Mercedes-Benz M-Class Owner's Manual page 172

The table shows approach and departure
angles : and ; when the vehicle is loaded
and ready to drive.
For vehicles with steel springs, loaded and
ready to drive means: a full tank, all fluids
topped up and the driver is in the vehicle.
On vehicles with the AIRMATIC package or
the ON&OFFROAD package, loads up to the
maximum permissible load have no influence
on approach/departure angles.
Steel-sprung
26°
vehicles
Vehicles with
the AIRMATIC
package
Highway level
Raised level
Vehicles with
the ON&OFF-
ROAD package
Highway level
Off-road level 1
Off-road level 2
Off-road level 3
Follow the line of fall when driving on slopes
R
and steep inclines.
Before driving on extreme uphill and down-
R
hill gradients, select the off-road program
( page 222) or the LOW RANGE off-road
Y
gear ( page 223).
Y
Observe the warnings for off-road driving
R
( page 166).
Y
Drive slowly.
R
13 With AMG bodystyling.
The ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC model has an approach angle of 25°.
14
15 The ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC model with AMG bodystyling has an approach angle of 24°.
The ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC model has a departure angle of 24°.
16
17 The ML 350 4MATIC model has a departure angle of 23°.
: ;
13
:
14 15 16
25° 25°
23° 22°
17
22°
28° 27° 27°
23° 22° 17
22°
26° 25° 25°
28° 27° 27°
31° 29° 29°
Accelerate gently and make sure that the
R
wheels are gripping.
Avoid high engine speeds, except when
R
driving on sandy and muddy routes with
high driving resistance.
Select a shift range appropriate to the gra-
R
dient.
Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
R
select shift range 1.
Maximum gradient-climbing capability
On good road surfaces and with the LOW
RANGE off-road gear selected, the full gradi-
ent-climbing capability is available.
i
If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS recognises this and brakes the
wheels accordingly. The rear wheel torque
is increased and it is easier to pull away.
Brow of hill
When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator immedi-
ately before reaching the brow of the hill.
Make use of the vehicle's own impetus to
travel over the brow.
This style of driving prevents:
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
R
brow of a hill
the vehicle from travelling too quickly down
R
the other side
Driving downhill
Drive slowly.
R
Do not drive at an angle down steep
R
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight. Oth-
Driving tips
169
Z