MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV 2008 Owners Manual

Trailer towing*
178 cialist workshop which has the necessary
specialist knowledge and tools to carry out
the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must be
carried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
X Have the headlamps switched over at a
qualified specialist workshop, e. g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. G
Risk of accident
Have your headlamps switched back to
asymmetrical dipped beam if you are driv-
ing in a country in which traffic drives on
the same side of the road as in the country
in which your vehicle was registered. Oth-
erwise, you may dazzle the oncoming traffic
and could cause an accident. Trailer towing*
Notes on towing a trailer
G
Risk of accident
When reversing the vehicle towards the
trailer, make sure there is nobody between
the trailer and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible trailer drawbar nose-
weight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear axle load of the tow-
ing vehicle
R the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
You will find the applicable permissible val-
ues, which must not be exceeded, in the
vehicle documents.
You will find the values approved by the
manufacturer on the vehicle identification plates and those for the towing vehicle in
the "Technical data" section.
You will find installation dimensions and loads
in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 274).
The maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight on the ball coupling is:
R 140 kg (long-wheelbase station wagon)
R 115 kg (short-wheelbase station wagon
and cabriolet)
However, the actual noseweight must not
exceed the value given on the trailer coupling
and trailer identification plates. The lowest
weight applies.
! Use a drawbar noseweight as close as
possible to the maximum permissible nose-
weight. Do not use a noseweight of less
than 80 kg; otherwise, the trailer may come
loose.
Note that the payload and the rear axle load
are reduced by the actual payload.
i The height of the ball coupling changes
with the load of the vehicle. If necessary,
use a trailer with a height-adjustable draw-
bar. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
179
Coupling up a trailer G
Risk of injury
Do not connect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your hand could
become trapped between the bumper and
drawbar.
! Do not uncouple a trailer with overrun
brake between the bumper and drawbar,
otherwise your vehicle could be damaged
by the spring action of the overrun brake.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
Driving tips In Germany, the maximum permissible speed
for vehicle/trailer combinations is 80 km/h.
! A maximum speed of 80 km/h should not
be exceeded, even in countries where
higher speeds are permitted for vehicle/
trailer combinations.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer. The vehicle/trailer combination:
R
is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R consumes more fuel
X On long and steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1,2or 3in good time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control or Speedtronic.
X If necessary, shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92).
This will use the braking effect of the
engine, so less braking will be required to
maintain the speed. This 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. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
Driving tips
R Maintain a greater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine,
and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary. Operation
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Trailer towing*
180 G
Risk of accident
On no account should you attempt to draw
the vehicle/trailer combination out by
increasing speed. Trailer po
wer supply
The trailer socket of your vehicle is equipped
at the factory with a permanent power supply.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 9.
! You can connect accessories with a max-
imum power consumption of 180 W to the
permanent power supply.
You must not charge a trailer battery using
the power supply.
You can obtain further information about
installing the trailer electrics from a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Trailer with 7-pin connector
If your trailer has a 7-pin connector, you can
connect it to the 13-pin socket on the ball
coupling using an adapter or, if necessary, an
adapter cable. Both of these can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Fitting the adapter 1
Connector with lug
2 Socket with groove
X Open the socket cover.
X Insert the connector with lug 1into
groove 2on the socket and turn the con-
nector clockwise to the stop. X
Make the cover engage.
X If you are using an adapter cable, secure
the cable to the trailer with cable ties.
! Make sure that there is sufficient cable
play so that the cable cannot become
detached when cornering.
i When socket 2is connected, the ultra-
sound reversing aid is deactivated. Operation
* optional
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Service
181Service
ASSYST service interval display
The ASSYST service display informs you when
the next service is due. Whenever a service is
due, this is shown in the multi-function dis-
play:
Service A in ..days
Service A in .. km
Service A due now The symbol and the letter indicate which type
of service is due:
9
Minor service A
½ Major service B
The ASSYST service display does not record
any periods of time during which the battery is disconnected. In order to maintain the
time-dependent service schedule, you should
call up the service due date and make a note
of it before disconnecting the battery. The
alternative is to subtract the battery discon-
nection periods from the service date shown
on the display.
Fading out the service message
The service message disappears automati-
cally after a few seconds. You can also fade
out the service message yourself.
1
Reset button
X Press reset button 1. Missing the service due date One of the following messages appears in the
multi-function display:
Service A overdue by .. days
Service A overdue by .. km
You will also hear a warning tone.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, resets the
ASSYST service display after the service work
has been carried out.
i If you fail to have the service performed
by the specified date, you may be violating
applicable laws. Your warranty may be inva-
lidated and goodwill settlements may be
refused.
