2010 Mercedes-benz M Class Owners Manual

RTail lamps RParking lamps RLicense plate lamps RSide marker lamps RInstrument panel lamps RGreen indicator lamp L in the

instrument cluster

X Switching off: Turn the exterior lamp

switch to position $.

Automatic headlamp mode The following lamps come on and go out automatically depending on the brightness of the ambient light: RLow-beam headlamps RTail lamps RParking lamps RLicense plate lamps RSide marker lamps G Warning! If the exterior lamp switch is set to Ã, the headlamps will not automatically come on under foggy conditions. To minimize risk to you and to others, activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp switch to L when driving or when traffic and/or

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ambient lighting conditions require you to do so. In low ambient lighting conditions, only switch from position à to L with the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location. Switching from à to L will briefly switch off the headlamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient lighting conditions may result in an accident. The automatic headlamp feature is only an aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all times.

X Switching on: Turn the exterior lamp

switch to position Ã.

The following lamps come on and go out depending on the brightness of the ambient light with the SmartKey in starter switch position 1 or the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button pressed once: Rtail lamps Rparking lamps Rlicense plate lamps Rside marker lamps When the engine is running, the low-beam headlamps will also come on and turn off automatically. Canada only: High-beam headlamps are only available with the exterior lamp switch in position L.

Daytime running lamp mode In Canada, the daytime running lamp mode is mandatory and therefore in a constant mode. In the USA, the daytime running lamp mode is deactivated by default. X Activate the daytime running lamp mode using the control system, see “Switching

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daytime running lamp mode on or off (USA only)” (Y page 133).

X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position

$ or Ã. When the engine is running, the low-beam headlamps come on. In low ambient lighting conditions, the following lamps will come on additionally: RTail lamps RParking lamps RLicense plate lamps RSide marker lamps

With the daytime running lamp mode activated and the engine running, you cannot switch off the low-beam headlamps manually. Canada only With the exterior lamp switch in position $ or Ã, you cannot switch on the high- beam headlamps. The high-beam flasher is available at all times. X For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp switch to position L to permit activation of the high-beam headlamps.

When the engine is running, and you Rshift from a driving position to park

position P with the vehicle at a standstill or the parking brake is engaged, the low-beam headlamps will go out with a delay of 3 minutes

Rturn the exterior lamp switch to position T, the low-beam headlamps, the tail and parking lamps, the license plate lamps and the side marker lamps come on

Rturn the exterior lamp switch to position

L, the manual headlamp mode has priority over the daytime running lamp mode The corresponding exterior lamps come on (Y page 93).

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95

USA only You can only switch on the high-beam headlamps in low ambient lighting conditions. The high-beam flasher is available at all times. X For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp switch to position L or à to permit activation of the high-beam headlamps.

When the engine is running, and you turn the exterior lamp switch to position T or L, the manual headlamp mode has priority over the daytime running lamp mode. The corresponding exterior lamps come on (Y page 93).

Fog lamps Fog lamps cannot be switched on with the exterior lamp switch in position Ã. G Warning! In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions, only switch from position à to L with the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location. Switching from à to L will briefly switch off the headlamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient lighting conditions may result in an accident. Fog lamps will operate with the parking lamps and/or the low-beam headlamps on. Fog lamps should only be used in conjunction with low-beam headlamps. Consult your State or Province Motor Vehicle Regulations regarding permissible lamp operation. X Switch on the ignition. X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position

T or L (Y page 93).

X Switching on front fog lamps: Pull out the

exterior lamp switch to first stop. The green indicator lamp N in the exterior lamp switch comes on.

X Switching on rear fog lamp: Pull out the

exterior lamp switch to second stop. The rear fog lamp, the front fog lamps, the green and the yellow indicator lamp R in the exterior lamp switch come on.

X Switching off front fog lamps/rear fog lamp: Push in the exterior lamp switch to its stop.

Locator lighting and night security illumination Locator lighting and night security illumination are described in the “Control system” section, see “Switching locator lighting on or off” (Y page 133) and “Switching night security illumination (Headlamps delayed shut-off feature) on or off” (Y page 134).

Combination switch

Turn signals X Press the combination switch in direction

of arrow ; or ?. The corresponding turn signal indicator lamp ! or # in the instrument cluster flashes.

The combination switch resets automatically after major steering wheel movements. i To signal minor directional changes such as changing lanes, press the combination switch only to point of resistance and

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release. The corresponding turn signal lamps will flash three times.

High beam X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position

L (Y page 93).

