MERCEDES-BENZ G500 2007 W463 Owner's Manual

250 Operation
Driving instructions
Mercedes-Benz recommends winter tires
(
page 309) with a minimum tread depth
of approximately 1/6in (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 compared with summer
tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consid-
erably greater than when the road is not
covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
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.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).
!Avoid spinning of a 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
failure, causing loss of vehicle control and
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
serious injury and possible death, for you
and for others.
iFor information on speed rating for winter
tires, see “Winter tires” (
page 309).
For additional general information on tire speed
markings on the tire sidewall, see “Tire speed
rating” (
page 306).

251 Operation
Driving instructions
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 the gear selector lever to neutral
positionN. Try to keep the vehicle under
control by corrective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal brake effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking
efficiency should be tested as soon as
possible after driving is resumed.
For more information, see “Winter driving”
(
page 309).
iFor information on driving with snow chains,
see “Snow chains” (
page 310).
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of control loss.
Do not engage the transfer case in position
LOW when driving on ice or packed snow.
At speeds below 18 mph (30 km/h) vehicle
steering is adversely affected by the LOW
RANGE – ABS (
page 90).
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Warning!G
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure that snow is kept clear of the exhaust
pipe and from around the vehicle with the
engine running. Otherwise, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the
vehicle not facing the wind.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the
road surface is free of ice.

252 Operation
Driving instructions
Standing water
To prevent water from entering the
passenger compartment or the engine
compartment if you must drive through
standing water, keep in mind

the maximum depth of the water may
not exceed 19 in (48 cm)

you must drive slowly
For more information, see “Driving through
water” (
page 257).
Passenger compartment
!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

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
Always fasten items being carried as
securely as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
The rear cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects. Always use cargo
tie-down rings, and if so equipped, always
use partition net* when transporting cargo.
The partition net* cannot secure hard or
heavy objects. Always fasten items being
carried as securely as possible using the
cargo tie-down rings in the cargo compart-
ment floor and fastening materials.
Do not load items on the roof. It may cause
instability during some maneuvers which
could result in an accident. This vehicle is
not intended to carry items on its roof. Thus
roof rails and roof mounted ski or bike
holders must not be used.

253 Operation
Driving instructions
Off-road driving
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.Special driving features for off-road
driving
The following driving features are available
for specific kind of operation:

ABS (page 88)

ESP® (page 92)

4-ETS (page 91)

Differential lock (page 173)

Transfer case (page 170)
Off-road driving rules
Engage the transfer case in position
LOW before driving under off-road
conditions (
page 170).
If necessary activate differential locks
(
page 175).
The ABS, BAS and ESP
® are switched
off automatically when the differential
locks are activated.
Fasten items being carried as securely
as possible (
page 208).
Warning!G
Do not load items on the roof. It may cause
instability during some maneuvers which
could result in an accident.
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 vehi-
cle cannot complete the attempted climb,
back it down in reverse gear.
Do not drive along the side of a slope. 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 brake. For information on
driving downhill, see “Driving downhill”
(
page 257).
Warning!G
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.

254 Operation
Driving instructions
Checklist before off-road driving
Engine oil level

Check the engine oil level with the
control system (
page 270). The
message
Engine oil level OK must
appear in the multifunction display.
Only then can the vehicle obtain a
trouble-free oil supply, even on steep
gradients.
!Observe the following during off-road
driving:

Keep doors, tailgate, windows, and
tilt/sliding sunroof closed.

Switch cruise control off.

Adjust vehicle speed to condition of terrain.
The more uneven, rutty, and steeper the
terrain, the lower the speed should be. Drive
through water slowly at an even speed,
avoiding a bow wave.

Be especially careful when driving in
unknown territory. It may be necessary to
get out of the vehicle and scout the path you
intend to take.

Watch out for obstacles, such as rocks,
holes, tree stumps, and ruts.

Avoid excessive engine speeds – drive at
moderate engine speeds (max. 3 000 rpm).

Before driving through water, determine its
depth.

Do not stop vehicle while immersed in water,
and do not shut off the engine.

In sandy soil, drive at a steady speed as
allowed by conditions. This helps overcome
the vehicle rolling resistance and reduces
the likelihood of the vehicle sinking into the
ground.

Do not initiate jumps with the vehicle. It
interrupts the forward momentum of the
vehicle.

Always drive on slopes with the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.

Inspect the vehicle for possible damage after
each off-road trip.
Warning!G
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure (
page 288) before continuing
your trip. Driving with reduced tire inflation
pressure increases the risk of losing control
of the vehicle and rolling over.
!If a engine oil level warning message
(
page 351) appears in the multifunction
display while driving, stop the vehicle in a safe
location or as soon at is safe to do so. Check the
engine oil level (
page 270).
The engine oil level warning messages should
not be ignored. Extended driving with the
message displayed could result in serious engine
damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

255 Operation
Driving instructions
Tires

Check the tread depth and maintain
specified tire inflation pressure (the
Tire and Loading Information placard
with the recommended tire inflation
pressures is located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 280)).

Check tires for possible damage and
remove foreign objects.

Replace missing valve caps.Rims

Dented or bent rims can cause tire
inflation pressure loss and damage the
tire beads. For this reason, check and,
if necessary, change rims before
driving off-road.
Vehicle tool kit

Check if the vehicle jack (page 367)
is functional.

