MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG 2011 W463 Owner's Manual

Differential locks
General notes
Differential locks improve the traction of the
vehicle.
GWarning!
Never drive on firm road surfaces with
differential locks engaged. Never drive on
narrow bends with front-axle differential locks
engaged. With differential locks engaged, the
vehicle's ability to steer is severely restricted
and the danger of accidents is therefore
higher.
Do not engage or disengage differential locks
while driving on a bend. The vehicle may
otherwise make a jerking movement. You
could thus lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident.
If you select a differential lock, ABS, 4ETS,
ESP ®
and BAS will be deactivated.
Your vehicle is equipped with a differential
lock for:
R the transfer case: this controls the balance
between the front and rear axles.
R the rear axle: this controls the balance
between the wheels on the rear axle.
R the front axle: this controls the balance
between the wheels on the front axle.
! In order to avoid damage to the transfer
case, you must operate the vehicle on a
dynamometer (1-axle dynamometer) only
if:
R the axle not driven on is jacked up
or
R the corresponding propeller shaft is
disconnected
and
R the differential lock of the transfer case
is engaged.
Otherwise, the transfer case could be
damaged.
Information about differentials and
differential locks
When the vehicle is driving through a bend,
the wheels on the outside of the bend must
travel a longer distance and must thus turn
more quickly than the wheels on the inside.
The differential, a transmission in the
drivetrain, balances out the different
rotational speeds and therefore enables
driving through bends.
The disadvantage of differentials: the wheels
with the least road grip are driven the hardest.
Example: a wheel on a driven axle stands on
snow-covered ground and thus has no
traction. This wheel receives the strongest
driving power from the differential, as the
force progression takes the path of least
resistance. The opposite wheel on this axle,
however, which stands on firm ground and
could therefore allow traction, receives no
driving power. 4ETS eliminates this
disadvantage and provides good steerability
by automatically braking the spinning wheel,
thus directing more driving power to the
wheel standing on firm ground, which is
therefore able to provide traction.
ESP® and 4ETS are traction systems that are
ideal for road driving and suitable for light off-
road driving. Off-road gear LOW likewise
improves off-road capabilities.
Moreover, the more difficult conditions in off-
road driving require further measures such as
locking one or several differentials. Your
vehicle is equipped with three differential
locks: a central differential lock for the
transfer case, a differential lock for the front
axle, and a differential lock for the rear axle.
Each differential lock can be engaged with the
respective switch on the center console.
When the central differential lock for the
transfer case is locked, the speed of the front
wheels is equal to that of the rear wheels.
When the differential for the rear axle is
locked, both rear wheels turn equally fast,
independent of their respective torques.
Keep in mind that by engaging the differential
Automatic transmission129Driving and parkingZ

locks, vehicle steerability is severely
restricted.
For your own safety, the safety of others, and
in order to avoid damage to the vehicle, the
differential locks must not be engaged when
driving on a firm road surface. Keep in mind
that when driving on firm road surfaces, the
unimpeded function of the differential is
necessary and must never be locked on firm
road surfaces. Vehicle steerability may
otherwise be lost and you may no longer be
able to steer the vehicle. For this reason, the
differential locks must be engaged
exclusively during off-road driving, and only
when activating the other driving systems
(4ETS, ESP ®
and off-road gear LOW) is no
longer sufficient.
Activating the differential lock
General notes
GWarning!
Never drive on firm road surfaces with
differential locks engaged. Never drive on
narrow bends with front-axle differential locks
engaged. With differential locks engaged, the
vehicle's ability to steer is severely restricted
and the danger of accidents is therefore
higher.
Do not engage or disengage differential locks
while driving on a bend. The vehicle may
otherwise make a jerking movement. You
could thus lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident.
If you select a differential lock, ABS, 4ETS,
ESP ®
and BAS will be deactivated.
Activate the differential locks:
R off-road
R to deactivate ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS
while off-road
R when fording
R on snow-covered, icy or dirty road surfaces
For further information on driving off-road,
see ( Y page 142).
The switches are located on the center
console.:Function indicator lamps (red);Differential lock for the front axle=Differential lock for the transfer case?Differential lock for the rear axleAActivation indicator lamps (yellow)
! Only activate the differential locks when:
R you are driving at walking pace.
R the driven wheels are not spinning.
R you are not driving on a firm road surface.
i You can only engage the differential locks
when the transfer case is in off-road gear
LOW (Y page 126).
i You can activate the differential locks in
the following order =, ? , ; .
Differential lock for the transfer case
XTo engage: switch the transfer case to off-
road gear LOW(Y page 126).XPress switch =.
The yellow activation indicator lamp under
switch = lights up when the transfer case
is in off-road gear LOW.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
panel lights up.
The red function indicator lamp above
switch = lights up when the differential is
locked.
In the multifunction display you see the:130Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