X Switching on: Push the combination

switch in direction of arrow :. The high-beam headlamp indicator lamp K in the instrument cluster comes on. X Switching off: Pull the combination switch

in direction of arrow = to its original position.

i Also note the information on high-beam

headlamps with activated automatic headlamp mode (Y page 93) or the daytime running lamp mode (Y page 94).

High-beam flasher X Switching on: Pull the combination switch

briefly in direction of arrow =.

Hazard warning flasher The hazard warning flasher can be switched on at all times, even with the SmartKey removed from the starter switch. The hazard warning flasher comes on automatically when an air bag deploys.

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X Switching on: Press hazard warning

flasher switch :. All turn signal lamps are flashing.

i With the hazard warning flasher activated and the combination switch set for either left or right turn, only the respective left or right turn signals will operate when the ignition is switched on.

X Switching off: Press hazard warning

flasher switch : again.

i If the hazard warning flasher has been

activated automatically, press hazard warning flasher switch : to switch it off.

Headlamp cleaning system The headlamps will be cleaned with a high- pressure water jet automatically when the engine is running and you have Rswitched on the headlamps

and

Rthe windshield wipers have wiped the windshield with washer fluid five times

The counter resets when you switch off the headlamps. For information on filling up the washer reservoir, see “Washer system and headlamp cleaning system” (Y page 217).

Corner-illuminating front fog lamps The corner-illuminating front fog lamps improve illumination of the area in the direction into which you are turning. The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will only operate Rin low ambient lighting conditions Rat vehicle speeds below 25 mph

(40 km/h)

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Rwith the front fog lamps switched off Rwhen the engine is running

Switching on X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position

L or Ã.

or X Activate the daytime running lamp mode

(Y page 94).

X Switch on the left or right turn signal,

depending on whether you are turning left or right. The respective front fog lamp comes on. If you have switched on the turn signal for one side but turn the steering wheel in the other direction, the corner-illuminating front fog lamp on the side of the turn signal comes on.

or X Turn the steering wheel in the desired

direction. Driving forward: The front fog lamp on the side of your steering direction comes on. Driving in reverse: The front fog lamp opposite to your steering direction comes on.

The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will come on automatically depending on the steering angle, even if you did not switch on either turn signal. If the corner-illuminating front fog lamps came on automatically, they will also go out automatically depending on the steering angle and vehicle speed. The corner-illuminating front fog lamps temporarily come on on both sides of the vehicle if you turn the steering wheel in one direction and then again in the other direction shortly thereafter. The corner-illuminating front fog lamp remains lit for a short time only. It then goes out automatically.

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97

Switching off X Switch off the left or right turn signal. or X Steer straight ahead. i There may be a brief delay before the

corner-illuminating front fog lamps go out.

Interior lighting in the front

: p Left front reading lamp on/off ; v Rear interior lighting on/off = ~ Automatic control on/off ? c Front interior lighting on/off A p Right front reading lamp on/off B Front interior lighting C Front reading lamps D Front interior lighting

Automatic control X Activating: Press button ~.

Button ~ disengages and sits flush with the other buttons. The interior lighting comes on when you

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Runlock the vehicle Rremove the SmartKey from the starter switch (Interior Lighting Delayed Shut-off must be switched on (Y page 135)) Ropen a door Ropen the tailgate

The interior lighting goes out after a short time. i If a door remains open, the interior lamps

go out automatically after approximately 5 minutes when the SmartKey is removed or in starter switch position 0.

X Deactivating: Press button ~.

Button ~ engages.

Manual control ! An interior lamp switched on manually

does not go out automatically. Leaving an interior lamp switched on for an extended period of time with the engine turned off could result in a discharged battery.

X Switching front interior lighting on/

off: Press switch c.

X Switching rear interior lighting on/off:

Press switch v.

X Switching front reading lamps on/off:

Press respective switch p.

Emergency lighting The interior lighting comes on automatically if the vehicle is involved in an accident. Switching off: X Press button ~. or X Press hazard warning flasher switch

(Y page 96).

or X Unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey.

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Interior lighting in the rear ! An interior lamp switched on manually

does not go out automatically. Leaving an interior lamp switched on for an extended period of time with the engine turned off could result in a discharged battery.

X Switching rear reading lamps on/off:

Press reading lamp : where indicated by the arrow.

Wipers Notes ! Do not operate the wipers when the

windshield/rear window is dry. Dust that accumulates on a windshield/rear window might scratch the glass and/or damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on a dry windshield/rear window. If it is necessary to operate the wipers in dry weather conditions, always operate the wipers with washer fluid.

