MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV 2021 Owners Manual

Yo
u could lose control of theve hicle in thefo l-
lowing situations in particular:
R when braking
R intheev ent of abrupt steering manoeuvres
and/or when theve hicle's speed is not
adap tedto thero ad conditions #
Intheev ent of a short circuit or a similar
incident, contact a quali/ed specialist
wo rkshop immediatel y.#
Do not drive on. #
Always ha veworkon the battery car ried
out at a quali/ed specialist workshop. R
Further information on ABS (/ page 231)
R Further information on ESP ®
(/ page 232)
Fo r saf etyre asons, Mercedes-Benz recommends
th at you only use batteries which ha vebeen tes-
te d and appr ovedfo ryo ur vehicle byMercedes-
Benz. All v
All v ehicles ex
ehicles excep
cep t v
t vehicles wit
ehicles wit h a lit
h a lithium-ion bat-
hium-ion bat-
t
t ery
ery &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk ofexplosion due toelec-
trostatic charge
Electrostatic charge can ignite the highly
ex plosive gas mixtu reinthe batter y. #
Todischar geany elect rostatic charge
th at may ha vebuilt up, touch the me tal
ve hicle body before handling the batter y. The high
ly0ammable gas mixtu reis created while
th e battery is charging and during starting assis-
ta nce. &
W
WARNI NG
ARNI NGDanger of chemical burns from
th e battery acid
Battery acid is caustic. #
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or
clo thing. #
Do not lean overth e batter y. #
Do not inhale battery gases. #
Keep children away from the batter y. #
Immediately rinse bat tery acid o. thor-
oughly with plenty of clean water and
seek medical attention immediatel y. All v
All v
ehicles
ehicles
+ ENVIR
ENVIR
ONMENT
ONMENT AL NO
AL NOTE
TEEnvironmental
damage due toimproper disposal of bat-
te ries Batteries contain pollutants. It is
illegal todispose of them with the household
ru bbish. #
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible manner.
Ta ke dischar ged batteries toaqu ali/ed
specialist workshop or toa collection
point for used batteries. 388
388
Breakdown assistance

If
yo u ha vetodisconnect the 12 V batter y,con-
ta ct a quali/ed specialist workshop.
Comply with saf ety no tes and take protective
measures when handling batteries. Risk of
explosion. Fire
, naked 0ames and smoking are
prohibi ted when handling the batter y.
Av oid creating spar ks. Electrolyte or battery acid is cor
rosive.
Av oid contact with the skin, eyes or
clo thing. Wear suitable pr otective
clo thing, in particular glo ves, an apron
and a face mask. Immediately rinse
electrolyte or acid splashes o. with
clean water. Consult a doctor if neces-
sar y. We
ar saf ety glasses. Ke
ep children away. Obser
vethis Owner's Manual.
Obser vethefo llowing if you do not intend touse
th eve hicle over an extended period of time:
R Activate standby mode.
R Alternativel y:connect the battery toa battery
ch arge r appr ovedby Mercedes-Benz or con-
sult a quali/ed specialist workshop todiscon-
nect the batter y. N N
o
ot
tes on st
es on st ar
arting assist
ting assist ance and c
ance and c har
harging t
ging t he 12
he 12
V batt
V batt ery
ery All v All v
ehicles
ehicles
When charging the battery and during starting
assistance, alw ays use the jump-start connection
point in the engine compartment. *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage tothe battery from over-
vo ltage When
charging using a battery charge r without
a re striction of the maximum charging voltage,
th e battery or the on-board electronics can be
damaged. #
Only use battery charge rs with a maxi-
mum charging voltage of 14.8 V. &
W
WARNI NG
ARNI NGRisk of explosion due tohydro-
ge nga s igniting
If, when charging a batter y,there is a short
circuit or spar ksstart toform ,th ere is a dan-
ge r of hydrogen gas igniting. #
Take care that the positive clamp con-
nected toa battery does not come into
contact with vehicle parts. #
Never place me tal objects or tools on a
batter y. #
When connecting and disconnecting the
batter y,alw ays obser vethe sequence of
battery clamps described. Breakdown assistance
389
389

