MERCEDES-BENZ ML55AMG 2001 W163 Owner's Manual

258 Towing
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
To be certain to avoid additional damage to the vehicle
powertrain, however you should d o the following:
•With damage to front axle, raise front axle. Remove
flexible drive shaft between rear axle and transfer
case
•With damage to rear axle, raise rear axle and tow
vehicle with wheel lift or dolly placed under front
wheels.
•With damage to transfer case, remove flexible drive
shafts to the drive axles.
Note:
Always install new self-locking nuts when reinstalling
the flexible drive shaft.Caution!
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle raised, the
engine must be shut off (key in steering lock position 1).
Otherwise, the 4-ETS+ may become engaged which may
cause loss of towing control. Switch off the tow-away
alarm (see page 36) as well as the ESP (see page 207).
Note:
To signal turns while being towed with hazard warning
flasher in use, turn key in steering lock to position 2
and activate combination switch for left or right turn
signal in usual manner. Now deactivate the hazard
warning flasher, only the selected turn signal will
operate. Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher must be activated again.
Wa r n i n g !
With the engine not running, there is no power
assistance for the braking and steering systems. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is necessary to
brake and steer the vehicle.

259 Towing
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Transmission selector lever, manually unlocking
In the case of power failure the transmission selector
lever can be manually unlocked, e.g. to tow the vehicle.
To do so, insert a pin (1), e.g. ball point pen, into the
covered opening below the position “D” of the shift
pattern. While pushing the pin down, move selector
lever from position “P”.
After removal of the pin from the opening, the cover will
not close fully. Only after moving the selector lever to
positions “D+” and “D–” does the cover return to its
closed position.Stranded vehicle
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the wheels are dug
into sand or mud, should be done with the greatest of
care, especially if the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Avoid pulling the vehicle jerkily or diagonally, since it
could result in damage to the chassis alignment.
Never try to free a vehicle that is still coupled to a
trailer.
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer hitch receiver
should be pulled backward in its own previously made
tracks.

260 Exterior lamps
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data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Exterior lamps
Headlamp adjustment
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely important.
Check and readjust headlamps at regular intervals and
when a bulb has been replaced.
For adjusting headlamp aim see page 268.Replacing bulbs
To prevent a possible electrical short circuit, switch off
lamp prior to replacing a bulb.
When replacing bulbs, install only 12 volt bulbs with
the specified watt rating.
When replacing halogen bulbs do not touch glass
portion of bulb with bare hands. Use plain paper or a
clean cloth.
Wa r n i n g !
Bulbs and bulb holders can be very hot. Allow the
lamp to cool down before changing a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A bulb can
explode if you:
• touch or move it when hot,
•drop the bulb,
•scratch the bulb.Wear eye and hand protection.
Wa r n i n g !
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb of repair the lamp
and its components. We recommend that you have
such work done by a qualified technician.

261 Exterior lamps
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Headlamp assembly (Halogen)
1Headlamp vertical adjustment screw
2Headlamp horizontal adjustment screw
3Headlamp cover with locking tab
4Bulb socket for turn signal, parking, standing, and
side marker lamp5Electrical connector for low beam headlamp bulb
6Electrical connector for high beam headlamp bulb
7Level for headlamp vertical adjustment
8Scale for headlamp horizontal adjustment
9Auxiliary fog lamp (if so equipped)

262 Exterior lamps
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cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Headlamp assembly (Xenon)
1Headlamp vertical adjustment screw
2Headlamp horizontal adjustment screw
3Headlamp cover with locking tab
4Bulb socket for turn signal, parking, standing, and
side marker lamp5Electrical connector for low beam headlamp bulb
6Electrical connector for high beam headlamp bulb
7Auxiliary fog lamp (if so equipped)

263 Exterior lamps
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Bulbs for high beam (only Halogen headlamps)
H1 U (55 W)
Bulbs for low beam
H7 (55 W)
Open hood.
Push down tab at top end of cover (3) and remove. Pull
off electrical connector (5 or 6). Unhook and move aside
clamping ring. Remove bulb.
Insert new bulb (seating properly in cutouts of bulb
socket), mount clamping ring. Reinstall and push
electrical connector on securely. Reinstall cover (3).Xenon (optional)
Bulb for low beam
Xenon (optional)
Bulb for high beam
Note:
Vehicles with Xenon headlamps:
We recommend that you have changed the bulb for the
high beam by a qualified technician.
Wa r n i n g !
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the lamp
and its components. We recommend that you have
such work done by a qualified technician.

264 Exterior lamps
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data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Parking, standing, side marker and turn signal lamp
115 6 N A ( 3 2 / 4 c p b u l b )
Open hood.
Twist bulb socket (4) counterclockwise and pull out.
Push bulb into socket, turn counterclockwise and
remove.
Insert new bulb in socket, push in and twist clockwise.
Reinstall bulb socket.Bulbs for auxiliary fog lamp (optional)
H3 U (55 W)
Open hood.
Remove cover (9). Unhook clamping ring and remove
bulb. Pull off electrical connector.
Insert new bulb in socket (seating properly in cutouts of
bulb socket), and mount clamping ring. Reinstall and
push electrical connector on securely.
Reinstall cover (9).

265 Exterior lamps
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Taillamp assemblies
1Stop lamp (1073 [32 cp bulb])
2Backup lamp (1073 [32 cp bulb])
3Turn signal lamp (P Y 21 W bulb)
4Tail, parking, standing and side marker lamp,
driver’s side rear fog lamp (P 21 / 4 W bulb)Open liftgate.
Remove nuts (1).
Remove taillamp.
P82.10-2342-26
P82.10-2343-26

266 Exterior lamps
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data Instruments
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cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Pull off electrical connector (2).
Squeeze tabs (3) together and remove bulb holder.
Push bulb into socket, turn counterclockwise and
remove.
Insert new bulb in socket, push in and twist clockwise.
Reinstall bulb holder.
Reinstall electrical connector (2).
Reinstall taillamp.Turn signal lamp, side (168 [3 cp bulb])
Carefully slide lamp slightly towards rear (arrow), lift
away its front end first, then remove lamp from panel.
Twist bulb socket counterclockwise and pull out. Pull
bulb out of socket.
Insert new bulb in socket. Reinstall bulb socket.
To reinstall lamp, set rear end of lamp into panel and let
front end snap into place.

267 Exterior lamps
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index License plate lamps (C 5 W [tubular] bulb)
Remove both securing screws, remove lamp and take
out bulb.High mounted stop lamp (1073 [32 cp bulb])
To replace bulb, squeeze both sides (1, arrows) of cover,
fold forward and remove.
Press tab (2, arrow) on reflector and remove reflector.
Press bulb down, turn counterclockwise and remove.
Insert new bulb in socket, push in and twist clockwise.
Reinstall reflector.
Position tabs of cover in slots (3, arrows) and reinstall
cover until properly seated.
P82.10-2347-26
P82.10-2346-26