MERCEDES-BENZ ML55AMG 2001 W163 User Guide

8 Introduction
Operator’s manual
This Operator’s Manual contains a great deal of useful information. We urge you to read it carefully and familiarize
yourself with the vehicle before driving.
For your own safety and longer service life of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the instructions and warnings
contained in this manual. Ignoring them could result in damage to the vehicle or personal injury to you or others.
Vehicle damage caused by failure to follow instructions is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Your vehicle may have some or all of the equipment described in this manual. Therefore, you may find explanations
for optional equipment not installed in your vehicle. If you have any questions about the operation of any equipment,
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center will be glad to demonstrate the proper procedures.
Service and warranty information
The Service and Warranty Information Booklet contains detailed information about the warranties covering your
Mercedes-Benz, including:
•New Light Truck Limited Warranty,
•Emission System Warranty,
•Emission Performance Warranty,
•California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont Emission Control System Warranty
(California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont only),
•State Warranty Enforcement Laws (Lemon Laws).

9 IntroductionImportant notice for California retail buyers of Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to a replacement of your vehicle or a refund of the purchase price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC or its authorized Mercedes-Benz Center fails to conform the vehicle to its express warranties
after a reasonable number of repair attempts during the period of one year or 12 000 miles from original delivery of
the vehicle. A reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed for a retail buyer (1) if the vehicle is out of service by
reason of repair of substantial nonconformities for a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar days or (2) the same
substantial non-conformity has been subject to repair four or more times and you have at least once directly
notified us in writing of the need to repair the non-conformity and have given us an opportunity to perform the
repair ourselves. Notifications should be sent to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Regional Office listed in the
Service and Warranty Information Booklet.
Maintenance
The Service Booklet describes all the necessary maintenance work which should be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Service Booklet with you when you take the vehicle to your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for service. The service advisor will record each service in the booklet for you.

10 Introduction
Roadside assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Program provides factory trained technical help in the event of a breakdown.
Calls to the toll-free Roadside Assistance number:
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz Client Assistance Representatives 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Roadside assistance will be provided in accordance with standard program guidelines which include providing service
to the vehicle up to a reasonable distance from a paved roadway. We will make every effort to assist in a breakdown
situation, however, the accessibility of your vehicle will be determined by our authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center technician or the tow service provider on a case by case basis and may be a factor in our ability to respond.
Additional charges may be applicable for a breakdown location determined not to be a reasonably accessible roadside
location as determined by our authorized technician and tow service provider.
For additional information refer to the Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Program brochure in your glove box.

11 IntroductionChange of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to send in the “Change of Address Notice” found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or simply call the Mercedes-Benz Client Assistance Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100. It is in your own interest that we can
contact you should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all literature with the vehicle to make it available to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used Car” found in the Service and
Warranty Information Booklet, or call the Mercedes-Benz Client Assistance Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100.
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign countries, please be aware that:
•Service facilities or replacement parts may not be readily available,
•unleaded gasoline for vehicles with catalytic converters may not be available; the use of leaded fuels will damage
the catalysts,
•gasoline may have a considerably lower octane rating, and improper fuel can cause engine damage.

12 Introduction
We continuously strive to improve our product, and ask for your understanding that we reserve the right to make
changes in design and equipment. Therefore, information, illustrations and descriptions in this Operator’s Manual
might differ from your vehicle.
Optional equipment is also described in this manual, including operating instructions wherever necessary. Since they
are special-order items, the descriptions and illustrations herein may vary slightly from the actual equipment of your
vehicle.
If there are any equipment details that are not shown or described in this Operator’s Manual, your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center will be glad to inform you of correct care and operating procedures.
The Operator’s Manual and Service Booklet are important documents and should be kept with the vehicle.

13 Introduction
Wa r n i n g !
This Sport Utility Vehicle is designed for both on-road and off-road use. It can go places and perform tasks for
which conventional 2-wheel drive passenger cars were not intended. This vehicle will handle and maneuver
differently from conventional passenger cars in driving conditions which may occur on streets, highways and
off-road use.This vehicle has a higher ground clearance and a higher center of gravity than many passenger cars. As with
other vehicles of this type, if you make sharp turns at excessive speeds or abrupt maneuvers, the vehicle may
roll over or may go out of control and crash. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles. Failure to operate this vehicle safely may result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury.Before you start to drive this vehicle, read the Operator’s Manual. Take time to become familiar with the
driving characteristics of this vehicle. Be sure you are familiar with all vehicle controls. Learn how your
vehicle handles on different road surfaces. Do not attempt sharp turns at excessive speeds or abrupt
maneuvers or other unsafe driving actions that can cause loss of vehicle control. When driving off-road or
working the vehicle, do not overload it. And, always wear your seat belts at all times. In a rollover crash, an
unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.

14 Introduction
Where to find it
The Operator’s Manual is divided into eight sections:
• Instruments and controls: An overview of all the controls that can be operated from the driver’s seat.
•Operation: Information on the vehicle’s equipment and its operation.
•Driving: Important information on driving.
• Instrument cluster display: Indicator lamps on the instrument cluster with brief instructions.
• Practical hints: Assistance and instructions in the event of an emergency.
•Car care: Instructions on caring for your vehicle.
• Technical data: All the important technical data for your vehicle as well as consumer information such as fuels,
coolants, lubricants etc. is contained here.
•Index: Key terms to help you find a topic quickly.
Other documents may also be supplied, depending on your vehicle’s equipment.
Explanation of color used:
Warning notices for the protection of yourself and
others appear on red background.

15 Introduction
Problems with your vehicle
If you should experience a problem with your vehicle, particularly one that you believe may affect
its safe operation, we urge you to immediately contact your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center to have the problem diagnosed and corrected if required. If the matter is not handled to
your satisfaction, please discuss the problem with the Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
management, or if necessary contact us at the following addresses:
In the USA: Client Assistance Center
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada: Customer Relations Department
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
849 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario, M4G 2L5

16 Introduction
For the USA only:
The following text is published as required of manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations,
Part 575 pursuant to the “National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.Reporting Safety Defects
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or
death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) in addition to notifying Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA
cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your retailer, or
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393
(or 366-0123 in Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation,
Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from
the Hotline.

17 Contents - Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls ............... 18
Center console .............................. 20
Overhead control panel ............... 21