Parktronic MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

ContentsDriving systems ................................. 238
Cruise control............................... 238
Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) ............................................ 243
Off-road driving program .............. 248
Air suspension package* ............. 249
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* .......................................... 249
Vehicle level control* ................... 250
Parktronic* system
(Parking assist) ............................. 254
Loading .............................................. 259
Loading instructions ..................... 259
,Split rear bench seat ................... 261
Partition net* ............................... 263
Cargo compartment cover*.......... 265
Cargo management system*........ 265
Roof rack* .................................... 269Useful features .................................. 270
Storage compartments ................ 270
Cup holders.................................. 274
Armrest in rear seat bench........... 275
Ashtrays* ..................................... 275
Cigarette lighter* ......................... 277
12-V sockets ................................ 277
Floormats* ................................... 279
Telephone* .................................. 279
Tele Aid* ...................................... 280
Garage door opener ..................... 289
Compass ...................................... 295
Infrared reflecting windshield* ..... 296
Operation......................................... 297
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 298
Driving instructions ........................... 299
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 299
Drinking and driving ..................... 299
Pedals .......................................... 299
Power assistance ......................... 299
Brakes.......................................... 300
Driving off .................................... 301
Parking......................................... 301
Tires ............................................. 302
Hydroplaning................................ 303
Tire traction ................................. 303
Tire speed rating .......................... 303
Winter driving instructions ........... 304
Standing water............................. 305
Off-road driving ............................ 306
Trailer towing ............................... 314
Passenger compartment .............. 319
Driving abroad ............................. 319
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 320
Catalytic converter....................... 320
Emission control .......................... 321
Coolant temperature.................... 322

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Cruise control lever
238
2
Instrument cluster
24
3
Multifunction steering
wheel
26
4
Horn
5
Steering wheel gearshift
buttons
189
6
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
49
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicators
256
8
Overhead control panel
29
9
Glove box lid release,
glove box lock
270
Item
Page
a
Glove box
270
b
Power outlet
278
c
Center console
27
d
Starter switch
34
e
Steering wheel adjustment,
manual
41
f
Hood lock release
326
g
Parking brake release
52
h
Parking brake pedal
52
j
Door control panel
30
Item
Page
k
Headlamp washer switch*
194
l
Exterior lamp switch
54
138
m
Steering wheel adjustment,
electrical*
42
n
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
142
54
55
54

155 Controls in detail
Control system
Menu7
Menu8
Menu9
Vehicle configuration
Trip computer
Telephone*
(page 175)
(page 177)
(page 178)
Commands/submenusParktronic*
Fuel consumption statis-
tics after start
Load phone book
DSR (Downhill Speed Reg-
ulation) programmed
default speed
Fuel consumption statis-
tics since the last reset
Search for name in phone
book
Tow-away alarm
Call up range
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.

175 Controls in detail
Control system

Press buttonæ orç to switch
function
On or
Off
.
Setting fold-in function* for exterior
rear view mirrors
Using this function, you can set the exteri-
or rear view mirrors to be automatically
folded (
page 197) in when you lock your
vehicle.

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the

Convenience
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message
Fold in
mirrors when locking
appears in the
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to switch
function
On or
Off
.
Vehicle configuration
The following functions are available:
Parktronic system* on/off
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

Pressè orÿ button repeatedly
until the
Vehicle configuration
menu
appears in the display.

Pressj ork repeatedly until
the message
PARKTRONIC
appears in
the display.
Function
Page
Parktronic* on/off
175
DSR set speed
176
Tow-away alarm on/off
176

238 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed.


Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR),
which supports you when you are
driving downhill.


Off-road driving program, which
supports you when you are driving
off-road.


Air suspension package* which adjusts
the vehicle suspension characteristics
automatically and controls the vehicle
level.


Parktronic*, which serves as a parking
aid.
For information on the ABS, BAS, EBB,
ESP®, and 4-ETS driving systems, see
“Driving safety systems” (
page 93).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above
20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
iThe cruise control should not be acti-
vated during off-road driving.
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must remain at
all times responsible for the vehicle speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it ad-
visable to travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

254 Controls in detailDriving systemsWhen the highway/high-speed level is
reached, the following message appears in
the multifunction display for five seconds:
Indicator lamp2 (
page 252) goes out.The following applies additionally when
towing a trailer:


The vehicle is lowered to the highway
level when it reaches a speed of 5 mph
(8 km/h).


The high-speed level is not available.


The restrictions that apply to towing
also apply when using accessories that
are connected to the trailer power
socket, such as an accessory bicycle
rack.
Parktronic* system (Parking assist)
iThe vehicle is lowered to the highway
level if:

the vehicle speed is above 55 mph
(88 km/h)


the speed stays between 40 mph
(64km/h) and 55mph (88km/h)
for approximately 20 seconds
iDepending on the ADS setting
(page 249), the vehicle will be low-
ered to the high-speed level when trav-
eling at higher speeds. At speeds below
40 mph (64 km/h) at the latest, it will
be returned to the highway level.
Warning!
G
Parktronic is a supplemental system. It is
not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always rests with the driver.
Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes
(e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts, or road
curbs). Such objects may not be detected by
the system and can damage the vehicle.
The operational function of the Parktronic
system can be affected by dirty sensors, es-
pecially at times of snow and ice. See
“Cleaning the Parktronic system sensors”
(page 377).
Interference caused by other ultrasonic sig-
nals (e.g. working jackhammers, car wash,
or the air brakes of trucks) can cause the
system to send erratic indications, and
should be taken into consideration.


