service MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV 2012 User Guide

Vehicle equipment
This Owner's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle available at the time of publica-
tio noft he Owner's Manual. Country-specific
differences are possible. Note that your vehi-
cle may not be fitted with all features descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety. Therefore, the
equipment on your vehicle may differ from
that in the descriptions and illustrations.
The original purchase contract documenta-
tion for your vehicle contains a list of all of the
systems in your vehicle.
Should you have any questions concerning
equipment and operation, please consult a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
The Owner's Manual and the Service Booklet
are important documents and should be kept
in the vehicle. Operating safety
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
All work on the vehicle and, in particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related sys-
tems must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. The specialist workshop
must have the necessary specialist knowl-
edge and tools to carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Ben zrecommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose. G
WARNING
Some safety systems only function when the
engine is running. You should therefore never
switch off the engine when driving. Otherwise,
the safety systems of your vehicle may not
function correctly and as a result will no lon-
ger protec tyou and other persons as inten-
ded. In addition, there is a risk that you may
lose control of your vehicle and thus cause an
accident. G
WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly, or alterations
made to the vehicle, e.g. re-routing of cables
under coverings, could cause the safety sys-
tems of your vehicle to stop working properly.
The safety systems would thus no longer pro-
tect you and other persons as intended. In
addition, there is a risk that you may lose con-
trol of your vehicle and thus cause an acci-
dent.
All work and alterations to the vehicle, e.g.
installations or modifications, should there-
fore be carried out at aqualified specialist
workshop. G
WARNING
If work on electronic equipment and its soft-
ware is carried out incorrectly, this equipment
could stop working .The electronic systems
are networked via interfaces. Tampering with
these electronic systems could cause mal-
functions in systems which have not been
modified. Malfunctions such as these can
seriously jeopardise the vehicle's operating
safety and therefore your own safety.
You should therefore have all work and mod-
ifications to electronic components carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
If you drive over obstacles at high speed or if
the vehicle bottoms out in rough terrain, it
could cause heavy impacts to the vehicle
underbody, tyres or wheels. This could cause
your vehicle to be damaged, which in turn
might lead to an accident. This also applies to
vehicles which are equipped with underbody
protection.
You should therefore drive over obstacles
slowly.P revent the vehicl efrom bottoming
out when driving off-road and if necessary,
have yourv ehicle inspected at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Introduction
21 Z

Declarations of conformity
Wireless vehicle components The following information applies to all com-
ponents of the vehicle and the COMAN
Dsys-
tem which receive and/or transmit radio
waves:
The components of this vehicle which receive
and/o rtransmit radio waves are compliant
with the basic requirements and other rele-
vant provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC. You
can obtain further information from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Electromagnetic compatibility The electromagnetic compatibility of the vehi-
cle components has been tested and certified
in accordance with the current version of
Directive 72/245/EE Cor the equivalent
ECE-R 10 regulation. Diagnostics connection
G
WARNING
If you connect equipment to a diagnostics
connection, it can affect the operation of the
vehicle systems. This could compromise the
operating safety of your vehicle while driving.
There is a risk of an accident.
Do not connect any equipment to a diagnos-
tics connection. G
WARNING
Loose equipment or cables hanging from a
device which are connected to a diagnostic
connection could impede pedal clearance.
The equipment or cables could get caught
between the pedals when driving and braking
suddenly. This could impair the function of the
pedals. There is a risk of accident.
Do not attach any equipment or cables in the
driver's footwell. !
If the engine is switched off and equip-
ment on the diagnostics connection is
used, the starter battery may discharge.
The diagnostics connection is only intended
for the connection of diagnostic equipment at
a qualified specialist workshop.
Connecting equipment to the diagnostics
connection can lead to emissions monitoring
information being reset, for example. This
may lead to the vehicle failing to meet the
requirements of the next emissions test dur-
ing the main inspection. Qualified specialist workshop
Aq ualified specialist workshop has the nec-
essary special skills, tools and qualifications
to correctly carry out any necessary work on
your vehicle. This particularly applies to work
relevan tto safety.
Observe the notes in the Service Booklet.
Always have the following work carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop:
R work relevant to safety
R service and maintenance work
R repair work
R modifications, installations and conver-
sions
R work on electronic components
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Vehicle registration
Mercedes-Benz may ask its Service Centres
to carry out technical inspections on certain
vehicles. The quality or safety of the vehicle
is improved as a result of the inspection.
Mercedes-Benz can only inform you about
vehicle checks if it has your registration data. 22
Introduction

