winter tyres MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV 2008 Owners Manual

15U
Unladen weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .363
Unlocking Emergency unlocking . . . . . . . . . . .308
From the inside (central unlocking
button) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Up (display message) . . . . . . . . . . ..121 V
Variable Speedtronic . . . . . . . . . . . ..154
Vehicle Emergency unlocking . . . . . . .308, 309
Individual settings (on-board com-
puter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
Leaving parked up . . . . . . . . . . . . .307
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .342
Transporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .342
Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334
Vehicle dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . ..361
Vehicle electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . ..349
Vehicle identification number
(VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .350, 351
Vehicle identification plates . . . . ..350
Vehicle level Display message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .271, 272
Vehicle tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .255
Vehicle weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .363 W
Warning and indicator lamp ABS (yellow) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288
LIM (Cruise control) . . . . . . . . . . . .145
LIM (Distronic) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
LIM (variable Speedtronic) . . . . . . .154
Warning signal
Audible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .293
Warning triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .254
Washer fluid Display message . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284
Wearing seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..89
Wheel bolts Tightening torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . .332
Wheel chock
Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .258
Wheels
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224
Interchanging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .230
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . .355, 358
Windowbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Windows Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249
Cleaning the windscreen . . . . . . . .249
Side windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Windscreen
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249
Infrared reflecting . . . . . . . . . . . . .214 Windscreen washer fluid
. . . . . . . ..372
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .223
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .223, 372
Windscreen washer reservoir Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .372
Windscreen washer system . . . . . ..372
Windscreen wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..98
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301
Replacing the wiper blades . . . . . .321
Winter diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
Winter driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231, 232
Winter tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
Limiting the speed (on-board com-
puter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156 Index
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Off-road driving
138
X
Press the èor· button to select the
Telephone menu.
X Press the sbutton to call up the most
recently dialled number in the redial mem-
ory.
X Press the jork button to select the
desired name or number.
X Press the sbutton to start dialling. Off-road driving
Overview of off-road driving systems
The systems which are relevant for off-road
driving are explained on the following pages:
R 4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive), for
optimum traction
R DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation), which
assists you when driving downhill
R Off-road drive program, which assists you
when driving off-road
R LOW RANGE* off-road gear for better trac-
tion off-road
R Differential locks for increased traction off-
road
You will find further information about driving
off-road in the "Operation" section
(Y page 235). 4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are per-
manently driven. Together with ESP ®
and
4ETS, it improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to insuffi-
cient grip. G
Risk of accident
4MATIC cannot reduce the risk of an acci-
dent if you drive too fast.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient
grip:
R Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R Accelerate less when driving.
R Adapt your driving style to suit road and
traffic conditions.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tyres (M+S tyres), with snow
chains if necessary.
! When testing the parking brake, operate
the vehicle only briefly (for a maximum of
ten seconds) on a brake dynamometer.
When doing this, turn the key to position
0 or 1in the ignition. Failure to do this can Controls
* optional
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Driving sys
tems 154
of its narrow width. The distance to the vehi-
cle in front will be too short. Speedtronic
Speedtronic brakes automatically so that you
do not exceed the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing a trailer, you must
select shift range 1,2or 3in good time. By
doing so you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine, which relieves the load
on the brake system and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly. If
you need additional braking, depress the
brake pedal repeatedly rather than continu-
ously. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely. G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
You can set a variable or permanent limit
speed:
R variable for speed limits, e.g. in built-up
areas
R permanent for long-term speed restric-
tions, e.g. for driving on winter tyres
(Y page 156) G
Risk of accident
Speedtronic is only an aid designed to
assist driving. You are responsible for the
vehicle's speed and for braking in good
time.
i The speed indicated in the speedometer
may differ slightly from the limit speed
stored.
Variable Speedtronic With the cruise control lever, you can operate
cruise control, Distronic* and variable
Speedtronic.The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control
lever indicates which system you have selec-
ted:
R
LIM indicator lamp off:
Cruise control or Distronic* is selected.
R LIM indicator lamp lit:
Variable Speedtronic is selected.
You can use the cruise control lever to limit
the speed to any speed above 30 km/h while
the engine is running. 1
To store the current speed or a higher
speed
2 LIM indicator lamp
3 Storing the current speed or call up the
last stored speed
4 To store the current speed or a lower
speed Controls
* optional
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Driving sys
tems 156up
1 for a higher speed or down 4for a
lower speed.
Deactivating variable Speedtronic There are several ways to deactivate variable
Speedtronic:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards 6.
The LIM indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
or
X Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow 5.
LIM indicator lamp 2in the cruise control
lever goes out. Variable Speedtronic is
deactivated.
Cruise control or Distronic* is selected.
Variable Speedtronic is deactivated automat-
ically when you depress the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown), but
only if your current speed does not differ by
more than 20 km/h from the stored speed.
You will hear a warning tone if this is the case. G
Risk of accident
It is not possible to deactivate variable
Speedtronic by braking. i
The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine.
Permanent Speedtronic i
Permanent Speedtronic is only available
in certain countries.
You can use the on-board computer to limit
the speed permanently to a value between
160 km/h (e.g. for driving with winter tyres)
and the maximum speed.
Just before the stored speed is reached, it
appears in the multi-function display.
Permanent Speedtronic remains active, even
if variable Speedtronic is deactivated.
You cannot exceed the stored limit speed,
even if you depress the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown).
Setting permanent Speedtronic
X Press the èor· button to select the
Settings menu (Ypage 127).
X Press the jbutton to call up the selec-
tion of submenus.
X Press the æorç button to select the
Vehicle submenu.
X Press the jbutton to select Speed
limit (winter tyres) . X
Press the æorç button to select the
desired setting.
The following settings can be selected:
R Off
Permanent Speedtronic is deactivated.
R A limit speed between 240 km/hand
160 km/h in increments of 10 km/h. AIRMATIC package*
AIRMATIC enables a suspension tuning set-
ting to be selected and regulates the damping
behaviour and level of your vehicle. The sys-
tem comprises two components: ADS*
(Adaptive Damping System) (Y page 157)
and level control* (Y page 158).
See the notes on driving with a trailer in the
"Operation" (Y page 243) section. Controls
* optional
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215
Running-in notes
............................... 216
Refuelling ........................................... 216
Engine compartment ........................219
Tyres and wheels .............................. 224
Winter driving ................................... 231
Driving tips ........................................ 232
Off-road driving ................................. 235
Driving abroad ................................... 240
Trailer towing* .................................. 241
Service ............................................... 246
Care .................................................... 247 Operation
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Tyres and wheels
224 G
Risk of fire
Windscreen washer concentrate is highly
flammable. Fire, naked flames and smoking
are prohibited when windscreen washer
concentrate is being handled.
Use
R a windscreen washer fluid additive
such as MB Summerwash to prevent
smearing (for temperatures above freez-
ing).
R a windscreen washer fluid additive with
antifreeze properties such as MB Winter-
wash (if there is a risk of frost).
X Mix the windscreen washer fluid in a con-
tainer beforehand. Adapt the mixing ratio
to the outside temperatures.
! Only use windscreen washer fluid which
is suitable for plastic lamp lenses. Unsuit-
able windscreen washer fluid could dam-
age the plastic lamp lenses of the head-
lamps.
X To open: pull cap1upwards by the tab.
X To close: press cap 1onto the filler neck
until it clicks into place. Tyres and wheels
Points to remember
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tyres and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your vehi-
cle. These tyres have been specially adap-
ted for use with the control systems, such
as ABS or ESP ®
, and are marked as follows:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(with run-flat characteristics)*
*Mercedes-Benz Original Extended tyres
should only be used on wheels that have
been specifically approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
If you use other tyres and wheels,
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept any respon-
sibility for damage that may result from
this. Further information about tyres,
wheels and approved combinations can be
obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
If you use tyres other than those tested and
recommended for Mercedes-Benz vehi-
cles, characteristics such as handling, vehi-
cle noise emissions and fuel consumption may be adversely affected. In addition, the
wheels may come into contact with the
body or axle components when heavily loa-
ded or when driving with snow chains. This
could result in damage to the tyres or the
vehicle.