255 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The Parktronic system is an electronic
parking aid and designed to assist the
driver during parking maneuvers. It visually
and audibly indicates the relative distance
between the vehicle and an obstacle.
The Parktronic system is automatically
activated when you switch on the ignition,
release the parking brake, and set the
automatic transmission toD,R, orN.
The Parktronic system deactivates at
speeds over approximately 11 mph
(18 km/h). At lower speeds the Parktronic
system turns on again.
The Parktronic system also deactivates
when you set the automatic transmission
toP or depress the parking brake pedal.The Parktronic system monitors the sur-
roundings of your vehicle with six sensors
in the front bumper and four sensors in the
rear bumper.
1Sensors in the front bumper
Range of the sensors
To function properly, the sensors must be
free of dirt, ice, snow and slush. Clean the
sensors regularly, being careful not to
scratch or damaging the sensors, see
“Cleaning the Parktronic* system sensors”
(
page 377).
Warning!
G
Make sure no persons or animals are in the
area in which you are maneuvering. You
could otherwise injure them.

256 Controls in detailDriving systemsFront sensors
Rear sensorsMinimum distance
If the system detects an obstacle in this
range, all the distance warning segments
illuminate and you hear a warning signal. If
the obstacle is closer than the minimum
distance, the actual distance may no long-
er be indicated by the system.
Warning indicators
Visual signals indicate to the driver the rel-
ative distance between the sensors and an
obstacle. The warning indicator for the
front area is located above the center air
vents in the dashboard. The warning indi-
cator for the rear area is located in the rear
passenger compartment in the roof dome.
Front area warning indicator1Left side of the vehicle
2Right side of the vehicle
3Readiness indicators
Each warning indicator is divided into five
yellow and two red segments for either
side of the vehicle. The Parktronic system
is operational when the readiness
indicators3 are illuminated.
The position of the automatic transmission
determines which warning indicator will be
activated.
Center
approx. 40 in (100 cm)
Corners
approx. 24 in (60 cm)
Center
approx. 48 in (120 cm)
Corners
approx. 32 in (80 cm)
!During parking maneuvers, pay special
attention to objects located above or
below the height of the sensors (e.g.
planters or trailer hitches). The
Parktronic system will not detect such
objects at close range and damage to
your vehicle or the object may result.
Ultrasonic signals from outside sourc-
es (e.g. working jackhammers, car
wash or the air brakes of trucks) may
impair the operation of the Parktronic
system.
Center
approx. 8 in (20 cm)
Corners
approx. 6 in (15 cm)

257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
As your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will come on,
depending on the distance. When the
second red distance segment illuminates,
you have reached the minimum distance.

Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of two seconds will sound for
the second red segment. The signal is
canceled when the automatic trans-
mission is set toP, or the parking brake
is activated.


Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of two seconds will sound for
the second red segment. The signal is
canceled when the automatic trans-
mission is set toD, P, or the parking
brake is activated.
Switching Parktronic* system on/off
The Parktronic system can be switched off
manually using the control system
(
page 175).
As your vehicle approaches an object, and
three or more distance segments will
come on, the following message appears in
the multifunction display.

Pressæ orç to switch function
off.
Automatic trans-
mission position
Warning indicator
D
Front area activated
R or N
Front and rear area
activated
P
Neither activated
iThe display disappears automatically
within ten seconds if you continue to
approach an object.
If the vehicle comes closer to the ob-
ject and the first red distance segment
comes on, the display appears continu-
ously. It disappears if:

you clear the message by pressing
theèÿkor
buttonj on the multifunction
steering wheel
or


the distance is increased and the
third yellow distance segment goes
out.


258 Controls in detailDriving systems
Parktronic* system malfunction
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and an acoustic warning sounds,
there is a malfunction in the Parktronic
system. The Parktronic system will auto-
matically switch off after 20 seconds.
Have the Parktronic system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and no acoustic warning sounds, the
Parktronic system sensors are dirty or
there is an interference from other radio or
ultrasonic signals. The Parktronic system
will automatically switch off after
20 seconds.

Switch off the ignition (
page 34).

Clean the Parktronic system sensors
(page 377).

Switch on the ignition.
or

Check the Parktronic system operation
at another location to rule out interfer-
ence from outside radio or ultrasonic
signals.
iThe message
Parktronic on
reappears
as soon as the system senses that you
get closer to the object again, even if
you cleared the message before by
pressingèÿk or
buttonj on the multifunction
steering wheel.
iThe Parktronic system is automatically
switched on when the ignition is
switched on.
Vehicles with original equipment
Mercedes-Benz Trailer Hitch Kit:
The rear Parktronic sensor will auto-
matically disengage when towing a
trailer as soon as the electrical connec-
tion between the vehicle and the trailer
has been established.