#
Take care toonly connect battery term i-
nals of identical polarity when receiving
starting assistance. #
Obser vethe sequence described for
connecting and disconnecting the jump
leads when receiving starting assistance. #
Do not connect or disconnect the bat-
te ry term inals while the engine is run-
ning. &
W
WARNI NG
ARNI NGRisk of explosion due toexplo-
sive mixture of gases
An explosive mixture of gases can escape
from the battery during charging and starting
assis tance. #
Fire , naked 0ames, smoking and creating
spar ksmust be avoided. #
Make sure there is adequate ventilation. #
Do not stand overth e batter y. &
W
WARNI NG
ARNI NGRisk of explosion from a frozen
battery
A dischar ged battery may freeze at temp era-
tures slightly abo veor below freezing point.
During starting assistance or battery charging,
battery gas can be released. #
Always allow a battery tothaw before
ch arging it or per form ing starting assis-
ta nce. If
th e indicator/warning lamps in the instrument
cluster do not light up at low temp eratures, it is
ve ry likely that the dischar ged battery has frozen.
In this case you may neither jump-start theve hi-
cle nor charge the batter y.
The service life of a bat tery that has been thawed
may be dramatically shor tened. The starting char-
acteristics may be impaired, especially at low
te mp eratures.
It is recommended that you ha veath awe d battery
ch ecked at a quali/ed specialist workshop. All v
All v ehicles
ehicles
* NO
NOTE
TEDamage caused bynume rous or
ex tended attem ptsto start the engine Numerous or
extended attem ptsto start the
engine may damage the catalytic con verter
due tonon-combusted fuel. #
Avoid numerous and extended attem pts
to start the engine. Obser
vethefo llowing points during starting assis-
ta nce and when charging the batter y:
R Only use undamaged jump lead/charging
cables with a su1cient cross-section and
insulated term inal clamps.
R Non-insulated parts of thete rm inal clamps
must not come into contact with other me tal
parts while the jump lead/charging cable is
connected tothe battery/jump-start connec-
tion point.
R The jump lead/charging cable must not come
into contact with any parts which may mo ve
when the engine is running. 390 390
Breakdown assistance

R
Always make sure that nei ther you nor the bat-
te ry is electrostatically charge d.
R Keep awa y from /re and naked 0ames.
R Do not lean overth e batter y.
Obser vethe additional following points when
ch arging the batter y:
R Only use battery charge rs tested and
appro vedfo r Mercedes-Benz.
R Read the battery charge r's operating inst ruc-
tions before charging the batter y.
Obser vethe additional following points during
starting assistance:
R Starting assis tance may only be pr ovided
using vehicles, batteries or other jump start
devices with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R The vehicles must not touch.
R V
Vehicles wit
ehicles wit h a pe
h a pe tr
trol engine:
ol engine: jump-start the
ve hicle only when the engine and exhaust sys-
te m are cold. S
S
t
tar
ar ting assist
ting assist ance and c
ance and c har
harging t
ging t he 12 V batt
he 12 V batt ery
ery R R
eq eq uir
uir ements:
ements:
R The vehicle is secured with the electric par k-
ing brake.
R V
Vehicles wit
ehicles wit h aut
h automatic tr
omatic tr ansmission:
ansmission: the
transmission is in position j.
R The vehicle and all elect rical consume rsare
switched o..
R The bonnet is open. Example: engine compartment
#
Slide co ver1 of POSITIVE contact 2onthe
jump-starting connection point in the direction
of the ar row. #
Connect POSITIVE contact 2onyour vehicle
to the positive term inal of the donor battery
using the jump lead/charging cable. Alw ays Breakd
own assistance
391
391

