steering MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 1997 Complete Owner's Manual

33 Central locking system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
If doors are unlocked with the central locking switch
after activating the automatic central locking, and
neither door is opened, then the doors remain unlocked
even at vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
If a door is opened from the inside at speeds of
approximately 9mph (15km/h) or less with the
automatic central locking activated, the door will again
be automatically locked at speeds of approximately
9 mph (15 km / h) or more.
Important!
When towing the vehicle, or with the vehicle on a
dynamometer test stand, please, note the following:
With the engine running, the vehicle doors will lock if
the left front wheel spins at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or more.
To prevent vehicle door locks from locking, deactivate
the automatic central locking.Emergency unlocking in case of accident
The doors unlock automatically a short time after an
accident in which an airbag or emergency tensioning
retractor deploys (this is intended to aid rescue and
exit). However, the key must still be in the steering lock
position 1 or 2.
Additionally the hazard warning flashers turn on
automatically and the interior lights switch on for
approximately 30 minutes.

35 Antitheft alarm system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Antitheft alarm system
The indicator lamp is located in the center console.
The antitheft alarm is automatically armed or disarmed
with the remote control by locking or unlocking the
vehicle.
The antitheft alarm is armed within approximately
15 seconds after locking the vehicle with the remote
control.
A blinking lamp in the center console indicates that the
alarm is armed.
Notes:
Use of the key in the front door locks does not arm or
disarm the antitheft alarm system.
The alarm sounds when unlocking the driver’s door
with the mechanical key. Cancel alarm by turning key in
steering lock to position 1, or with the remote control by
pressing buttonŒ.
If the vehicle battery voltage falls below 10 volts, the
alarm is automatically canceled and the antitheft alarm
system is disarmed. When the voltage is above this
value again, the antitheft alarm system is armed again.Operation:
Once the alarm system has been armed, the turn signal
lamps will flash rapidly (approximately 3 minutes) and
the horn will sound intermittently (approximately
30 seconds) when someone:
•opens a door,
•opens the liftgate,
•opens the hood,
•breaks a window,
•attempts to raise the vehicle.
The alarm will stay on even if the activating element (a
door, for example) is immediately closed.
If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, an
emergency call is initiated automatically. See Tele Aid
on page 148.
Note:
The alarm system will cycle three times when triggered.
The interior lights are automatically switched on when
the alarm comes on and go out when canceling the
alarm.

36 Tow-away protection
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Tow-away alarm and glass breakage sensor
The switch is located in the overhead console.
The tow-away alarm and glass breakage sensor are part
of the antitheft alarm system.
Once the alarm system has been armed, the turn signal
lamps will flash rapidly and the horn will sound when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle, or breaks a
window and reaches into the passenger compartment.The alarm will last approximately 3 minutes in the form
of rapidly flashing turn signal lamps. At the same time
the horn will sound for approximately 30 seconds. The
alarm will stay on even if the vehicle is immediately
lowered.
If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, an
emergency call is initiated automatically. See Tele Aid
on page 148.
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm feature, switch
off the tow-away alarm and glass breakage sensor before
towing the vehicle, or when parking on a surface subject
to movement, such as a ferry or auto train.
To do so, turn key in steering lock to position 1, then
return it to position 0 and remove key from steering
lock.
Within 30 seconds, push left or right button. (On
vehicles equipped with optional trip computer, push
RESET or MODE button, display shows OFF.)
Exit vehicle, and lock vehicle with remote control.
The tow-away alarm and glass breakage sensor remain
switched off until the key is inserted in steering lock
and turned to position 1.

37 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Seats, front
Caution!
Do not remove head restraints except when mounting
seat covers. For removal see page 43. Whenever head
restraints have been removed be sure to reinstall them
before driving.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position
can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat
belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt
would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That
could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The
backrest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in an upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.Never place hands under seat or near any moving
parts while a seat is being adjusted.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock your vehicle.Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause serious
personal injury.

