2004 Mercedes ML-Class Owner's Manual - Page 200

Operation Driving instructions Standing water Off-road driving Warning! G ! Do not drive through flooded areas or water of unknown depth. Before driving through water, determine its depth. Never accelerate before driving into water. The bow wave could force water into the engine and auxiliary equipment, thus damaging them. If you must drive through standing water, drive slowly to prevent water from entering the passenger compartment or the engine compartment. Water in these areas could cause damage to electrical components or wiring of the engine or transmission, or could result in water being ingested by the engine through the air intake, causing severe internal engine damage. Any such damage is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Warning! G Drive slowly in unknown terrain. This will make it easier to recognize unexpected obstacles and avoid damage to the vehicle. To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never turn it around on steep inclines. If the vehicle cannot complete the attempted climb, back it down in reverse gear. Do not drive along the side of a slope (danger of vehicle rollover). The vehicle might otherwise rollover. If in doing so the vehicle begins to show a tendency to roll, immediately steer into a line of gravity (straight up or downhill). Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle. You may lose control of the vehicle if you use only the service brake. Sand, dirt, mud and other material having friction property can cause exceptional wear and tear as well as brake failure. Have the brakes checked for dirt build-up and cleaned. There is otherwise a risk that full braking power may not be available in an emergency. Read this chapter carefully before you begin off-road travel. Familiarize yourself with the vehicle characteristics and gear changing before you attempt any difficult terrain off-road driving. We recommend that you start out with easy off-road travel. 200