MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

190 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionShifting into optimal gear range
Press and hold the inside of one of the
buttons1 on the steering wheel
(page 189).
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.
Canceling gear range limit
Press and hold the outside of one of the
buttons2 on the steering wheel
(page 189) until
D reappears in the
multifunction display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:

Leave the transmission in gear.

Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop longer with the engine
idling and/or on a hill:

Set the parking brake.

Shift into park positionP.
Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:

Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.

Accelerate gently.

Never abruptly step on the accelerator.

191 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Rocking the vehicle
Rocking the vehicle by shifting betweenD
andR can help free a vehicle stuck in mud
or snow. The engine control system of this
vehicle electronically limits shifting
betweenD andR to very low speeds
(i.e. approx. 2 mph). To shift betweenD
andR, move the gear selector lever past
the resistance point up or down.
Hill start assist system
On uphill grades, the hill start assist
system maintains the pressure in the
brake system for approximately
one second after you have released the
brake pedal. Therefore, you can start off
smoothly without the vehicle moving im-
mediately after releasing the brake pedal.
The hill start assist system is inactive

on driving downhill


in positionN


with the parking brake setWorking on the vehicle
Towing a trailer
If you tow a trailer, note the following
points:

Manually shift to a lower gear range
(page 187) if the transmission hunts
between gears on inclines.
A lower gear range and reduction of
speed reduces the chance to overload
or overheat the engine.
For more information on trailer towing, see
the “Operation” section (
page 314).
Warning!
G
The hill start assist system is not designed
to function as a parking brake and does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when
parked on an incline.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to park position
P.
iIf the ESP
® has switched off due to a
malfunction, the hill start assist system
is also unavailable.
Warning!
G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and shift to park positionP.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away.

192 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionEmergency operation (Limp Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.

Shift to park positionP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.

193 Controls in detail
Transfer case
Transfer case
For more information on Off-road driving,
see “Off-road driving” (
page 306).
!Because off the ESP’s
® automatic
operation, the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in starter switch
position1) when testing the brakes on
a brake test dynamometer and such
testing should be no longer than
10 seconds. Active braking action
through the ESP
® may otherwise
seriously damage the front or rear axle
brake system.
Operational or performance tests with
the engine running must only be con-
ducted on a two-axle dynamometer.
Otherwise, the transfer case or the
brake system can be damaged, which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
iThe vehicle is equipped with full-time
four-wheel drive. Both the front and
rear axles are powered at all times
when the vehicle is being operated.

194 Controls in detailGood visibilityFor information on the windshield wipers,
see “Windshield wipers” (
page 55).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The switch is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer switch

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

Press headlamp washer switch1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system*” (
page 333).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 43).Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position
1Lever

Tilt the mirror to the antiglare position
by moving lever1 towards the wind-
shield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.

195 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Auto-dimming rear view mirror*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gearR is engaged


the interior light is turned on
Warning!
G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, when transporting cargo
which covers the rear window.
Glare can endanger you and others.Warning!
G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape from the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not
allow the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can be
completely removed only while in the
liquid state and by applying plenty of
water.Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

196 Controls in detailGood visibilityActivating exterior rear view mirror
parking position*
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the
passenger-side exterior rear view mirror
will be turned downward to the stored
position.
The buttons are located on the door
control panel.
1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
button
2Adjustment button
3Passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror button

Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 137).

Make sure the
Mirror adjustment
parking assist function in the
Conve-
nience
submenu of the control system
is switched to
On (page 174).

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

Place the gear selector lever in reverse
gearR.
The indicator lamp on the driver’s side
or passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button comes on, dependent
from the last setting.When the driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror button comes on:

Press button3 for the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror.
The passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror will be turned downward to the stored
position.
When the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror button comes on:
The passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror will be turned downward to the stored
position.iThe exterior rear view mirror parking
position is key-dependent. For more in-
formation on storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position, see “Storing
exterior rear view mirror parking posi-
tion” (
page 137).

197 Controls in detail
Good visibility
The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position:

when you switch off the ignition


ten seconds after you put the gear
selector lever out of positionR
Approximately 15 seconds later the in-
dicator lamp on the exterior rear view
mirror button goes out.


immediately once your vehicle exceeds
a speed of approx. 6 mph (10 km / h)


immediately when you press button1
for driver’s side mirror (
page 196)Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors*
Folding the exterior mirrors in and out
automatically
When the corresponding function in the
control system is activated (
page 175):


The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold in as soon as the vehicle is
locked from the outside.


The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold out as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front pas-
senger door are subsequently opened.Folding the exterior mirrors in and out
manually
The button is located on the door control
panel.
1Button for folding exterior mirrors in
and out

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
iWith gear selector lever in reverse
gearR you can deactivate the exterior
rear view mirror parking position by
pressing button1, or activate by
pressing button3. The indicator lamp
of the selected button is on.
!Before you drive the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, fold the exterior
mirrors in, otherwise they may get
damaged.

198 Controls in detailGood visibilityFolding in
Briefly press button1.
Both mirrors fold in.Folding out

Briefly press button1 again.
Both mirrors fold out.
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
iIf you are driving at more than approxi-
mately 30 mph (47 km/h), you will not
be able to fold the exterior mirrors in.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing
is forcibly pushed forward (hit from the
rear) or forcibly pushed rearward (hit
from the front) press button1 to fold
mirrors in, then press button1 again
to fold mirrors out. Do not force mirrors
b y h a n d a s t h i s m a y d a m a g e t h e a d j u s t -
ment mechanism.
The mirror housing is now properly po-
sitioned and you can adjust the mirror
normally.
Warning!
G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.

199 Controls in detail
Good visibility
1Mounting
2Sun visor
Swing sun visor2 down when you
experience glare.1Mounting
2Additional visor*
3Sun visor
If sunlight enters through a side window:

Swing sun visor3 down.

Disengage sun visor3 from mounting
by pulling the visor up at an angle1.

Pivot sun visor3 to the side.The sun visors are extendable.

Adjust the sun visors by pushing or
pulling in the direction of the arrows.

Swing additional visor*2 down when
you experience glare.
1Sun visor
2Mirror cover
3Mirror lamp
4Vanity mirror
iIf sunlight enters through a side win-
dow, disengage sun visor from
mounting1 and pivot to the side.
Mirror lamp3 (
page 199) will
switch off.