38 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should adjust
the seat height for proper vision as well as fore / aft
placement and backrest angle to insure adequate
control, reach, operation, and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for proper height. See
also airbag section on page 56 for proper seat
positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure
adequate control, reach, operation, and comfort.
Both the inside and outside rear view mirrors should be
adjusted for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be
seated in a properly secured restraint system that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view
mirror adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger
side front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury can result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
Infants and small children must ride in the back
seats and be seated in an appropriate infant or
child restraint system, which is properly secured
with the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance
with the child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is
not properly secured in the child restraint.

40 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Power seats (standard; optional on model ML 320)
The slide switches are located on the entry side of each
front seat base.
Turn key in steering lock to position 1 or 2 (with the
driver’s or passenger’s door open, the power seats can
also be operated with the key removed or in steering
lock position 0).We recommend to adjust the power seat in the following
order:
1Seat, up / down
Press the switch (up/down direction) until
comfortable seating position with still sufficient
headroom is reached.
2Seat adjustment, fore / aft
Press the switch (fore / aft direction) until a
comfortable seating position is reached that still
allows you to reach the accelerator / brake pedal
safely. The position should be as far rearward as
possible, consistent with ability to properly operate
controls.
3Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until
your legs are lightly supported.
4Backrest tilt
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until
your arms are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.

41 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Only minor personal adjustments, as described below,
should then be required.
For exterior rear view mirrors, see page 73;
inside rear view mirror, see page 71;
steering wheel adjustment, see page 70.
Note:
See page 42 for instructions on storing and recalling the
seat position.Head restraint
Raising:
Pull up on head restraint.
Lowering:
Push button, located at top of seat back, and push down
on head restraint, see also page 43.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head
approximately at ear level. The head restraint angle can
also be adjusted manually.
See page 43 for removing head restraints.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock your vehicle.The power seats can also be operated with the
driver’s or passenger door open. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle or with access
to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle
equipment may cause serious personal injury.

53 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system
Special BabySmart
TM compatible child seats, designed
for use with the Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are required for
use with the BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system.
With the special child seat properly installed, the
passenger front airbag will not deploy. The 7
indicator lamp located in the instrument cluster will be
illuminated, except with key removed or in steering lock
position 0. The system does not deactivate the door
mounted side impact airbag.
Self-test BabySmart
TM
without special child seat installed
After turning key in steering lock to position 1 or 2, the
7 indicator lamp located in the instrument cluster
comes on for approximately 6 seconds, extinguishes,
then blinks once.
If the indicator lamp should not come on or is
continuously lit, the system is not functioning. You must
see an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center before seating
any child on the front passenger seat.
BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
Wa r n i n g !
The BabySmart
TM Airbag Deactivation System will
ONLY work with a special child seat designed to
operate with it. It will not work with child seats
which are not BabySmart
TM compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion and
child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces the
effectiveness of the deactivation system.Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.
The passenger side front airbag will not deploy
only if the 7 indicator lamp remains
illuminated.Please be sure to check the indicator every time
you use the special system child seat.Should the light go out while the restraint is
installed, please check installation. If the light
remains out, do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.

55 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR)
The seat belts for the outboard passenger seats (except
in the optional 3rd row seats) are equipped with
emergency tensioning retractors. These tensioning
retractors are located in each belt’s inertia reel and
become operationally ready with the key in steering
lock position 1 or 2.
The emergency tensioning retractors are designed to
activate only when the seat belts are fastened during
frontal impacts exceeding the first threshold of the SRS
and in rear impacts exceeding a preset severity level.
They remove slack from the belts in such a way that the
seat belts fit more snugly against the body restricting its
forward movement as much as possible.In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts, roll-
overs, certain side impacts, or other accidents without
sufficient frontal or rear impact forces, the emergency
tensioning retractors will not be activated. The driver
and passengers will then be protected by the fastened
seat belts and inertia reel in the usual manner.
For seat belt and emergency tensioning retractor see
page 63.

56 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Airbags
1Driver airbag
The most effective occupant restraint system yet
developed for use in production vehicles is the seat belt.
In some cases, however, the protective effect of a seat
belt can be further enhanced by an airbag.
The driver airbag is located in the steering wheel hub. 2Front passenger airbag
The passenger front airbag is located in the dashboard
ahead of the front passenger.