height MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

39 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switch is located on
the entry side of each front seat base.
1 Head restraint height*
2Seat cushion tilt
3Seat height
4Backrest tilt
5Seat fore and aft adjustment
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
or

Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow5.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach
the accelerator/brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far to the rear
as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.
Seat height

Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow3.
!When moving the seat, make sure
there are no items in the footwell or
behind the seat. Otherwise you could
damage the seat.
When the rear bench seat is folded for-
ward, the front seats cannot be moved
to the rearmost position. Otherwise
you could damage the front seats and
the rear bench seat.!When adjusting the backrest tilt and
head restraint height, make sure that
the sun visor is folded up. If the head
restraint is in the uppermost position, it
could hit and damage the sun visor.
iThe memory function* (
page 135)
lets you store the setting for the seat
positions together with the setting for
the steering wheel and the exterior rear
view mirrors.

40 Getting startedAdjustingSeat cushion tilt
Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow2 until your upper
legs are lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow4 until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.Head restraint heightVehicles with memory function*:

Press switch1 (
page 39) up or
down in the direction of arrow.
Vehicles without memory function*:
1Release button
Raising:

Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
If the head restraint is fully retracted,
push release button1 in direction of
arrow and pull the head restraint up.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as possi-
ble.

48 Getting startedDriving
With a smooth motion, pull the belt
from the belt outlet.

Place the shoulder portion of the belt
across the top of your shoulder and the
lap portion across your hips.

Push latch plate1 into buckle2 until
it clicks (
page 47).

If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.
Seat belt height adjustment
1Release button

Press release button1 and move the
seat belt height adjuster upward or
downward.
Proper use of seat belts


Do not twist the belt when fastening.


Adjust seat belt so that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible
to the middle of the shoulder (it should
not touch the neck). Never pass the
shoulder portion of the belt under your
arm. For this purpose, you can adjust
the height of the belt outlet
(page 48).


Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.


Place the seat backrest in a nearly up-
right position.


Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.


Do not fasten a seat belt around a
person and another object at the same
time. When using a seat belt to secure
infant or toddler restraints or children
in booster seats, always follow the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.


Check your seat belt periodically
during travel to make sure that it is
properly positioned.


Make sure that the seat belt is always
fitted snugly. Take special care of this
when wearing loose clothing.

80 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety

If you must install a rear-facing child
restraint on the front passenger seat be-
cause circumstances require you to do
so, make sure that the
59indicator lamp is illuminat-
ed, indicating that the front passenger
front air bag is deactivated. Should the
59indicator lamp not illumi-
nate or go out while the restraint is in-
stalled, please check installation.
Periodically check the
59indicator lamp while driv-
ing to make sure the lamp is illuminated.
If the 59indicator lamp goes
out or remains out, do not transport a
child on the front passenger seat until
the system has been repaired. A child in
a rear-facing child restraint on the front
passenger seat will be seriously injured
or even killed if the front passenger front
air bag inflates.


If you have to place a child in a
forward-facing child restraint on the
front passenger seat, move the seat as
far back as possible, use the proper
child restraint recommended for the
age, size and weight of the child, and se-
cure child restraint with the vehicle’s
seat belt according to the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions. For
children larger than the typical
12-month-old child, the front passenger
front air bag may or may not be
activated (
page 82).
Warning!
G
Infants and small children should never
share a seat belt with another occupant.
During an accident, they could be crushed
between the occupant and seat belt.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts. Posi-
tion shoulder belt across chest and shoul-
der, not face or neck. A booster seat may be
necessary to achieve proper belt positioning
for children from 41 lbs until they reach a
height where a lap/shoulder belt fits
properly without a booster.


