towing MERCEDES-BENZ GL SUV 2012 Owners Manual

Index
........................ ............................... 4 Introduction
......................................... 23 At
ag lance ........................................... 27 Safety
................................................... 39 Opening and closing
...........................75 Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
....99 Light
sand windscreen wipers .........117 Clima
tecontrol ................................. 135 Driving and pa
rking .......................... 157 On-boa
rdcomputer and displays ....265 Stowing and fea
tures....................... 337 Maintenance and care
......................359 Breakdown assistance
.....................375 Wheels and ty
res.............................. 395 Technical da
ta................................... 419 Contents
3

Alar
msystem
se eA TA(Anti-Thef tAlarms ystem)
Ambient lighting
Setting the brightness (on-board
computer) ...................................... 281
Setting the colou r(on-boar dcom-
puter )............................................. 282
AMG men u(on-boa rd computer) .....286
AMG RID ECONTROL sports sus-
pension ............................................... 215
Anti-glare film .................................... 358
Ant i-loc kB rakin gSystem
se eA BS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Anti-Thef tAlarm system
se eA TA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Approach/d eparture angle ..............191
Aquaplaning ....................................... 186
Ashtray ............................................... 349
Assistanc emenu (on-board com-
puter) ................................................. .277
AS SYST PLUS
Displaying aservice message ........365
Hid ingas ervice message ..............365
Note s............................................. 364
Resetting the service interva ldis-
pla y................................................ 365
Service message ............................ 364
Specia lservice requirem ents ......... 365
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Activating/deactivating ...................71
Functio n.......................................... .71
Interio rmotion sensor ..................... 72
Switch ingo ff th ealarm .................... 71
To w-awa yprotectio n........................ 71
ATTENTIO NASSIST
Ac tivating/deactivating .................278
Display message ............................ 307
Function/notes ............................. 232
Audio men u(on-boa rd computer) ....274
Author ised workshop
see Qualified specialist workshop
AUTO lights
Display message ............................ 303
se eL ights
Automatic engine start (ECO start/
stop function) .................................... 165Automatic en
gine switch-of f(ECO
st art/stop functio n).......................... 164
Automatic headlamp mode ..............119
Automatic transmission Accelerator pe dalposition ............. 170
Automatic drive program ...............171
Ch anging gear ............................... 170
DIREC TSELECT leve r..................... 167
Display message ............................ 319
Drive positio n(ECO start/stop
function) ........................................ 169
Drive program di splay. ................... 168
Driving tip s.................................... 170
Emergency running mod e.............. 174
Engag ingd rive positio n.................. 169
Engag ingn eutral ............................ 169
Engag ingp ark positio nautomati-
cally ............................................... 168
Engag ingr ever se ge ar................... 169
Engag ingt he park position ............168
Kickdow n....................................... 170
Manual drive program ....................172
Neutral (EC Ostart/stop function) .169
Overview ........................................ 167
Pro blem (fault) ............................... 174
Progra mselector button ................170
Pullin gaway................................... 161
Shift rang es................................... 171
Starting the engine ........................161
Steering wh eelgearshift paddle s... 171
Traile rtowing ................................. 170
Transmissio nposition display ........168
Transmission positions ..................169
Automatic transmission emer-
gency runnin gmode ......................... 174
Aux iliary heating
Activating/deactivating .................148
Activating/deactivating (o nthe
centr econsole) .............................. 149
Display message ............................ 321
Important safety notes ..................148
Pro blem (display message) ............153
Remote control .............................. 149
Setting ........................................... 284
Setting the de parture time ............. 150 Index
5

