MERCEDES-BENZ GL 2012 Owners Manual

The seat belt should:
R fit snugly across your body
R be routed across the middle of your
shoulder
R be routed in your pelvic area across the
hip jointsXBefore starting off, adjust the rear-view
mirror and the exterior mirrors
( Y page 112) in such a way that you have
a good view of road and traffic conditions.XVehicles with a memory function: save
the seat, steering wheel and exterior mirror
settings ( Y page 114).
Seats
Important safety notes
GWARNING
In order to avoid possible loss of vehicle
control, all seat, head restraint, steering
wheel and rear view mirror adjustments, as
well as fastening of seat belts, must be done
before setting the vehicle in motion.
GWARNING
Do not adjust the driver's seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never travel in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide under
the seat belt in a collision. If you slide under
it, the seat belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck. This could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the wearer is
in a position that is as upright as possible and
seat belts are properly positioned on the
body.
GWARNING
Your seat belt must be adjusted so that you
can correctly fasten your seat belt.
Observe the following points:
R adjust the seat backrest until your arms are
slightly angled when holding the steering
wheel.
R adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The
position should be as far back as possible
with the driver still able to operate the
controls properly.
R adjust the head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible and the center
of the head restraint supports the back of
the head at eye level.
R never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.GWARNING
The electrically adjustable seats can be
operated at any time. Therefore, 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.
GWARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front seating
position. Thus, we strongly recommend that
children be placed in the rear seats whenever
possible. Regardless of seating position,
children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child. For additional
information, see "Children in the vehicle".
A child's risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and/
or the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Seats99Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

GWARNING
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as close
to the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of an
accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head
restraints. Head restraints are intended to
help reduce injuries during an accident.
! To avoid damage to the seats and the seat
heating, observe the following information:
R keep liquids from spilling on the seats. If
liquid is spilled on the seats, dry them as
soon as possible.
R if the seat covers are damp or wet, do not
switch on the seat heating. The seat
heating should also not be used to dry
the seats.
R clean the seat covers as recommended;
see the "Interior care" section.
R do not transport heavy loads on the
seats. Do not place sharp objects on the
seat cushions, e.g. knives, nails or tools.
The seats should only be occupied by
passengers, if possible.
R when the seat heating is in operation, do
not cover the seats with insulating
materials, e.g. blankets, coats, bags,
seat covers, child seats or booster seats.
! When you move the seats, make sure that
there are no objects in the footwell or
behind the seats. Otherwise, you could
damage the seats and the objects.
! When the rear bench seat is folded
forwards, the front seats cannot be moved
to their rearmost position. You could
otherwise damage the seats and the rear
bench seat.
! Make sure that the sun visor is folded up
before adjusting the backrest and head
restraint height. The head restraint and sun
visor could otherwise collide when the head
restraint is fully extended.
i The rear-compartment head restraints
can be removed ( Y page 103).
Please contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for more information.
i Other topics:
R Cargo compartment enlargement
(folding the second and third row of seats
forward) ( Y page 270)
Adjusting the seats
i Vehicles without Memory function: the
seats can be adjusted within three minutes
of a front door being opened.
The time period starts over again if, within
these three minutes, you:
R open or close a front door
R insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock
or remove it from the ignition lock
R switch the ignition on or off
If the SmartKey is in position 2 in the
ignition lock, the seats can be adjusted at
any time.
:Head restraint height 7;Backrest angle=Seat fore-and-aft adjustment7
Only for vehicles with memory function.100SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

?Seat cushion angleASeat height
iVehicles with Memory function: If PRE-
SAFE ®
has been activated, the front-
passenger seat is moved to a better
position if it was previously set unfavorably.
i You can store the seat settings using the
memory function ( Y page 114).
Adjusting the head restraints
Adjusting the head restraints manually
Adjusting the head restraint height 8
! The head restraints must only be removed
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
a Mercedes-Benz Center for this purpose.
XIf the head restraint is fully lowered, it is
necessary to press release catch :.XTo raise: pull the head restraint up to the
desired position.XTo lower: press release catch : in the
direction of the arrow and push the head
restraint down to the desired position.
Adjusting the angle of the head restraints
GWARNING
Vehicles with Rear Seat Entertainment
System: When adjusting the head restraint,
make sure your fingers do not become caught
between the head restraint cushion and the
monitor. Failing to do so may lead to injury.XPush or pull the lower edge of the head
restraint in the direction of the arrow.
Adjusting the head restraint height
electrically 9
XTo adjust the head restraint height:
slide
the switch for head restraint adjustment
( Y page 100) up or down in the direction of
the arrow.
Adjusting luxury head restraints
GWARNING
When folding back the side cushions, never
reach between the side cushion and the
mounting post. You could otherwise be
trapped.
XTo adjust the side bolsters of the head
restraint: push or pull right and/or left-8
For vehicles without memory function only.
9 For vehicles with memory function only.Seats101Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

