MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV 2008 Owners Manual

Memory functions*
88 Passenger side exterior mirror park-
ing position
To make it easier to park, you can set and
store the front-passenger side exterior mirror
position in such a way that you can see the
rear wheel on that side as soon as you engage
reverse gear.
Adjusting and storing the exterior mir-
ror parking position 1
Adjustment button
2 Exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side
3 Exterior mirror on the driver's side X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Press button 2for the exterior mirror on
the front-passenger side.
X Engage reverse gear.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side moves to the preset parking position.
X Use adjustment button 1to adjust the
exterior mirror to a position which allows
you to see the rear wheel and the kerb.
The parking position is stored.
i When you shift the automatic transmis-
sion into another gear, the exterior mirror
on the front-passenger side returns to the
driving position.
Calling up a stored parking position set-
ting X
With the key in position 2in the ignition
lock and with exterior mirror on the front-
passenger side activated, engage reverse
gear.
Exterior mirror on the front-passenger
moves to the stored parking position.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side moves back to its original position: R
as soon as you exceed a speed of
10 km/h
R about ten seconds after you have disen-
gaged reverse gear
R if you press button 3for the exterior mir-
ror on the driver's side Controls
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 88Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Seat belts
89Seat belts
Wearing seat belts
Seat belts are the most effective means of
restraining the movement of vehicle occu-
pants in the event of an accident. This
reduces the risk of vehicle occupants coming
into contact with the vehicle interior. G
Risk of injury
A seat belt which is not worn correctly, or
which has not been engaged in the seat belt
buckle correctly, cannot perform its inten-
ded protective function. Under certain cir-
cumstances this could cause severe or
even fatal injuries.
Make sure that all occupants – in particular,
pregnant women – wear their seat belt cor-
rectly at all times.
R The seat belt must pass closely over your
body and must not be twisted. You
should therefore avoid wearing bulky
clothing (e.g. a winter coat). The shoulder
belt section must be routed across the
middle of your shoulder – on no account
across your neck or under your arm – and
pulled tight against your upper body. The
lap belt must always pass across your lap
as low down as possible, i.e. over your hip joints – not across your abdomen. If
necessary, push down the belt strap
slightly and then retighten it in the roll-up
direction.
R Do not route the belt strap across sharp
or fragile objects, especially if these are
located on or in your clothing, e.g. spec-
tacles, pencils, keys, etc. The seat belt
strap could be damaged and tear in an
accident and you or other vehicle occu-
pants could be injured.
R Only one person should use each seat
belt at any one time. Children must never
travel sitting on the lap of other occu-
pants. It would not be possible to restrain
the child in the event of a sudden change
in direction, braking or an accident. This
could result in severe or even fatal inju-
ries to the child and other occupants.
R Persons less than 1.50 m tall cannot
wear the seat belts correctly. For this
reason, secure persons less than 1.50 m
tall in specially designed, suitable
restraint systems.
R Children less than 1.50 m tall or under
12 years of age cannot wear the seat
belts properly. Therefore, always secure
these children in suitable child restraint systems on suitable vehicle seats. You
can find more information under "Chil-
dren in the vehicle" in the "Safety" sec-
tion of the Owner's Manual. Follow the
manufacturer's installation instructions
when fitting the child restraint system.
R Do not secure any objects with a seat belt
if the seat belt is also being used by one
of the vehicle's occupants. G
Risk of injury
The seat belt does not offer the intended
level of protection unless the backrest is
almost vertical. Under certain circumstan-
ces this could cause severe or even fatal
injuries.
Before starting a journey, make sure that
the seat is properly adjusted and that the
backrest is almost vertical. G
Risk of injury
A dirty or damaged seat belt or a seat belt
that has been subjected to a load in an
accident or modified no longer offers the
intended level of protection. Under certain
circumstances this could cause severe or
even fatal injuries. Controls
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 89 ZDateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Seat belts
90 For this reason, check regularly that the
seat belts are not damaged or dirty.
Always have damaged seat belts or seat
belts that have been subjected to a load in
an accident replaced at a qualified special-
ist workshop. Choose a qualified specialist
workshop which has the necessary special-
ist knowledge and tools for the work
required. Mercedes-Benz recommends
that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre for this purpose.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use seat belts which
have been approved by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle. 1
Belt sash guide
2 Belt tongue
3 Buckle
4 Release button
Routing the belt X
Adjust the seat and move the backrest to
an almost vertical position (Y page 76).
X Pull the belt smoothly through belt sash
guide 1.
X Route the belt over the centre of the shoul-
der without twisting it. X
Engage belt tongue 2into buckle 3.
X If necessary, adjust the belt to the appro-
priate height (Y page 91).
X If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the belt to tighten the belt across
your body.
Routing the belt X
Press release button 4and guide belt
tongue 2back towards belt sash guide
1. Belt warning for driver and front
passenger
The < seat belt warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster reminds you that all occupants
should fasten their seat belts. The belt warning lamp may light up continuously
or it may flash. Additionally, there may be a
warning tone.
The < seat belt warning lamp goes out and
the warning tone ceases when the driver and
the front passenger have fastened their seat
belt.
For certain countries only: regardless of
whether the driver or the front passenger is
already secured, the 164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 90Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Seat belts
91
lamp lights up for six seconds after the engine
has been started. The
lamp then goes out if both the driver and the
front passenger have fastened their seat belt.
i Further information about the belt warning lamp (Y page 288).Belt height adjustment
You can adjust the seat belt height on the
driver's seat and front-passenger seat.
Adjust the belt to a height that allows it to be
routed across the middle of your shoulder. 1
Release catch X
To raise: slide the belt sash guide upwards.
The belt sash guide engages in various posi-
tions.
X To lower: press and hold release button
1.
X Slide the belt sash guide downwards.
X Let go of release button 1and make sure
that the belt sash guide has engaged. Correct driver's seat position
1
Steering wheel
2 Seat belt
3 Seat G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the driver's seat when the vehi-
cle is stationary. You will otherwise be dis-
tracted from the road and traffic conditions
and you could lose control of the vehicle as Controls
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 91 ZDateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Lights
92 a result of the seat moving. This could
cause an accident. G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the steering wheel when the
vehicle is stationary and do not pull away
until the steering wheel adjustment mech-
anism is locked in position. You might oth-
erwise drive without the steering wheel
adjustment mechanism being locked in
position. As a result you could be distracted
from road and traffic conditions by an unex-
pected movement of the steering wheel
and thereby cause an accident.
The steerability of the vehicle is however
not affected.
X Check whether seat 3and the head
restraint are adjusted properly
(Y page 76).
Make sure that:
R you are as far away from the driver's front
airbag as possible
R you are sitting in a normal upright posi-
tion
R you can fasten the seat belt properly
R you have moved the backrest to an
almost vertical position R
you have set the seat angle so that your
thighs are gently supported
R you can depress the pedals properly
R you have adjusted the head restraint so
that the back of your head is supported
at eye level by the central area of the
head restraint
X Check whether steering wheel 1is adjus-
ted properly (Y page 83).
Make sure that:
R you can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent
R you can move your legs freely
R you can see all the displays in the instru-
ment cluster clearly
X Check whether you have fastened seat belt
2 properly (Y page 89).
It should:
R fit snugly across your body
R be routed across the middle of your
shoulder
R routed in your pelvic area across the hip
joints Lights
Light switch
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, daytime operation of headlamps varies
due to legal and voluntary requirements. In
these countries, the dipped-beam headlamps
are automatically switched on when the
engine is started.
i If you drive in countries in which traffic
drives on the opposite side of the road to
the country where the vehicle is registered,
oncoming traffic may be dazzled by the
asymmetrical dipped-beam headlamps.
