suspension MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 2007 X164 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: MERCEDES-BENZ, Model Year: 2007, Model line: GL450, Model: MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 2007 X164Pages: 595
Page 7 of 595
Contents
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 253
Opening and closing ..................... 253
Synchronizing ............................... 255
Driving systems ................................. 257
Cruise control............................... 257
Distronic*..................................... 262
Distance warning function*.......... 274
Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) ............................................ 275
Off-road driving program
(Vehicles without
enhanced off-road package*) ....... 279
Air suspension package ............... 280
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* .......................................... 280
Vehicle level control ..................... 281
Parktronic system* ...................... 290
Rear view camera* ....................... 295
Loading .............................................. 297
Carriers* ...................................... 297
Loading instructions ..................... 303
Cargo tie-down rings .................... 304
Hooks ........................................... 306
Expanding cargo compartment .... 306
Cargo compartment cover blind ... 312
Cargo net* ................................... 313Useful features .................................. 316
Storage compartments ................ 316
Parcel nets ................................... 320
Cup holders.................................. 321
Ashtrays* ..................................... 322
Cigarette lighter* ......................... 324
Power outlets ............................... 325
Floormats* ................................... 326
Seat cover under
third-row seats ............................. 327
Heated steering wheel* ............... 328
Telephone* .................................. 329
Tele Aid ........................................ 332
Garage door opener ..................... 339
Compass ...................................... 345
Infrared reflecting windshield* ..... 345
Operation......................................... 347
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 348
Driving instructions ........................... 349
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 349
Drinking and driving ..................... 349
Pedals .......................................... 349
Power assistance ......................... 350
Brakes.......................................... 350
Driving off .................................... 352
Parking......................................... 352
Tires ............................................. 353
Hydroplaning................................ 354
Tire traction ................................. 354
Tire speed rating .......................... 354
Winter driving instructions ........... 355
Standing water............................. 356
Off-road driving ............................ 357
Trailer towing ............................... 366
Passenger compartment .............. 371
Driving abroad ............................. 372
Control and operation of
radio transmitters ........................ 372
Catalytic converter
(gasoline engine) .......................... 373
Oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) 373
Page 169 of 595
168 Controls in detail
Control system
NAV* menu
The
Nav menu contains the functions
needed to operate your navigation system.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the message
Nav appears in the
multifunction display.
The message shown in the multifunction
display depends on the status of the navi-
gation system:
With the COMAND system switched
off, the message
Nav off appears in
the multifunction display.
With the COMAND system switched on
but route guidance not activated, the
direction of travel and, if applicable, the
name of the street currently traveled
on appear in the multifunction display.
With the COMAND system switched on
and route guidance activated, the di-
rection of travel and maneuver instruc-
tions appear in the multifunction
display.
Please refer to the COMAND system
manual for instructions on how to activate
the route guidance system.
Off-road menu
The Off-road menu displays the messages
for air suspension, differential locks* and
the direction into which you are currently
driving.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until one of the following messages ap-
pears in the multifunction display.Vehicles with air suspension:
Vehicles with air suspension and
differential locks*:Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired setting is found.
For information on air suspension, see “Air
suspension package” (
page 280).
For information on differential locks*, see
“Differential locks*” (
page 206).
For information on the compass, see
“Vehicle submenu” (
page 181) and
“Compass” (
page 345).
Page 258 of 595
257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are
described on the following pages:
Cruise control (page 257) and
Distronic* (
page 262), with which
the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed.
Distance warning function*
(
page 274) is only available with
Distronic*, which warns of stationary
obstacle or slower moving vehicles that
you are closing in on too quickly.
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)
(
page 275), which supports you
when you are driving downhill.
Off-road driving program (page 279)
(vehicles without enhanced off-road
package*), which supports you when
you are driving off-road.
Air suspension package
There are two components available.
Vehicle level control (page 281),
which controls the vehicle level.
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
(
page 280), which adjusts the
vehicle suspension characteristics.
Parktronic* (page 290) and rear view
camera* (
page 295), which serve as
a parking aid.
For information on the ABS, BAS, EBP,
ESP
®, and 4-ETS, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 103).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of cruise control is recommended
for driving at a constant speed for extend-
ed periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above
20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 24).
iThe cruise control should not be activated
during off-road driving.
Page 281 of 595
280 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The switch is located on the upper part of
the center console.
1Switch for off-road driving program
2Indicator lampSwitching Off-road driving program on
Press switch1 (page 280).