It is possible that yourv
ehicle has not yet
been registered in your name in the following
cases:
R if your vehicle was not purchased at an
authorised specialist dealer.
R if your vehicle has not yet been examined
at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
It is advisable to register your vehicle with a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Inform Mercedes-Benz as soon as possible
about any change in address or vehicle own-
ership. Correct use
G
WARNING
Various warning stickers are affixed to your
vehicle. Their purpose is to draw your atten-
tion, and the attention of others, to various
dangers. Therefore, do not remove any warn-
ing stickers unless the sticker clearly states
that you may do so.
If you remove the warning stickers, you or
others could be injured by failing to recognise
certain dangers.
When driving your vehicle observe the follow-
ing information:
R the safety notes in this manual
R the Technical Data section in this manual
R traffic rules and regulations
R laws and safety standards pertaining to
moto rvehicles Implied warranty
! Follow the instructions in this manual
about the proper operation of your vehicle
as well as about possible vehicle damage.
Damage to your vehicle that arises from
culpable contraventions against these
instructions are not covered either by
Mercedes-Benzi mplied warranty or by the
New or Used-Vehicle Warranty. Data stored in the vehicle
Fault data
Components which are critical for vehicle
operation are equipped with fault data mem-
ories as standard .There are also data storage
devices which record how vehicle compo-
nents have reacted in certain driving situa-
tions (e.g. airbag deployment or ESP ®
inter-
vention).
This data is used exclusively to:
R assist in the rectification of faults and
defects
R help Mercedes-Ben zoptimise and develop
vehicle functions
The data cannot be used to trace the vehicle's
movements.
When your vehicle is serviced by Mercedes-
Benz, this technical information can be read
out from the fault memory. This is performed
by authorised employees of the Mercedes-
Ben zservice network using special diagnos-
tic computers.
After a fault has been rectified, the informa-
tion is deleted from the memory. Other mem-
ory data is constantly overwritten. Other devices that store data
Depending on the equipment level, your vehi-
cle may feature communications and/or
entertainment systems (e.g. navigation devi-
ces, telephone systems). These allow you to
save and edit data required for the operation
of the respective device.
Further information on operation (e.g. on
deleting data) can be found in the separate
operating instructions. Copyright information
FreeType
Portions of this software are copyright ©
2005
The FreeType Projec t(www.freetype.org). All Introduction
23 Z

rights reserved.
©
1996-2000 by David
Turner, Robert Wilhelm, and Werner Lemberg. Gnu compiler
Copyright ©
1982, 1986 Regents of the Uni-
versity of California. All rights reserved.
The Berkeley software License Agreement
specifies the terms and conditions for redis-
tribution. Redistribution and use in source
and binary forms, with or without modifica-
tion, are permitted provided that the following
conditions are met:
1. Redistribution of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer.
2. Redistribution in binary form must repro- duce the above copyright notice, this list
of conditions and the following disclaimer
in the documentation and/or other mate-
rials provided with the distribution.
3. All advertising materials mentioning fea- tures or use of this software must display
the following acknowledgement: This
product includes software developed by
the University of California, Berkeley and
its contributors.
4. Neither the name of the University nor the names of its contributors may be used to
endorse or promote products derived
from this software without specific prior
written permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE
REGENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABIL-
ITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PUR-
POSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL
THE REGENTS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLI-
GENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY
WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE,
EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGE. 24
Introduction