Auxiliar
yventila tion
Activating/deac tivating ................. 148
Activating/deactivating (o nthe
centr econsole) .............................. 149
Pro blem (display message) ............153
Remote control .............................. 149
Ax leload, permissible (traile rtow-
ing) ...................................................... 433 B
Ba gh ook ............................................ 343
Ball coupli ng
Folding in ....................................... 261
Fol ding out ..................................... 259
BAS (Brake Assist System) .................62
BAS PL US(Brak eAssist System
PLUS) .................................................... 62
Battery (key) Checking ...... .................................... 79
Important safety note s.................... 79
Replacing ......................................... 79
Battery (v ehicle)
Charging ........................................ 384
Display message ............................ 305
Important safety notes ..................382
Jump starting ................................. 386
Overview ........................................ 382
Belt
seeS eat belt
Belt force limiters (activation) ...........41
Bel ttensioner
Activatio n......................................... 41
Functio n.......................................... .49
Blind Spo tAssist
Activating/deactiva ting ................. 279
Display message ............................ 311
Notes/function .............................. 238
Traile rtowing ................................. 240
se eA ctive Blind Spo tAssist
BlueTEC
Topping up AdBlue ®
...... ................. 178
BlueTE C(AdBlue ®
) ............................. 427
Bon net
Active bonne t(pedestrian protec-
tion) ............................................... 360
Closing ........................................... 361 Display message
............................ 320
Opening ......................................... 360
Boot
seeT ailgate
Brak eAssist System
see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 296
Note s............................................. 429
Brake lamps
Ada ptive .......................................... .65
Changin gbulbs .............................. 131
Display message ............................ 301
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 61
Ada ptive Brake Assist ......................64
BAS .................................................. 62
BAS PLUS ........................................ 62
Brake fluid (notes )......................... 429
Display message ............................ 291
Driving tip s.................................... 184
High-performance brake sy stem .... 186
Important safety notes ..................184
Parking brake ................................ 182
Warn ingl am p................................. 326
Breakdown
seeF lat tyre
see Towing away
Bulbs
see Changing bulbs C
Callin gupaf ault
se eD isplay messages
Car
see Vehicle
Care
360 °camera ................................. 370
Automatic car wash .......................366
Carpets .......................................... 373
Display ........................................... 371
Exhaust pi pe.................................. 371
Exterio rlighting ............................. 369
Gea rors electo rlever .................... 372
High-pressure cle aner ...... .............. 368
Interior ........................................... 371
Matt paintwork .............................. 3686
Index

On-ro
adprograms
AUTO program ............................... 248
Function/notes ............................. 248
Sno wprogram ............................... 249
SPORT program ............................. 249
Traile rprog ram .............................. 250
Ope ning and closing th eside trim
panels ................................................ .130
Operatin gsyst em
se eO n-board computer
Outside temperature display ...........268
Ov erhead control panel ......................37
Ov erride feature
Rea rside windows ........................... 60P
Pai nt code .......................................... 422
Pai ntwork (cleaning instructions) ...368
Pan orama sl iding sunroof
Important safety information ...........93
Opening/closing .............................. 95
Opening/closing the rol lers un-
blind ...... ........................................... 96
Problem (malfunction) .....................97
Rain closing feat ure. ........................ 95
Resetting ......................................... 96
Parking ............................................... 181
Important safety notes ..................181
Parking brake ................................ 182
Positio nofexterio rmirror, front-
passenger sid e............................... 114
Reversing camera ..........................223
se eP ARKTRONIC
Parking aid
Active Parking Assist .....................219
se eE xterior mirrors
see PARKTRONIC
Parking brake
Disp laym essage ............................ 294
Electric parking brake ....................182
Warn ingl am p................................. 332
Parkin glamps
Ch anging bulbs .............................. 130
Display message ............................ 302
Switch ingo n/off ........................... 121
Parking lamps (chang ingb ulbs) ......130 PARKTRONIC
Deactivating/activating .................218
Driving sy stem ............................... 216
Function/notes ............................. 216
Important safety notes ..................216
Pro blem (fault) ............................... 219
Sensor rang e................................. 216
Traile rtowing ................................. 218
Warn ingd ispla y............................. 217
PA SSENGER AIRBAG OF Fwarning
lamp ...................................................... 52
Pe trol .................................................. 424
Plastic trim (cleaning instructions) .372
Po we rclosin gfeature ......................... 84
Po we rw indows
see Side windows
PRE-SAFE ®
(preventive occupant
safety system) Display message ............................ 297
Operatio n......................................... 45
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake
Activating/deactivating .................278
Display message ............................ 298
Function/notes ................................ 68
Warn ingl am p................................. 335
Produc tinformation ............................ 23
Program se lector button .................. 170
Protectio nofthe en vironment
General notes .................................. 23
Pul ling away
Trailer ............................................ 162
Pul ling awa y(automatic transmis-
si on) .................................................... 161 Q
Qualifie dspecialis tworkshop ...........25 R
RACETIME R(on-boa rd computer) ....287
Radar se nsors
Overview ........................................ 433
Radar se nsor system
Activating/deactivating .................283
Display message ............................ 310
Radiato rcover ................................... 36216
Index