In all cases take the vehicle tool kit,
a strong tow rope, a shovel, and a small
plank (to put under the vehicle jack on
sandy soil) with you.Driving in steep terrainSlope angle
1Overhang angle, front, 37°
2Overhang angle, rear, 31°

Comply with the warnings
(
page 253) and rules for off-road
driving (
page 253).

256 Operation
Driving instructions

Driving on embankments, slopes and
other steep inclines should only be
done straight uphill or downhill, i.e. in
the line of gravity. Maximum vehicle
climbing ability is a 80% grade which is
equivalent to a slope angle of approxi-
mately 38 degrees. Keep in mind that
the climbing ability of the vehicle
depends on terrain conditions.

Select gear range2 or1 on the auto-
matic transmission (
page 167).

Drive slowly.

Utilize the engine’s braking power
when descending a slope, observe the
engine speed (do not overrev the
engine). Apply the service brake as
needed.

Check the brakes after a lengthy
downgrade drive.Traction in steep terrain
Be easy on the accelerator and watch for
continuous wheel traction when driving
uphill.
iFor maximum engine speed, see “Instru-
ment cluster” (
page 26) and see “Engine”
(
page 415).
Warning!G
Never turn the vehicle around on steep
inclines. The vehicle might roll over. If the
vehicle cannot complete the attempted
climb, back it down in reverse gear.
iThe 4-ETS helps greatly when starting out on
a steep incline when the front wheels have then
the tendency to slip due to the weight shifting
away from the front axle.
The 4-ETS recognizes the situation and limits the
torque for the front wheels by braking them.
Simultaneously the torque for the rear wheels is
provided.

257 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving across a hilltop
Decelerate just ahead of a hilltop (do not
select gear rangeN), 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:

loosing ground contact when cresting
hills

loosing its forward momentum

speeding up too much after climbing
the hillDriving downhill

Select gear range1 on the automatic
transmission (
page 167).

Drive downhill observing the same
rules as driving uphill (
page 255).Driving through water
1Fording depth, 19.6 in (50 cm)

Before driving through water,
determine its depth.
!Only apply the service brake if the vehicle is
travelling straight downhill, i.e. in the line of
gravity.
iThe special LOW RANGE – ABS setting
allows for precise and brief (cyclical) blocking 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.
!The water depth must not exceed 19.6 in
(50 cm). The ground under the water might not
be firm which could result the water being
deeper than expected when driving the vehicle
through it. Please note that the water level is
correspondingly lower for flowing water.

258 Operation
Driving instructions

Comply with the warnings
(
page 253) and rules for off-road
driving (
page 253).

Switch off the exterior lamps as well as
the climate control.

Select gear range2 or1 on the auto-
matic transmission (
page 167).

Enter and leave the water only at a
shallow spot, driving at walking speed.

Drive through the water slowly and at a
constant speed.

Do not stop vehicle while immersed in
water, and do not shut off the engine.
There is a very high level of driving
resistance in water. The surface is
slippery and may not be firm, making
pulling away in water difficult and
dangerous.

Make sure that only small bow waves
are formed when driving the vehicle
through water.

Clean mud off the tire tread after
driving through water.

To dry the brakes, apply pressure to the
brake pedal several times after leaving
the water.Crossing obstacles
!Never accelerate before driving into the
water. The bow wave could force water into the
engine and auxiliary equipment, thus damaging
them.
!Do not open any of the vehicle’s doors while
driving through water. Water could otherwise en-
ter the vehicle interior and damage the vehicle’s
electronics, as well as the interior equipment.
!Obstacles can damage the vehicle
underbody or suspension components. If possi-
ble, use the assistance of a second person out-
side the vehicle to scout the path you intend to
take and check for adequate ground clearance
when you cross obstacles with your vehicle. The
person assisting you outside the vehicle should
always be a safe distance away from the vehicle
and positioned so that he or she cannot get hurt
in case of any unexpected vehicle movement.
After off-road driving or crossing obstacles,
inspect vehicle for any damage, especially
vehicle underbody and suspension components.
Failure to do so can adversely affect the vehi-
cle’s future performance, including increased
chance of an accident.

259 Operation
Driving instructions
When driving over tree stumps, big rocks
and other obstacles, observe the following
rules:

Check the vehicle clearance before
crossing obstacles.

Comply with the warnings
(
page 253) and rules for off-road
driving (
page 253).

Select gear range1 on the automatic
transmission (
page 167).

Cross obstacles very slowly by aiming
one of the front wheels at the center of
the obstacle, and repeat same with the
rear wheel.Driving on sand
When driving on sand, observe the
following rules:

Avoid high engine speeds.

Shift automatic transmission into a
gear range that is appropriate for the
terrain.

In sandy soil, drive at a steady speed as
conditions permit. This helps overcome
the vehicle rolling resistance and
reduce the likelihood of the vehicle
sinking into the ground.

Drive in tracks of other vehicles if they
are not too deep and you have suffi-
cient clearance.
Ruts
A number of off-road tracks or other
byways have deep ruts which can cause
the underbody to come in contact with the
ground.
!Special attention is needed when you cross
obstacles on a steep incline.
The vehicle could slide sideways as a result of its
possible slanted position which in turn may
result in the vehicle tipping or rolling over.
Warning!G
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure (
page 288) before continuing
your trip. Driving with reduced tire inflation
pressure increases the risk of losing control
of the vehicle and rolling over.
!Check that the ruts are not too deep and
your vehicle’s clearance is sufficient. Otherwise:

your vehicle may be damaged

the underbody of the vehicle may come in
contact with the ground and you may get
stuck