ABS not available Differential
Locked message.
The å!÷ warning lamps light up
in the instrument cluster.
The differential lock for the transfer case is
engaged.
4ETS, ESP ®
, BAS and ABS are deactivated.
The vehicle's ability to steer is severely
restricted. Drive carefully and accelerate
gently for optimum traction.
i You can now engage differential lock for
the rear axle ? and differential lock for the
front axle ; as desired.
Differential lock for the rear axle
XTo engage: press switch ?.
First, the yellow activation indicator lamp
lights up, followed by the red function
indicator lamp.
The differential lock for the rear axle is
engaged.
Differential lock for the front axle
XTo engage: press switch ;.
First, the yellow activation indicator lamp
lights up, followed by the red function
indicator lamp.
The differential lock for the front axle is
engaged.
Deactivating the differential lock
You can deactivate the differential locks in
the reverse order: ;, ? , = .
XTo simultaneously deactivate all
differential locks: press switch =.
Yellow activation indicator lamps A go
out. Red function indicator lamps : go out
once the differential locks have
disengaged.
After approximately three seconds of
normal driving, ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS
are activated.
The ABS not available Differential
Locked message disappears from themultifunction display and the å, !
and ÷ warning lamps in the instrument
cluster go out.XSwitch the transfer case to road gear
HIGH (Y page 126).
i
If red function indicator lamps : do not
go out when you disengage the differential
locks, bring the vehicle to a stop in
accordance with the traffic conditions,
then begin driving again. The load change
can disengage the differential locks.
GWarning!
Always remember to disengage the
differential locks when returning to drive on
paved roads, see “A few words about
differentials and differential locks”.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWarning
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline.
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and any skin or clothing
contact.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to your
health.
GWarning
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create
pressure in the system which could cause a
gas discharge. This could cause the gasoline
to spray back out when removing the fuel
pump nozzle, which could cause personal
injury.
Refueling131Driving and parkingZ

! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Even small amounts of the
wrong fuel result in damage to the fuel
system and engine.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you
accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines.
Notify a qualified specialist workshop and
have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely.
Gasoline
Fuel grade
! You should only refuel with unleaded
premium-grade gasoline as this avoids
damaging the catalytic converter.
If engine running problems are apparent,
have the cause checked immediately and
repaired. Excess unburned fuel can
otherwise enter the catalytic converter,
leading to overheating and possibly
causing a fire.
i Only refuel with unleaded premium-grade
gasoline with a specified minimum octane
number of 91 (average value of 96 RON/
86 MON).
Usually, you will find information about the
fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot find
the label on the gasoline pump, ask the gas
station staff.
You can find further information under
"Fuel" ( Y page 277), by consulting an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
visiting http://www.mbusa.com (USA
only).
! Use a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection
system could be blocked by particles from
the fuel can.
Refueling
Fuel filler flap
When you open or close the vehicle with the
key, the fuel filler flap is automatically
unlocked or locked.
The position of the fuel filler cap is displayed
in the instrument cluster 8. The arrow
next to the filling pump indicates the side of
the vehicle. The fuel filler flap is located to the
rear on the right.
Fuel filler cap G 550 (example)
:To open the fuel filler flap;Tire pressure table=Fuel type?To insert the fuel filler cap
Opening
XSwitch off the engine.
i When the engine is running and the fuel
filler flap is open, the yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp and the = (USA only)
or ; (Canada only) engine diagnostics
warning lamp may light up.
For further information on warning and
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster,
see ( Y page 188).
XRemove the key from the ignition lock.XPress the fuel filler flap in the direction of
arrow :.
The fuel filler flap opens slightly.XOpen the fuel filler flap.132RefuelingDriving and parking

XTurn the fuel filler cap counter-clockwise
and remove it.XInsert the fuel filler cap into the holder
bracket on the inside of filler flap ?.XCompletely insert the fuel pump nozzle into
the filler neck and refuel.XOnly fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
Closing
XReplace the fuel filler cap and turn it
clockwise. The fuel filler cap audibly
engages.XClose the fuel filler flap.
i Close the fuel filler flap before locking the
vehicle. A locking pin otherwise prevents
the fuel filler flap from closing after the
vehicle has been locked.
Fuel filler flap emergency release
GWarning!
Avoid contact with the vehicle walls as they
may contain sharp edges. Otherwise, you
could injure yourself while releasing the fuel
filler flap.
The emergency release is located in the cargo
compartment, on the right-hand side when
viewed in the direction of travel, behind the
rear panel trim.
XOpen the rear door.XDisconnect edge guard : on the door
pillar.XRemove rear panel trim ;.XPull emergency release = in the direction
of the arrow.
The fuel filler flap is unlocked.XOpen the fuel filler flap.Refueling133Driving and parkingZ

