center console MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2008 W164 Owner's Manual

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 13
Operating your vehicle
outside the USA or Canada ............ 13
Where to find it .................................... 15
Symbols ............................................... 16
Operating safety .................................. 17
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 17
Problems with your vehicle .................. 18
Reporting safety defects...................... 19
Reporting safety defects ................ 19
Vehicle data recording ......................... 20
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 20At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Instrument cluster ................................ 28
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 30
Center console ..................................... 31
Upper part ...................................... 31
Lower part ...................................... 32
Overhead control panel ........................ 33
Storage compartments ......................... 34
Door control panel................................ 36Getting started................................... 37
Unlocking ............................................. 38
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 38
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 39
Starter switch positions .................. 39
Adjusting .............................................. 43
Seats .............................................. 43
Steering wheel ................................ 46
Mirrors ............................................ 49
Driving .................................................. 51
Fastening the seat belts ................. 51
Starting the engine ......................... 54
Parking brake ................................. 57
Driving off ....................................... 58
Switching on headlamps ................. 59
Turn signals .................................... 60
Windshield wipers ........................... 60
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 62
Problems while driving.................... 63
Parking and locking .............................. 65
Parking brake ................................. 65
Switching off headlamps................. 66
Turning off the engine..................... 66
Releasing seat belts........................ 68
Locking ........................................... 68

Contents
Oxidation catalyst
(diesel engine).............................. 335
Emission control .......................... 335
Coolant temperature .................... 336
At the gas station .............................. 337
Refueling ...................................... 337
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 339
Engine compartment ......................... 341
Hood ............................................ 341
Engine oil ..................................... 343
Transmission fluid level ................ 345
Coolant level ................................ 345
Windshield/rear window
washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ........ 346
Tires and wheels ................................ 348
Important guidelines .................... 348
Tire care and maintenance........... 349
Direction of rotation ..................... 351
Loading the vehicle ...................... 351
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 357
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 359
Tire labeling.................................. 370
Load identification ....................... 374DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) .............................................. 374
Maximum tire load ........................ 376
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 376
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 377
Tire ply material ............................ 379
Tire and loading terminology......... 379
Rotating tires ................................ 382
Winter driving ..................................... 384
Winter tires ................................... 384
Block heater (Canada only) ........... 385
Snow chains.................................. 385
Maintenance....................................... 386
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 386
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 388
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 388
Vehicle care........................................ 389
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 389
Practical hints.................................. 399
What to do if … ................................... 400
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 400
Lamp in center console ................ 411
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 413
Where will I find ...? ............................ 448
First aid kit.................................... 448
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 448
Minispare wheel
(except ML 63 AMG) ..................... 452
Collapsible tire
(ML 63 AMG only) ......................... 453
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 455
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 455
Locking the vehicle ....................... 456
Unlocking and opening
the tailgate ................................... 456
Fuel filler flap ................................ 457
Resetting activated head restraints.... 458
Vehicles without Rear seat
entertainment system*................. 458
Vehicles with Rear seat
entertainment system*................. 459
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 461

21 At a glance
Exterior view
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Storage compartments
Door control panel

25 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Cruise control lever245
2Instrument cluster26
3Multifunction steering
wheel30
4Horn
5Steering wheel gearshift
buttons193
6Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission54
7Front Parktronic* warning
indicators262
8Overhead control panel33
9Glove box release
Glove box lock279
280
ItemPage
aGlove box279
CD changer*279
AUX-socket1279
bPower outlet288
cCenter console31
dStarter switch40
eSteering wheel adjustment,
manual47
fHood lock release341
gParking brake release57
hParking brake pedal65
jPower tailgate switch*121
1Depending on vehicle configuration.
ItemPage
kDoor control panel36
lExterior lamp switch59,
135
mSteering wheel adjustment,
electrical*
Heated steering wheel*48
290
nCombination switch

High beam

Turn signals

Windshield wipers

Rear window wiper
139
59
60
60
62

31 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper partItemPage
1COMAND system, see sepa-
rate operating instructions
2Climate control204
3-zone automatic climate
control*218
Rear window defroster203
3Seat heating*,
front passenger side130
4Seat ventilation*,
front passenger side131
5Parktronic system*
deactivation switch259
6Vehicle level control
switch*257
7Front passenger front air
bag off indicator lamp83,
411,
412
ItemPage
8Storage compartment1281
9Alarm system indicator
lamp107
aElectronic Stability Program
(ESP®) switch
102
bAdaptive damping system
(ADS)* switch255
cSeat ventilation*,
driver’s side131
dSeat heating*, driver’s side130
eSwitch for Downhill Speed
Regulation (DSR)250
fHazard warning flasher141
gSwitch for Off-road driving
program
ML 63 AMG:
Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission253
194
1Depending on vehicle configuration.

32 At a glance
Center console
Lower partItemPage
1Storage compartment with281

Power outlet1
or

Ashtray with cigarette
lighter1
1Depending on vehicle configuration.
288
285
2Cup holder284
3Armrest storage/tele-
phone* compartment re-
lease281
4Card, ticket holder
(removable)284

78 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The air bags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protec-
ted by the fastened seat belts.
The front passenger front air bag will only
be deployed if:

the system senses that the front
passenger seat is occupied

the 59indicator lamp in
the center console is not lit
(
page 83)

the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment thresholdSide impact air bags, window curtain
air bags
1Front side impact air bag
2Window curtain air bag
3Rear side impact air bag*
The side impact air bags and window
curtain air bags are deployed:

on the impacted side of the vehicle

in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold

independently of the front air bags
In addition, the window curtain air bags2
are deployed in certain vehicle rollovers.
Warning!G
The pressure sensors for side impact air bag
control are located in the doors. Do not
modify any components of the doors or door
trim panels including, for example, the addi-
tion of door speakers.
Improper repair work on the doors or the
modification or addition of components to
the doors create a risk of rendering the
side impact air bags inoperative or causing
unintended air bag deployment. Work on the
doors must therefore only be performed by
qualified technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

79 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The side impact air bags and window cur-
tain air bags are not deployed in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment threshold.
The front passenger side impact air bag
will not deploy if the OCS senses that the
front passenger seat is empty and the front
passenger seat belt is not fastened (latch
plate is not inserted into the buckle). With
an empty front passenger seat and the
seat belt fastened (latch plate properly in-
serted into buckle) the front passenger
side impact air bag will deploy indepen-
dently of the empty seat.Occupant Classification System
The Occupant Classification System (OCS)
automatically turns the front passenger
front air bag on or off based on the classi-
fied occupant weight category determined
by weight sensor readings from the front
passenger seat.
Occupants must sit properly belted in a
position that is as upright as possible with
their back against the seat backrest and
feet on the floor to be correctly classified.
If the occupant’s weight is transferred to
another object in the vehicle (e.g. by lean-
ing on armrests), the OCS may not be able
to properly approximate the occupant’s
weight category.Furthermore, the occupant weight may
appear to increase or decrease due to
objects hanging on the seat, other passen-
gers pushing on the seat, objects lodged
underneath the seat or stuffed between
seat and middle console or between seat
and door or due to objects applying pres-
sure on the back of the seat. Always make
sure that the seat has clearance in all
directions at all times.
Both, driver and the front passenger
should always use the
59indicator lamp as an indi-
cation of whether or not the front passen-
ger is properly positioned.
Warning!G
Only use seat covers which have been test-
ed and approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle model. Using other seat covers may
interfere with or prevent the deployment of
the front side impact air bags or the rear
side impact air bags*. Contact your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for
availability.
iThe system does not deactivate the front
passenger side impact air bag, the window
curtain air bag, and the emergency tensioning
device.
iIf your seat, including your trim cover and
cushion needs to be serviced in any way, take
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Only seat accessories approved by
Mercedes-Benz may be used.

83 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The 59indicator lamp is
located in the center console.
159indicator lamp
The 59indicator lamp1 will
be illuminated, except with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch or with
the starter switch in position0
(
page 39).
Warning!G
If the 1indicator lamp and the
59indicator lamp are lit at the
same time, there is a malfunction in the
Occupant Classification System. The front
passenger front air bag will be deactivated
in this case.
Have the system checked as soon as possi-
ble by qualified technicians. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
In order to ensure proper operation of the
air bag system and OCS:

Do not place more than 4.4 lb (2 kg) into
the parcel net on the back of the front
passenger seat. Otherwise, the OCS
may not be able to properly approximate
the occupant weight category.

Do not place objects under and/or
around the front passenger seat.

Do not hang anything from or attach any
items to the seats.

Do not stuff objects such as books be-
tween the middle console and the front
passenger seat.

Do not move the front passenger seat
backwards against stiff objects.

Sit properly belted in a position that is as
upright as possible with your back
against the seat backrest.

While seated, an occupant should not
position him/herself in such a way as to
cause the occupant’s weight to be lifted
from the seat bottom as this may result
in the OCS being unable to correctly ap-
proximate the occupant’s weight cate-
gory.

Read and observe all warnings in this
chapter.

84 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Self-test Occupant Classification
System
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1 or2 or pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once or
twice, the 59indicator lamp
(
page 83) located in the center console
illuminates. If an adult occupant is properly
sitting on the front passenger seat and the
system senses the occupant as being an
adult, the 59indicator lamp
will illuminate and go out after approxi-
mately 6 seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the system
senses the front passenger seat as being
empty, the 59indicator lamp
will illuminate and not go out.For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 411).
Seat belts
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint system is required by law in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, the
U.S. territories and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts
fastened whenever the vehicle is in
motion.
For more information, see “Fastening the
seat belts” (
page 51).
Warning!G
If the 59indicator lamp should
not illuminate, the system is not functioning.
You must see an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center before seating any child
on the front passenger seat.
Warning!G
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the Occupant Classifi-
cation System. The bottom of the child seat
must make full contact with the passenger
seat cushion. An incorrectly mounted child
seat could cause injuries to the child in case
of an accident, instead of increasing protec-
tion for the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of child seats.
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and restraint
systems for infants and children, see “Children
in the vehicle” (
page 89).