Windshield wipers X Observe notes on page (Y page 98).

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Switching on/off

Combination switch 1 $ Windshield wipers off 2 Ä Slow intermittent wiping8
3 Å Fast intermittent wiping9
4 ° Slow continuous wiping 5 ¯ Fast continuous wiping B í Single wipe/ î Wiping with

washer fluid

X Switch on the ignition. X Turn the combination switch to the desired position, depending on the intensity of the rain.

Intermittent wiping Only switch on intermittent wiping under wet weather conditions or in the presence of precipitation. When you select intermittent wiping, the rain sensor is activated. The rain sensor sets a suitable wiping interval depending on the wetness of the sensor surface automatically. ! Do not leave windshield wipers on an intermittent setting when the vehicle is taken to an automatic car wash or during windshield cleaning. Windshield wipers will operate in the presence of water sprayed on the windshield, and windshield wipers may be damaged as a result.

8 Rain sensor operation with low sensitivity. 9 Rain sensor operation with high sensitivity.

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99

! If you have set intermittent wiping, dirt on

the surface of the rain sensor or optical effects may cause the windshield wipers to wipe in an undesired fashion. This could then damage the windshield wiper blades or scratch the windshield. You should therefore switch off the windshield wipers when weather conditions are dry.

X Turn the combination switch to position

Ä or Å. After the initial wipe, pauses between wipes are controlled by the rain sensor automatically.

Intermittent wiping is interrupted when the vehicle is at a standstill and a front door is opened. This protects persons getting into or out of the vehicle from being sprayed. Intermittent wiping will be continued when all doors are closed and Rthe automatic transmission is in drive

position D or reverse gear R or

Rthe wiper setting is changed using the

combination switch

Single wipe X Press the combination switch briefly in direction of arrow B to the resistance point. The windshield wipers wipe one time without washer fluid.

Wiping with washer fluid X Press the combination switch in direction

of arrow B past the resistance point. The windshield wipers operate with washer fluid.

i To prevent smears on the windshield or noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe with washer fluid every now and then even when it is raining.

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For information on filling up the washer reservoir, see “Washer system and headlamp cleaning system” (Y page 217). For information on cleaning the headlamps with washer fluid, see “Headlamp cleaning system” (Y page 96).

Rear window wiper indicator B appears in the lower multifunction display when the rear window wiper is activated. For information on filling up the washer reservoir, see “Washer system and headlamp cleaning system” (Y page 217).

Rear window wiper/washer X Observe notes on page (Y page 98). The rear window wiper engages automatically when the automatic transmission is shifted into reverse gear R with the windshield wipers switched on.

Combination switch : è Rear window wiper switch 2 ô Wiping rear window with washer

3 I Intermittent wiping 4 0 Rear window wiper off 5 ô Wiping rear window with washer

fluid

fluid

X Switch on the ignition. X Turn rear window wiper switch : to the

desired position.

Problems with wipers ! If anything blocks the wipers (leaves,

snow, etc.), switch them off immediately. For safety reasons, do the following before attempting to remove any blockage: RStop the vehicle in a safe location. RRemove the SmartKey from the starter

switch. or

RTurn off the engine by pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and open the driver’s door (with the driver’s door open, starter switch is in position 0, same as with SmartKey removed from starter switch).

REngage the parking brake. RRemove blockage. RTurn the wipers on again. If the windshield wipers fail to function at all with the combination switch in position Ä or Å, Rset the combination switch to the next

higher wiper speed

Rhave the windshield wipers checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

Power windows Opening and closing The door windows are opened and closed electrically. The switches for all door windows are located on the driver’s door control panel. The switches for the respective door windows

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are located on the front passenger door and on the rear doors. i Operating the rear door windows from the rear is not possible when you activate the override switch (Y page 60). G Observe Safety notes, see page 55. G Warning! When opening or closing the door windows, make sure there is no danger of anyone being harmed by the opening/closing procedure. The door windows are equipped with the express operation and automatic reversal function. If in express operation mode a door window encounters an obstruction that blocks its path, the automatic reversal function will stop the door window and open it slightly. The door windows operate differently when the switch is pulled and held. See the “Closing when a door window is blocked” section in this chapter for details. The closing of the door windows can be immediately halted by releasing the switch or, if the switch was pulled past the resistance point and released, by either pressing or pulling the respective switch. If a door window encounters an obstruction that blocks its path in a circumstance where you are closing the door windows by pressing and holding button & on the SmartKey or by pressing and holding the lock button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO) on an outside door handle, the automatic reversal function will not operate. Activate the override switch when children are riding in the back seats of the vehicle. The children may otherwise injure themselves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the door window opening. G Warning! Do not keep any part of your body up against the window pane when opening a window. The downward motion of the pane may pull that