Problems with the fuel and fuel tankProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsFuel is leaking from the
vehicle.GRisk of explosion or fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank is defective.
XTurn the key to position 0 (Y page 117) in the ignition lock
immediately and remove it.XDo not restart the engine under any circumstances.XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The fuel filler flap
cannot be opened.The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The key batteries are discharged.XUnlock the vehicle ( Y page 62).
or
XUnlock the vehicle using the mechanical key ( Y page 63).XOpen the rear door.XManually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release
( Y page 133).The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is
jammed.XManually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release
( Y page 133).XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.Parking
Important safety notes
GWarning
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system. Do not park the
vehicle on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields. Combustible materials, such as grass,
hay or leaves could be ignited by the hot
exhaust system and cause a vehicle fire.
Unintended vehicle movement can cause
serious personal injury or damage to the
vehicle or the vehicle drivetrain. To reduce
such risks, always do the following before
turning off the engine and leaving the vehicle:
R keep your right foot on the brake pedal.
R engage the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
R slowly release the brake pedal.
R when parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the road curb.134ParkingDriving and parking

Rturn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position 0 and remove the SmartKey from
the ignition lock.
R take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.
Switching off the engine
GWarning
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. With the engine
not running, there is no power assistance for
the brake and steering systems. In this case,
it is important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
GWarning!
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only will shift AUTOTRONIC into neutral
position N automatically.
Always shift AUTOTRONIC into park position
P before turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
XShift the transmission to position P.XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.XApply the parking brake firmly.
i The SmartKey can only be removed if the
automatic transmission is in position P.
Parking brake
GWarning
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to lock
up. You could lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident. In addition, the vehicle's
brake lights do not light up when the parking
brake is engaged.
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, 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. Children could
release the parking brake and/or shift the
automatic transmission out of park position
P , either of which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
XTo apply: pull parking brake ; up firmly.
When the engine is running, the $ (USA
only) or J (Canada only) indicator lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.XTo release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
The selector lever lock is released.XPull parking brake ; up firmly.XPress release button : on parking
brake ; and move the parking brake down
to the stop.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the $ (USA only) or
J (Canada only) indicator lamp goes out
in the instrument cluster.
Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharge.
Parking135Driving and parkingZ

XConnect a trickle charger.
iYou can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than six weeks, the vehicle may suffer
damage as a result of lack of use.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
GWarning!
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be his/her
primary focus when driving. For your safety
and the safety of others, we recommend that
you pull over to a safe location and stop
before placing or taking a telephone call.
If you choose to use the telephone 11
while
driving, please use the hands-free device and
only use the telephone when road, weather
and traffic conditions permit. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
mobile telephone while driving a vehicle.
Only operate the COMAND 11
(Cockpit
Management and Data System) if road,
weather and traffic conditions permit.
Otherwise, you may not be able to observe
traffic conditions and could endanger yourself
and others.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.XRemove unnecessary loads.XRemove roof carriers when they are not
needed.XWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.XAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.XHave all maintenance work performed at
the service intervals specified in the
Service Booklet or indicated by the service
interval indicator.
Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic
and in mountainous terrain.
Drinking and driving
GWarning
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Pedals
GWarning
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
Keep the driver's footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure that the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers,
the objects could get caught between the
11 Observe all legal requirements.136Driving tipsDriving and parking

pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Rolling with the engine switched offGWarning!
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is
in motion.
Exhaust check
GWarning
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency
when they are maintained exactly in
accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications. For this reason, all work on the
engine must be carried out only by qualified
and authorized Mercedes-Benz technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed in
any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Service Booklet.
Brakes
Important safety notesGWarning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent
this type of control loss.
Do not engage the transfer case in position
LOW when driving on ice or packed snow. At
speeds below 18 mph (30 km/h) vehicle
steering is adversely affected by the Off-road
ABS.
Downhill gradients
! On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Heavy and light loads
GWarning
Depressing the brake pedal constantly results
in excessive and premature wear to the brake
pads.
It may also cause the brakes to overheat,
seriously impairing their effectiveness. It may
then not be possible to stop the vehicle in
sufficient time to avoid an accident.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Driving tips137Driving and parkingZ

Wet road surfaceGWarning
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through water
deep enough to wet brake components, the
first braking action may be somewhat
reduced. You have to depress the brake pedal
more firmly. Maintain a safe distance from
vehicles in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the
vehicle washed, brake firmly while paying
attention to the traffic conditions. This will
warm up the brake discs, thereby drying them
more quickly and protecting them against
corrosion.
GWarning
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Limited braking performance on salt
treated roads
GWarning
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in the
braking effect, resulting in a significantly
longer braking distance, which could lead to
an accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R occasionally brake carefully, without
putting other road users at risk, when you
are driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are removed
from the brake discs.
Brake maintenance
! If the brake warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster and you hear a warning
tone, even though the parking brake has
been released, the brake fluid level may be
too low. Observe additional warning
messages in the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop only. Consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for this
purpose.
Have the brake pads and the brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
GWarning
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that safe
braking is substantially impaired. This could
result in an accident.
! A function or performance test may only
be carried out on a two-axle dynamometer.
If you are planning to have the vehicle
tested on such a dynamometer, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to
obtain further information first. Otherwise,
the drive train or the brake system may
suffer damage.
! As the ESP ®
system operates
automatically, the engine and the ignition
must be switched off (the key must be in
position 0 or 1 in the ignition lock) if the
parking brake is tested on a brake
dynamometer (for a maximum of ten
seconds).
138Driving tipsDriving and parking