begin with POSITIVE contact
2onyour own
ve hicle /rst. #
Dur
During st
ing st ar
arting assist
ting assist ance:
ance:startthe engine of
th e donor vehicle and run at idle speed. #
Connect the negative term inal of the donor
battery and ear thpoint 3ofyour ow nve hicle
by using the jump lead/charging cable. Begin
with the donor battery /rst. #
Dur
During st
ing st ar
arting assist
ting assist ance:
ance:startthe engine of
yo ur ow nve hicle. #
Dur
During t
ing t he c
he char
harging pr
ging pr ocess:
ocess: startthech arg-
ing process. #
Dur
During st
ing st ar
arting assist
ting assist ance:
ance:letthe engines run
fo r se veral minutes. #
Dur
During st
ing st ar
arting assist
ting assist ance:
ance:before disconnect-
ing the jump lead, switch on an electrical con-
sumer on your ow nve hicle, e.g. there ar win-
dow heater or lighting.
When the starting assistance/charging process is
comple te, per form thefo llowing steps: #
Firs t, re mo vethe jump lead/charging cable
from ear thpoint 3and the negative term inal of
the donor batter y,then POSITIVE contact
2 and the positive term inal of the donor bat-
te ry. Begin each time with the contacts on
yo ur ow nve hicle /rst. #
ATer removing the jump lead/charging cable,
close co ver1 of POSITIVE contact 2.
Fu rther information can be obtained at a quali/ed
specialist workshop. R
R
eplacing t
eplacing t he 12 V batt
he 12 V batt ery
ery #
Obser vethe no tes on the 12 V battery
(/ page 387).
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you ha vethe
12 V battery replaced at a quali/ed specialist
wo rkshop, e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz Se rvice
Centre.
Obser vethefo llowing no tes if youwa nttoreplace
th e battery yourself:
R Alwaysre place a faulty battery with a battery
which meets the speci/c vehicle requ ire-
ments. The
vehicle is equipped with an AGMtech nol-
ogy bat tery (Absorbent Glass Mat) or a lith-
ium-ion batter y.Fu llve hicle functionality is
only guaranteed with an AGM bat tery or lith-
ium-ion batter y.Fo r saf etyre asons, Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you only use batteries
which ha vebeen tested and appro vedfo ryo ur
ve hicle byMercedes-Benz.
R Carryove r de tach able parts, such as vent
hoses, elbow /ttings or term inal co vers from
th e battery being replaced.
R Make sure that theve nt hose is alw ays con-
nected tothe original opening on the side of
th e batter y.
Fi t any existing or supplied cell caps.
Otherwise, gases or battery acid could
escape.
R Make sure that de tach able parts are recon-
nected in the same way. 392 392
Breakdown assistance

T
T
o
o w
w -st
-st ar
ar ting or to
ting or towing away
wing away Ov
Ov
er
ervie
vie w of t
w of t he per
he per mitt
mittedto
ed towing met
wing met hods (not
hods (not
plug-in h
plug-in h ybr
ybrid)
id) *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage from automatic braking If one of
thefo llowing functions is switched
on, theve hicle brakes automatically in cer tain
situations:
R Active Brake Assist R
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
R HOLD function
R Active Parking Assist
To avoid damage totheve hicle, deactivate
th ese systems in thefo llowing or similar situa-
tions: #
during towing #
in a car wash Mercedes-Benz
recommends transporting your
ve hicle in the case of a breakdown, rather than
to wing it away.
Fo rto wing, use a tow rope or tow bar with bo th
axles on thegr ound. Do not use tow bar systems.
* N
NOOTE
TE Damage totheve hicle due to tow-
ing awa y incor rectly #
Obser vethe inst ructions and no tes on
to wing away. P
P
er
er mitt
mitt edto
ed towing met
wing met hods
hods V
V
ehicle eq
ehicle eq uipment/to
uipment/to wing met
wing method
hod Bot
Bot
h axles on t
h axles on t hegr
he ground
ound F
F
r
ront axle r
ont axle r aised
aised R
R
ear axle r
ear axle r aised
aised
4MATIC vehicles Yes, maximum 50 km at 50 km/h No No
Ve hicles with rear wheel driv eYes, maximum 50 km at 50 km/h No Yes, if the steering wheel is /xed in
th e centre position with a steering
wheel loc k. Breakd
own assistance
393
393

