MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

130 Controls in detailSeatsLumbar support
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back sup-
port and seating comfort.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in the direc-
tion of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
Rear seat head restraints Head restraint heightWarning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the
rear head restraints in the upright position
when the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are
intended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.

131 Controls in detailSeats
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
If the head restraint is fully retracted,
push release button in direction of ar-
row and pull the head restraint out.
Lowering:

To lower the head restraint, push
release button in direction of arrow and
press down on the head restraint.For more information on seats, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 38).Removing and installing rear seat head
restraints
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as possi-
ble.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.

132 Controls in detailSeatsRemoving rear seat head restraints
Pull head restraint to its highest
position.

Push release button in direction of ar-
row and pull out head restraint.
Installing rear seat head restraints

Insert head restraint and push it down
until it engages.

Push release button and adjust head
restraint to the desired position
(page 131).
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has inflatable air
cushions built into the backrest to provide
additional lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion depth, backrest cushion
height and curvature can be continuously
varied with switches on the right side of
the seat after the ignition is switched on
(page 34).
1Backrest center
2Backrest bottom
3Seat cushion depth
4Backrest side bolster

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

133 Controls in detailSeats
Seat cushion depth
Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg using
switch3.
Backrest contour

Adjust the contour of the backrest to
the desired position usingæ
orç.

Move the backrest support to the bot-
tom using button2 or to the center
using button1.
Backrest side bolsters

Adjust the side bolsters so that they
provide good lateral support using
switch4.
Seat heating*
Both switches for the front seats are locat-
ed in the center console. The red indicator
lamps in the switch1 come on to show
which heating level you have selected.
1Seat heating switch

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
Leveloff
No indicator lamps on.
1
One indicator lamp on (lowest
level).
2
Two indicator lamps on.
The seat heater automatically
switches to level 1 after approxi-
mately ten minutes.
3
Three indicator lamps on
(highest level).
The seat heater automatically
switches to level 2 after approxi-
mately five minutes.

134 Controls in detailSeatsSwitching on seat heating
Press switch1.
Three red indicator lamps in the switch
come on.

Continue pressing switch1 until
desired seat heating level is reached.
Switching off seat heating

Press switch1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps go out.iThe seat heater will be automatically
switched off after approximately
20 minutes.
iIf one or more of the indicator lamps on
the seat heater switch are flashing,
there is insufficient voltage available
since too many electrical consumers
are turned on. The seat heater switches
off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on
again automatically as soon as
sufficient voltage is available.

135 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Memory function*
You can store up to three different settings
for each SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
The following settings are saved for each
stored position on the entry side of the
driver seat:

Driver’s seat, head restraint height and
backrest position


Steering wheel position


Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
position


Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror position
The following are saved for each stored po-
sition on the entry side of the front passen-
ger seat:


Front passenger seat, head restraint
height and backrest position
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the
driver should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to
ensure adequate control, reach and
comfort. The head restraint should also
be adjusted for proper height. See also
the section on air bags (
page 67) for
proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the interior and
exterior rear view mirrors should be
adjusted for adequate rear 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 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

136 Controls in detailMemory function*The memory button and stored position
buttons are located on the entry side of
each front seat base.
MMemory button
1, 2, 3Stored positions
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
or

Open the respective door.
Storing positions in memory
Adjust the seats, steering wheel and
exterior rear view mirrors to the de-
sired position (
page 38).

Press memory buttonM.

Release memory buttonM and press
stored position1,2 or3 within
three seconds.
All the settings are stored at the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold memory position
button1,2 or3 until the seat, steering
wheel and exterior rear view mirrors
have fully moved to the stored posi-
tions.!Do not operate the power seats using
the memory button if the seat backrest
is in an excessively reclined position.
Doing so could cause damage to front
or rear seats.
First move seat backrest to an upright
position.iReleasing the button immediately
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions.

137 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Storing exterior rear view mirror parking position
For easier parking, you can adjust the
passenger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage reverse gearR.
For information on activating the parking
position feature, see “Activating exterior
rear view mirror parking position*”
(page 196).1Adjustment button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button

Stop the vehicle.

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

Press button2.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.

Adjust the exterior rear view mirror
with button1 so that you see the rear
wheel and the road curb.

Press memory buttonM (
page 136).

Within three seconds, press bottom of
adjustment button1.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.
iYou can store a parking position for the
passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror for each SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*.
iIf the mirror does move, repeat the
above steps. After the setting is stored,
you can move the mirror again.

138 Controls in detailLightingFor information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 54)
and “Turn signals” (
page 54).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 140)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 139)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps,
license plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
BLow beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the
combination switch is pushed
forward) and parking lamps
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.iVehicles equipped with active
Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon headlamps
monitor your steering angle and driving
speed, then automatically shift their
beams to either side to better follow
the curvature of the road ahead,
increasing usable illumination over
conventional headlamps.

139 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
iWith the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch and the driver’s door
open, a warning sounds if the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on.
The message
Switch off lights

appears in the multifunction display.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.
To activate the daytime running lamp
mode, see “Setting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)” (
page 140).
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright
ambient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch toB when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromUtoB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.