Mercedes-Benz ML320. Service manual - part 92

 

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Mercedes-Benz ML320. Service manual - part 92

 

 

195

Operation

Driving instructions

Install only brake pads and brake fluid 
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.

After hard braking, it is advisable to drive 
on for some time, rather than immediately 
parking, so the air stream will cool down 
the brakes faster.

Driving off

Apply the brakes to test them briefly after 
driving off. Perform this procedure only 
when the road is clear of other traffic.

Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not 
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.

When starting off on a slippery surface, do 
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an ex-
tended period with the ESP switched off. 
Doing so may cause serious damage to the 
drivetrain which is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Warning!

G

If other than recommended brake pads are 
installed, or other than recommended brake 
fluid is used, the braking properties of the 
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that 
safe braking is substantially impaired. This 
could result in an accident.

!

When driving down long and steep 
grades, relieve the load on the brakes 
by shifting into a lower gear to use the 
engine’s braking power. This helps 
prevent overheating of the brakes and 
reduces brake pad wear.

196

Operation

Driving instructions

Parking

Tires

Tread wear indicators (TWI) are required by 
law. These indicators are located in six 
places on the tread circumference and be-
come visible at a tread depth of approxi-
mately 

1

/

16

in (1.6 mm), at which point 

the tire is considered worn and should be 
replaced.

!

Set the parking brake whenever park-
ing or leaving the vehicle. In addition, 
move gear selector lever to position P
When parking on hills, always turn front 
wheels towards the curb.

Warning!

G

To reduce the risk of personal injury, or 
damage to the vehicle powertrain, as a re-
sult of vehicle/ trailer movement, always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Shift gear selector lever to position N.

Have a second person place wheel 
chocks on downhill side of left and right 
trailer wheels.

Slowly release brake pedal and let vehi-
cle and trailer roll into chocks until 
stopped.

Firmly depress parking brake pedal.

Move gear selector lever to position P.

When parked on an incline, turn front 
wheel towards the road curb.

Warning!

G

If you feel a sudden significant vibration or 
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred, 
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from 
the road.

Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody 
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires 
appear unsafe, have it towed to the nearest 
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center or tire 
dealer for repairs.

197

Operation

Driving instructions

The tread wear indicator appears as a solid 
band across the tread.

Specified tire pressures must be main-
tained. This applies particularly if the tires 
are subjected to high loads (e.g. high 
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient temper-
atures).

Hydroplaning

Depending on the depth of the water on 
the road, hydroplaning may occur even at 
low speeds and with new tires. Reduce ve-
hicle speed, avoid track grooves in the 
road and apply brakes cautiously in the 
rain.

Tire traction

The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or 
icy road is always lower than on a dry road.

You should pay particular attention to the 
condition of the road whenever the outside 
temperatures are close to the freezing 
point.

Mercedes-Benz recommends M+S rated 
radial-ply tires with a minimum tread depth 
of approximately 

1

/

6

in (4 mm) on all four 

wheels for the winter season to ensure 
normal balanced handling characteristics. 
On packed snow, they can reduce your 
stopping distance as compared with sum-
mer tires.

Stopping distance, however, is still consid-
erably greater than when the road is not 
covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.

Warning!

G

Although the applicable federal motor vehi-
cle safety laws consider a tire to be worn 
when the tread wear indicators (TWI) be-
come visible at approximately 

1

/

16

in 

(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not al-
low your tires to wear down to that level. As 
tread depth approaches 

1

/

8

in (3 mm), the 

adhesion properties on a wet road are 
sharply reduced.

Depending upon the weather and/or road 
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies 
widely.

Warning!

G

Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects 
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You 
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued 
driving with a flat tire or driving at high 
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive 
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

Warning!

G

If ice has formed on the road, tire traction 
will be substantially reduced. Under such 
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake 
with extreme caution.

198

Operation

Driving instructions

Tire speed rating

Regardless of the tire speed rating, local 
speed limits should be obeyed. Use pru-
dent driving speeds appropriate to prevail-
ing conditions.

ML 350

Your vehicle is factory equipped with 
“H”-rated tires, which have a speed rating 
of 130 mph (210 km/h).

An electronic speed limiter prevents your 
vehicle from exceeding a speed of 
130 mph (210 km/h).

ML 500

Your vehicle is factory equipped with 
“V”-rated tires, which have a speed rating 
of 149 mph (240 km/h).

An electronic speed limiter prevents your 
vehicle from exceeding a speed of 
130 mph (210 km/h).

Winter driving instructions

The most important rule for slippery or icy 
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid 
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering 
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control 
system under such conditions.

When the vehicle is in danger of skidding, 
move gear selector lever to position N. Try 
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.

!

Avoid spinning of one drive wheel. This 
may cause serious damage to the 
drivetrain which is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Warning!

G

Even when permitted by law, never operate 
a vehicle at speeds greater than the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tires.

Exceeding the maximum speed for which 
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure, causing loss of vehicle control and pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or serious 
injury and possible death, for you and for 
others.

i

For information on speed ratings for 
winter tires, see “Winter tires” 
(

page 230).

i

For information on driving with snow 
chains, see “Snow chains” 
(

page 231).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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