Calling up the service due date Use the buttons on the multi-function steer-
ing wheel. Operation
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Care
182
X
Switch on the ignition.
X Press the èorÿ button to select the
standard display (Y page 101).
X Press the jork button to select the
service information.
The 9 or½ service symbol and the
service due date are displayed. Fuel/water separator*
If the fuel/water separator needs servicing,
the following message appears in the multi-
function display: You will also hear a brief warning tone.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, as
soon as possible. !
If you continue driving without having the
fuel/water separator serviced, this could
cause damage to the engine. Any resulting
damage is not covered by the warranty. H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally-responsible manner. Care
Notes on care
Regular and proper care maintains the value
of your vehicle.
i It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care
products.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected
by corrosion and damage caused by inade-
quate care cannot always be completely
repaired. In such cases, visit a qualified spe-
cialist workshop immediately, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Repair damage caused by loose chippings
and remove the following substances imme-
diately, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard:
R Soak insect remains with insect remover
and rinse off afterwards.
R Soak bird droppings with water and rinse
off afterwards.
R Remove tree resin, oils, fuels and greases
by rubbing gently with a cloth soaked in
petroleum ether or lighter fluid.
R Use silicone remover to remove wax.
R Use tar remover to remove tar stains. Operation
* optional
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Care
183H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging, cleaning
cloths and polishing wads in an environ-
mentally responsible manner.
! Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces, otherwise you could
damage the paintwork. Vehicle care
! Do not park the vehicle for a long period
of time directly after cleaning, especially if
the wheels have just been cleaned with a
wheel cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
rapid corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. After cleaning, park
the vehicle when it is at normal operating
temperature.
Automatic car wash You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the beginning. !
Do not use a touch-free automatic car
wash that uses chemical agents to wash
the vehicle.
Preferably use automatic car washes without
brushes.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
! Make sure that the automatic car wash is
suitable for the size of the vehicle. Fold in
the exterior mirrors before the vehicle is
washed. There is otherwise a risk of dam-
age to the exterior mirrors.
! Make sure that the side windows are com-
pletely closed, that the ventilation/heater
blower is fully turned off and that the wind-
screen wiper switch is set to 0. The rain
sensor may otherwise be activated, trig-
gering unintended wiper movements. This
could cause damage to the vehicle.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe any
wax and drying agents off the windscreen and
the wiper blades. This will prevent smears and
reduce wiping noises caused by residue on
the windscreen. High-pressure cleaners G
Risk of accident
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with cir-
cular-jet nozzles (dirt grinders) to clean
your vehicle or ― especially ― the tyres.
Otherwise, you could damage the tyres and
cause an accident.
! Observe the instructions issued by the
equipment manufacturer concerning the
distance to be maintained between the
nozzle of the high-pressure cleaner and the
vehicle (at least 30 cm).
Move the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around when cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
R tyres
R door joint
R electrical components
R battery
R connectors
R lights
R seals
Damaged seals or electrical components
can lead to failures or leaks. Operation
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Care
184
Cleaning the wiper blades and the out-
side of the windscreen G
Risk of injury
Before cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, turn the key in the ignition lock to
0. The windscreen wipers could otherwise
move and cause injury.
X Turn the key to position 1in the ignition
lock (Y page 59).
X Set the windscreen wipers to position Ion
the combination switch (Y page 82).
X Turn the key to position 0or remove it when
the wiper arms are vertical (Y page 59).
! Only fold the wiper arms away from the
windscreen when they are in a vertical posi-
tion, otherwise you will damage the bonnet.
X Fold the wiper arms away from the wind-
screen until you feel them snap into place.
X Clean the windscreen and the wiper blades.
X Fold the windscreen wipers back again
before the ignition is switched on.
! Do not clean the wiper blades too often
as this will result in the rubber becoming
porous, leading to wiper noise. Cleaning the windows !
Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-
vents to clean the inside of the windows.
Clean the insides of the windows with a
damp cloth or commercially-available glass
cleaner. Avoid touching the inside of the
rear windscreen and the side windows with
hard objects, e.g. ice scrapers or rings. You
could otherwise cause damage to the win-
dows, rear window heating or aerial on the
rear window.
i Anti-glare film retrofitted to the insides of
the windows could interfere with radio or
mobile phone reception, especially if it is
conductive or metal-coated film. Informa-
tion about anti-glare film can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Cleaning the headlamps X
Clean the headlamp lenses with a wet
sponge.
! Only use washer fluid which is suitable
for plastic lenses. Unsuitable washer fluid
could damage the plastic lenses of the
headlamps.
Do not use the following: R
dry cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvent
You could otherwise scratch or damage the
surface of the lenses.
Plastic trim !
Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths and
do not scrub. Doing so will scratch or dam-
age the surfaces.
! In order to protect the vehicle's high-qual-
ity surfaces and to retain the overall
appearance, avoid contact with cosmetics
and suntan lotion.
X Wipe plastic parts with a damp, lint-free
cloth (e.g. a microfibre cloth).
X Light soiling: use a low-foaming soap (e.g.
a light liquid hand soap) diluted in water.
X Heavy soiling: use a cleaning agent that is
solvent-free and non-corrosive. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz cleaning product for this
purpose. Operation
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Care
185
Cleaning the steering wheel boss and
dashboard X
Moisten a clean lint-free cloth with water.
X Clean the plastic parts and the dashboard.
X If particularly dirty, use a mild detergent. G
Risk of injury
Do not use cleaners and cockpit care
sprays containing solvents to clean the
cockpit and steering wheel boss. Cleaners
containing solvents cause the surface to
become porous and in the event of an air-
bag being triggered, plastic parts that have
become loose could cause considerable
injuries.
Leather upholstery* !
Cleaning
R Clean genuine leather covers using a
damp cloth, then wipe the covers down
using a dry cloth. Make sure that the
leather does not become soaked. For
leather care, use leather care foam A 001 986 59 71 10. You can purchase this
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
R Clean artificial leather covers with a cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e. g. washing-up liquid).
R Clean fabric covers with a microfibre
cloth moistened with a solution contain-
ing 1% detergent (e. g. washing-up liquid).
When cleaning, take care not to rub too
vigorously and always wipe entire seat
sections to avoid leaving visible lines.
Leave the seat to dry afterwards. Clean-
ing results depend on the type of dirt and
how long it has been there.
i Note that leather covers are a natural
product and as such are subject to a natural
ageing process and may react differently
(e.g. increased formation of wrinkles) to
certain environmental influences (such as
high humidity, intense heat).
Note that regular care is essential to ensure
that the quality (both appearance and com-
fort) of the covers is retained over time. Cleaning real wood and trim strips X
Moisten a clean lint-free cloth with water.
X Clean the wooden trim.
X If particularly dirty, use a mild detergent.
! Do not use cleaning agents containing
solvents because these can damage the
wooden trim.
Cabriolet Frequent cleaning reduces the soft top's
resistance to dirt.
Intensive treatment with the Mercedes-Benz
convertible soft-top cleaning agents kit can
restore the resistance to dirt.
Incorrect cleaning and care, as well as ageing,
can cause soft-top seams to leak. Have the
soft-top seams sealed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
i
Cover the soft top with a suitable cover if
you plan to leave the vehicle outside for a
long period of time.
! Remove bird droppings immediately as
they are corrosive and can cause soft top
fabric leaks. Do not wash the vehicle with
a high-pressure cleaner or in an automatic Operation
* optional
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Care
186car wash. Do not use sharp-edged equip-
ment to remove ice and snow.
! Never use any of the following to clean the
soft top:
R petrol
R thinner
R tar or stain remover
R other organic solvents
Cleaning the soft top
If it is only slightly dirty, you can clean the soft
top while it is dry or rinse it with clear water.
Use a brush and clear water to clean away
normal amounts of dirt. Always brush in the
direction of the cloth, from front to back.
If it is very dirty or stained, clean with a suit-
able soft-top cleaning agent and a brush.
Always brush in the direction of the cloth,
from front to back. Cleaning the ultrasonic reversing aid* 1
Sensors
X Clean sensors 1in the bumper with water,
car shampoo and a soft cloth.
! Do not use dry, rough or hard cloths and
do not scrub. You will otherwise scratch or
damage the sensors. If you clean the sen-
sors using a high-pressure cleaner or steam
cleaner, observe the manufacturer's infor-
mation on maintaining the correct distance
between the vehicle and the nozzle of the
high-pressure cleaner. Trailer coupling*
The ball coupling must be cleaned if it
becomes dirty or corroded.
X Remove any rust using a wire brush.
X Remove dirt with a clean, lint-free cloth or
a brush.
! Do not clean the ball coupling with a high-
pressure cleaner. Do not use solvents. 1
Ball neck head
X After cleaning, lightly oil or grease ball cou-
pling 1.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer coupling is
working properly. Operation
* optional
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Care
187
i
Maintenance of the ball coupling and
trailer coupling can also be performed by
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. H
Environmental note
Dispose of oily and greasy cloths in an envi-
ronmentally-responsible manner. Operation
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