MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

140 Controls in detailLighting
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1, only the parking lamps will
switch on and off automatically.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.Daytime running lamp mode

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low beam
headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on additionally:


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.Canada only
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a three-minute delay.
When the engine is running, and you


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps
switch on additionally.


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 54).

141 Controls in detail
Lighting
USA only
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime
running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 167).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to positionC
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 54).
Locator lighting and night security
illumination
The locator lighting and the night security
illumination are described in the “Control
system” section, see “Setting locator light-
ing” (page 168) and “Setting night secu-
rity illumination” (
page 169).Fog lamps
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from positionU toB with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromU toB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding permis-
sible lamp operation.
iFog lamps cannot be switched on with
the exterior lamp switch in
positionU. For switching on the fog
lamps, turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB first.

142 Controls in detailLightingFront fog lamps
Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 54).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps switch on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps switch off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)

Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 142).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 138).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
High beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB orU (
page 138).

143 Controls in detail
Lighting

Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the road onto which
you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 138)
or


the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 138)
or


the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 140)Driving forward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Depending on whether you are turning
left or right, switch on the left or right
turn signal (
page 54).
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
iCorner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting
conditions.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
function is not available at a vehicle
speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps
will come on automatically depending
on the steering angle, even if you did
not switch on either turn signal. If the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps
came on automatically, they will also
go out automatically depending on the
steering angle.

144 Controls in detailLightingSwitching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
were activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and cornering
fog lamp can be switched off by returning
the combination switch to its original posi-
tion.Driving rearward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Shift the automatic transmission in
positionR.
The inverse front fog lamp comes on
automatically depending on the
steering direction and steering angle.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Shift the automatic transmission out of
positionR.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
1Hazard warning flasher switch

145 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.1Left reading lamp on/off
2Cargo compartment lighting on/off
3Automatic control on/off
4Front interior lighting on/off
5Right reading lamp on/off
6Front right interior lamp
7Right reading lamp
8Left reading lamp
9Front left interior lamp
iWith the hazard warning flasher
activated and the combination switch
set for either left or right turn, only the
respective turn signals will operate
when the ignition is switched on.iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch1 once to
switch it off.
iThe interior lighting is factory-set to
automatic mode.

146 Controls in detailLightingAutomatic control
Deactivating
Press switch3.
The switch engages in the recessed
position.
The interior lighting remains switched
off, even when you

unlock the vehicle


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open a door


open the tailgateActivating

Press switch3.
The switch disengages from its
recessed position back to its original
position.
The interior lighting switches on in
darkness, when you

unlock the vehicle


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open a door


open the tailgate
The interior lamps are switched off follow-
ing an adjustable time delay (
page 170).Manual control
Front interior lighting

Press front interior lighting switch4.
The front interior lighting switches on.

Press front interior lighting switch4
again.
The front interior lighting switches off.
Switching left front reading lamp on and
off

Press button1.
The left reading lamp comes on.

Press button1 again.
The left reading lamp goes out.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lighting switches off automatically after
approximately five minutes when the
SmartKey is removed or in starter
switch position0.
An interior lamp switched on manually
does not go out automatically.

147 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching right front reading lamp on
and off
Press button5.
The right reading lamp comes on.

Press button5 again.
The right reading lamp goes out.
Switching rear interior reading lamps on
and off
The rear interior reading lamps are located
above the rear side windows next to the
grab handles.
1Rear interior reading lamp

Press reading lamp1 in direction of
arrow.
The reading lamp comes on.

Press reading lamp1 in direction of
arrow again.
The reading lamp goes out.
Cargo compartment lamp
The cargo compartment lamp switches on
if the tailgate is opened.
If you leave the tailgate open for an extend-
ed period of time, the cargo compartment
lamp will switch off automatically after ap-
proximately five minutes.Switching cargo compartment lamp on
and off manually

Press switch2 (
page 145).
The cargo compartment lamp comes
on.

Press switch2 again.
The cargo compartment lamp goes out.
Door entry lamps
For better orientation in the dark, the
corresponding door entry lamps will switch
on in the darkness when you open a door
and the automatic control is activated.
The door entry lamps will switch off when
the corresponding door is closed.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the
headlamps, the door entry lamps will
remain lit for approximately five
minutes.

148 Controls in detailInstrument clusterFor an illustration of the instrument
cluster, see the “At a glance” section
(page 24).
1To dim illumination
2Reset button
3To brighten illumination
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:


open a door


switch on the ignition (
page 34)


press the reset button2 (
page 24)


switch on the exterior lamps
(page 54)You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 164).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use buttons1 or3 to adjust the
illumination brightness for the instrument
cluster.To brighten illumination

Press and hold button3 in the instru-
ment cluster until the desired illumina-
tion is reached.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Press and hold button1 in the instru-
ment cluster until the desired illumina-
tion is reached.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.

149 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip odome-
ter display (
page 150).

If it is not displayed, press buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 151) until the trip odom-
eter appears.

Press and hold the reset button on the
instrument cluster (
page 148) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(page 24) denotes excessive engine
speed.To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the multifunction display (
page 150).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
s i g n e d t o s e r v e a s a n i c e - w a r n i n g d e v i c e a n d
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.