89 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Blocking of rear door window operation
You can block the rear door window oper-
ation (e.g. when you have children riding in
the rear passenger compartment).
The override switch is located on the door
control panel of the driver’s door.
1Override switchActivating

Press override switch1.
The switch engages in the recessed
position.
The rear door windows can no longer
be operated using the switches located
in the rear doors.
Deactivating

Press override switch1 again.
The switch disengages from the
recessed position back to original posi-
tion.
The rear door windows can again be
operated using the switches located in
the rear doors.
Warning!
G
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts. Posi-
tion shoulder belt across chest and shoul-
der, not face or neck. A booster seat may be
necessary to achieve proper belt positioning
for children from 41 lbs until they reach a
height where a lap/shoulder belt fits proper-
ly without a booster.
Install child seat according to manufactu-
rer’s instructions.
T h e c h i l d s e a t m u s t b e f i r m l y a t t a c h e d i n t h e
right and left side anchors1.
An incorrectly mounted child seat may come
loose during an accident which could result
in serious injury or death to the child.
Damaged or impact damaged child seats or
child seat mounting fittings must be re-
placed.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system.
iOperation of the rear door windows
with the switches located on the door
control panel of the driver’s door is still
possible.

109 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Restoring to factory setting
Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp5 flashes
twice.Checking the batteries

Press button‹orŒ.
Battery check lamp5 comes on
briefly to indicate that the SmartKey
batteries are in order.Unlocking and opening the tailgate
(Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*)
You can unlock and open the tailgate sep-
arately.
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.

Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey until the tailgate unlocks and
begins to open.
!If you cannot lock or unlock the vehicle
with the SmartKey, then either the bat-
teries in the SmartKey are discharged,
the SmartKey is malfunctioning or the
vehicle battery is drained.

Check the batteries in the
SmartKey and replace them if
necessary (
page 440).


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the driver’s door (
page 436).


Use the mechanical key to lock the
driver’s door (
page 436).


Have the vehicle battery and the
battery connections checked.
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning, con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
iIf battery check lamp5 does not
come on briefly during check, then the
SmartKey batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 440).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within
signal range of the vehicle, pressing the
button‹orŒ will lock or un-
lock the vehicle accordingly.
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance.
To stop the opening procedure, press
buttonŠ on the SmartKey. The tail-
gate stops moving.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally when closed. The turn signals will
flash three times to confirm locking.

115 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Checking the batteries
Press button‹orŒ.
Battery check lamp5 comes on brief-
ly to indicate that the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO batteries are in order.
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
You can unlock and open the tailgate sep-
arately.
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.

Pull on the handle
or
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*:

Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO until the
tailgate unlocks and opens.


Have the vehicle battery and the
battery connections checked
(page 462).


Use the mechanical key to lock the
doors (
page 436).
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
malfunctioning, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iIf battery check lamp5 (
page 110)
does not come on briefly during check,
then the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 440).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within sig-
nal range of the vehicle, pressing the
button‹orŒ will lock or un-
lock the vehicle accordingly.

118 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens.The tailgate can also be opened using the
SmartKey (
page 106).Opening the tailgate from the inside
electrically*
You can open the tailgate from the inside if
the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The switch is located on the door control
panel.
1Remote tailgate switch with indicator
lamp
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance.
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*: To stop the opening proce-
dure, press buttonŠ on the
SmartKey. The tailgate stops moving.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally after closing it (
page 120). The
turn signals will flash three times to
confirm locking.

119 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

Pull remote tailgate switch1 until
tailgate begins to open.
The tailgate opens. The indicator lamp
in the remote tailgate switch comes on
and remains lit until the tailgate is
closed. While the tailgate is opening an
acoustic signal sounds.Limiting opening height of tailgate*
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*:
The tailgate opening height can be limited
when transporting goods on a roof rack
(e.g. presence of an MB sport luggage con-
tainer*). When activated, the tailgate
opens to approximately 6.4 ft (1.95 m).

Activate the limiting opening height of
tailgate using the control system
(page 173).
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*.
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance. To stop
the opening procedure, press or pull re-
mote tailgate switch1 or press the
Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. The
tailgate stops moving.iVehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*:
The tailgate can also be opened using
the buttonŠ on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.

130 Controls in detailSeatsLumbar support
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back sup-
port and seating comfort.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in the direc-
tion of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
Rear seat head restraints Head restraint heightWarning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the
rear head restraints in the upright position
when the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are
intended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.