! Retreaded tyres are neither tested nor
recommended by Mercedes-Benz, since
previous damage cannot always be detec-
ted on retreaded tyres. As a result,
Mercedes-Benz cannot guarantee vehicle
safety if retreaded tyres are fitted. Do not
fit used tyres if you have no information
about their previous usage. G
Risk of accident
If wheels or tyres other than those which
have been tested are fitted:
R the brakes or chassis components could
be damaged
R wheel and tyre clearances can no longer
be guaranteed
This could cause an accident.
Modification work on the brake system and
wheels is not permitted, nor is the use of
spacer plates or brake dust shields. This inva- Operation
* optional
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Tyres and wheels
226
i
You may fit a spare tyre* against the
direction of rotation. MOExtended run-flat system*
The MOExtended run-flat system allows you
to continue driving the vehicle even when one
or more tyres lose all air pressure.
The MOExtended run-flat system may only be
used in conjunction with the tyre pressure
loss warning system or the tyre pressure
monitor* and on wheels specifically tested by
Mercedes-Benz.
i Vehicles with MOExtended run-flat sys-
tem are not equipped with the TIREFIT
kit* 24
.
It is therefore recommended to additionally
equip your vehicle with the TIREFIT kit*
when fitting tyres that do not feature run-
flat properties, e.g. winter tyres.
i A TIREFIT kit* is available from any quali-
fied specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre. You will find notes on driving with a flat tyre
in the "Practical advice" section
(Y
page 333). Tyre tread
G
Risk of accident
Bear in mind that:
R tyre grip decreases rapidly on wet roads
when the tread depth is less than 3 mm.
You should thus replace tyres that have
insufficient tread.
R winter tyres should be replaced when the
tread depth is 4 mm or less because oth-
erwise they no longer provide adequate
grip.
R the tread on a tyre may not wear evenly.
You should thus regularly check the tread
depth and the condition of the tread
across the entire width of all tyres. If nec-
essary, turn the steering wheel so that
you can see the tyre tread more easily.
You could otherwise lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident due to the
reduced grip of the tyres on the road. Tyre pressures
i You will find a table of tyre pressures for
various operating conditions on the inside
of your vehicle's fuel filler flap
(Y page 216).
The valid value for the spare wheel* is sta-
ted on the spare wheel and in the technical
data section. G
Risk of accident
Tyre pressure that is either too high or too
low has a negative effect on the vehicle’s
driving safety, which could lead you to
cause an accident. You should therefore
regularly check the pressure of all your
tyres (including the spare tyre*), particu-
larly prior to long trips, and correct the
pressure as necessary.
To test tyre pressure, use a suitable pressure
gauge. The outer appearance of a tyre does
not permit any reliable conclusion about the
tyre pressure. On vehicles fitted with the elec-
tronic tyre pressure monitor*, the tyre pres-
sure can be checked in the on-board com-
puter.
24 Only for certain countries Operation
* optional
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Winter driving
231Winter driving
Points to remember
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre, at the onset of winter. Winter tyres
In temperatures below +7 °C, always use all-
weather tyres or winter tyres and always use
winter tyres in wintry road conditions.
Only winter tyres displaying the snowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide optimum grip in wintry road conditions.
Only these tyres will allow the ABS and ESP
driving systems to function optimally in win-
ter, as these tyres have been designed spe-
cifically for driving on snow.
Use winter tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics. G
Risk of accident
Winter tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced immediately. They
are no longer suitable for winter use, can
no longer provide sufficient grip. This could cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and cause an accident.
Always observe the maximum permitted
speed specified for the winter tyres you have
fitted. If you fit winter tyres which have a
lower maximum permitted speed than that of
the vehicle, affix an appropriate warning sign
in the driver's field of vision. This can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. from a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent Speedtronic 25
to the maxi-
mum permissible speed for the winter tyres
(Y page 156).