Indicator lamp2 comes on. The
symboly appears in the lower
multifunction display.
Switching Off-road driving program off
Press switch1 again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out. The
symboly disappears.
Air suspension package
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
vehicle level control which regulates the
ride height of the vehicle. The Adaptive
Damping System (ADS)* optimizes your
vehicle’s suspension tuning.
Suspension tuning: Adaptive Damping
System (ADS)* (
page 280)
Vehicle level control (page 281)
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
The fine tuning of the damping and suspen-
sion is dependent on:
your driving style
road surface conditions
your personal ADS settings
your personal vehicle level settings
The ADS switch is located on the upper
part of the center console.
Page 282 of 595
281 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicles without enhanced off-road
package*
Vehicles with enhanced off-road package*
1ADS switch
2Indicator lamp for SPORT setting
3Indicator lamp for COMF settingThe following settings are available:
AUTO (for normal driving situations)
Indicator lamps2 and3 are off.
SPORT (for sporty driving)
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
With the ADS SPORT setting, the vehi-
cle is lowered approximately 0.6 in
(15 mm).
COMF (for comfort driving)
Indicator lamp3 comes on.
Start the engine (page 41).
Press ADS switch1 repeatedly until
the desired suspension tuning is
reached.
Vehicle level control
The vehicle level control automatically
regulates the ride height to
reduce fuel consumption
improve driving stability by lowering
the center of gravity
The vehicle automatically regulates its ride
height based on the set vehicle height and
the current speed:
As your driving speed increases, the ve-
hicle is lowered by increments until it
reaches high-speed level.
Vehicles with ADS*:
If you are driving with the ADS set-
ting COMF or AUTO, the vehicle is
raised back to highway level as your
driving speed decreases.
You can select the high-speed level
via the ADS setting SPORT. In ADS
Sport, the vehicle is lowered direct-
ly to high-speed level as your driv-
ing speed increases.
iThe setting is stored when you turn off the
engine.
Page 359 of 595
358 Operation
Driving instructions
Special driving features for off-road
driving
The following driving features are available
for specific kind of operation:
Off-road – ABS (page 104)
Off-road – ESP® (page 108)
Off-road – 4-ETS (page 110)
Hill start assist system (page 199)
LOW RANGE mode* (page 203)
Differential locks* (page 206)
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)
(
page 275)
Off-road driving program (Vehicles
without enhanced off-road package*)
(
page 279)
Air suspension (page 280)Off-road driving rules
Engage the off-road driving program
(
page 279) or LOW RANGE mode*
(
page 203) before driving under
off-road conditions.
If necessary, activate differential
locks* (
page 206).
Make sure you select a vehicle level
(
page 281) appropriate to the topo-
graphical conditions. Always make
sure the vehicle has enough ground
clearance.
Fasten items being carried as securely
as possible (
page 297).
Always navigate gradients with the en-
gine on and with the transmission en-
gaged in a gear. Switch on the DSR
(
page 276) to help maintain a preset
speed.
!Observe the following during off-road
driving:
Keep doors, tailgate, windows, and
tilt/sliding sunroof* closed whenever driving
off-road.
Adjust vehicle speed to condition of terrain.
The more uneven, rutty and steeper the ter-
rain, the lower the speed should be. Drive
through water slowly at an even speed,
avoiding a bow wave.
Be especially careful when driving in un-
known territory. It may be necessary to get
out of the vehicle and scout the path you in-
tend to take.
Watch out for obstacles, such as rocks,
holes, tree stumps and ruts.
Before driving through water, determine its
depth.
Do not stop vehicle while immersed in water,
and do not shut off the engine.
Page 361 of 595
360 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving in steep terrain
Slope angle
1 Overhang angle, front
2Overhang angle, rear
Comply with the warnings
(
page 357) and rules for off-road
driving (
page 358).
Driving on embankments, slopes and
other steep inclines should only be
done straight up or downhill, i.e. in the
line of gravity. Maximum vehicle climb-
ing ability is a 100% grade which is
equivalent to a slope angle of
45 degrees. Keep in mind that the
climbing ability of the vehicle depends
on terrain conditions.
Shift automatic transmission to
position1 (
page 200).
Drive slowly.
Avoid excessive engine speeds – drive
with moderate engine speeds
(max. 3 000 rpm).
Utilize the engine’s braking power
when descending a slope, observe the
engine speed (do not overrev the en-
gine). Apply the service brake as need-
ed.
Check the brakes after a lengthy down-
grade drive.Vehicles with air
suspension pack-
age12
Raised level34°28°
Highway29°23°
Vehicles with
enhanced off-road
package*12
Off-road-level 336°30°
Off-road-level 234°28°
Off-road-level 131°25°
Highway29°23°
iFor maximum engine speed, see “Instru-
ment cluster” (
page 26) and see “Engine”
(
page 553).
Warning!G
Never turn the vehicle around on steep
inclines. The vehicle might roll over. If the
vehicle cannot complete the attempted
climb, back it down in reverse gear.
Page 363 of 595
362 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving through water
1Fording depth
Before driving through water, deter-
mine its depth.
Select the highest vehicle level
possible (
page 281).
Switch to off-road driving program
(
page 279) or LOW RANGE mode*
(
page 203) before driving through
water.
Shift automatic transmission to
position1 or2 (
page 200).
Avoid high engine speeds.
Enter and leave the water only at a
shallow spot, driving at walking speed.
Drive through the water slowly and at a
constant speed.
iThe special Off-road – ABS (page 104)
setting allows for precise and brief (cyclical)
blocking of the front wheels, permitting them to
dig into loose ground.
Remember that, when stopped, the front wheels
slide across a surface and thus lose their ability
to steer the vehicle.Vehicles with air
suspension
package1
Raised level20.00in (50cm)
Vehicles with
enhanced off-road
package*1
Off-road 3 level23.60 in (60 cm)
Off-road 2 level20.00 in (50 cm)
Off-road 1 level20.00 in (50 cm)
!The water depth must not exceed the
respective value listed in the table. The ground
under the water might not be firm which could
result the water being deeper than expected
when driving the vehicle through it. Please note
that the water level is correspondingly lower for
flowing water.
!Never accelerate before driving into the
water. The bow wave could force water into the
engine and auxiliary equipment, thus damaging
them.
Page 364 of 595
363 Operation
Driving instructions
Do not stop vehicle while immersed in
water, and do not shut off the engine.
There is a very high level of driving re-
sistance in water. The surface is slip-
pery and may not be firm, making
pulling away in water difficult and dan-
gerous.
Make sure that only small bow waves
are formed when driving the vehicle
through water.
Clean mud off the tire tread after driv-
ing through water.
To dry the brakes, apply pressure to the
brake pedal several times while driving
after leaving the water.Crossing obstaclesWhen driving over tree stumps, big rocks
and other obstacles, observe the following
rules:
Make sure the off-road driving program
(
page 279) or if equipped the LOW
RANGE mode* (
page 203) is
switched on.
Avoid high engine speeds.
Shift automatic transmission to
position1 (
page 200).
Check the vehicle clearance before
crossing obstacles.
Cross obstacles (e.g. tree stumps or
big rocks) very slowly by aiming one of
the front wheels at the center of the ob-
stacle, and repeat same with the rear
wheel.
!Do not open any of the vehicle’s doors while
driving through water. Water could otherwise en-
ter the vehicle interior and damage the vehicle’s
electronics, as well as the interior equipment.
!Obstacles can damage the vehicle
underbody or suspension components. If possi-
ble use the assistance of a second person out-
side the vehicle to scout the path you intend to
take and check for adequate ground clearance
when you cross obstacles with your vehicle. The
person assisting you outside the vehicle should
always be a safe distance away from the vehicle
and positioned so that he or she cannot get hurt
in case of any unexpected vehicle movement.
After off-road driving or crossing obstacles, in-
spect vehicle for any damage, especially vehicle
underbody and suspension components. Failure
to do so can adversely affect the vehicle’s future
performance, including increased chance of an
accident.
!Special attention is needed when you cross
obstacles on a steep incline.
The vehicle could slide sideways as a result of its
possible slanted position which in turn may
result in the vehicle tipping or rolling over.
Page 386 of 595
385 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tires and wheels
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center for information on test-
ed and recommended rims and tires for
summer and winter operation. They can
also offer advice concerning tire service
and purchase.Important guidelines
Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.
Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.
Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.
Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss or
damage to the tire beads.
If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
inflation pressure and correct as
required.
Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths of less than
1/8in (3 mm).
When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Warning!G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for fur-
ther information. If incorrectly sized rims
and tires are mounted:
The wheel brakes or suspension
components can be damaged.
The operating clearance of the wheels
and the tires may no longer be correct.
Warning!G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, only use genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can
result in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on re-
treads. The operating safety of the vehicle
cannot be assured when such tires are used.