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. Country-specific differen-
ces are possible. Note that your vehicle
may not be fitted with all features descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 22). Occupant safety
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If service work is not carried out correctly, the
operating safety of your vehicle may be affec-
ted. This could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle and cause an accident. More-
over, the safety system smay no longer be
able to protect you or others as they are
designed to do.
Always have service work carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
Modifications to or work performed incor-
rectly on the following parts can result in the
restraint systems no tfunctioning as intended:
R the restraint system, consisting of seat
belts and their anchorage points, belt ten-
sioners, belt force limiters and airbags
R the wiring
R networked electronic systems
Airbags and belt tensioners could fail to
deploy or be triggered in an acciden tdespite
the deceleration force being sufficien tto trig-
ger the systems, or could be triggered unin-
tentionally. For this reason, never make any
modifications to the restraint systems.
Therefore, you must not tamper with elec-
tronic components or their software. Seat belts, together with the Supplemental
Restraint System, SRS (Y page 39), are
complementary, co-ordinated restraint sys-
tems. They reduce the risk of injury in spe-
cific, pre-defined types of accident situations
and thereby increase occupant safety. How-
ever, seat belts and airbags generally do not
protect against objects penetrating the vehi-
cle from the outside.
To ensure that the restraint systems can
deliver their full potential protection, make
sure that:
R the seat and head restraint are adjusted
properly (Y page 90)
R the seat belt has been fastened properly
(Y page 44)
R the airbags can inflate properly if they are
deployed (Y page 40)
R the steering wheel is adjusted properly
(Y page 90)
R the restraint systems have not been modi-
fied
An airbag increases the protection of vehicle
occupants wearing a seat belt. However, air-
bags are only an additional restraint system
which complements, but does not replace,
the seat belt. All vehicle occupants must wear
their seat belt correctly at all times, even if
the vehicle is equipped with airbags. The air-
bags are not deployed in all types of acci-
dents. For example, if the protective capacity
of correctly fastened seat belts is not
increased by deploying the airbags, the air-
bags will not deploy.
Airbag deployment only provides increased
protection if the seat belt is worn correctly.
The seat belt helps, firstly, to keep the vehicle
occupant in the best position in relation to the
airbag. Secondly, in a head-on collision, for
example, the seat belt prevents the vehicle
occupant from being propelled towards the
point of impact. 38
Occupant safetySafety

Belt warning for the driver and front
passenger
The
7 seatbelt warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster is a reminder for all occupants
to fasten their seat belts. It may light up con-
tinuously or flash. In addition, there may be a
warning tone.
The 7 seat belt warning lamp goes out and
the warning tone ceases when the driver and
the fron tpassenger have fastened their seat
belt.
For certain countries only: regardless of
whether the driver and th efront passenger
have fastened their seat belts, the 7seat
beltw arning lamp lights up for six seconds
after the engine is started. It then goes out if
the driver and the fron tpassenger have fas-
tened their seat belts.
i Further information about the 7seat
belt warning lamp (Y page 252).
Rear seat belt status indicator The rear-compartmen
tseat belt status indi-
cator tells you if the rear passengers have
their seat belts fastened.
The rear-compartment seat belt status indi-
cator indicates the rear seat on which the belt
is fastened. The üsymbol in the multi-
function display indicates afastened seat
belt .Ifaseat belt is not fastened or if a seat
is not occupied, the ýsymbol is displayed.
The rear-compartments eat belt status indi-
cator appears in the multifunction display for
around 30 seconds if:
R you drive off and reach a speed of approx-
imately 10 km/h.
R the rear passengers fasten or unfasten
their seat belts while the vehicle is in
motion.
R someone gets in or out of the vehicle and
the vehicle drives off again.
You can also cancel the rear seat belt status
indicator immediately (Y page 228).i
The status indicator for the rear-compart-
ment seat belts is only available for certain
countries.
Belt tensioners, belt force limiters G
WARNING
The belt tensioners in the rear only function if
the belt buckles can be pulled down unob-
structed. They must not be restricted in any
way. Therefore, do not grab the belt buckles
and do not place any objects under the belt
buckles. Otherwise, the tensioning of the belt
by the buckle is restricted or will not function,
and will not provide any additional protection. G
WARNING
If the seat belt tensioners have been trig-
gered, they provide no additional protection
in the event of another accident. Therefore,
have belt tensioners which have been trig-
gered replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Comply with safety regulations when dispos-
ing of belt tensioners. Any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre can provide details of these
regulations.
! If the front-passenger seat is not occu-
pied, do not engage the seat belt tongue in
the buckle on the front-passenger seat.
Otherwise, the belt tensioner could be trig-
gered in the event of an accident.
X In order to ensure that the pyrotechnic seat
belt tensioners have not been triggered,
always have the seat belts checked after an
accident.
If the belt tensioners have been triggered,
they must be replaced.
The fron tseat belts and the outer seat belts
in the rear are equipped with belt tensioners
and belt force limiters.
The belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in
an accident, pulling them close against the
body. Occupant safety
47Safety Z

