ground clearance MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2003 W163 Owner's Manual

14 IntroductionOperator’s ManualWarning!
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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
hard, 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.

190 OperationDriving instructionsCrossing obstacles


Select gear range1 on the automatic
transmission (
page 114).


Check the vehicle clearance before
crossing obstacles.


Cross obstacles (e.g. tree stumps or
big rocks) very slowly by aiming one of
the front wheels at the center of the ob-
stacle, and repeat same with the rear
wheel.


Special attention is needed when you
cross obstacles on a steep incline.
The vehicle could slide sideways as a
result of its possible slanted position.Ruts
A number of off-road tracks or other by-
ways have deep ruts which can cause the
undercarriage to come in contact with the
ground.


Select gear range1 on the automatic
transmission (
page 114).


Drive next to the ruts rather than
through them if at all possible.
!Obstacles can damage the vehicle
undercarriage or suspension compo-
nents. If possible use the assistance of
a second person.
After off-road driving or crossing obsta-
cles, inspect vehicle for any damage,
especially vehicle undercarriage and
suspension components. Failure to do
so can adversely affect the vehicle's fu-
ture performance, including increased
chance of an accident.

282 Technical dataMain Dimensions
Main DimensionsModel
ML 320, ML 350, ML 500
ML 55 AMG
Overall vehicle length
182.6 in (4638 mm)
182.5 in (4635 mm)
Overall vehicle width
83.7 in (2126 mm)
83.7 in (2126 mm)
Overall vehicle height
71.7 in (1820 mm)
71.0 in (1804 mm)
Wheelbase
111.0 in (2820 mm)
111.0 in (2820 mm)
Track, front
61.2 in (1555 mm)
61.2 in (1555 mm)
Track, rear
61.2 in (1555 mm)
61.2 in (1555 mm)
Ground clearance
8.03 in (204 mm)
7.4 in (188 mm)
Turning radius
468.5 in (11.9 m)
468.5 in (11.9 m)