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101

part of your body down between the window pane and the door frame and trap it there. If there is a risk of entrapment, release the switch and pull it to close the window.

i You can also open or close the door

windows using the SmartKey, see “Summer opening feature” (Y page 102) and “Convenience closing feature” (Y page 102).

i After switching off the ignition or

removing the SmartKey from the starter switch, you can operate the door windows until you open the driver’s or front passenger door. If no door was opened you can operate the door windows for up to 5 minutes.

X Switch on the ignition. X Opening/closing: Press or pull and hold switch : to ? to the resistance point. The corresponding door window moves downward or upward until you release the switch.

X Express operation: Press or pull

switch : to ? past the resistance point and release. The corresponding door window opens or closes completely.

X Stopping during express operation:

Press or pull the respective switch again.

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Closing when a door window is blocked G Warning! Make sure that nobody can become trapped and be seriously or even fatally injured when closing a door window with greater force or without automatic reversal function.

If the upward movement of a door window is blocked during the closing procedure, the door window will stop and open slightly. X Immediately after the door window has

stopped because it was blocked, pull and hold the respective switch upward until the door window is fully closed. The door window closes with greater force. If the door window is blocked again and opens slightly: X Immediately after the door window was

blocked, pull and hold the respective switch upward until the door window is fully closed. The door window closes without automatic reversal function. G Warning! Pulling and holding the switch to close the door window immediately after it had been blocked two times will cause the door window to close without any reversal function for as long as you hold the switch.

Synchronizing door windows The door windows must be synchronized after the battery has been disconnected or if the door windows cannot be fully closed (express operation). Each door window must be synchronized separately. X Close all doors. X Switch on the ignition.

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X Pull and hold switch :, ;, = or ? (Y page 101) until the respective door window is closed. The door window opens again slightly.

X Pull and hold the respective switch once

more immediately until the door window is closed completely.

X Hold the respective switch for

approximately 1 second. The door window is synchronized.

Summer opening feature When the weather is warm, you can ventilate the vehicle before driving off by simultaneously Ropening the door windows Ropening the tilt/sliding sunroof Rswitching on the seat ventilation for the

driver’s seat (Canada only)

The summer opening feature can only be activated via the remote control of the SmartKey. The SmartKey must be in close proximity to the driver’s outside door handle. X Aim the transmitter eye of the SmartKey at

the driver’s outside door handle.

X Press and hold button % on the

SmartKey until the door windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof have reached the desired position. The vehicle unlocks.

X Release button % on the SmartKey to

interrupt the opening procedure.

Convenience closing feature When locking the vehicle, you can simultaneously close the door windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof. G Warning! When closing the door windows and the tilt/ sliding sunroof, make sure there is no danger

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of anyone being harmed by the closing procedure. If potential danger exists, proceed as follows: RRelease button & to stop the closing

procedure. To open, press and hold button %. To continue the closing procedure after making sure that there is no danger of anyone being harmed by the closing procedure, press and hold button &.

Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: RRelease the lock button on the outside door

handle to stop the closing procedure.

RImmediately pull on the same outside door handle and hold firmly. The door windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof will open for as long as the door handle is held but the door not opened.

With SmartKey The SmartKey must be in close proximity to the driver’s outside door handle. X Aim transmitter eye of the SmartKey at the

driver’s outside door handle.

X Press and hold button & on the

SmartKey until the door windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof are closed completely. X Release button & on the SmartKey to

interrupt the closing procedure.

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Driving and parking Safety notes G Warning! Make sure absolutely no objects are obstructing the pedals’ range of movement. Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obstacles. If there are any floormats or carpets in the footwell, make sure 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. G Warning! With the engine not running, there is no power assistance for the brake 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. Adapt your driving accordingly. G Warning! HYBRID vehicles: It is imperative that you read the HYBRID Supplemental Operating Instructions included in your vehicle literature portfolio. You may otherwise not recognize potential danger.

With KEYLESS-GO The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be located outside the vehicle within approximately 3 ft (1 m) of a door. X Close all doors. X Press and hold the lock button on an

outside door handle (Y page 73) until the door windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof are closed completely.

