center console MERCEDES-BENZ M-CLASS 2007 Owner's Manual

271 Controls in detail
Driving systems
For information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” (
page 333).Setting the vehicle level
The switch is located on the lower part of
the center console.
1Vehicle level switch
2Indicator lamp
Warning!
G
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.
Adapt your speed and driving to possible
changed driving behavior of the vehicle after
changing the vehicle level. The ESP
® cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed. The ESP
® cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
!
Keep in mind that in rough or uneven ter-
rain, adjusting the vehicle to a lower level may
cause the vehicle underbody to come in contact
with the ground and result in damage to the vehi-
cle underbody. Always make sure the vehicle has
sufficient ground clearance before adjusting it to
a lower level.
!
Before jacking up the vehicle with equip-
ment that lifts one or more of the wheels com-
pletely off of the ground, remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.
!
Please also note the information in the
section on towing (
page 518).
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272 Controls in detailDriving systemsBasic settings (all models, except
ML 63 AMG)
The following vehicle chassis ride heights
can be selected using the vehicle level
switch in the center console:The following is the approximate change in
ride height for each of the level settings:Basic settings (ML 63 AMG only)
The following vehicle chassis ride heights
can be selected using the vehicle level
switch in the center console:
How much the vehicle is lowered or raised
depends on the ADS setting selected. At
the raised level, the vehicle is 2.9 in
(73 mm) higher than at the Highway level
with ADS AUTO.Level
Driving situation
Raised
For off-road driving or driv-
ing in rough terrain. The in-
dicator lamp is on.
Highway
For driving on paved roads
in fair or better condition.
The indicator lamp is off.
i
The third available level is the high-speed
level that is set automatically.
Level
Ride height
Raised
+ 3.1 in (80 mm)
Highway
+/- 0 in (0 mm)
High-speed
- 0.6 in (-15 mm)
i
Depending on the ADS setting
(
page 269), the vehicle will be lowered to the
high-speed level when traveling at higher
speeds. At speeds below 40 mph (64 km/h) at
the latest, it will be returned to the highway level.
i
The high-speed level is not available if tow-
ing a trailer. For more information on towing a
trailer, see “Trailer towing” (
page 342).
Level
Driving situation
Raised
For off-road driving or driv-
ing in rough terrain. The in-
dicator lamp is on.
Highway
For driving on paved roads
in fair or better condition.
The indicator lamp is off.
i
The third available level is the high-speed
level that is set automatically.
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277 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Each warning indicator is divided into five
yellow and two red distance segments for
either side of the vehicle. The Parktronic
system is operational when the readiness
indicators3 are illuminated.
The current transmission position deter-
mines which warning indicator will be acti-
vated.As your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will illuminate,
depending on the distance. When the red
distance segment illuminates, you have
reached the minimum distance.


Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of
2 seconds will sound as the first red
distance segment illuminates and a
constant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of 2 seconds will sound for
the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is set to positionP, or the
parking brake is set.


Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of
2 seconds will sound as the first red
distance segment illuminates and a
constant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of 2 seconds will sound for
the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is set to positionD, P, or
the parking brake is set.Switching the Parktronic system*
on/off
You can switch off the Parktronic system
manually.
The Parktronic switch is located in the
upper part of the center console.
1Parktronic switch
2Indicator lamp
Transmission
position
Warning indicator
D
Front area activated
R or N
Front and rear area
activated
P
Neither activated
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296 Controls in detailUseful featuresStorage compartment in front center
console
Vehicles without ashtray*
Briefly press the front of the cover.
The cover opens automatically.Storage compartment* (depending on
vehicle configuration)

Briefly press the front of the cover.
The cover opens automatically.Front armrest storage compartments
A flat storage tray with a deeper storage
compartment underneath is located below
the armrest. Both can be opened
separately.
1Button to open storage tray/tele-
phone* compartment
2Button to open storage compartment
i
The Roadside Assistance button•
(
page 312) and the information button¡
(page 313) are located in the storage tray.
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299 Controls in detail
Useful features
Cup holder in front of armrest
A cup holder and a card/ticket holder are
located in the front center console.
1Cup holderCup holder in rear armrest
1Cup holder

Pull the armrest down by its top.Removing and reinstalling cup holder
The front cup holder can be removed for
cleaning purposes.
1Cup holder
2Bridge with card, ticket holder

Hold cup holder at its bridge2 and
pull out bridge in direction of arrow.

Pull cup holder1 out in direction of
arrow.