T
T
o
o wing awa
wing away t
y the v
he v ehicle wit
ehicle wit h bot
h both axles on t
h axles on t he
he
gr
gr ound
ound #
Obser vethe no tes on the permitted towing
me thods (/ page 393). #
Make sure that the battery is connected and
ch arge d.
A dischar ged battery has thefo llowing e.ects:
R theve hicle cann otbe switched on
R the electric parking brake cannot be released
or applied
R the transmission cannot be shiTed toposition
i orj
% Ifth e transmission cannot be shiTed toposi-
tion i, or the multifunction display in the
inst rument clus ter does not show anything,
th eve hicle must be transpor tedaway
( / page 395). A towing vehicle with liTing
equipment is requ ired forve hicle transpor ta-
tion. *
N
NO OTE
TE Damage due to towing away at
ex cessively high speeds or over long dis-
ta nces The driv
etra in could be damaged when towing
at excessively high speeds or over long distan-
ces. #
Atowing speed of 50 km/h must not be
ex ceeded. #
Atowing dis tance of 50 km must not be
ex ceeded. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident when towing a
ve hicle which is too heavy
If th eve hicle tobe tow- star ted or towe daway
is heavier than the permissible gross mass of
yo ur vehicle, thefo llowing situations can
occur:
R theto wing eye may become de tach ed.
R theve hicle/trailer combination may
swer veorove rturn. #
Before tow- starting or towing away,
ch eck if theve hicle tobe tow- star ted or to
we dawa yex ceeds the permissible
gr oss mass. #
Information on the permissible gross mass of
th eve hicle can be found on theve hicle identi-
/cation plate (/ page 423). #
Do not open the driver's door or front
passenger door as the transmission may oth-
erwise shiT toposition jautomaticall y. #
Fitth eto wing eye (/ page 397). #
Fasten theto wing device.
* N
NOOTE
TE Damage due toincor rect connec-
tion of theto w bar #
Only connect theto w rope or tow bar to
th eto wing eyes. %
You can also attach theto w bar tothe trailer
hitch. #
Deactivate the automatic locking mechanism
(/ page 87). #
Do not activate the HOLD function. 394
394
Breakdown assistance

#
Deactivate tow- awa y protection
(/ page 107). #
Deactivate Active Brake Assist (/ page 258).#
ShiT the transmission toposition i
(/ page 210). #
Release the electric parking brake. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident due tolimited
saf ety-re lated functions during theto wing
process
Saf ety-re lated functions are limited or no lon-
ge rav ailable in thefo llowing situations:
R theve hicle is switched o..
R the brake system or po wer steering system
is malfunctioning.
R the energy supply or the on-board electri-
cal system is malfunctioning.
When your vehicle is towe daw ay, signi/cantly
more e.ort may be requ ired tosteer and
brake than is normally requ ired. #
Use a tow bar. #
Make sure that the steering wheel can
mo vefreely be fore towing theve hicle
awa y. *
N
NO
OTE
TE Damage due toexcessive tractive
po wer If
yo u pull away sharpl y,the tractive po wer
may be too high and theve hicles could be
damaged. #
Pull away slo wlyand smoo thly. Loading t
Loading t
he v
he vehicle f
ehicle f or tr
or transport
anspo rt #
Obser vethe no tes on towing away
( / page 394). #
Connect theto wing device totheto wing eye
in order toload theve hicle.
% You can also attach theto w bar tothe trailer
hitch. #
ShiT the automatic transmission toposition
i. %
The automatic transmission may be loc ked in
position jintheev ent of damage tothe
electrics. ToshiT toi , pr ovide the on-board
electrical system with po wer (/ page 391). #
Load theve hicle onto the transpor ter. #
ShiT the automatic transmission toposition
j. #
Use the electric parking brake tosecure the
ve hicle against rolling away. #
Only secure theve hicle bythe wheels.
V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit h ADS PL
h ADS PLUS (A
US (Adap
daptiv
tive Dam
e Dam ping Sy
ping Sy s-
s-
t
t em PL
em PL US)
US) &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of an accident when trans-
porting vehicles with Adaptive Damping
System PLUS
When transpo rting vehicles with Adaptive
Damping System PLUS, theve hicle/trailer
combination may begin torock and start to
skid. #
Load theve hicle cor rectly onto the
transpor ter. Breakd
own assistance
395
395

#
Secure theve hicle on all four wheels
with suitable tensioning straps. #
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 60 km/h when transporting. *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage totheve hicle from secur-
ing it inco rrectly #
ATer loading, theve hicle must be
secured on all four wheels. Otherwise,
th eve hicle could be damaged. #
A minimum dis tance of 20 cm upwards
and 10 cm down wards must be kept to
th e transport platform. #
Secure theve hicle on all four wheels aTer
loading. 4MA
4MA
TIC v
TIC v ehicles/v
ehicles/v ehicles wit
ehicles wit h aut
h automatic tr
omatic tr ans-
ans-
mission
mission #
Make sure that the front and rear axles come
to rest on the same transpor tation vehicle.
* N
NOOTE
TE Damage tothe drive train due to
incor rect positioning of theve hicle #
Do not position theve hicle abo vethe
connection point of the transport vehi-
cle. T
T
o
o wing ey
wing eye st
e st or
orag
ag e location
e location Example:
towing eye
To wing eye1 is located under the load compart-
ment 0oor. 396
396
Breakdown assistance

F
F
itting and r
itting and r emo
emoving t
ving t heto
he towing eye
wing eye #
Press the mark on co ver1 inwa rds and
re mo ve. #
Screw intheto wing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten.
V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit h a tr
h a trailer hitc
ailer hitc h:
h:vehicles with a trailer
hitch do not ha veare ar brac ketfo rth eto wing
ey e. Fasten theto w bar tothe trailer hitch. #
Make sure that co ver1 engages in the
bumper when youre mo vetheto wing eye.
* N
NO OTE
TE Damage totheve hicle due toincor-
re ct use of theto wing eye or trailer hitch When a
towing eye or trailer hitch is used to
re co ver a vehicle, theve hicle may be damaged
in the process. #
Only use theto wing eye or trailer hitch to
to w awa y or tow start theve hicle. #
Do not use theto wing eye or trailer hitch
to to wtheve hicle during reco very. T
T
o
o w
w -st
-st ar
arting t
ting t he v
he vehicle
ehicle V
V
ehicles wit
ehicles wit h aut
h automatic tr
omatic tr ansmission
ansmission
* NO
NOTE
TEDamage tothe automatic transmis-
sion due to tow-starting The au
tomatic transmission may be damaged
in the process of tow- starting vehicles with
automatic transmission. #
Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow- star ted. #
Vehicles with an automatic transmission must
not be tow- star ted. Electr
Electr
ical fuses
ical fuses N
No
ot
tes on electr
es on electr ical fuses
ical fuses &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident and inju rydue
to ove rloaded lines
If yo u manipulate or bridge a faulty fuse or if
yo ure place it with a fuse with a higher amper-
age, the electric line could be overloaded.
This could result in a /re. #
Alwaysre place faulty fuses with speci-
/ed new fuses containing the cor rect
amperage. Breakdown assistance
397
397