Menu (on-boar
dcomputer )............ 275
Number from the phone book ........ 276
Redialling ....................................... 276
Rej ecting/end ingac all................. 276
Te lephon ecompartmen t................ 339
Temperature
Coolan t.......................................... 268
Co olan t(on-board computer) ...... ...2 86
Engine oi l(on-board computer) ...... 286
Outside temperatur e..................... .268
Setting (cl imate control) ................143
TEMPOMAT
Function/notes ............................. 193
Theft-deterren tsyst em
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) .........71
Immob iliser ...................................... 71
Through-loading ................................ 341
Time seeS eparate Owner's manual
Timing (RACETIMER) .........................287
TIRE FITk it.......................................... 379
Top Tether ............................................ 55
Total distanc erecorder .................... 271
Tow-away protection ..........................71
Towing Important safety notes ..................388
Towing atrailer
Active Blind Sp ot Assist................. 245
Active Lane Kee ping Assist ............248
Active Parking Assis t..................... 223
Axle lo ad,p erm issible .................... 433
Bulb failure ind icator for LED
lamps ............................................. 263
ESP ®
(Electroni cStability Pro-
gram) ............................................... 67
Pullin gawayw ithat railer .............. 162
Traile rdrive program ..................... 250
Towing away
Fitting the tow inge ye.................... 390
Removing the tow inge ye............... 390
With both axl eson the ground .......390
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............391
Important safety notes ..................388
Trailer
Display message ............................ 321Trailer coupli
ng
se eT owing atrailer
Traile rtowing
7-pin connector ............................. 263
Blind Spo tAssist ...... ...................... 240
Cleaning the trailer tow hitch ......... 371
Coupling up atrailer ...................... 260
Decouplin gatrailer ....................... 261
Driving tip s.................................... 257
Fol ding in the bal lcoupling ............ 261
Fol ding out the bal lcoupling .......... 259
Important safety notes ..................257
Mo unting dimensions ....................432
Parktroni c...................................... 218
Po wer suppl y................................. 262
Pro blem (fault) ............................... 264
Shift rang e..................................... 170
Traile rloads ................................... 433
Transmission
seeA utomati ctransmission
Transmissio nposition display .........168
Transmission pos ition display
(DIRECT SELECT lever) ......................168
Transportin gthe vehicle .................. 391
Travellin guphill
Brow of hil l..................................... 192
Driving downhil l............................. 192
Maximum gradient-cl imbing capa-
bility .............................................. .192
Trim pie ces( cle anin ginstructions) .372
Trip computer (on-b oard com-
puter) ................................................. .271
Trip meter Calling up ....................................... 271
Resetting (on-bo ardc omputer )...... 272
Turn si gnal
se eT urn signals
Turn signals
Switching on/off ........................... 121
TV
Operating (on-bo ardc omputer )..... 275
se eS eparate operating instructions
Two- wayradio
Freq uencies ................................... 421
Installati on .................................... .421
Transmission output (maximum ).... 421 20
Index

Usefu
linfor mation ............................ 158
Running-in notes ............................... 158
Driving ............................................... 158
Automati ctran smission ................... 167
Refuelling ........................................... 174
Parking ............................................... 181
Driving tips ........................................ 184
Driving systems ................................ 193
Towing atrailer ................................. 257 157Driving and parking

Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to th eindi-
vidual gea rsautomatically when it is in trans-
mission position D.Gearshif ting is deter-
mined by:
R ap ossible limitation of the shift range
R the selected drive program
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the roa dspeed Driving tips
Accelerator peda lposition Your style of drivin
ginfluences how the auto-
matic transmissio nshift sgear:
R littl ethrottle: early upshifts
R mor ethrottle: lat eupshifts
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X
Depres sthe accelerator pedal beyon dthe
pressur epoint.
The transmission shift stoalower gear
depending on the engin espeed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal onc ethe
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shift sback up.
Towing atrailer X
Drive in the mid dleo fthe engine speed
range on uphill gradient s.
X Shift down to sh iftr ange 3or
2( Y pag e171) depending on the uphill or
downhil lgradient ,evenifc ruisecontrol,
DISTRONIC PLU SorSPEEDTRONI Cisacti-
vated. Program selector button
General notes Progra
mselector button on vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package
X Press program selecto rbutton :.
The letter Mappears in the multifunction
display. Manual driv eprogram Mis ena-
bled. Program selector button on AMG vehicles
X
Press program selector button :repeat-
edly until the letter for the desired gearshift
program appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The program selector button allow syou to
choose between differen tdriving character-
istics.
i Drive program Mis not store dwhen the
engin eisswitched off. If you want to use
this drive program you will need to reacti-
vate it after startin gthe engine. 170
Automa
tict ran smissionDriving and pa rking

in effect achieved in the process reduces
the stoppin gdistanc ewhen drivin goff-
road. Th esteerabilit yofthe vehi cleisc on-
siderably redu cedift he wheels lock. Driving systems
Cruise cont
rol
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on aslipper yroad surface. This could
cause the driv ewheels to lose their grip and
the vehi clec ould skid. G
WAR
NING
Cruise control cannot tak eaccount of road
and traffic conditions.
Alway spay attention to traffic conditions
even when cruis econtrol is activa ted.
Cruise control is only an aid designed to assist
driving. You are responsible for the vehicle's
speed and for braking in good time. G
WAR
NING
Do not use cruise control
R in traffic conditions that do not allow you to
drive at aconstan tspeed (e.g. heavy tra ffic
or winding roads). You may otherwise
cause an accident.
R on slippery roads. The drive wheels may
lose their grip when brakin goraccelerating
and the vehicle may skid.
R whe nther eisl ow visibility ,e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow.
General notes Cruis
econtr ol maintains aconstan troad
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhil lgradients, especiall yifthe
vehicle is laden or towing atrailer, yo umust
select shift range 1,2or 3in good time. By doing so, you will make use of the braking
effec
tofthe engine. This relieves the load on
the brake system and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise con trolonly if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for aprolonged period. Yo ucan
store any road spee dabove 30 km/h.
Cruise contro llever :
To activate or increase speed
; LIMi ndicato rlamp
= To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
? To activate or reduce speed
A To switch between cruise control and var-
iable SPEEDTRONIC
B To deactivate cruise control
You can operate cruise control and variable
SPEEDTRONIC with the cruise control lever.
X To switch between variable SPEED-
TRONIC and cruise control: press the
cruise control lever in the direction of arrow
A.
LIM indicator lamp ;on the cruise control
lever indicates which function you have selec-
ted:
R LIM indicator lamp ; off:
cruise control
is selected.
R LIM indicator lamp ; on:
variable
SPEEDTRONIC is selected.
When you activate cruise control, the stored
spee diss hown in the multifunction display Driving systems
193Driving and parking Z

