spare tire MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 2008 X164 Owner's Manual

Contents
Oxidation catalyst
(diesel engine).............................. 371
Emission control .......................... 372
Coolant temperature .................... 372
At the gas station .............................. 374
Refueling ...................................... 374
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 376
Engine compartment ......................... 378
Hood ............................................ 378
Engine oil ..................................... 380
Transmission fluid level ................ 381
Coolant level ................................ 381
Windshield/rear window
washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ........ 383
Tires and wheels ................................ 384
Important guidelines .................... 384
Tire care and maintenance........... 385
Direction of rotation ..................... 387
Loading the vehicle ...................... 387
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 393
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 395
Tire labeling.................................. 406
Load identification ....................... 410DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ................................ 410
Maximum tire load ........................ 412
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 412
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 413
Tire ply material ............................ 415
Tire and loading terminology......... 415
Rotating tires ................................ 418
Winter driving ..................................... 420
Winter tires ................................... 420
Snow chains.................................. 421
Maintenance....................................... 422
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 422
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 424
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 424
Vehicle care........................................ 425
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 425
Practical hints.................................. 435
What to do if … ................................... 436
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 436
Lamp in center console ................ 447
Vehicle status messages in
the multifunction display .............. 449
Where will I find ...? ............................ 490
First aid kit.................................... 490
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 490
Spare wheel .................................. 494
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 496
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 496
Locking the vehicle ....................... 497
Fuel filler flap ................................ 497
Resetting activated head restraints.... 499
Vehicles without Rear seat
entertainment system*................. 499
Vehicles with Rear seat
entertainment system*................. 500
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 502
Replacing bulbs .................................. 504
Bulbs............................................. 504
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 507
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 511
Adjusting headlamp aim ............... 514
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Contents
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 516
Front wiper blades ....................... 516
Rear wiper blade .......................... 517
Flat tire .............................................. 519
Preparing the vehicle.................... 519
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 520
Bleeding the fuel system
(diesel engine only) ............................ 527
Battery ............................................... 528
Disconnecting, removing,
reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery .............. 530
Charging the battery .................... 535
Jump starting ..................................... 536
Towing the vehicle ............................. 538
Installing towing eye bolt.............. 540
Stranded vehicle .......................... 542
Fuses ................................................. 543
Fuse box in engine compartment . 544
Fuse box in cargo compartment ... 544
Fuse box in
passenger compartment .............. 545
Emergency engine shut-down ...... 545
Technical data................................. 547
Parts service ...................................... 548
Warranty coverage............................. 549
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 549
Identification labels ........................... 550
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 552
GL 320 CDI .................................. 552
GL 450, GL 550............................ 552
Engine................................................ 553
Rims and tires.................................... 555
Same size tires ............................. 556
Minispare wheel ........................... 558
Electrical system ............................... 559
Main Dimensions ............................... 560
Weights.............................................. 561Fuels, coolants, lubricants ................. 562
Capacities .................................... 562
Engine oils ................................... 564
Engine oil additives ...................... 564
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 564
Brake fluid.................................... 564
Premium unleaded gasoline
(gasoline engine).......................... 565
Fuel requirements ........................ 565
Gasoline additives
(gasoline engine).......................... 566
Coolants ...................................... 567
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 569
Index................................................. 571
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23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Tailgate122
Power tailgate*123
Cargo compartment

Loading instructions301

Cargo tie-down rings302

Hooks304

Expanding304

Cover blind310

Cargo net*312
Vehicle tool kit490
Spare wheel494
2Rear window defroster212
3Rear lamps505
4Fuel filler flap374
Refueling374
Fuel375,
565
ItemPage
5Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting51
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors*208
Power folding*209
6Towing eye bolt
Installing towing eye bolt540
7Tires and wheels384,
555
Checking tire inflation
pressure395
General information384
Flat tire519
Spare wheel494
8Hood378
Opening378
Engine oil380
Coolant381
ItemPage
9Windshield wipers62
Wiper blades, replacing516
Wiper blades, cleaning431
aWindshield
Cleaning with wiper fluid64
Cleaning431
bRoof rails295
Carriers*296
cPower tilt/sliding sunroof*251
dDoors
Locking and unlocking112
Opening120
Unlocking/locking in an
emergency496
eFront lamps505
fHeadlamp cleaning system*208
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302 Controls in detail
Loading
The gross vehicle weight which is the
weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools,
spare wheel, installed accessories, pas-
sengers and luggage/cargo must never
exceed the load limit and Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) for your vehicle as
specified on the placard located on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 550). In addi-
tion, the load must be distributed in such a
way so that the weight on each axle never
exceeds the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for the front and rear axle. The
GVWR and GAWR for your vehicle are indi-
cated on the certification label which can
be found on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 550).
For more information, see “Tire and Load-
ing Information” (
page 388).
The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.Please pay attention to and comply with
the following instructions when loading the
vehicle and transporting cargo:

Always place items being carried
against front or rear seat backrests,
and fasten them as securely as possi-
ble.

The heaviest portion of the cargo
should always be kept as low as possi-
ble against front or rear seat backrests.
For additional safety when transporting
cargo while the rear seats are unoccupied,
fasten the outer seat belts crosswise into
the opposite side buckles.
Cargo tie-down rings
Your vehicle is equipped with eight cargo
tie-down rings.
Carefully secure cargo by applying even
load on all rings with rope of sufficient
strength to hold down the cargo.
iThe cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects. The expanded cargo com-
partment (
page 304) should only be used for
items which do not fit in the cargo compartment
alone.
iWhile the cargo net* (page 312) will help
protect you from smaller objects, it cannot pre-
vent the movement of large, heavier objects into
the passenger compartment in an accident, dur-
ing hard braking or sudden maneuvers. Such
items must be properly secured using the cargo
tie-down rings in the cargo compartment floor.
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335 Controls in detail
Useful features
Roadside Assistance button•
The Roadside Assistance button• is
located below the center armrest cover.
1Roadside Assistance button•
Open the storage compartment
(
page 318).
Press and hold button1 (for longer
than 2 seconds).
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside
Assistance dispatcher will be initiated.
The button will flash while the call is in
progress. The message
Connecting Call will appear in the
multifunction display.When the connection is established, the
message
Call Connected appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and
location (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established.
Describe the nature of the need for as-
sistance.The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. For
services such as labor and/or towing,
charges may apply. Refer to the Roadside
Assistance Manual for more information.
The following is only available in the USA:

Sign and Drive services: Services such
as jump start, a few gallons of fuel or
the replacement of a flat tire with the
vehicle spare tire are obtainable.
iWhile the call is connected you can change
to the navigation menu by pressing the NAV
button on the COMAND system unit.
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385 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire care and maintenance
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month. For more informa-
tion on checking tire inflation pressure,
see “Recommended tire inflation pres-
sure” (
page 393).Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following:

excessive treadwear (page 386)

cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber

bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Make sure you also inspect the spare tire
periodically for condition and inflation.
Spare tires will age and become worn over
time even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when necessary.Life of tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:

Driving style

Tire inflation pressure

Distance driven
Warning!G
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam-
aged tires can cause tire inflation pressure
loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Warning!G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.
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387 Operation
Tires and wheels
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advantag-
es, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of
the tire.Loading the vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry.
1) The Tire and Loading Information
placard can be found on the driver’s
door B-pillar. This placard tells you im-
portant information about the number
of people that can be in the vehicle and
the total weight that can be carried in
the vehicle. It also contains information
on the proper size and recommended
tire inflation pressures for the original
equipment tires on your vehicle.2) The certification label, also found on
the driver’s door B-pillar tells you about
the gross weight capacity of your vehi-
cle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel and cargo. The certification label
also tells you about the front and rear
axle weight capacity, called the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). The GAWR
is the total allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front or rear).
Never exceed the GVWR or GAWR for
either the front axle or rear axle.
iSpare wheels may be mounted against the
direction of rotation (spinning) even with a unidi-
rectional tire for temporary use only until the reg-
ular drive wheel has been repaired or replaced.
Always observe and follow applicable temporary
use restrictions and speed limitations indicated
on the spare wheel.
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396 Operation
Tires and wheels
Install the valve cap.
Repeat this procedure for each tire.Run Flat Indicator (Canada only)
While the vehicle is being driven, the Run
Flat Indicator monitors the set tire inflation
pressures by evaluating each wheel’s rota-
tional speed. This allows the system to de-
tect a significant loss of pressure in a tire.
If a wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, you will
see a corresponding warning message in
the multifunction display.
The Run Flat Indicator may function in a
restricted manner or with a delay

if snow chains are mounted to the
vehicle

in presence of ice and snow

if you are driving on a loose surface
(e.g. sand or gravel)

if you are driving in a very sporty
manner (involving rapid acceleration or
high speeds in curves)
iIf you have overfilled the tire, release tire in-
flation pressure by pushing the metal stem of the
valve with e.g. a tip of a pen. Then recheck the
tire inflation pressure with the tire gauge.Warning!G
When the multifunction display shows the
message
Tire Pressure Check Tires,
one or more of your tires is significantly un-
derinflated. You should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper tire inflation pressure as indicat-
ed on the vehicle’s Tire and Loading
Information placard or, if available, on the
tire inflation pressure label. Driving on a sig-
nificantly under-inflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Un-
derinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability. Each tire, in-
cluding the spare, should be checked
monthly when cold and set to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure as specified
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver’s door B-pillar (
page 388) or,
if available, on the tire inflation pressure la-
bel located on the inside of the fuel filler flap
(
page 374).

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399 Operation
Tires and wheels
Warning!G
The TPMS does not indicate a warning for
wrongly selected inflation pressures. Always
adjust tire inflation pressure according to
the Tire and Loading Information placard on
the driver’s door B-pillar or, if available, the
supplemental tire inflation pressure infor-
mation on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The TPMS is not able to issue a warning due
to a sudden dramatic loss of pressure (e.g.
tire blowout caused by a foreign object). In
this case bring the vehicle to a halt by care-
fully applying the brakes and avoiding
abrupt steering maneuvers.
Warning!G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
Tire and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-Pillar or, if available, the tire
inflation pressure label on the fuel filler flap.
If your vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the Tire and
Loading Information placard or, if available,
the tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure
for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-
ly underinflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the
driver’s responsibility to maintain correct
tire pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately 1 minute
and then remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may not
be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended.

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402 Operation
Tires and wheels
Switch on the ignition (page 42).
Press buttonj or k on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
current inflation pressures for each tire
appear in the multifunction display.
iPossible differences between the readings
of a tire pressure gauge of an air hose, e.g. gas
station equipment, and the vehicle’s control
system can occur. Usually the readings issued by
the control system are more precise.
iWhen the vehicle has been parked for longer
than 20 minutes, the message
Tire pressure
displayed after driving for a few
minutes.
appears in the multifunction display.
Warning!G
It is the driver’s responsibility to calibrate
the TPMS on the recommended cold infla-
tion pressure. Underinflated tires affect the
ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
might lose control over the vehicle.
iWith a spare wheel without wheel sensor
mounted, the system may still indicate the tire
inflation pressure of the removed wheel for some
minutes. If this happens, keep in mind that the
indicated value where the spare wheel is mount-
ed does not reflect the actual spare tire inflation
pressure.
Warning!G
The TPMS does not indicate a warning for
wrongly selected inflation pressures. Always
adjust tire inflation pressure according to
the Tire and Loading Information placard on
the driver’s door B-pillar or, if available, the
supplemental tire inflation pressure infor-
mation on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The TPMS is not able to issue a warning due
to a sudden dramatic loss of pressure (e.g.
tire blowout caused by a foreign object). In
this case bring the vehicle to a halt by care-
fully applying the brakes and avoiding
abrupt steering maneuvers.
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