MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2008 W164 Owner's Manual

120 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens slightly.
Pull tailgate upwards to open.Closing the tailgate from the outside
1Handle
Lower tailgate by pulling firmly on
handle1.
Close tailgate with hands placed flat on
it.
Once the tailgate touches the latch,
the tailgate will pull itself shut automat-
ically.
iVehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked (
page 38).
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the cargo
compartment opening when closing the
tailgate. Be especially careful when small
children are around.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
iTo prevent an inadvertent lockout, do not
place the SmartKey in the cargo compartment.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To prevent a
possible inadvertent lockout, the tailgate will
open automatically if a SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is recognized inside the vehicle.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, the tailgate
will lock automatically after closing it. The turn
signals flash three times to confirm locking.

121 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Power tailgate*
In vehicles with power tailgate, you can

open and close the tailgate from the
inside and the outside electrically

limit the opening height of the tailgate

interrupt the opening/closing proce-
dure at any time by

pressing or pulling the
door-mounted remote tailgate
switch (
page 122)

pressing the Šbutton on the
SmartKey (
page 110) or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(
page 113)

pressing the tailgate closing switch
(
page 123)

pressing the tailgate
closing/locking switch (vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO*) (
page 123)Opening the tailgate from the outside
You can unlock and open the tailgate
simultaneously from the outside when the
vehicle is at a standstill.
Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* until the tailgate unlocks
and opens.
While the tailgate is opening, an
acoustic signal sounds.
or
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Pull on the handle (
page 120).
The tailgate is unlocked and opens.
While the tailgate is opening, an acous-
tic signal sounds.Opening the tailgate from the inside
You can unlock and open the tailgate si-
multaneously from the driver’s seat when
the vehicle is at a standstill.
!The tailgate swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
Warning!G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door-mounted remote tailgate switch or
with the Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. Monitor the
opening procedure carefully to make sure
no one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the opening procedure, press or
pull the door-mounted remote tailgate
switch or press the Šbutton on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.

122 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
The switch is located in the driver’s door.
1Remote tailgate switch
Pull remote tailgate switch1 until
tailgate begins to open.
The tailgate opens. While the tailgate is
opening, an acoustic signal sounds.Limiting opening height of tailgate*
In vehicles with power tailgate*, the tail-
gate opening height can be limited when
transporting goods on a roof rack* (e.g.
presence of an MB roof cargo container*).
When activated, the tailgate opens to
approximately 6.6 ft (2.00 m).
Activate the limiting opening height of
tailgate using the control system
(
page 176).
Closing the tailgate from the inside
You can close the tailgate from the inside
using the remote tailgate switch.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high) the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Warning!G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door-mounted switch. Monitor the
closing procedure carefully to make sure no
one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the closing procedure, press or
pull the door-mounted remote tailgate
switch or press the Šbutton on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the remote tailgate switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.

123 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Press remote tailgate switch1
(
page 122) until tailgate begins to
close.
The tailgate closes. While the tailgate is
closing an acoustic signal sounds.
To interrupt the closing procedure:
Press or pull remote tailgate switch1
(
page 122).Closing the tailgate from the outside
You can close the tailgate from the outside
using the tailgate closing switch or
theŠbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. In vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO*, you can also simulta-
neously lock the vehicle.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high) the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*
1Tailgate closing switch
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
1Tailgate closing switch
Press tailgate closing switch1 or the
Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* briefly.
The tailgate closes and an acoustic
warning sounds.
Warning!G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,


124 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate and locking the
vehicle from the outside (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with power tailgate and
KEYLESS-GO*, you can close the tailgate
and lock the vehicle simultaneously from
the outside using the KEYLESS-GO*
locking/closing switch.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you.1KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing switch
Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch1 briefly.
The tailgate closes automatically. Once
the tailgate is closed, the vehicle locks
if doors are closed. The turn signals
flash three times to confirm locking.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:

Press tailgate closing switch1
(
page 123).

Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch*1 (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*) (
page 124).

Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
(
page 110) or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (
page 113).

Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
on the driver’s door (
page 122).
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the tailgate closing switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
iDo not place the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the open cargo compartment.
You may lock yourself out.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automatically after
closing it. The turn signals will flash three times
to confirm locking.


125 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Automatic central locking
The doors and the tailgate lock automati-
cally when the ignition is switched on and
the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
For information on towing the vehicle, see
“Towing the vehicle” (
page 499).
You can deactivate the automatic central
locking mode using the control system
(
page 175).
Warning!G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:

Press tailgate closing switch1
(
page 123).

Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch*1 (
page 124).

Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* (
page 113).

Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
on the driver’s door (
page 122).
Even with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the tailgate
closing switch can be operated. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. A
child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iTo prevent a possible inadvertent lockout,
the tailgate will open automatically if a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* is recognized inside the
vehicle.
iYou can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact exceeds a
preset threshold.
The vehicle automatically locks when the ignition
is switched on and the wheels are turning at
vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h) or more. You could therefore lock
yourself out when the vehicle

is pushed or towed

is on a test stand

126 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
tailgate from inside using the central lock-
ing or unlocking switch. This can be useful,
for example, if you want to lock the vehicle
before starting to drive.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or un-
locked with the central locking or unlock-
ing switch.The switches are located in the drivers
door.
1Central unlocking switch
2Central locking switch
Locking
Press central locking switch2.
If all doors and the tailgate are closed,
the vehicle locks.Unlocking
Press central unlocking switch1.
The vehicle unlocks.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
iYou can open a locked door from inside at
any time. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO*, it will
not unlock using the central unlocking switch.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the
central locking switch:

and the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is set to factory settings, the
complete vehicle is unlocked when a front
door is opened from the inside

and the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is set to selective settings,
only the front door opened from the inside is
unlocked
iWith the passenger-side door opened, you
cannot lock the vehicle with the central locking
switch.

127 Controls in detail
Seats
Seats
For information on seat adjustment, see
the “Getting started” section (
page 43).
For more information on seats, see “Load-
ing” (
page 266).
Front seat active head restraintsYou cannot remove the active head
restraints on the driver’s and front
passenger’s seat.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 43).
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraint” (
page 88).
Rear seat head restraints
Warning!G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is close
to the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
Warning!G
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints installed when the rear seats
are occupied. Head restraints are intended
to help reduce injuries during an accident.
With a rear seat occupied, make sure to
move the respective head restraint up from
the lowest non-use position and have the oc-
cupant adjust the head restraint properly.
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports the
back of the head at eye level. This will re-
duce the potential for injury to the head and
neck in the event of an accident or similar
situation.

128 Controls in detail
Seats
Head restraint height
1Head restraint
2Release button
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of head
restraint1 by pulling it upward to the
desired position.
Lowering:
To lower head restraint1, press
release button2 and push down on
head restraint1.Head restraint fore and aft adjustment
Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint.
While seated, reach behind you with
both hands and find lower edge of the
head restraint.
Adjust the head restraint to the desired
position by pushing or pulling on the
lower edge of the head restraint cush-
ion.Head restraints, removing and install-
ing
1Head restraint
2Release button
RemovingPull head restraint1 to its uppermost
position.
Press release button2 and pull out
head restraint.

129 Controls in detail
Seats
Installing
Insert head restraint1 into openings
on the seat backrest.
Push head restraint1 down until it au-
dibly engages.
Press release button2 and adjust
head restraint1 to the desired posi-
tion (
page 128).
For more information on seats, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 43).
Lumbar support
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back sup-
port and seating comfort.
The lever for lumbar support adjustment is
located on the right hand side of the
driver’s seat backrest.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in direction
of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has an extendable
seat cushion and inflatable air chambers
built into the backrest to provide additional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion depth, seat backrest
cushion-height and curvature can be con-
tinuously varied with switches on the in-
side of each front seat base after the
ignition is switched on (
page 39).
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest side bolsters
3Backrest center
4Backrest bottom