engine MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG 2008 W463 Owner's Manual

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your de-
sire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers, we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:
Please read this manual carefully, then
return it to your vehicle where it will be
handy for your reference.

Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.

Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions containe d in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company
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Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10 Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 13
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 15
Symbols ............................................... 16
Operating safety .................................. 17 Proper use of the vehicle ............... 17
Problems with your vehicle .................. 18
Reporting safety defects...................... 19 Reporting safety defects ................ 19
Vehicle data recording ......................... 20 Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 20At a glance .......................................... 21
Exterior view......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 28
Center console ..................................... 30 Upper part ...................................... 30
Lower part ...................................... 31
Overhead control panel ........................ 32
Door control panel................................ 33
Storage compartments ......................... 34Getting started ................................... 37
Unlocking ............................................. 38 Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 38
Starter switch positions .................. 39
Adjusting .............................................. 41 Seats .............................................. 41
Steering wheel ................................ 44
Mirrors ............................................ 46
Driving .................................................. 48 Fastening the seat belts ................. 48
Starting the engine ......................... 54
Parking brake ................................. 55
Driving off ....................................... 55
Switching on headlamps ................. 56
Turn signals .................................... 57
Windshield wipers ........................... 58
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 60
Problems while driving.................... 61
Parking and locking .............................. 62 Parking brake ................................. 62
Switching off headlamps................. 64
Turning off engine ........................... 64
Releasing seat belts........................ 64
Locking ........................................... 65
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Contents
Operation......................................... 243
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 244
Driving instructions ............................ 245 Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 245
Drinking and driving ..................... 245
Pedals .......................................... 245
Power assistance ......................... 246
Brakes .......................................... 246
Driving off..................................... 247
Parking ......................................... 248
Tires ............................................. 248
Hydroplaning ................................ 249
Tire traction .................................. 249
Tire speed rating .......................... 250
Winter driving instructions ........... 251
Standing water ............................. 252
Passenger compartment .............. 252
Off-road driving ............................ 253
Driving abroad .............................. 261
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 261
Catalytic converter ....................... 262
Emission control........................... 263
Coolant temperature .................... 263 At the gas station .............................. 264
Refueling ...................................... 264
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 265
Engine compartment ......................... 267 Hood ............................................ 267
Engine oil ..................................... 269
Transmission fluid level ................ 273
Coolant level ................................ 274
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp
cleaning system ........................... 275
Tires and wheels ................................ 277 Important guidelines .................... 277
Tire care and maintenance ........... 278
Direction of rotation ..................... 280
Loading the vehicle ...................... 280
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 286
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 288
Tire labeling.................................. 294
Load identification ....................... 298
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 299
Maximum tire load ....................... 300
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 301 Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 302
Tire ply material ........................... 304
Tire and loading terminology........ 304
Rotating tires ............................... 307
Winter driving .................................... 309 Winter tires .................................. 309
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 310
Snow chains................................. 310
Maintenance...................................... 311 Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 311
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 313
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 313
Vehicle care....................................... 314 Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 314
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Contents
Technical data.................................. 407
Parts service ...................................... 408
Warranty coverage ............................. 409 Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 409
Identification labels............................ 410
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 412
G 500 ........................................... 412
G 55 AMG..................................... 412
Engine ................................................ 413
Rims and tires .................................... 414 Same size tires ............................. 415
Spare wheel ................................. 416
Electrical system.......... ...................... 417
Main dimensions, vehicle weights
and ratings ......................................... 418 Main dimensions .......................... 418
Vehicle weights and ratings ......... 419 Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 420
Capacities .................................... 420
Engine oils.................................... 423
Engine oil additives ...................... 423
Air conditioning refr igerant .......... 423
Brake fluid .................................... 423
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 424
Fuel requirements ........................ 424
Gasoline additives ........................ 425
Coolants....................................... 425
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp
cleaning system ........................... 428Index ................................................. 429
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13
Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Change of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to
send in the “Change of Address Notice”
found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer
Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100. It
is in your own interest that we can contact
you should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it avail-
able to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used
Truck” found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes,
or Customer Service (in Canada) at
1-800-387-0100.
Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in
foreign countries, please be aware that:

service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,

unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,

gasoline may have a considerably
lower octane rating, and improper fuel
can cause engine damage.
Certain Mercedes-Benz models are avail-
able for delivery in Europe under our
European Delivery Program. For details,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center or write to:
In the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9
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17
Introduction
Operating safety
 Operating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehi cle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:

the safety precautions in this manual

the “Technical data” section in this
manual

traffic rules and regulations

motor vehicle laws and safety stan-
dards
Warning!G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are
interconnected, any modifications made
may produce an undesired effect on other
systems. Electronic malfunctions could
seriously impair the operating safety of your
vehicle.
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center for repairs or modifications to
electronic components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore
never turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!G
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires/wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,
may cause serious damage and impair the
operating safety of your vehicle. If you feel a
sudden significant vibration or ride distur-
bance, or you suspect that damage to your
vehicle has occurred, you should turn on
your hazard warning flashers, carefully slow
down, and drive with ca ution to an area
which is a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicl e underbody and
tires/wheels for possible damage. If the
vehicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center or other qualified maintenance
or repair facility for further inspection or
repairs.
Warning!G
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended
to make you and others aware of various
risks. You should not remove any of these
warning labels unless exp licitly instructed to
do so by information on the label itself.
Removal of any of th ese labels may cause
you and others to be unaware of certain
risks which may result in an accident and/or
personal injury.
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23
At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Tailgate105
Cargo compartment

Loading instructions208

Expanding206

Cargo tie-down rings209

Partition net*210

Cover blind214
2Rear view camera203
3Rear window defroster181
4Rear lamps376
5Fuel filler flap264
Refueling264
Fuel265,
424
ItemPage
6Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting46
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors177
7Hood267
Engine oil269
Coolant274
8Windshield wipers58
Wiper blades, replacing386
Wiper blades, cleaning319
9Windshield
Cleaning with windshield
washer fluid59
Cleaning319
Windshield defroster180
aPower tilt/sliding sunroof195
ItemPage
bDoors
Locking and unlocking100
Opening and closing104
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency368
cHeadlamp cleaning system177
dFront lamps376
eTires and wheels277,414
Checking tire inflation
pressure288
General information277
Flat tire388
Spare wheel366
fFront towing eye402
Rear towing eye402
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27
At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Speedometer with:
v
Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP®) warning
lamp
91,
330
; Brake warning lamp,
USA only55,
326
3 Brake warning lamp,
Canada only55,
326
B Low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp56,
118
H Low tire pres-
sure/TPMS malfunc-
tion telltale
1
1Depending on vehicle production date.
333
2LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp57
3Multifunction display with:133

Trip odometer131,
140
ItemPage

Main odometer140

Transfer case indicator170

Gear selector lever
position indicator164

Gear range indicator167

Status indicator:

Digital speedometer133

Outside temperature140

Clock133
4K Right turn signal
indicator lamp 57
5Tachometer with:
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp87,
324
< Seat belt telltale74,
331
1 Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp68,
332
ItemPage
ú Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only328
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only328
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp57,
122
6Fuel gauge with:
Fuel tank reserve warning
lamp331
4 Fuel filler flap indica-
tor: The fuel filler flap
is located on the rear
right-hand side264
7Coolant temperature gauge131
8Reset button for:

Resetting trip odometer131

Resetting all settings146

Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination130
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39
Getting started
Unlocking
Press unlock button
Πon the
SmartKey.

All turn signal lamps flash once.

The locking knobs in the doors
move up.

The anti-theft alarm system is
disarmed.

The locator lighting comes on if the
feature is enabled in the control
system (
page 152).
Enter the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 100).
Starter switch positions
SmartKey
Starter switch
0 For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.
1 Power supply for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment
2 Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster
remains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 324).
3 Starting position
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicl e, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s
unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
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40 Getting started
Unlocking
For information on starting the engine, see
(
page 54).
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning lamps
(except high beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps if activated) will go
out when the engine is running. This indicates
that the respective systems are operational.
iThe SmartKey can only be removed from the
starter switch with the gear selector lever in park
position P.
iIf the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position 0 for an extended period of time, it can
no longer be turned in the switch. In this case,
the steering is locked. To unlock, remove
SmartKey from the starter switch and reinsert.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be
sufficiently charged.

Check the battery and charge it if necessary
(
page 396).

Get a jump start (page 397).
To prevent accelerated vehicle battery discharge
or a completely discharged vehicle battery,
always remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch when the engine is not in operation.
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