MERCEDES-BENZ GL 2016 Owners Manual

have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and to depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll.
G WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no lon-
ger brake your vehicle and it could roll away.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
Hill start assist is not active if: R
you are pulling away on a level road or on a
downhill gradient. R
the transmission is in position N .R
the electric parking brake is applied. R
ESP ®
is malfunctioning.
ECO start/stop function
Introduction
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle is stop-
ped under certain conditions.
The engine starts automatically when the
driver wants to pull away again. The ECO
start/stop function thereby helps you to
reduce the fuel consumption and emissions
of your vehicle.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If the engine is switched off automatically and
you exit the vehicle, the engine is restarted
automatically. The vehicle may begin moving.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the ignition and secure the vehicle against
rolling away. General notes
C
ECO start/stop display
The ECO start/stop function is activated
whenever you start the engine using the
SmartKey or the Start/Stop button.
If the engine has been switched off automat-
ically by the ECO start/stop function, the

The HOLD function can also be activated if the
engine has been switched off automatically. It
is then not necessary to continue applying the
brakes during the automatic stop phase.
When you depress the accelerator pedal, the
engine starts automatically and the braking
effect of the HOLD function is deactivated.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles): automatic engine switch-off can take
place a maximum of four times in a row (initial
stop, then three subsequent stops).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the number of
consecutive automatic engine switch-offs is
unlimited.
Automatic engine start The engine starts automatically if: R
you switch off the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button R
in transmission position D or N the brake
pedal is released and the HOLD function is
not active R
you depress the accelerator pedal R
you engage reverse gear RR
you move the transmission out of position
P R
you switch to drive program S or M
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) R
you switch to an off-road program (except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) R
you unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door R
the vehicle starts to roll R
the brake system requires this R
the temperature in the vehicle interior devi-
ates from the set range R
the system detects moisture on the wind-
shield when the air-conditioning system is
switched on R
the battery's condition of charge is too low
Shifting the transmission to position P does
not start the engine. Deactivating or activating the ECO
start/stop function All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles) X
To deactivate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D goes out. X
To activate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.
If the indicator lamp on the ECO button is off,
the ECO start/stop function has been deac-
tivated manually or as the result of a mal-
function.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
X
To deactivate: in drive program C , press
ECO button C .
or X
Switch to drive program S or M
( Y
page 177).
Indicator lamp D goes out.170
Driving
Driving and parking

X
To activate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up. If drive pro-
gram S or M is active, the automatic trans-
mission switches to drive program C .
If the indicator lamp on the ECO button is off,
the ECO start/stop function has been deac-
tivated manually or as the result of a mal-
function.
Driving 171
Driving an d parking Z

Problems with the engine Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard. R
There is a malfunction in the engine electronics. R
There is a malfunction in the fuel supply.
Before attempting to start the engine again: X
Turn the key back to position 0 in the ignition lock.
or X
Press the Start/Stop button repeatedly until all indicator lamps
in the instrument cluster go out. X
Try to start the engine again ( Y
page 167). Avoid excessively
long and frequent attempts to start the engine as these will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts: X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
The engine does not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor. The on-board voltage is too low because the battery is too weak or
discharged. X
Jump-start the vehicle ( Y
page 395).
If the engine does not start despite attempts to jump-start it: X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
The starter motor was exposed to a thermal load that was too high. X
Allow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes. X
Try to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start: X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop.172
Driving
Driving and parking

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Vehicles with a gaso-
line engine:
The engine is not run-
ning smoothly and is
misfiring. There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical
component of the engine management system. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic con-
verter and damage it. X
Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
The coolant tempera-
ture gage shows a value
above 248 ‡ (120 †). The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently. X
Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down. X
Check the coolant level ( Y
page 373). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and add coolant if necessary.
Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position D or R ,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is
a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position D or R ,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
G WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position N when you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P . Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake. DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions
]
Park position with parking lock ^
Reverse gear \\
Neutral [
Drive
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns to
its original position. The current transmission
position P , R , N or D appears in the transmis-
sion position display in the multifunction dis-
play ( Y
page 174).Automatic transmission 173
Driving and parking Z

Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display The current transmission position and drive
program appear in the multifunction display.
C
Transmission position displayD
Drive program display
The arrows in the transmission position dis-
play show how and into which transmission
positions you can shift using the DIRECT
SELECT lever.
If the transmission position display in the mul-
tifunction display is not working, you should
pull away carefully to check whether the
desired transmission position is engaged.
Ideally, you should select transmission posi-
tion D and, on Mercedes-AMG vehicles, drive
program C or S .
Engaging park position P
! If the engine speed is too high or the vehi-
cle is moving, do not shift the automatic
transmission directly from D to R , from R to
D or directly to P . The automatic transmis-
sion could otherwise be damaged.
]
Park position with parking lock
^
Reverse gear \\
Neutral [
Drive X
Push the DIRECT SELECT lever in the direc-
tion of arrow P .
Engaging park position P automatically Park position P is automatically engaged if: R
you switch off the engine using the Smart-
Key and remove the SmartKey R
you switch off the engine using the Smart-
Key or using the Start/Stop button and
open the driver's door or front-passenger
door R
the driver's door is opened when the vehi-
cle is stationary or driving at very low speed
and the transmission is in position D or R
Under certain conditions, the automatic
transmission shifts automatically to transmis-
sion position P if the HOLD function or
DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Observe the
information on the HOLD function
( Y
page 218) and on DISTRONIC PLUS
( Y
page 209).
Engaging reverse gear R
! Only shift the automatic transmission to R
when the vehicle is stationary. X
If the transmission is in position D or N :
push the DIRECT SELECT lever up past the
first point of resistance. X
If the transmission is in position P : depress
the brake pedal and push the DIRECT
SELECT lever up past the first point of
resistance.174
Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Shifting to neutral N
G WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could: R
open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users. R
get out and disrupt traffic. R
operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they: R
release the parking brake. R
shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position PR
Start the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children. X
If the transmission is in position D or R :
push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down
to the first point of resistance. X
If the transmission is in position P : depress
the brake pedal and push the DIRECT
SELECT lever up or down to the first point of
resistance.
If you switch the engine off with the trans-
mission in position R or D , the automatic
transmission shifts to N automatically.
With the SmartKey: if you then open the
driver's door or the front-passenger door or
remove the SmartKey from the ignition, the
automatic transmission shifts to P automati-
cally.
With the Start/Stop button: if you then
open the driver's door or the front-passenger
door, the automatic transmission shifts to P
automatically.
If you want the automatic transmission to
remain in neutral N , e.g. when having the vehicle cleaned in an automatic car wash with
a towing system:
Using the SmartKey: X
Switch on the ignition. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Shift to neutral N . X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Switch off the ignition and leave the Smart-
Key in the ignition lock.
With the Start/Stop button: X
Remove the Start/Stop button from the
ignition lock. X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock. X
Switch on the ignition. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Shift to neutral N . X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Switch off the ignition and leave the Smart-
Key in the ignition lock.
Engaging drive position D X
If the transmission is in position R or N :
push the DIRECT SELECT lever down past
the first point of resistance. X
If the transmission is in position P : depress
the brake pedal and push the DIRECT
SELECT lever down past the first point of
resistance.Automatic transmission 175
Driving and parking Z

Transmission positions E Park position
Only shift the transmission into
position P when the vehicle is sta-
tionary ( Y
page 189). The parking
lock should not be used as a brake
when parking. Always apply the
electronic parking brake in addi-
tion to the parking lock in order to
secure the vehicle.
If the vehicle electronics are mal-
functioning, the transmission may
be locked in position P . Have the
vehicle electronics checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Park position P is automatically
engaged if: R
you switch off the engine using
the SmartKey and remove the
SmartKey R
you switch off the engine using
the SmartKey or using the Start/
Stop button and open the driv-
er's door or front-passenger
door R
the driver's door is opened when
the vehicle is stationary or driv-
ing at very low speed and the
transmission is in position D or R
F Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission into
position R when the vehicle is sta-
tionary. D Neutral
Do not shift the transmission to N
while driving. Otherwise, the auto-
matic transmission could be dam-
aged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
shift the transmission to position N
if the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding, e.g. on icy roads.
If you switch the engine off with the
transmission in position R or D , the
automatic transmission shifts to N
automatically.
! Rolling in neutral N can damage
the drive train.
: Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Driving tips
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D . This automatic gear shift-
ing behavior is determined by: R
the selected drive program ( Y
page 177)R
the position of the accelerator pedal
( Y
page 176) R
the road speed
Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear: R
little throttle: early upshifts R
more throttle: late upshifts176
Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration .X
Depress th e accelerato r pedal beyon d th e
pressur e point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on th e engin e speed.X
Eas e off th e accelerato r pedal once th e
desired spee d is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts bac k up.
Rocking the vehicle free Shifting th e transmission repeatedly between
gear s D and R may help to free th e vehicl e if it
has become stuck in slus h or snow. The vehi-
cle's engin e managemen t system limits th e
spee d to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h) when
shifting bac k and forth . To shif t bac k and forth
between transmission position s D and R ,
mov e th e DIRECT SELECT lever up and down
past th e poin t of resistance.
Towing a trailer X
Drive in th e middle of th e engin e spee d
range on uphill gradients .X
Dependin g on th e uphill or downhill gradi-
ent, use left-han d steering whee l paddle
shifte r ( Y
page 178) to select a lower gear ,
eve n if cruise control or DISTRONI C PLU S
are activated.
Program select or button Vehicles wit h th e ON& OFFROAD package: X
Press program selector butto n C .
The lette r M appear s in th e multifunction
display. The manual drive program M is
activated.
Mercedes-AM G vehicles: X
Pre ss program selector butto n C repeat -
edly until th e lette r for th e desired drive
program appear s in th e multifunction dis-
play.
The program selector butto n allows you to
choos e between differen t drivin g character-
istics .
i The permanen t drive program M is avail -
able on th e followin g vehicles: R
Vehicles wit h th e
ON& OF FROAD packag e R
Mercedes-AM G vehicles
Further information about permanen t drive
program M ( Y
page 180).
As well as this permanen t drive program M ,
you can also activat e temporar y drive pro -
gram M ( Y
page 178).
i Mercedes-AMG veh icles: th e automatic
transmission switches to automatic drive
program C eac h time th e engin e is started.
i Drive program M is no t saved after th e
engin e has been switched off . If required,
you mus t select th e drive program again
after st artin g th e engine.Automatic transmission 17 7
Driving an d parking Z

Drive program on vehicles wit h th e
ON&OFFROAD package
M Manual Permanen t manual gear -
shiftin g
Drive program s on Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles
C Controlle d
Efficiency Comfortable, economical
drivin g
S Sport Sport y drivin g style
M Manual Permanen t manual gear -
shiftin g
i Fo r further information on th e automati c
drive program, see ( Y
page 178).
Steering wheel paddle shifter s
In th e manual drive program, you can chang e
gear s manually usin g steerin g whee l paddl e
shifters C and D .
Further information about permanen t drive
progra m M ( Y
page 180).
Further information about temporar y drive
progra m M ( Y
page 178).
You can only chang e gear wit h th e steerin g
whee l paddl e shifters when th e transmissio n
is in position D . Automatic drive program (Mercedes-
AMG vehicles)
Automatic drive program CDrive progra m C is characterized by th e fol-
lowing: R
comfort-oriented engin e and transmissio n
settings. R
optimal fue l consumption resultin g from
th e automati c transmissio n shiftin g up
sooner. R
th e vehicl e pullin g away mor e gentl y in
forwar d and revers e gears, unless th e
accelerato r pedal is depressed fully. R
th e vehicl e has improved drivin g stabilit y
on slipper y roa d surfaces, fo r example.R
th e automati c transmissio n shiftin g up
sooner. This result s in th e vehicl e bein g
driven at lowe r engin e speeds and th e
wheels bein g less likely to spin .
Automatic drive program S
Drive progra m S is characterized by th e fol-
lowing: R
sport y engin e and transmissio n settings.R
th e automati c transmissio n shiftin g up
later. R
th e fue l consumption possibl y bein g higher
as a result of th e later automati c transmis -
sio n shift points .
Manua l drive program M
General notes
In this drive program, you can briefl y chang e
gear yourself by usin g th e steerin g whee l pad-
dle shifters . The transmissio n mus t be in posi-
tion D .
All vehicles (excep t Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles and vehicles wit h th e
ON&OFFROAD package): you can activat e
manual drive progra m M usin g th e steerin g
whee l paddl e shifters .178
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking