gear selector MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2008 W164 Owner's Manual

Contents
Control system .................................. 147
Multifunction display .................... 147
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 148
Menus .......................................... 150
Standard display menu ................ 154
AMG menu ................................... 156
Off-road Mode menu .................... 159
AUDIO menu ................................ 160
NAV* menu .................................. 161
AIRMATIC*/Compass menu ........ 162
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 162
Settings menu .............................. 163
Vehicle configuration ................... 177
Trip computer menu..................... 178
TEL* menu ................................... 180
Automatic transmission ..................... 183
Gear selector lever ....................... 183
Shifting procedure ....................... 186
Transmission positions................. 187
Driving tips ................................... 190
Gear ranges ................................. 192
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 193
Shift program (ML 63 AMG only).. 194
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 197Transfer case ...................................... 198
Good visibility ..................................... 199
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 199
Rear view mirrors .......................... 199
Power folding exterior
rear view mirrors* ......................... 200
Sun visors ..................................... 201
Rear window defroster .................. 203
Climate control ................................... 204
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 208
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 208
Setting the temperature................ 209
Adjusting air distribution............... 209
Adjusting air volume ..................... 210
Front defroster.............................. 210
Air recirculation mode .................. 212
Air conditioning............................. 214
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 215
Rear climate control*.................... 2163-zone automatic climate control* ..... 218
Deactivating the
automatic climate
control system .............................. 222
Operating the automatic
climate control system
in automatic mode ........................ 223
Setting the temperature ............... 223
Adjusting air distribution .............. 224
Adjusting air volume ..................... 225
Front defroster ............................. 225
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 226
Air recirculation mode .................. 227
Air conditioning ............................ 229
Using driver-side settings
for all temperature zones.............. 229
Residual heat and ventilation........ 230
Rear automatic climate control..... 231
Power windows .................................. 235
Door windows ............................... 236
Synchronizing the door windows .. 237
Summer opening feature .............. 237
Convenience closing feature......... 238
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 240
Opening and closing ..................... 240
Synchronizing ............................... 242

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

54 Getting started
Driving
Starting the engine Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information on how to operate
the gear selector lever, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 183).
Warning!G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.Warning!G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause un-
consciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one win-
dow fully open.

58 Getting started
Driving
Driving off
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever can now be
used.
Shift automatic transmission toD orR
(
page 185).
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter (gaso-
line engine) or the oxidation catalyst (die-
sel engine) to reach its operating
temperature earlier.
iWait for the gear selection process to com-
plete before setting the vehicle in motion.
iShifting from gear positionP to positionR,
N, orD is only possible with the brake pedal
depressed. Without the brake pedal depressed,
the gear selector lever can be moved, but the
parking pawl remains engaged, not allowing
shifting to occur.
!If you hear a warning signal and the
message
Release Parking Brake appears in
the multifunction display when driving off, you
have forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake (
page 57).
iOnce the vehicle is in motion, the automatic
central locking system engages and the locking
knobs drop down.
The automatic door lock feature can be
deactivated (
page 175).
You can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.
Warning!G
It is dangerous to shift the automatic trans-
mission out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

183 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For more information on driving with an
automatic transmission, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 54).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its shift program.
Gear selector lever
The gear selector lever is located on the
right of the steering column.
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the catalytic
converter (gasoline engine) or the oxidation
catalyst (diesel engine) to heat up more quickly
to operating temperature.
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedal’s range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.

184 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shifting from P to N
Moving the gear selector lever up or down
shifts the automatic transmission out of
park positionP:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Move gear selector lever up or down to
resistance point to select neutral
positionN.Shifting from N to R or from N to D
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Move gear selector lever up past the re-
sistance point to select reverse gearR.
or
Move gear selector lever down past the
resistance point to select drive
positionD.
Release the parking brake (page 57).
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator pedal
to drive off when it is safe to do so.
iThe current transmission positionP, R, N,
orD appears in the multifunction display
(
page 187).
Warning!G
It is dangerous to shift the automatic trans-
mission out of park positionP or neutral
positionN if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
iThe gear selector lever returns to its original
position.iThe gear selector lever returns to its original
position.

185 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shifting from P to R
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Move gear selector lever up past the re-
sistance point to select reverse gearR.
Release the parking brake (page 57).
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator pedal
to drive off when it is safe to do so.Shifting from P to D
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Move gear selector lever down past the
resistance point to select drive
positionD.
Release the parking brake (page 57).
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator pedal
to drive off when it is safe to do so.Shifting from D, R, or N to P
If you want to select park positionP with
the transmission being in drive positionD,
reverse gearR or neutral positionN:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Step firmly on parking brake pedal
(
page 65).
Press button on gear selector lever in
direction of arrow (
page 183) to
select park positionP.
Release the brake pedal.
iThe gear selector lever returns to its original
position.
iThe gear selector lever returns to its original
position.
!Shift the automatic transmission directly
from drive positionD to reverse gearR, from
reverse gearR to drive positionD or directly to
park positionP only when the vehicle is stopped.
Otherwise the automatic transmission could be
damaged.
When trying to free a vehicle stuck in mud or
snow, see “Rocking the vehicle” (
page 191).

186 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shifting from D or R to N
If you want to select neutral positionN
with the transmission being in drive
positionD or reverse gearR:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
Step firmly on parking brake pedal
(
page 65).
Move gear selector lever up to resis-
tance point when in drive positionD or
down to resistance point when in
reverse gearR to select neutral
positionN.
Release the brake pedal.
Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:

drive positionD (page 187) with gear
ranges (
page 192)

the selected program mode (M/C/S)
(ML 63 AMG only) (
page 194)

the position of the accelerator pedal
(
page 190)

the vehicle speedWith drive positionD selected, you can use
the steering wheel gearshift control
buttons (page 193) to influence trans-
mission shifting by:

limiting the gear range

changing gears manually
iWhen the vehicle needs to be moved with
the engine switched off and the transmission set
to neutral positionN (
page 184), do not
depress the parking brake pedal.
!Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

191 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Rocking the vehicle
Rocking the vehicle by shifting between
drive positionD and reverse gearR can
help free a vehicle stuck in mud or snow.
The engine control system of this vehicle
electronically limits shifting between
drive positionD and reverse gearR to
very low speeds, i.e. approximately
5 mph (9 km/h). To shift between drive
positionD and reverse gearR, move the
gear selector lever past the resistance
point up or down.
Working on the vehicleHill start assist system
On uphill grades with a gradient angle of
more than 5°, the hill start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake sys-
tem for approximately 1 second after you
have released the brake pedal. Therefore,
you can start off smoothly without the
vehicle moving immediately after releasing
the brake pedal.The hill start assist system is inactive

when starting off on a level road or
downhill grades

with the transmission in neutral
positionN

with the parking brake set

if the ESP® has switched off due to a
malfunction
Towing a trailer
If you tow a trailer, note the following
points:

Manually shift to a lower gear range
(
page 192) if the transmission hunts
between gears on inclines.
A lower gear range and reduction of
speed reduces the chance to overload
or overheat the engine.
For more information on trailer towing, see
the “Operation” section (
page 328).
Warning!G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and shift to park positionP.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away.
Warning!G
The hill start assist system is not designed
to function as a parking brake and does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when
parked on an incline.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to park positionP.

194 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Extending gear range
Briefly press right shift button2.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the automat-
ic transmission (
page 192).
Canceling gear range limit
Press and hold right shift button2
until the cipher for the current gear
range disappears from the multifunc-
tion display (
page 192).
The transmission will shift from the
current gear range directly to gear
rangeD.Shifting into optimal gear range
Press and hold left shift button1.
The transmission will automatically
select the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more
gears.
Shift program (ML 63 AMG only)You can choose between automatic shift
program C or S and manual shift
programM.
1Program mode selector switch
M Manual For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For standard driving
S Sport For sporty drivingiIf you press on the accelerator when the
engine has reached its rpm limit, the transmis-
sion will upshift beyond any gear range limit
selected.
!Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Never change the program mode when the
automatic transmission is out of park positionP.
This could result in a change of driving character-
istics for which you may not be prepared.