X Release the lock button on the outside door handle to interrupt the closing procedure.

Starting the engine G Warning! Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause unconsciousness 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

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104 Driving and parking

conditions, drive only with at least one window fully open at all times.

Automatic transmission

Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission : Button for selecting park position P j Park position k Reverse gear i Neutral position h Drive position For more information on how to operate the gear selector lever, see “Automatic transmission” (Y page 109). X Make sure the automatic transmission is in

park position P. The transmission position indicator in the multifunction display should be on P (Y page 112).

With SmartKey X Do not depress the accelerator pedal. X Gasoline engine: Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 3 (Y page 79) and release it. The engine starts automatically.

X Diesel engine: Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 2 (Y page 79). Preglow indicator lamp % in the instrument cluster comes on.

X As soon as preglow indicator lamp % goes out, turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 3 and release it. The engine starts automatically.

i If the engine is at operating temperature, preglow indicator lamp % may not stay on and you can start the engine without preglowing.

With KEYLESS-GO G Warning! As long as the SmartKey is in your vehicle, the vehicle can be started. Therefore, never leave children unattended in the vehicle, as they could otherwise accidentally start the engine. When leaving the vehicle, always take the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury. You can start your vehicle without the SmartKey in the starter switch using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button. The SmartKey must be located in the vehicle.

KEYLESS-GO start/stop button : USA only ; Canada only

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X Make sure the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button is inserted in the starter switch (Y page 80).

i To start the engine with the SmartKey

instead of the KEYLESS-GO function, remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button from the starter switch. Proceed as described in “With SmartKey” (Y page 104).

X Depress the brake pedal during the starting

procedure.

X Do not depress the accelerator pedal. X Gasoline engine: Press the KEYLESS-GO

start/stop button once. The engine starts automatically.

X Diesel engine: Press the KEYLESS-GO

start/stop button once. The engine preglows and starts automatically.

i If the engine is at operating temperature,

the time the engine needs to preglow is reduced.

Starting difficulties ! Remember that extended starting

attempts can drain the battery.

The engine does not start. You can hear the starter. There could be a malfunction in the engine electronics or in the fuel supply system. Carry out the following steps: X If you are starting the engine with the

SmartKey: Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 0 and repeat the starting procedure.

X If you are starting the engine with KEYLESS- GO: Close any doors that may be open to allow for better detection of the SmartKey.

or X Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop

button from the starter switch.

Driving and parking 105

X Start the engine with the SmartKey as radio

signals from another source may be interfering with the KEYLESS-GO function.

X Repeat the starting procedure. If the engine does not start after several starting attempts: X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz

Center or call Roadside Assistance.

The engine does not start. You cannot hear the starter. The battery may not be charged sufficiently. X Get a jump start (Y page 336). If the engine will not start despite a jump start: X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz

Center or call Roadside Assistance.

The starter has been exposed to excessive temperatures. X Let the starter cool for about 2 minutes. X Repeat the starting procedure. If the engine does not start after several starting attempts: X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz

Center or call Roadside Assistance.

Driving off G Warning! On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order to obtain braking action. This could result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent this type of loss of control.

! Do not run a cold engine at high engine

speeds. Running a cold engine at high engine speeds may shorten the service life of the engine. This is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. ML 63 AMG: At engine temperatures below 68‡ (20†), the engine’s maximum speed

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106 Driving and parking

is restricted in order to protect it from damage. Avoid driving your vehicle at full speed when the engine is cold to prevent premature engine wear and/or diminished comfort.

! If an acoustic warning sounds 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.

! Avoid spinning of a drive wheel. This may

cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

! Simultaneously depressing the

accelerator pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine performance and causes premature brake and drivetrain wear which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

i Once the vehicle is in motion, the

automatic central locking function engages and the locking knobs in the doors move down. The automatic central locking function can be switched off (Y page 135).

Automatic transmission G Warning! It is dangerous to shift the automatic transmission out of park position P or neutral position N 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.

! Only shift the automatic transmission into reverse gear R or park position P when the vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the automatic transmission could be damaged.

X Depress the brake pedal.

The gear selector lever can now be used. X Shift the automatic transmission into drive

position D or reverse gear R.

i Shifting the automatic transmission out of

park position P is only possible with the brake pedal depressed. Without the brake pedal depressed, the gear selector lever can be moved up or down. However, the parking pawl remains engaged, not allowing shifting to occur.

X Wait for the gear selection process to complete before setting the vehicle in motion.

X If engaged, release the parking brake. X Release the brake pedal. X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal. After a cold start, the automatic transmission shifts at a higher engine speed. This allows the catalytic converter (gasoline engine) or the oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) to reach its operating temperature earlier. For more information on driving, see “Driving instructions” (Y page 244). For information on off-road driving, see “Off- road driving” (Y page 248).

Problems while driving The engine runs erratically and misfires RGasoline engine: An ignition cable may be

damaged.

RThe engine electronics may not be

operating properly.

RGasoline engine: Unburned gasoline may have entered the catalytic converter and damaged it.

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X Give very little gas. X Have the problem checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

The coolant temperature is above 248‡ (120†) The coolant is too hot and is no longer cooling the engine. X Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon

as possible.

X Turn off the engine immediately. X Allow the engine and coolant to cool off. X Check the coolant level and add coolant if

necessary (Y page 216).

In case of accident If the vehicle is leaking fuel: X Do not start the engine under any

circumstances.

X Exit the vehicle at a safe distance from the

roadway.

X Notify local fire and/or police authorities. If the extent of the damage cannot be determined: X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz

Center or call Roadside Assistance. If no damage on major assemblies, fuel system, and engine mount can be determined: X Start the engine in the usual manner.

Parking G Warning! Do not park this vehicle in areas where combustible materials such as grass, hay or leaves can come into contact with the hot exhaust system. These materials could be ignited and cause a vehicle fire.

Driving and parking 107

Vehicle movement may result in serious personal injury or damage to the vehicle or vehicle drivetrain. Therefore, always do the following before turning off the engine and leaving the vehicle: RKeep right foot on the brake pedal. REngage the parking brake. RShift the automatic transmission into park

position P.

RSlowly release the brake pedal. RWhen parked on an incline, always turn the

front wheels towards the road curb.

RTurn the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 0 and remove the SmartKey from the starter switch, or press the KEYLESS- GO start/stop button.

RTake the SmartKey with you and lock the

vehicle when leaving.

Parking brake G Warning! Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle is in motion can cause the rear wheels to lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. In addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not light up when the parking brake is engaged. G Warning! When leaving the vehicle, always remove the SmartKey from the starter switch, take it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could release the parking brake and/or shift the automatic transmission out of park position P, either of which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

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108 Driving and parking

i Observe instructions if you want the automatic transmission to remain in neutral position N, see “Remaining in neutral position N” (Y page 111).

With SmartKey X Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to

position 0.

X Remove the SmartKey from the starter

switch.

When you turn off the engine using the SmartKey, and remove the SmartKey from the starter switch or open a front door, the automatic transmission will shift into park position P automatically. G Warning! Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone only will shift the automatic transmission into neutral position N automatically. Always shift the automatic transmission into park position P before turning off the engine. Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

With KEYLESS-GO X Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button. With the driver’s door closed, the starter switch is now in position 1. With the driver’s door opened, the starter switch is set to position 0, same as the SmartKey removed from the starter switch (Y page 79). When you turn off the engine using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and open a front door, the automatic transmission will shift into park position P automatically. G Warning! Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone only will shift the automatic transmission into neutral position N automatically. Always shift the automatic transmission into park position P before turning off the engine.

X Releasing: Pull on release handle :. When the ignition is switched on or the engine is running, the brake warning lamp $ (USA only) or J (Canada only) in the instrument cluster goes out. X Engaging: Step on parking brake

pedal ; firmly. When the engine is running, the brake warning lamp $ (USA only) or J (Canada only) in the instrument cluster comes on.

Turning off the engine G Warning! Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle has come to a complete stop. With the engine not running, there is no power assistance for the brake 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.

i If the engine cannot be turned off as

described, see “Emergency engine shutdown” (Y page 344).

X Shift the automatic transmission into park

position P.

X Engage the parking brake. i Always engage the parking brake in

addition to shifting the automatic transmission into park position P.

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Automatic transmission 109

Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

i In an emergency you can turn off the

engine while driving by pressing and holding the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button for approximately 3 seconds.

If you have started the engine with the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and cannot turn it off as described above: X Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop

button from the starter switch.

X Insert the SmartKey into the starter switch. The engine turns off. The starter switch is in position 0 (Y page 79).

! Allow the engine to warm up under low

load use. Do not place full load on the engine until the operating temperature has been reached. Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended period when driving off on slippery road surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the engine and the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

i During the brief warm-up, transmission

upshifting is delayed. This allows the catalytic converter (gasoline engine) or oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) to heat up more quickly to operating temperature.

Automatic transmission Introduction For information on driving with an automatic transmission, see “Driving and parking” (Y page 103). G Warning! Make sure absolutely no objects are obstructing the pedals’ range of movement. Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obstacles. If there are any floormats or carpets in the footwell, make sure 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. G Warning! HYBRID vehicles: It is imperative that you read the HYBRID Supplemental Operating Instructions included in your vehicle literature portfolio. You may otherwise not recognize potential danger.

Gear selector lever

Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission : Button for selecting park position P j Park position k Reverse gear i Neutral position h Drive position G Warning! It is dangerous to shift the automatic transmission out of park position P or neutral position N 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

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110 Automatic transmission

something. Only shift into gear when the engine is idling normally and when your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

! The vehicle must be stopped when you

shift the automatic transmission Rdirectly between drive position D and

reverse gear R

Rdirectly between reverse gear R and

drive position D

Rdirectly into park position P Otherwise the automatic transmission could be damaged.

When trying to free a vehicle stuck in mud or snow, see “Rocking the vehicle” (Y page 113). i Shifting the automatic transmission out of

park position P is only possible with the brake pedal depressed. Without the brake pedal depressed, the gear selector lever can be moved up or down, but the parking pawl remains engaged, not allowing shifting to occur.

i Depending on vehicle production date: The automatic transmission will shift into park position P automatically when Ryou open the driver’s door while driving

at low speed, and

Rthe automatic transmission is in drive

position D or reverse gear R

After the vehicle has engaged park position P automatically, you can engage drive position D or reverse gear R again to override this locking feature purposely.

i The gear selector lever always returns to

its original position. The current transmission position P, R, N, or D appears in the multifunction display (Y page 112).

Shifting into park position P X With the vehicle at a standstill, press button : on the gear selector lever.

SmartKey: When you turn off the engine using the SmartKey, and remove the SmartKey from the starter switch or open a front door, the automatic transmission will shift into park position P automatically. KEYLESS-GO: When you turn off the engine using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and open a front door, the automatic transmission will shift into park position P automatically. G Warning! Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone only will shift the automatic transmission into neutral position N automatically. Always shift the automatic transmission into park position P before turning off the engine. Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

i Moving the gear selector lever up or down

shifts the automatic transmission out of park position P.

Shifting into neutral position N X With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the

brake pedal.

X Move the gear selector lever up or down to

the resistance point to select neutral position N.

When you turn off the engine, the automatic transmission will shift into neutral position N automatically. SmartKey: Removing the SmartKey from the starter switch or opening a front door after turning off the engine will shift the automatic transmission into park position P automatically. KEYLESS-GO: Opening a front door after turning off the engine will shift the automatic

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transmission into park position P automatically. Remaining in neutral position N If you want the automatic transmission to remain in neutral position N, e.g. when taking the vehicle through an automatic conveyor- type car wash, observe the following instructions. G Warning! When leaving the SmartKey in the starter switch, do not leave children unattended in the vehicle. It is possible for children to switch on the ignition which could result in unsupervised use of vehicle equipment. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

With SmartKey: X Make sure the ignition is switched on. X With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the

brake pedal and keep it pressed.

X Shift the automatic transmission into

neutral position N.

X Release the brake pedal. X If engaged, release the parking brake. X Switch off the ignition and leave the

SmartKey in the starter switch.

With KEYLESS-GO: X Make sure the ignition is switched on. X With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the

brake pedal and keep it pressed.

X Shift the automatic transmission into park

position P.

X Release the brake pedal. X Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop

button from the starter switch.

X Insert the SmartKey into the starter switch. X Switch on the ignition. X Depress the brake pedal and keep it

pressed.

Automatic transmission 111

X Shift the automatic transmission into

neutral position N.

X Release the brake pedal. X If engaged, release the parking brake. X Switch off the ignition and leave the

SmartKey in the starter switch.

Shifting into reverse gear R X With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the

brake pedal.

X Move the gear selector lever up past the

resistance point.

Shifting into drive position D X With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the

brake pedal.

X Move the gear selector lever down past the

resistance point.

Shifting procedure The automatic transmission selects individual gears automatically, depending on Rthe selected gear range (Y page 113) Rthe selected program mode:

C/S (ML 63 AMG only) (Y page 114) or M (ML 63 AMG only) (Y page 115)

Rthe position of the accelerator pedal Rthe vehicle speed With drive position D selected, you can influence transmission shifting by Rlimiting the gear range Rextending the gear range Rchanging the gears manually (ML 63 AMG

only)

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112 Automatic transmission

Transmission positions The current transmission position appears in the multifunction display.

