towing MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class 2014 W463 Owner's Manual

Trailer towing
................................. 149
Transmission position displa y........ 146
Automatic transmission
emergency mode ............................... 153
Axle load, permissible (trailer
towing) ............................................... 352B
Backup lamp Changing bulbs .............................. 113
BAS (Brake Assist System) .................61
Battery Checking (SmartKey) .......................70
Important safety guidelines
(SmartKey) ....................................... 70
Replacing (SmartKey) ......................71
Battery (vehicle)
Charging ........................................ 301
Display message ............................ 231
Important safety notes ..................299
Jump starting ................................. 303
Overview ........................................ 299
Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating .................213
Display message ............................ 235
Notes/function .............................. 186
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 224
Notes ............................................. 347
Brake fluid level ................................ 286
Brake lamps Adaptive .......................................... .62
Display message ............................ 227
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 61
BAS .................................................. 61
Brake fluid (notes) .........................347
Display message ............................ 221
High-performance brake system ....161
Important safety notes ..................159
Maintenance .................................. 160
Parking brake ................................ 157
Riding tips ...................................... 159
Warning lamp ................................. 244
Breakdown
see Flat tire
see Towing away Brush guard
....................................... 274
Bulbs Backup lamp .................................. 113
Brake lamp .................................... 113
Cornering light function .................110
Fog lamps ...................................... 110
Rear fog lamp ................................ 113
Tail lamp ........................................ 113
see Replacing bulbs C
California Important notice for retail
customers and lessees ....................22
Calling up a malfunction
see Display messages
Care
Carpets .......................................... 294
Car wash ........................................ 288
Chrome parts ................................. 292
Display ........................................... 292
Gear or selector lever ....................292
Headlamps ..................................... 291
Interior ........................................... 292
Matte finish ................................... 290
Notes ............................................. 288
Paint .............................................. 289
Plastic trim .................................... 292
Power washer ................................ 289
Rear view camera .......................... 291
Roof lining ...................................... 294
Seat belt ........................................ 294
Seat covers .................................... 293
Sensors ......................................... 291
Steering wheel ............................... 292
Tail pipes ....................................... 292
Trim strips ..................................... 293
Washing by hand ........................... 289
Wheels ........................................... 289
Windows ........................................ 290
Wiper blades .................................. 291
Wooden trim .................................. 293
Cargo compartment cover
Installing/removing .......................261
Notes/how to use .........................261
Opening and closing ......................261
Overview ........................................ 261 Index
5

Driving off-road
see Off-road driving
Driving on flooded roads ..................162
Driving safety systems 4ETS (Electronic Traction System) ...62
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) .......61
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 64
Adaptive brake lamps ......................62
BAS (Brake Assist System) ..............61
Electronic brake force distribution ...64
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program) .62
Important safety information ...........60
Overview .......................................... 60
Driving system
Variable SPEEDTRONIC .................174
Driving systems
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 185
Cruise control ................................ 168
Display message ............................ 233
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 176
HOLD function ............................... 188
PARKTRONIC ................................. 189
Rear view camera .......................... 192
SPEEDTRONIC ............................... 174
Driving tips
Automatic transmission .................149
Brakes ........................................... 159
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 184
Downhill gradient ........................... 160
Driving abroad ................................. 98
Driving in winter ............................ .163
Driving on flooded roads ................162
Driving on sand .............................. 166
Driving over obstacles ...................167
General .......................................... 158
Gravel road s.................................. 166
Hydroplaning ................................. 162
Icy road surfaces ........................... 163
Off-road driving .............................. 164
Off-road fording ............................. 162
Snow chains .................................. 315
Symmetrical low bea m.................... 98
Tire ruts ......................................... 166
Towing a trailer .............................. 198
Traveling uphill ............................... 167
Wet road surface ........................... 160
DVD audio
Operating (on-board computer) .....211 DVD video
Operating (on-board computer) .....212 E
EASY-ENTRY feature Activating/deactivating .................216
Function/notes ................................ 92
EASY-EXIT feature
Function/notes ................................ 92
Switching on/off ........................... 216
EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
Display message ............................ 223
Function/notes ................................ 64
ECO start/stop function
Deactivating/activating .................142
General information .......................141
Electrical fuses
Fuse box in the cargo
compartment ................................. 310
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Electronic Traction System
see 4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
Emergency call
see mbrace
Emergency locking
Vehicle ............................................. 75
Emergency release
Vehicle ............................................. 75
Emergency Tensioning Devices
Function .......................................... .53
Safety guideline s............................. 39
Engine
Check Engine warning lamp ........... 251
Display message ............................ 229
ECO start/stop function ................141
Engine number ............................... 343
Irregular running ............................ 144
Jump-starting ................................. 303
Starting problems ..........................144
Starting the engine with the
SmartKey ....................................... 140
Switching off .................................. 157
Tow-starting (vehicle) ..................... 308
Engine electronics
Problem (malfunction) ...................1448
Index

Important safety notes
..................156
Position of exterior mirror, front-
passenger side ................................. 94
see PARKTRONIC
Parking aid
see Exterior mirrors
see PARKTRONIC
Parking brake
Applying ........................................ .157
Display message ............................ 223
Warning lamp ................................. 250
Parking lamps
Switching on/off ........................... 102
PARKTRONIC
Deactivating/activating .................191
Driving system ............................... 189
Function/notes ............................. 189
Important safety notes ..................189
Problem (malfunction) ...................192
Range of the sensors .....................190
Trailer towing ................................. 191
Warning displa y............................. 191
Pedals ................................................ .159
Plastic trim (cleaning instructions) .292
Power supply (trailer) .......................200
Power washers .................................. 289
Programming SmartKey ......................................... 69
Program selector button ..................149
Pulling away Automatic transmission .................140 Q
Qualified specialist workshop ...........24 R
RACETIMER Deleting all laps ............................. 219
Displaying and starting ..................218
Displaying the intermediate time ...218
Resetting the current lap ...............219
Starting a new lap ..........................218
Stopping ........................................ 219
RACETIMER (on-board computer) ....218 Radio
Selecting a station .........................211
see separate operating instructions
Radio-wave reception/
transmission in the vehicle
Declaration of conformity ................24
Reading lamp ..................................... 105
Rear bench seat Folding forward .............................. 260
Rear compartment
Setting the air vents ......................136
Rear door
Closing ............................................ .77
Display message ............................ 241
Important safety notes ....................76
Opening ........................................... 77
Opening/closing .............................. 76
Rear fog lamp
Display message ............................ 228
Switching on/off ........................... 101
Rear lamps
see Lights
Rear seat bench
Folding into an upright position .....260
Rear view camera
Function/notes ............................. 192
Rear view camera (cleaning
instructions) ...................................... 291
Rear-view mirror Dipping (automatic) .........................94
Rear window defroster
Problem (malfunction) ...................133
Switching on/off ........................... 133
Rear window wiper
Switching on/off ........................... 115
Refueling
Fuel gauge ..................................... 205
Important safety notes ..................153
Refueling proces s.......................... 154
see Fuel
Remote control
Programming (garage door opener) 275
Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes ..................108
Overview of bulb type s.................. 109
Reporting safety defects ....................25 Index
13

GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)
(definition)
..................................... 332
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
(definition) ..................................... 332
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) (definition) .........................333
Important safety notes ..................312
Increased vehicle weight due to
optional equipment (definition) ......332
Kilopascal (kPa) (definition) ...........333
Labeling (overview )........................ 328
Load bearing index (definition) ......334
Load index ..................................... 330
Load index (definition) ...................333
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(definition) ..................................... 333
Maximum load on a tire (definition) 333
Maximum permissible tire
pressure (definition) ....................... 333
Maximum tire loa d......................... 331
Maximum tire load (definition) .......333
Optional equipment weight
(definition) ..................................... 334
PSI (pounds per square inch)
(definition) ..................................... 333
Replacing ....................................... 334
Service life ..................................... 314
Sidewall (definition) .......................334
Speed rating (definition) ................332
Storing ........................................... 335
Structure and characteristics
(definition) ..................................... 332
Technical data ............................... 338
Temperature .................................. 327
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
(definition) ..................................... 334
Tire bead (definition) ......................334
Tire pressure (definition) ................333
Tire pressures (recommended )...... 332
Tire size (data) ............................... 338
Tire size designation, load-bearing
capacity, speed rating .................... 328
Tire tread ....................................... 313
Tire tread (definition) .....................333
Total load limit (definition) .............334
Traction ......................................... 327
Traction (definition) .......................334
Tread wea r..................................... 327TWR (permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight) (definition)
.................334
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards ...................................... 326
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (definition) ....................332
Unladen weight (definition) ............333
Wear indicator (definition) .............334
Wheel rim (definition) ....................332
see Flat tire
Top Tether ............................................ 58
Towing Important safety guidelines ...........305
In the event of malfunctions ..........308
Towing a trailer
Axle load, permissible ....................352
Driving tips .................................... 198
Lights display message ..................226
Mounting dimensions ....................351
Shift range ..................................... 149
Trailer loads ................................... 352
Trailer tow hitch ............................. 351
Towing away
With both axles on the ground .......307
Towing eye
Front .............................................. 306
Rear ............................................... 306
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............308
Important safety notes ..................305
Trailer
7-pin connector ............................. 201
Power supply ................................. 200
Trailer loads
Technical data ............................... 352
Trailer tow hitch
Ball position ................................... 352
Trailer towing
ESP ®
................................................ 64
PARKTRONIC ................................. 191
Transfer case
General notes ................................ 193
Shifting .......................................... 194
Shifting (general notes) .................. 194
Shifting (important safety notes) ...194
Shifting to neutral ..........................195
Shift range ..................................... 193 Index
17

Switching off the off-road gear
ratio
............................................... 194
Switching on the off-road gear
ratio ............................................... 194
Transmission
see Automatic transmission
Transmission positions ....................148
Transporting the vehicle ..................307
Traveling uphill Brow of hill ..................................... 168
Trip computer (on-board computer) 208
Trip odometer Calling up ....................................... 208
Resetting (on-board computer) ......209
Turn signals
Changing bulbs (front) ...................111
Display message ............................ 227
Switching on/off ........................... 103
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating)
(definition) ......................................... 334
Type identification plate see Vehicle identification plate U
Unlocking Emergency unlocking .......................75
From inside the vehicle (central
unlocking button) ............................. 74V
Vanity mirror Sun visor ........................................ 263
Variable SPEEDTRONIC
Function/notes ............................. 174
Vehicle
Correct use ...................................... 24
Data acquisition ............................... 25
Display message ............................ 240
Emergency locking ........................... 75
Emergency unlocking .......................75
Equipment ....................................... 21
Individual settings ..........................214
Limited Warranty ............................. 25
Loading .......................................... 322
Locking (SmartKey) .......................... 68
Lowering ........................................ 338Maintenance
.................................... 22
Parking for a long period ................ 158
Pulling away ................................... 140
Raising ........................................... 336
Reporting problems .........................24
Securing from rolling away ............336
Towing away .................................. 305
Tow-starting ................................... 305
Transporting .................................. 307
Unlocking (SmartKey) ......................68
Vehicle data ................................... 350
Vehicle data ....................................... 350
Vehicle data (off-road driving) Approach/departure angl e............ 351
Fording depth ................................ 350
Maximum gradient climbing ability 351
Vehicle dimensions ...........................350
Vehicle identification number see VIN
Vehicle identification plate ..............342
Vehicle tool kit .................................. 296
Ventilation Setting the airflow .........................131
Video
Operating the DVD ......................... 212
VIN ...................................................... 342 W
Warning and indicator lamps ABS ................................................ 245
Brakes ........................................... 244
Check Engine ................................. 251
Coolant .......................................... 251
Cruise control ................................ 169
Distance warning ........................... 253
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 253
ESP ®
.............................................. 247
ESP ®
OFF ....................................... 248
Fuel tank ........................................ 251
LIM (DISTRONIC PLUS) ..................178
LIM (variable SPEEDTRONIC )......... 175
Overview .................................. 30, 242
Parking brake ................................ 250
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ...............44
Reserve fuel ................................... 251
Seat belt ........................................ 24318
Index

Useful information
............................138
Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle 138
Driving ............................................... 138
Automatic transmission ...................145
Refueling ............................................ 153
Parking ............................................... 156
Driving tips ........................................ 158
Driving systems ................................ 168
Off-road driving systems ..................193
Towing a trailer ................................. 198 137Driving and parking

Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the
automatic transmission shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Rocking the vehicle free Rocking the vehicle free by shifting back and
forth between transmission positions Dand
R can help to free a vehicle that has become
stuck in mud or snow. The vehicle's engine
management restricts switching between
transmission positions Dand Rto speeds up
to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h). To shift
back and forth between transmission
positions Dand R, move the selector lever
forwards and backwards past the point of
resistance.
Towing a trailer X
Drive in the middle of the engine speed
range on uphill gradients.
X Limit shift range to 3or 2depending on the
uphill or downhill gradient ( Ypage 150),
even if cruise control or SPEEDTRONIC is
activated.
X Shift the transfer case into low-range
driving position LOW RANGEon extreme
uphill gradients or steep downhill gradients
(Y page 194). Program selector button
General notes The program selector button allows you to
choose between drive programs with
different driving characteristics.
i
In AMG vehicles, drive program Eis called
drive program C.
Drive programs E
Economy
C Controlled
Efficiency Comfortable, economical
driving
S
Sport Sporty driving style
M
Manual Manual gear shifting
i
When the engine is started, the automatic
transmission always switches to automatic
drive program E(drive program Cin AMG
vehicles).
i For further information on the automatic
drive program, see (Y page 150).
i Only change from automatic drive
program Eor Sto manual drive program
M when the vehicle is stationary.
Selecting the drive program Example: program selector button
X
Press program selector button 0043
repeatedly until the letter for the desired Automatic transmission
149Driving and parking Z

or
X
Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow 0083.
Variable SPEEDTRONIC is selected. LIM
indicator lamp 0044in the cruise control lever
lights up.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if:
R you apply the parking brake
R you are driving at less than 20 mph
(30 km/h)
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
R you shift the transmission to position N
while driving
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine. SPEEDTRONIC
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If you fail to adapt your driving style,
SPEEDTRONIC can neither reduce the risk of
accident nor override the laws of physics.
SPEEDTRONIC cannot take account of road,
weather and traffic conditions.
SPEEDTRONIC is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in lane. Only engage
SPEEDTRONIC when the current road,
weather and traffic conditions permit it to be done safely. Drive carefully and maintain a
suitable distance to the vehicle in front.
General notes SPEEDTRONIC brakes automatically so that
you do not exceed the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing a trailer, you must
select shift range
1,2or 3in good time. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine, which relieves the load
on the brake system and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly. If
you need additional braking, depress the
brake pedal repeatedly rather than
continuously.
i The speed indicated in the speedometer
may differ slightly from the limit speed
stored.
Cruise control lever 0043
To store the current speed or a higher
speed
0044 LIM indicator lamp
0087 To call up the last speed stored
0085 To store the current speed or a lower
speed
0083 To switch between cruise control and
variable SPEEDTRONIC
0084 To deactivate variable SPEEDTRONIC
You can operate cruise control and variable
SPEEDTRONIC with the cruise control lever. 174
Driving systemsDriving and parking

As a result, DISTRONIC PLUS may neither give
warnings nor intervene in such situations.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot always clearly
identify other road users and complex traffic
situations.
In such cases, DISTRONIC PLUS may:
R give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
R neither give a warning nor intervene
R accelerate unexpectedly
There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, in particular when warned to do so by
DISTRONIC PLUS. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS brakes your vehicle with up
to 40% of the maximum braking force. If this
braking force is insufficient, DISTRONIC PLUS
warns you visually and audibly. There is a risk
of an accident.
In such cases, apply the brakes yourself and
try to take evasive action. G
WARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it differs
from the current speed, the vehicle
accelerates or decelerates. If you do not know
the stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate
or brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an
accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic
conditions before calling up the stored speed.
If you do not know the stored speed, store the
desired speed again.
If you fail to adapt your driving style,
DISTRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk
of accident nor override the laws of physics.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take account of road, weather and traffic conditions.
DISTRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in lane. Only engage
DISTRONIC PLUS when the current road,
weather and traffic conditions permit it to be
done safely, and adapt your driving style
accordingly. Drive carefully and maintain a
suitable distance to the vehicle in front.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a risk of collision
but cannot sufficiently decelerate the vehicle
in order to maintain the set distance, you will
be warned visually and acoustically.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot prevent a collision
without your intervention. An intermittent
warning tone will then sound and the distance
warning lamp will light up in the instrument
cluster. Brake immediately in order to
increase the distance from the vehicle in
front, or take evasive action, provided it is
safe to do so.
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow
vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line. Therefore,
always pay attention to traffic conditions
even when DISTRONIC PLUS is activated.
Otherwise, you may fail to recognize dangers
in time, cause an accident and injure yourself
and others.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
R the sensor is dirty or covered
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R there is the possibility of strong radar
reflections, for example, in parking
garages.
If DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
This can happen unexpectedly, especially
when towing or in a car wash. There is a risk
of an accident. In these or similar situations,
deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS.
If you want DISTRONIC PLUS to assist you,
the following activation conditions must be Driving systems
177Driving and parking Z

fulfilled (Y
page 179) and the radar sensor
system must be operational.
General notes DISTRONIC PLUS regulates the speed and
automatically helps you maintain the
distance to the vehicle detected in front.
DISTRONIC PLUS brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded.
On long and steep downhill gradients,
especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a
trailer, you must select shift range 1,2or 3
in good time. By doing so, you will make use
of the braking effect of the engine, which
relieves the load on the brake system and
prevents the brakes from overheating and
wearing too quickly.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a slower-moving
vehicle in front, your vehicle is braked in order
to maintain the preset distance to the vehicle
in front.
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control in the speed range between 20 mph
(Canada: 30 km/h) and120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h). If a vehicle is driving in front of
you, it operates in the speed range between
0 mph (0 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h).
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving on
roads with steep gradients.
As DISTRONIC PLUS transmits radar waves,
it can resemble the radar detectors of the
responsible authorities. You can refer to the
relevant chapter in the Operator's Manual if
questions are asked about this.
i USA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC
as a “Vehicular Radar System”. The radar
sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removal, tampering, or
altering of the device will void any
warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way. Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
i Canada only: This device complies with
RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,
and
2. this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the
device will void any warranties, and is not
permitted. Do not tamper with, alter, or use
the device in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
Cruise control lever 0043
To activate or increase speed
0044 To set the specified minimum distance
0087 LIM indicator lamp
0085 To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
0083 To activate or reduce speed
0084 To switch between DISTRONIC PLUS and
variable SPEEDTRONIC
006B To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
With the cruise control lever, you can operate
DISTRONIC PLUS and variable
SPEEDTRONIC. 178
Driving systemsDriving and parking