SPEEDTRONIC
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Never depress the brake peda lcontinuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never cause
the brakes to rub by applying constant slight
pedal pressure. This causes the brake system
to overheat, increases the brakin gdistance
and can lead to the brakes failing completely. G
WARNING
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on aslippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid. G
WARNING
SPEEDTRONI Cisonly an aid designe dto
assis tdriving. Yo uare responsibl efor the
vehicle' sspeed and for braking in good time. G
WARNING
If there is achange of drivers, advise the new
driver of the limit speed stored.
Only use variable SPE EDTRONI Cifyou will not
have to accelerate suddenl ytoaspeed above
that stored as the limit speed. You could oth-
erwise cause an accident.
You can only exceed the limit speed stored if
you deactivate variable SPE EDTRONIC:
R using the cruise control lever
R by depressin gthe accelerator pedal
beyon dthe pressure point (kickdown)
It is not possible to deactivate variable
SPE EDTRONI Cbybraking.
General notes SPE
EDTRONIC brakes automatically so that
you do not exceed the set speed. On long and
steep downhil lgradients ,especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing atrailer, yo umust
select shift range 1,2or 3in good time. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine. This relieves the load on the brake system and prevent
sthe brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly .If
you need additional braking, depres sthe
brake pedal repeatedly rather than con tinu-
ously.
You can set avariable or permanent limit
speed:
R variable for speedlimits, e.g. in built-up
areas
R permanent for long-term speed restric-
tions, e.g. when drivin gwith winter tyres
fitted (Y page 198)
i The speed indicated in the speedometer
may differ slightly from the limit speed
stored.
Variable SPEEDTRONIC Cruise control lever
:
To activate or increase speed
; LIMi ndicato rlamp
= To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
? To activate or reduce speed
A To switch between cruise control or DIS-
TRONIC PLUS and variable SPEEDTRONIC
B To deactivate variable SPEEDTRONIC
With the cruise control lever, you can operate
cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS and vari-
able SPEEDTRONIC.
X To switch between variable SPEED-
TRONIC and cruise control/DISTRONIC
PLUS: press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow A.196
Driving systemsDriving and parking

G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS canno ttake account of road
and traffic conditions. If DISTRONI Cdoes not
recognise or no longer recognises the vehicle
in front, do not activate DISTRONIC or, if it is
alr eady active, deactivate it. This is especially
the case:
R befor ecorners
R on filter lanes
R when changing to alane with faster moving
traffic
R in comple xdriving situations or where lanes
are diverte d,e.g. at roadworks on amotor-
way
DISTRONIC PLU Sotherwise maintains the
current spe ed setbyyou or accelerates up to
the set speed.
DISTRONIC PLU Scannot take account of
weather conditions. Deactivate, or do not
activate, DISTRONI CPLUS:
R if th eroads are slippery, snow-covered or
icy .The wheels coul dlose their grip when
brakin goraccelerating .The vehicle could
star ttos kid.
R if the sensors are dirty or there is poo rvis-
ibility, e.g. due to snow, rain or fog. Dis-
tance control may be impaired.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions
even when DISTRONIC PLU Sisactivate d.
Otherwise, you ma yfail to recognise dangers
in time, caus eanaccident and injure yourself
and others. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS brake syourvehicle up to a
maximu mof4m /s2
depending on its speed.
This corresponds to approximately 40% of
your vehicle's maximum braking power. You
must als oapply the brakes yourself if this
braking power is not sufficient.
If DISTRONI CPLUS detect sarisk of collision
with avehicle in front, an intermit tent warning
tone sounds. In addition, the ·distance
warning lamp in the instrument cluste rlights
up. Brak etoavoidac ollision. G
WAR
NING
The vehicle can be braked when DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated. For this reason, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS if the vehicle is to be set in
motion by othe rmeans (e.g. in acar wash or
by towing).
The radar senso rsystem is switched off auto-
matically in the vicinity of radio teles cope
facilities (Y page 433).
If you want DISTRONIC PLUS to assist you,
the radar sensor syste mmust be activated
(Y page 283 )and operational.
General notes DISTRONIC PLUS regulates the speed and
automati
cally helps you maintain the dis-
tanc etot he vehicle detected in front. DI S-
TRONIC PLU Sbrake sautomatically so that
the set spee disnot exceeded.
On long and steep downhil lgradients, espe-
ciall yifthe vehicle is laden or towing atrailer,
yo um ust select shift range 1,2or 3in good
time. By doing so, you will make use of the
braking effec tofthe engine. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
If DI STRONIC PLUS detects aslower-moving
vehicle in front ,your vehicle is braked in order
to maintain the preset distance to the vehicle
in front.
If ther eisnov ehicle in front ,DISTRONIC
PLUS operate sinthe sam eway as cruise
control in the spee drange between
30 km/h and 200 km/h. If avehicle is driving
in fron tofyou, DI STRONIC operates in the
speed range betwee n0km/h and
200 km/h.
Do not us eDISTRONIC PLUS on roa dswith
steep gradients. Driving systems
199Drivinga nd parking Z