hand side bolster : into the desired
position.XTo adjust the angle of the head
restraint: push or pull the head restraint in
the direction of arrow ;.
Rear seat head restraints
GWARNING
For safety reasons, always drive with the rear
head restraints in the upright position when
the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear of
articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.
GWARNING
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that it
is as close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports the back
of the head at eye level. This will reduce the
potential for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
With a rear seat occupied, make sure to move
the respective head restraint up from the
lowest non-use position and have the
occupant adjust the head restraint properly.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head
restraints installed when the rear seats are
occupied. Head restraints are intended to
help reduce injuries during an accident.
Adjusting the head restraint height
(second and third row of seats)
Outer seat head restraints in the second row of
seats
Outer seat head restraints in the third row of seats
XIf the head restraint is fully lowered, it is
necessary to press release catch :.XTo raise: pull the head restraint up to the
desired position.XTo lower: press release catch : and push
the head restraint down until it is in the
desired position.
Adjusting the rear seat head restraint
angle
Adjust the head restraints so that they are as
close as possible to your head.
You can adjust the two outer head restraints
in the second row of seats and the head
restraints in the third row of seats.
102SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

Outer seat head restraints in the second row of
seats
Outer seat head restraints in the third row of seats
XUsing both hands, reach backwards and
grasp the sides of the head restraint.XPull the lower edge of the head restraint
forwards or backwards until it is in the
desired position.
Removing and installing rear head
restraints
GWARNING
Occupants should only travel sitting on seats
which have the head restraints installed. In
the event of an accident, this reduces the risk
of injury for passengers seated in the rear
compartment.
Second row of seats: if you wish to remove/
install the outer seat head restraints, you
must fold the respective seat backrest
forwards ( Y page 104).
Third row of seats: if you wish to remove/
install the head restraints, you must fold the
respective seat backrest forwards
( Y page 104).
Outer seat head restraints in the second row of
seats
Outer seat head restraints in the third row of seats
XTo remove: pull the head restraint up to
the stop.XPress release catch : and pull the head
restraint out of the guides.XSecond row of seats: fold back the seat
backrest until it engages.
Third row of seats: fold the seat up or down
( Y page 104).XTo re-install: insert the head restraint so
that the notches on the bar are on the left
when viewed in the direction of travel.XPush the head restraint down until you hear
it engage in position.XSecond row of seats: fold back the seat
backrest until it engages.
Third row of seats: fold the seat up or down
( Y page 104).Seats103Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

Adjusting the seats in the second and
third rows
Important safety notesGWARNING
Never travel in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide under
the seat belt in a collision. If you slide under
it, the seat belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck. This could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat belt
provide the best restraint when the wearer is
in a position that is as upright as possible and
the seat belt is properly positioned on the
body.
Your seat belt must be adjusted so that you
can correctly fasten your seat belt.
Never place hands under the seat or near any
moving parts while a seat is being adjusted.
After adjusting the seat, always ensure that
the seat and the backrest are correctly
engaged. The backrest must be in an upright
position.
Test the stability of the latch by pushing and
pulling the backrest. If the seat and backrest
are not correctly latched, the seat could move
forward and the backrest could fold down.
While braking, changing direction, or in an
accident, you could slide out from under the
seat belt. The child seat would no longer be
correctly supported or correctly positioned
and would no longer carry out its intended
function. This could cause serious or fatal
injuries.
Adjusting the backrest angle (2nd row
of seats)
GWARNING
The seat belt only offers its intended
protection when the seat backrest is in a
nearly vertical position and the occupant is
sitting upright. The seat backrest and seat
belt provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a position that is as upright as
possible and the seat belt is properly
positioned on the body.
You should therefore adjust the seat backrest
to a position as upright as possible.
The backrest angle can be adjusted to five
positions.XPull backrest release ; in the direction of
the arrow and hold it in this position.
Backrest : folds forwards.XAdjust the backrest angle as desired.XRelease backrest release ;.XLean back firmly against the backrest to
ensure that it is engaged.
Folding the seats up/down (3rd row of
seats)
The 3rd row of seats consists of two
electrically foldable individual seats, which
can be lowered into the cargo compartment.
If the seat is not correctly locked in position,
the display message: 3rd row of seats,
right-hand side not locked appears in
the multifunction display.
! Make sure that there is nothing on the
folded-down seats in the cargo
compartment. The cargo compartment
must be empty for the third row of seats to
be folded up. The seats or the objects in the
cargo compartment could otherwise be
damaged.
Make sure that the seats in the third row
are empty and not blocked before folding
them down.
104SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

