Mercedes-Benz ML320. 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:

앫

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

앫

Shift gear selector lever to position N.

앫

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

앫

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

앫

Firmly depress parking brake pedal.

앫

Move gear selector lever to position P.

앫

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”
(

컄

page 230).

i

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

컄

page 231).