Mercedes-Benz 2008 M-Class Operator's Manual page 325

Operation
Driving instructions
Driving across a hilltop
Decelerate just ahead of a hilltop (do not
shift automatic transmission to
position N), to prevent the vehicle from
speeding up too much after climbing a hill.
Use the momentum of the vehicle to drive
across the hilltop.
After climbing a hill, driving in this manner
prevents the vehicle from:
losing ground contact when cresting
hills
losing its forward momentum
speeding up too much after climbing
the hill
Driving downhill
Drive slowly.
Do not drive at an angle to the incline.
Steer into the line of gravity and drive
with the front wheels pointing straight
downhill. Otherwise, the vehicle may
slide sideways off the path and roll
over.
324
Shift automatic transmission to
position 1 ( page 192).
On steep inclines, use the Downhill
Speed Regulation ( page 249).
Utilize the engine's braking power to
reduce vehicle speed.
If this is insufficient, apply the brakes
gently. Make sure the vehicle is moving
in the line of gravity.
Check the brakes after a lengthy down-
grade drive.
i
The special Off-road – ABS ( page 99) set-
ting allows for precise and brief (cyclical) block-
ing of the front wheels, permitting them to dig
into loose ground.
Remember that, when stopped, the front wheels
slide across a surface and thus lose their ability
to steer the vehicle.
Driving through water
1 Fording depth
1
Vehicles with steel
suspension
20.00 in (50 cm)
1
Vehicles with air
suspension
program* or
ML 63 AMG
Raised level 20.00 in (50 cm)