tion instructions and the correct use of the
child restraint system.
Child restraint systems shoul dbe fitted to the
rear seats. Children are generally better pro-
tected there.
The entire base of the child restraint system
must always rest on the seat cushion. There-
fore, never place objects, e.g. a cushion,
under the child restraint system.
Only use child restraint systems with the orig-
inal cover designed for them. Only replace
damaged covers with genuine Mercedes-Benz
covers.
We recommend the use of child restraint sys-
tems which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply
R the HOLD function is deactivated by the
accelerator pedal being depressed, e.g. by
a vehicle occupant
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pered with
R the battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
Before leaving the vehicle, always deactivate
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
from rolling away. G
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly positioned loads
increase the risk of injury for children and all
other occupants in the event of:
R an accident
R a braking manoeuvre
R a sudden change of direction
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the vehi-
cle interior unless they are secured. You will find further information under "Loading guide-
lines" in the index.
If a child is travelling in your vehicle, secure
the child using a child restraint system which
is appropriate to the size, age and weight of
the child and recommended for Mercedes-
Benz vehicles. You should preferably fit the
restraint system to a suitable rear seat. Make
sure that the child is secured in a child
restraint system throughout the trip.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use the child restraint systems listed under
(Y page 56).
You can obtain information about the correct
child restraint system from any Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre.
i It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care
products to clean child restraint systems.
You can obtain information about this at
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat G
WARNING
If the front-passenger airbag is not disabled:
R a child secured in a child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat could be seri-
ously and even fatally injured by the front-
passenger airbag deploying. This is espe-
cially a risk if the child is in the immediate
vicinity of the front-passenger airbag when
it deploys.
R never secure a child on the front-passenger
seat in a rearward-facing child restraint sys-
tem. Only secure a rearward-facing child
restraint system on a suitable rear seat.
R always move the front-passenger seat to
the rearmost position if you secure a child
in a forward-facing child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat. Children in the vehicle
49Safety
Z

The front-passenger airbag is not disabled:
R
on vehicles without automatic child seat
recognition on the front-passenger seat
R in vehicles with automatic child seat rec-
ognition in the front-passenger seat, if no
special child restraint system with trans-
ponders for automatic child seat recogni-
tion in the front-passenger seat has been
fitted
R on vehicles with automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat, if the
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
4 is not lit.
To make you aware of this danger, a corre-
sponding warning sticker has been affixed on
the dashboard and on both sides of the sun
visor on the front-passenger side.
Information about recommended child
restraint systems is availabl eatany
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Example: warning notice on the front-passenger
su
nv isor Warning symbol for a rearward-facing child
restraint system Do not use a rearward-facing child restraint
syste monaseat that is protected by an air-
bag installed in front of it.
Automatic child seat recognition on the
front-passengers eat G
WARNING
If the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indica-
to rlamp does no tlight up when the child
restraint system is fitted, the front-passenger
airbag has not been disabled. If the front-
passenger airbag deploys, the child could be
seriously or even fatally injured.
Proceed as follows:
R do not use a rearward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenge rseat.
R fit a rearward-facing child restraint system
on a suitable rear seat.
or
R only use a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat and
move the front-passenger seat to the rear-
most position.
R have the automatic child seat recognition
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
To ensure that the automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat func-
tions/communicates correctly, never place
objects, e.g. a cushion, under the child
restraint system. The entire base of the child
restraint system must always rest on the seat
cushion. An incorrectly fitted child restraint
system cannot perform its intended protec-
tive function in the event of an accident, and
could lead to injuries. G
WARNING
Do not place electronic devices on the front-
passenger seat, e.g.:
R laptops, when switched on
R mobile phones
R cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes or
access cards 50
Children in the vehicleSafety

Courtesy lighting in the front doors
The courtesy light is switched on to help you
see bette rwhen it is dark.
X To switch on: activate the interior lighting
automatic control.
X Open the door.
X To switch off: close the door. Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes
Xenon bulbs G
DANGER
Xenon bulbs carry a high voltage. You could
get an electric shock and be seriously or even
fatally injured if you touch the electric con-
tacts on xenon bulbs. Therefore, never
remove the cover from xenon bulbs.
Do not change the xenon bulbs yourself, but
have them replaced at a qualified workshop.
If your vehicle is equipped with xenon bulbs,
you can recognise this by the following: the
cone of light from the xenon bulbs moves
from the top to the bottom and back again
when you start the engine. For this to be
observed, the lights must be switched on
before starting the engine.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
LED lamps You can neither replace xenon bulbs nor LED
bulbs. Have LED bulbs changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly. Other bulbs G
WARNING
Bulbs and lamps can be very hot. You should
therefore allow them to cool down before you
change them. Otherwise, you could be burned
if you touch them.
Keep bulbs out of the reach of children. Oth-
erwise, they could damage the bulbs, for
example, and injure themselves.
Never use a bulb which has been dropped.
Such a bulb may break or even explode and
injure you.
Halogen bulbs are pressurised and can
explode when you change them, particularly
if they are very hot. You should therefore wear
eye protection and gloves when you are
changing them.
There are bulbs other than the xenon bulbs
that you cannot replace. Replace only the
bulbs listed (Y page 115). Have the bulbs that
you cannot replace yourself changed at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If you require assistance replacing bulbs, con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not touch the glass tube of new bulbs with
your bare hands. Even minor contamination
can burn into the glass surface and reduce
the service life of the bulbs. Always use a lint-
free cloth or only touch the base of the bulb
when fitting.
Only use bulbs of the correct type.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult
a qualified specialist workshop.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly. 114
Replacing bulbsLights and windscreen wipers

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. Country-specific differen-
ces are possible. Note that your vehicle
may not be fitted with all features descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 22). Overview of climate control systems
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Observe the settings recommended on the
following pages. The windows could other-
wise mist up. This may preven tyou from
observing the traffic conditions, thereby caus-
ing an accident.
THERMATIC automatic climate control regu-
lates the temperature and the humidity in the
vehicle interior and filters undesirable sub-
stances from the air.
THERMATIC automatic climate control is only
operational when the engine is running. Opti-
mum operation is only achieved if you drive
with the side windows and sliding sunroof
closed.
The climatic comfor tdeteriorates whilst the
sliding sunroof is open. The automatic climate
control cannot maintain the set temperature
with the sliding sunroof open. You have to
adjust the climate control manually.
i The residual heat function can only be
activated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off.
i The residual heat function can only be
activated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off (Y page 133). i
Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather, e.g. using the con-
venience opening feature (Y page 78). This
will speed up the cooling process and the
desired vehicle interior temperature will be
reached more quickly.
i The integrated filter can filter out most
particles of dust and completely filters out
pollen. Aclogged filter reduces the amount
of air supplied to the vehicle interior .For
this reason, you should always observe the
interval for replacing the filter, which is
specified in the Service Booklet .As it
depends on environmental conditions, e.g.
heavy air pollution, the interval may be
shorter than stated in the Service Booklet. 124
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control