Once you have fitted the winter tyres:
X Check the tyre pressures (Y page 226).
X Restart the tyre pressure moni-
tor* (Y page 228). G
Risk of accident
If you fit the spare wheel* when driving with
winter tyres, bear in mind that driving sta-
bility will be impaired owing to unstable
cornering characteristics caused by the dif-
ferent tyres. You should therefore adapt
your driving style and drive carefully. Have the spare wheel* replaced at the
nearest qualified specialist workshop
which has the necessary specialist knowl-
edge and tools to carry out the work
required. Mercedes-Benz recommends
that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related sys-
tems must be carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains which
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding
standard of quality.
! Information about the use of snow chain-
compatible AMG winter tyres is applicable
for AMG tyres. Use of snow chains is only
permissible with these tyres.
! Vehicles with the Off-Road Pro engineer-
ing package*, AIRMATIC package* or
ML 63 AMG: do not drive in ADS SPORT
mode when driving with snow chains fitted.
25 Only available for certain countries. Operation
* optional
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Tyres and wheels
354 Tyres and wheels
Points to remember
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tyres which
have been approved specifically for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. These tyres are
specially adapted for use with the control
systems, such as ABS or ESP ®
, and are
marked as follows:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Exten-
ded* (with run-flat characteristics)
If you use other tyres, Mercedes-Benz can-
not accept any responsibility for damage
which may occur. Information about tyres
can be obtained from any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
i Vehicles with MOExtended run-flat sys-
tem are not equipped with the TIREFIT
kit* 38
.
It is therefore recommended that you addi-
tionally equip your vehicle with the TIREFIT
kit* when fitting tyres that do not feature
run-flat properties, e.g. winter tyres. i
A TIREFIT kit* is available from any quali-
fied specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre.
! If you fit tyres other than those tested and
recommended by Mercedes-Benz, charac-
teristics such as handling, noise levels and
fuel consumption, etc. could be adversely
affected. In addition, when driving with a
load, dimensional variations and different
tyre deformation characteristics could
cause the tyres to come into contact with
the bodywork and axle components. This
could result in damage to the tyres or the
vehicle.
i Further information about tyres and
wheels can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
You will find a table of tyre pressures on the
inside of your vehicle's fuel filler flap. You
will find further information about tyre pres-
sures in the "Operation" section
(Y page 226).
38 Only for certain countries. Technical data
* optional
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Tyres and wheels
355Tyres
ML 280 CDI ML 350
ML 320 CDI ML 420 CDI
17" Both
axles
All-weather tyres
39 235/6
5 R17 104 H M+S 235/65 R17 104 V M+S –
Winter tyres
40 235/65 R17 104 H M+S
. 235/65 R17 104 H M+S
. –
Light-alloy wheels 7.5J x 17 H2 ET 56 7.5J x 17 H2 ET 56 –
18" Both
axles
All-weather tyres
39 255/55 R18 105 V M+S 255/55 R18 105 V M+S 255/55 R18 105 V M+S
All-terrain tyres
41 255/55 R18 105 H M+S 255/55 R18 105 H M+S 255/55 R18 105 H M+S
Winter tyres
40 255/55 R18 105 H M+S
. 255/55 R18 105 H M+S
. 255/55 R18 105 H M+S
. Light-alloy wheels 8J x 18 H2 ET 60 8J x 18 H2 ET 60 8J x 18 H2 ET 60
ML 350
ML 280 CDI
ML 320 CDI ML 420 CDI
ML 500
19" Both axles Summer tyres 255/50 R19 103 W 255/50 R19 103 W
Summer tyres
42 255/50 R19 103 W MOExtended 255/50 R19 103 W MOExtended
All-terrain tyres
43 255/50 R19 103 H M+S 255/50 R19 103 H M+S
39
All-weather tyres with M+S approval. Only certain tyre brands are approved. Ask your Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for information.
40 Winter tyres with the symbol .next to the retrofitting label. Only certain tyre brands are approved. Ask your Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for information.
41 All-terrain tyres for retrofitting. Only certain tyre brands are approved. Ask your Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for information. Technical data
* optional
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