Have the headlamps changed to symmet-
rical dipped beam when driving in these
countries. You can obtain information
about this from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre. Controls
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 92Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Lights
93$
a
Left-hand parking lamp
% g
Right-hand parking lamp
& M
Lights off/constant headlamp mode
( U
Automatic headlamp mode/con-
stant headlamp mode
) C
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment lighting
* B
Dipped-beam headlamps or main-
beam headlamps
, ¥
Fog lamps
. †
Rear fog lamp
i The exterior lighting (except for side
lamps and parking lamps) automatically
switches off when you remove the key from
the ignition lock or open the driver's door
while the ignition is switched off (ignition
key in position 0). !
Switch off the side lamps and parking
lamp when you leave the vehicle. This pre-
vents the battery from discharging.
Dipped-beam headlamps X
Turn the ignition key to position 2in the
ignition lock or start the engine.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
B.
The dipped-beam headlamps, parking
lamps and licence plate lamps are switched
on. The parking lamp indicator lamp next to
the light switch lights up.
Constant headlamp mode In countries in which constant headlamp
mode is not a legal requirement, you can
make this a setting using the on-board com-
puter.
You can activate or deactivate "constant
headlamp mode" using the on-board com-
puter (Y page 130).
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
M orU.
The dipped-beam headlamps, side lamps
and licence plate lamp are switched on
when the engine is running. i
When you turn the light switch to any
position other than MorU, the cor-
responding light goes on.
Automatic headlamp mode The side lamps, dipped-beam headlamps and
licence plate lamp are switched on or off
automatically, depending on the brightness of
the ambient light.
G
Risk of accident
If the light switch is set to the Uposi-
tion, the light will not come on automati-
cally in foggy conditions. This could endan-
ger you and others. Therefore, turn the light
switch to Bin the dark or in fog.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehi-
cle's lighting at all times. G
Risk of accident
When it is dark or foggy, turn the light
switch from UtoB in good time.
Otherwise, the headlamps could switch off
temporarily and you could cause an acci-
dent. Controls
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 93 ZDateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Lights
94
X
To switch on: turn the light switch to
U.
The side lamps are switched on and off
automatically when the key is in position
1 in the ignition lock.
The dipped-beam headlamps, side lamps
and licence plate lamp are switched on
automatically when the engine is running.
When the parking lamp or dipped-beam
headlamps are switched on, the indicator
lamp next to the light switch lights up.
Front fog lamps/Rear fog lamp G
Risk of accident
If you suspect that driving conditions will be
foggy, turn the light switch to Bbefore
you start your journey. Otherwise, your
vehicle may not be visible and you could
endanger yourself and others. G
Risk of accident
When it is dark or foggy, turn the light
switch from UtoB in good time.
Otherwise, the headlamps could switch off
temporarily and you could cause an acci-
dent.
When the light switch is set to Uyou can-
not switch on the front or rear fog lamps. X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X To switch on the front fog lamps: turn
the light switch to the BorC posi-
tion.
X Pull the light switch out to the first stop.
The ¥ green indicator lamp next to the
light switch lights up.
X To switch on the rear fog lamp: turn the
light switch to BorC.
X Pull the light switch out to the second
detent.
The † yellow indicator lamp next to the
light switch lights up.
X To switch off the front foglamps/rear
foglamp: push in the light switch to the
stop.
The corresponding indicator lamp goes out. Combination switch (turn signals,
main-beam headlamps and headlamp
flasher)
Turn signal Combination switch
1
Right-hand turn signal
2 Left-hand turn signal
X To switch on: press the combination
switch in the direction of arrow 1or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp K orL in the instrument clus-
ter flashes.
i If you only wish to indicate a minor change
of direction, press the combination switch Controls
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 94Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Lights
95
briefly in the appropriate direction. The cor-
responding turn signal flashes three times.
Main-beam headlamps/headlamp flas-
her Combination switch
1
Main-beam headlamps
2 Headlamp flasher
Main-beam headlamps
X Turn the ignition key to position 2in the
ignition lock or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to BorU 14
.
X To switch on: press the combination
switch in the direction of arrow 1.
The main-beam indicator lamp Ain the
instrument cluster lights up. X
To switch off: move the combination
switch back to its normal position.