First, insert the cup holder1 and then
insert bridge2.
Keep in mind that objects placed in a cup
holder may come loose during braking,
vehicle maneuvers, or an accident and be
thrown around in the vehicle interior.
Objects thrown around in the vehicle interi-
or may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.i
The front cup holder can be removed for
cleaning purposes (
page 299).
!
Close the cup holder before folding the arm-
rest upwards.
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300 Controls in detailUseful featuresAshtrays*
Your vehicle is equipped with an ashtray
and a cigarette lighter (
page 301) locat-
ed in the front center console and an ash-
tray located in front of the rear seats
(
page 300).
Ashtray in the center console
1Ashtray insert
2Cover plateOpening the ashtray

Briefly touch cover plate2.
The ashtray opens automatically.
Removing ashtray insert

Grip the ashtray insert1 on the sides
and pull it out upwards.
Reinstalling ashtray insert

Install ashtray insert1.

Close ashtray cover plate2.Rear center console ashtray (front of
rear seats)
1Ashtray
2Ashtray cover
i
If your vehicle is not equipped with a smok-
ing package*, it has a storage compartment
(
page 296) with a power outlet (
page 302)
instead.
Warning!
G
Remove ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Set the parking brake to secure vehicle
from movement. Set automatic transmis-
sion toP. With the automatic transmission
set toP, turn off the engine.
!
Close the ashtray when not in use and be-
fore folding the rear seats
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302 Controls in detailUseful features
Power outletsPower outlets are located


in the front center console
(page 302)


in the rear center console (
page 303)


on the right-hand side of the cargo
compartment (
page 303)
Power outlet in front center console
1Power outlet cover

Switch on the ignition (
page 40).

Open cover plate (
page 296).

Pull out cover1 and insert electrical
plug (cigarette lighter type).
!
The lighter socket can accommodate
12V DC electrical accessories (up to a maximum
of 180 W) designed for use with the standard
“cigarette lighter” plug type. Keep in mind, how-
ever, that connecting accessories to the lighter
socket (for example extensive connecting and
disconnecting, or using plugs that do not fit prop-
erly) can damage the lighter socket. With the
socket damaged, the lighter may no longer be
able to be placed in the heating (pushed-in) posi-
tion, or the lighter may pop out too early with the
lighter not hot enough.
To help avoid damaging the cigarette lighter
socket, we recommend connecting 12V DC elec-
trical accessories designed for use with the stan-
dard “cigarette lighter” plug type to the 12V
power outlets (
page 302) in your vehicle
whenever possible.
i
If the engine is off, and the cigarette lighter
is being used extensively, the vehicle battery
may become discharged.
!
If you use all power outlets in the vehicle,
make sure that the maximum current drawn
does not exceed 55 A.
i
The power outlets can be used to
accommodate 12V DC electrical accessories
(e.g. air pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a maximum
of 240 W.
If the engine is off, the battery may become dis-
charged if used for long periods of time.
i
You can use the power outlet in the cargo
compartment or in the front of the rear seats
even if the ignition is switched off.
An emergency shut-off feature ensures that the
vehicle’s electrical voltage does not fall below a
minimum level. If the voltage drops to this mini-
mum level, the power outlets are automatically
switched off. This ensures that enough power re-
mains to start the engine.
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303 Controls in detail
Useful features
Power outlet in rear center console
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).

Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).Power outlet in cargo compartment

Switch on the ignition (
page 40).

Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).
Floormats*
i
If your vehicle is equipped with a smoking
package*, the storage compartment contains an
ashtray with cigarette lighter (
page 301) in-
stead.
Warning!
G
Whenever you are using floormats, make
sure there is enough clearance and that the
floormats are securely fastened.
Floormats should always be securely fas-
tened using eyelets
2
and retainer pins
1

(
page 304).
Before driving off, check that the floormats
are securely in place and adjust them if nec-
essary. A loose floormat could slip and
hinder proper functioning of the pedals.
Do not place several floormats on top of
each other as this may impair pedal move-
ment.
i
To install or remove the floormat more easi-
ly, move the driver’s seat or front passenger seat
as far to the rear as possible (
page 44).
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426 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
59
The front passenger
front air bag off indicator
lamp illuminates and re-
mains illuminated with
the weight of a typical
adult or someone larger
than a small individual on
the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

Also read and observe messages in
the multifunction display and follow
corrective steps (
page 440).
Warning!
G
If the59indicator lamp
illuminates and remains illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult or someone larger
than a small individual on the front passen-
ger seat, do not have any passenger use the
front passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.
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441 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible
cause/conse-
quence
Possible solutionMonitor the 59indicator lamp on the center console (
page 89) and
the multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 26) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition turned on,


the 59indicator lamp on the center console should illuminate and
remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 85) has deactivated the air
bag.


the message
Front passenger airbag enabled See Operator’s Manual
or the
message
Front passenger airbag disabled See Operator’s Manual
should not
appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccupied. Wait at last
60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary check cycles and to make
sure neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again.
Depending on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS (
page 85),
the59indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have the system
checked as soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!
G
If the 59indicator lamp
remains out even after performing the above
corrective steps, do not have any children
12 years old and under and other small
individuals use the front passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.
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