: Transmission position indicator If the current transmission position does not appear in the multifunction display due to a malfunction, for example, make sure that the automatic transmission is in the desired position. X Shift the automatic transmission into drive

position D.

X Select automatic program mode C

(ML 63 AMG only).

X Do not limit the gear range. X Drive off carefully.

Effect

B Park position

Shift the automatic transmission into park position P only when the vehicle is stopped. The park position is not intended to serve as a brake when the vehicle is parked. Rather, the driver should always engage the parking brake in addition to shifting the automatic transmission into park position P to secure the vehicle. If the vehicle’s electrical system is malfunctioning, the automatic transmission could remain locked in park position P. X Have the vehicle’s electrical

system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

C Reverse gear

Shift the automatic transmission into reverse gear R only when the vehicle is stopped.

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Effect

A Neutral position

No power is transmitted from the engine to the drive axle. When the brakes are released, the vehicle can be moved freely (pushed or towed). To avoid damage to the transmission, never shift the automatic transmission into neutral position N while driving. Exception: If the ESP® is switched off or malfunctioning, shift the automatic transmission into neutral position N if the vehicle is in danger of skidding. ! Coasting the vehicle, or driving

for any other reason with the automatic transmission in neutral position N can result in transmission damage that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

7 Drive position

The automatic transmission shifts automatically. All forward gears are available.

Driving tips Kickdown Use the kickdown when you want maximum acceleration. X U.S. vehicles except AMG vehicles:

Fully depress the accelerator pedal. Depending on the engine speed the automatic transmission shifts into a lower gear.

X Canada vehicles and AMG vehicles: Depress the accelerator pedal past the point of resistance. Depending on the engine speed the automatic transmission shifts into a lower gear.

Automatic transmission 113

Rocking the vehicle Rocking the vehicle by shifting the automatic transmission directly between drive position D and reverse gear R can help free a vehicle stuck in mud or snow. The engine control system of this vehicle electronically limits directly shifting the automatic transmission between drive position D and reverse gear R to very low speeds, i.e. approximately 5 mph (9 km/h). To shift the automatic transmission directly between drive position D and reverse gear R, move the gear selector lever up or down past the resistance point.

Working on the vehicle G Warning! When working on the vehicle, engage the parking brake and shift the automatic transmission into park position P. Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

Towing a trailer X When you tow a trailer, shift into a lower

gear range manually if the automatic transmission hunts between gears on inclines. A lower gear range and reduction of speed reduces the potential to overload or to overheat the engine.

For more information on trailer towing, see “Trailer towing” (Y page 254).

Gear ranges With the automatic transmission in drive position D, you can limit or extend the gear range, see “One-touch gearshifting” (Y page 115). ML 63 AMG: You only can limit or extend the gear range when driving in automatic program mode C or S.

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114 Automatic transmission

The current gear range appears in the multifunction display.

: Gear range indicator

Effect

= With this selection you can use the

braking effect of the engine.

5 Allows the use of the engine’s

braking effect when driving Ron steep downgrades Rin mountainous regions Runder extreme operating

conditions

4 For maximum use of the engine’s

braking effect on very steep or lengthy downgrades.

Automatic shift program The automatic shift program is available on ML 63 AMG only.

Program mode selector switch

C Comfort

S Sport

M Manual

For standard driving (Y page 114) For sporty driving (Y page 114) For manual gearshifting (Y page 115)

The current program mode appears in the multifunction display.

: Program mode indicator You should only change the program mode when the automatic transmission is in park position P. The last selected automatic program mode (C or S) is active when the engine is restarted. X Press the program mode selector switch repeatedly until the letter of the desired program mode appears in the multifunction display.

Selecting program mode C means: RThe vehicle starts out more gentle, both forward and reverse, except when driving off with full throttle.

RTraction and driving stability are improved

on icy roads.

RUpshifts occur earlier even when you give

more gas. The engine then operates at lower revolutions and the wheels are less likely to spin.

Selecting program mode S means that upshifts occur later.

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One-touch gearshifting With the automatic transmission in drive position D, you can limit or extend the gear range using the steering wheel gearshift control. ML 63 AMG: You only can limit or extend the gear range when driving in automatic program mode C or S. For information on using the steering wheel gearshift control in manual program mode M, see “Manual shift program” (Y page 115).

Steering wheel gearshift control (example illustration)

i You cannot shift with the steering wheel