The main-beam indicator lamp Ain the
instrument cluster goes out.
Headlamp flasher
X To switch on: briefly pull the combination
switch in the direction of arrow 2. Hazard warning lamps
Centre console
1 Hazard warning lamp button
The hazard warning lamps still operate if the
ignition is switched off. They switch on auto-
matically if an airbag is deployed or if you
brake sharply and bring the vehicle to a halt
from a speed of more than 70 km/h. X
To switch on: press button1.
All turn signals flash. If you now switch on
a turn signal using the combination switch
(Y page 94), only the turn signal lamp on
the corresponding side of the vehicle will
flash.
X To deactivate: press button1. Adjusting the headlamp range (vehi-
cles with halogen headlamps)
The headlamp range control allows you to
adjust the cone of light from the headlamps
according to how your vehicle is laden.
You can only adjust the headlamp range while
the engine is running. 1
Headlamp range control
14 In the Uposition, the main-beam headlamps are only switched on when it is dark. Controls
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 95 ZDateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Lights
96 Position Load
0 Front seats occupied
1 Front and rear seats occupied
2 All seats occupied and lug-
gage compartment loaded
with approximately 100 kg
3 All seats occupied and the
maximum permissible rear
axle load has been reached
due to trailer towing or load-
ing
X
Turn thumbwheel 1to the position which
corresponds to the load in your vehicle. Headlamp cleaning system*
The headlamps are cleaned automatically if
the "Wipe with windscreen washer fluid" func-
tion is operated five times while the lights are
on and the engine is running. When you
switch off the ignition, the automatic head-
lamp cleaning system is reset and counting is
resumed from 0. Cornering light function* (vehicles
with bi-xenon headlamps*)
Specially designed headlamps light up the
area into which you are driving when turning
corners.
If you are driving at speeds below 40 km/h,
the cornering light function is activated either
by the turn signals or when the steering wheel
is turned. If you are driving at speeds above
40 km/h the cornering light function is deac-
tivated.
Activating X
Start the engine.
X Switch on the dipped-beam headlamps. X
Switch off the foglamps.
X Switch on the turn signal.
The cornering lamp on the same side as the
turn signal comes on, even if you turn the
steering wheel in the opposite direction
after indicating.
or
X Turn the steering wheel in the desired
direction.
When in a forwards gear: the cornering
lamp on the inside of the bend comes on.
When in reverse gear: the cornering lamp
on the outside of the bend comes on.
Deactivating X
Turn the steering wheel back to the straight
ahead position.
The turn signal goes off. The cornering lamp
may remain lit for a short time.
or
X Switch off the turn signal.
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a
short time.
The cornering light will go out after a maxi-
mum of three minutes. Controls
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6 2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 96Dateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Lights
97Interior lighting
Front overhead control panel
1 X To switch the left-hand reading lamp
on/off
2 ¦ To switch the rear interior lighting
on/off
3 ¥ To switch the automatic interior
lighting control on/off
4 ð To switch the front interior lighting
on/off
5 X To switch the right-hand reading
lamp on/off Automatic interior lighting control
X
To switch on/off: press the¥button.
The ¥ button pops up or goes down.
The interior lighting switches on when you:
R unlock the vehicle
R open a door
R remove the key from the ignition lock
The interior lighting switches off after a delay.
You can set the delayed switch-off using the
on-board computer (Y page 131).
i If the door is left open, the interior lighting
goes out after approximately five minutes.
Emergency accident lighting
The interior lighting is activated automatically
if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
X To deactivate: press the hazard warning
lamp button (Y page 95).
or
X Unlock the vehicle using the key.
or
X Press the ¥button (Y page 97). Manual control
Front interior lighting
X
To switch on/off: press theðbutton.
Rear-compartment interior lighting
X To switch on/off: press the¦button.
Reading lamps
X To switch on/off: press theXbutton. Controls
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.10.6
2008-05-11T11:55:12+02:00 - Seite 97 ZDateiname: 6515_4293_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight