18).
For additional information, see “Tire speed
rating” (
page 387).Rim diameter
The rim diameter4 (
page 385) is the
diameter of the bead seat, not the
diameter of the rim edge. Rim diameter is
indicated in inches (in).
Tire load rating
The tire load rating5 (page 385) is a
numerical code associated with the
maximum load a tire can support.
For example, a load rating of 91 corre-
sponds to a maximum load of 1 356 lbs
(615 kg) the tire is designed to support.
See also “Maximum tire load”
(
page 391) where the maximum load as-
sociated with the load index is indicated in
kilograms and lbs.
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394 OperationTires and wheels
Tire ply material
1Plies in sidewall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the sidewall
and under the tread.
Tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or
bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width
expressed in percentage.
Warning!
G
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underin-
flation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause
excessive heat build-up and possible tire
failure.
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.
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442 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Possible solution
Front passenger airbag
disabled
See Operator’s Manual
Front passenger front air bag is
deactivated while driving even
though an adult or someone
larger than a small individual is
occupying the front passenger
seat. Forces acting on the seat
may make the system sense a
decrease in weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Apply the parking brake (
page 65).

Switch off the ignition (
page 40).

Have the front passenger vacate the seat and exit the vehicle.

Adjust the seat in a height position (
page 44).

Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present
(e.g. objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged underneath, behind
or around the seat). Such forces may cause the system to sense that
an occupant of a lesser weight than actually present is on the front
passenger seat.

Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch
on the ignition (
page 40).
(Continued on next page)
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468 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Visit workshop
The air suspension* is malfunctioning.

Do not drive faster than 50 mph
(80 km/h) depending on the set vehi-
cle level.

Have the vehicle checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Compressor
cooling down
You have selected a higher vehicle level*.
Due to frequent level changes within a
short period, the compressor must first
cool down.

Let the compressor cool until the
message disappears.
The selected level will be set once the
compressor has cooled.
!
When the message
Compressor cooling
down
appears in the multifunction display,
driving is still possible. Keep in mind that the ride
height of the vehicle is not yet reached, so you
can damage the underbody of the vehicle. The
selected level will be set once the compressor
has cooled.
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476 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyLocking the vehicle
If you cannot lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, lock the vehi-
cle carrying out the following steps.
Close the front passenger door, the
rear right door and the tailgate.

Open the driver’s door and the rear left
door.

Press the central locking switch on the
driver’s door (
page 126).
The locking knobs of the front passen-
ger door and the rear doors move
down.
If the vehicle battery is disconnected or
drained:

Press down the locking knobs of
the front passenger door and the
rear doors manually.

Exit the vehicle.

Close the driver’s door.

Enter the vehicle through the rear left
door.

Press down the locking knob of the
driver’s door.

Exit the vehicle.

Close the rear left door.
The vehicle is locked.
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
A minimum height clearance of 7.2 ft
(2.20 m) is required to open the tailgate.If the tailgate can no longer be unlocked
and opened using the Œbutton on the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO* function,
use the manual release to unlock and open
the tailgate.
The manual release is located on the inside
of the tailgate.
1Release lever
2Cover

Remove cover2 from the trim on the
tailgate.

Push release lever1 all the way to the
left.

Lift the tailgate.
!
To prevent inadvertent lockout, make sure
to have the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you before proceeding with
the next step. The next step will lock the vehicle.
i
This procedure does not arm the anti-theft
alarm system, nor does it lock the fuel filler flap.
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541 Technical data
Main Dimensions
Main Dimensions
Model
ML 320 CDI, ML 350, ML 500
ML 63 AMG
Overall vehicle length
188.5 in (4788 mm)
189.5 in (4812 mm)
Vehicle width (exterior rear view mirrors folded out)
83.7 in (2127 mm)
83.7 in (2127 mm)
Vehicle width (exterior rear view mirrors folded in)
76.0 in (1930 mm)
76.8 in (1951 mm)
Overall vehicle height (vehicles with steel suspen-
sion)
71.5 in (1815 mm)
-
Overall vehicle height, depending on set vehicle level
(vehicles with air suspension package*)
69.8 in-73.0 in
(1774 mm-1854 mm)
69.5 in-72.6 in
(1764 mm-1844 mm)
Wheelbase
114.8 in (2915 mm)
114.8 in (2915 mm)
Ground clearance (vehicles with steel suspension)
8.3 in (210 mm)
-
Ground clearance, depending on set vehicle level
(vehicles with air suspension package*)
7.1 in-10.3 in (181 mm-261 mm)
6.7 in-9.5 in (169 mm-242 mm)
Turning circle
39 ft (11.6 m)
39 ft (11.6 m)
Track, front
64.0 in (1627 mm)
64.8 in-65.5 in
(1647 mm-1664 mm)
Track, rear
64.1 in (1629 mm)
64.9 in-65.3 in
(1649 mm-1667 mm)
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