Under the Hood

The ML350 carries a 232-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 engine, while the ML500 comes with a 288-hp, 5.0-liter V-8. Both models use a five-speed-automatic transmission with a manual shift gate. The permanently engaged four-wheel-drive system has a Low-range gear setting, and it distributes power among the four wheels as needed to maintain traction. Unlike its X5 and RX 330 rivals, Mercedes insists that the M-Class is a true offroad vehicle.

    See also:

    Automatic transmission
    Shift the transmission to position P. The transmission position display in the multifunction display shows P. You can also start the engine when the transmission is in position N. ...

    Releasing automatically
    Your vehicle's electric parking brake is automatically released if all of the following conditions are met: - the engine is running. - the transmission is in position D or R. - the seat belt ha ...

    Locking the vehicle
    If the vehicle can no longer be locked with the SmartKey, you can lock it by taking the following steps. If the central locking in the vehicle is malfunctioning, you cannot lock the trunk. P ...