The switches for folding the left or right seats
up and down are marked: L for the left seat
when viewed in the direction of travel, R for
the right seat when viewed in the direction of
travel.
If the right-hand rear door is open
XTo fold up: fold the right-hand outer seat
in the 2nd row of seats forwards
( Y page 105).XBriefly press switch :.
The seat folds up.XTo fold down: briefly press switch ;.
The seat folds down.
If the tailgate is open
XTo fold up: briefly press switch :.
The seat folds up.XTo fold down: briefly press switch ;.
The seat folds down.
Detachable panel (3rd row of seats)
If you drop objects underneath the seats in
the 3rd row, you can remove the panel in
order to reach beneath the seat.
! If there are objects underneath the seat,
the seat can no longer be folded up or down
fully. The seat could be damaged.
Only drive with the panel completely
installed.XTo open: fold the corresponding seat up or
down ( Y page 104).XWhen the seat is halfway folded up or down,
lock the backrest manually.XGrasp the panel recess.XPull the panel in the direction of the arrow
and remove it.XTo close: fold the corresponding seat up or
down ( Y page 104).XWhen the seat is halfway folded up or down,
lock the backrest manually.XAttach the panel using the guide pins.XPush the panel downwards until it engages.XFold the seat up and down fully to check
that the panel is seated correctly.
EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature (third row
of seats)
Important safety notes
GWARNING
To help avoid personal injury, the second-row
seat backrests must be properly locked either
in the upright position or, when using the
expanded cargo volume, in the fully folded
position while the vehicle is in motion.
Seats105Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

If the right outer seat in the 2nd row of seats
is in the entry/exit position, the display
message: 2nd row of seats, right-
hand side not locked appears in the
multifunction display.
When you fold the seat and backrest back
until they engage, the display message
disappears.
For further information on enlarging the cargo
compartment (folding the 2nd row of seats
forwards), see ( Y page 270), and for
information on folding the seats in the 3rd row
up and down, see ( Y page 104).
EASY-ENTRY feature
The release handle for the EASY-ENTRY
feature is located on the side at the back of
the right outer seat in the 2nd row of seats.
XMove the head restraint to the lowest
position ( Y page 102).XPull release handle : in the direction of
the arrow to the pressure point and hold it
in this position.
The backrest folds forwards.XPull release handle : again in the direction
of the arrow to the pressure point and hold
it in this position.XLift up the seat until it folds forwards.
i Vehicles with memory function:
The right-hand front seat moves slightly
forwards.
Entry position
EASY-EXIT feature
The release loop for the EASY-EXIT feature is
located at the bottom on the back of the right
outer seat in the 2nd row of seats.
XPull release loop : in the direction of the
arrow and hold it in this position.
The backrest folds forwards.XPull release loop : again in the direction
of the arrow and hold it in this position.XLift up the seat until it folds forwards.
i Vehicles with memory function:
The right-hand front seat moves slightly
forwards.
106SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

Exit position
Vehicles with memory function: call up the
saved setting ( Y page 114), to move the
right-hand front seat to the saved position.
Moving the outer seats in the 2nd row
back to the normal position
GWARNING
When occupants have entered or exited the
vehicle using the easy-entry/exit feature,
before driving off make sure
R the seats are properly locked
R the seat backrests are in an upright position
and are properly locked
If a seat and seat backrest are not properly
locked, the seat could move forward and the
seat backrest could fold. You could slide
under the seat belt during braking, vehicle
maneuvers, or in an accident. If you slide
under it, the seat belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck. That could cause serious
or even fatal injuries.
XTo lock the seat: fold back the seat until
it engages.XFold back the backrest until it engages.
Lean back firmly against the backrest to
ensure that it is engaged.
Emergency exit for the 3rd row of seats
i In an emergency, you can fold the
backrest of the left outer seat in the 2nd
row of seats forwards and open the left-
hand rear door.
This may be required, for example, in the
event of an accident or similar situation if
you cannot leave the vehicle using the
EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature (3rd row of
seats).GWARNING
To help avoid personal injury when folding the
seat backrest forward, make sure you move
both feet and legs all the way back and out of
the way to avoid them contacting the seat as
it pivots forward.
In order to prevent an accident or any other
potentially dangerous situations when
opening the rear door and exiting the vehicle,
make sure you are aware of the traffic
situation at all times.
XMove the head restraint to the lowest
position ( Y page 102).XPull release handle : in the direction of
the arrow.
Fold backrest ; forwards.XOpen the left-hand rear door.XGet out of the vehicle.
Adjusting the multicontour seat
You can adjust the contour of the front seats
individually so as to provide optimum support
for your back and sides.
Seats107Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.XUse switch : to move the thigh cushion
into the desired position.XPress the W or X button to adjust the
contour of the backrest to suit your back.XPress button ? to move the point of
greatest backrest curvature downwards to
the lumbar region and press button = to
move it upwards to the upper back region.XUse button ; to adjust the side bolsters
for optimum lateral support.
Adjusting the four-way lumbar
support
You can adjust the contour of the driver's seat
backrests individually to provide optimum
support for your back.
:To raise the backrest contour;To soften the backrest contour=To lower the backrest contour?To harden the backrest contourSwitching the seat heating on/off
Switching on/off
The three red indicator lamps in the button
indicate the heating level you have selected.
i If the battery voltage is too low, the seat
heating may switch off.
One or more of the indicator lamps in the
seat heating button are flashing.
Driver's and front-passenger seat
Rear seats
The system automatically switches down
from level 3 to level 2 after approximately five
minutes.
The system automatically switches down
from level 2 to level 1 after approximately ten
minutes.
The system automatically switches off
approximately 20 minutes after it is set to
level 1.
108SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors