warning MERCEDES-BENZ GLK-CLASS SUV 2013 Owners Manual

tail pipe by cleaning it regularly, especially in
winter and after washing.
X
Clean the exhaust tail pipes with a chrome
care product tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning the trailer tow hitch H
Environmental note
Dispose of rags soaked in oil and grease in an
environmentally responsible manner.
! Observe the note on care
provided by the
trailer manufacturer.
The ball coupling must be cleaned if it
becomes dirty or corroded.
X Remove rust on the ball of the ball coupling,
e.g. with a wire brush.
X Remove dirt with a clean, lint-free cloth or
a brush.
X After cleaning, lightly grease the ball of the
ball coupling again.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer tow hitch is
working properly.
i You can also have the

maintenance work
on the ball coupling and the trailer tow hitch
carried out by a qualified specialist
workshop. Interior care
Cleaning the display !
For cleaning, do not use any of the
following:
R alcohol-based thinner or gasoline
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household
cleaning agents
These may damage the display

surface. Do
not put pressure on the display surface
when cleaning. This could lead to
irreparable damage to the display. X
Before cleaning the display, make sure that
it is switched off and has cooled down.
X Clean the display surface using a
commercially available microfiber cloth
and TFT/LCD display cleaner.
X Dry the display surface using a dry
microfiber cloth.
Cleaning the plastic trim G
WARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing
solvents cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. As a result,

plastic parts may
come loose in the event of air bag
deployment. There is a risk of injury.
Do not use any care products and cleaning
agents to clean the cockpit.
! Do not affix the following to plastic
surfaces:
R stickers
R films
R scented oil bottles or similar items
You can otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent
or sunscreen to come into contact with the
plastic trim. This maintains the high-quality
look of the surfaces.
X Wipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may
change color

temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or
selector lever X
Thoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz. 308
Care
Maintenance and care

Cleaning genuine wood and trim
elements
!
Do not use solvent-based cleaning
agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners,
polishes or waxes. There is otherwise a risk
of damaging the surface.
! Do not use chrome polish on trim pieces.
The trim pieces have a chrome look but are
mostly made of anodized aluminum and
can lose their shine if chrome polish is
used. Use a damp, lint-free cloth instead
when cleaning the trim pieces.
If the chrome-plated trim pieces are very
dirty, you can use a chrome polish. If you
are unsure as to whether the trim pieces
are chrome-plated or not, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
X Wipe the wooden trim and trim pieces with
a damp, lint-free cloth, e.g. a microfiber
cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning the seat covers General notes
!
Do not use microfiber cloths to clean
genuine leather, artificial leather or
Alcantara® covers.
If used
often,

these can
damage the cover.
i Note that regular care is essential to
ensure that the appearance and comfort of
the covers is retained over time.
Genuine leather seat covers
Leather is a natural product.
It exhibits natural surface characteristics, for
example:
R Differences in the texture
R Signs of stretching and marking
R Slight nuances of color
These are characteristics of leather and not
material defects. !
To retain the natural appearance of the
leather, observe the following cleaning
instructions:
R Clean genuine leather covers carefully
with a damp cloth and then wipe the
covers down with a dry cloth.
R Make sure that the leather does not
become soaked. It may otherwise
become rough and cracked.
R Only use leather care agents that have
been tested and approved by

Mercedes-
Benz. You can obtain these from a
qualified specialist workshop.
Seat covers of other materials
! Observe the following when cleaning:
R Clean artificial leather covers with a cloth
moistened with a solution containing
1% detergent (e.g. dish washing liquid).
R Clean cloth covers with a microfiber
cloth moistened with a solution
containing 1% detergent (e.g. dish
washing liquid). Rub carefully and always
wipe entire seat sections to avoid leaving
visible lines. Leave the seat to dry
afterwards. Cleaning results depend on
the type of dirt and how long it has been
there.
R Clean Alcantara® covers with a damp
cloth. Make sure that you wipe entire
seat sections to avoid leaving visible
lines.
Cleaning the seat belts G
WARNING
Seat belts can become severely weakened if
bleached or dyed. This could cause the seat
belts to tear or fail, for instance, in the event
of an accident. This poses an increased risk
of injury or fatal injury.
Never bleach or dye the seat belts.
! Do not clean the seat

belts using chemical
cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat belts Care
309
Maintenance and care Z

Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with MOExtended tires.
R
R Collapsible spare wheel
R an emergency spare wheel (only
for certain
countries) (Y page 359)
Information on changing/mounting a wheel
(Y page 352).
X Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground, as far away as possible from
traffic.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 160).
X If possible, bring the front wheels into the
straight-ahead position.
X Switch off the engine.
X Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the
driver's door.
The on-board electronics have status 0,
which is the same as the SmartKey having
been removed.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 141).
X All occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make sure that
they are

not endangered as
they do so.
X Make sure that no one is near the danger
area while a wheel is being changed.
Anyone who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.
X Get out of the vehicle. Pay attention to
traffic conditions when doing so.
X Close the driver's door. MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties)
General notes With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat
characteristics), you can continue to drive
your vehicle even if there is a total loss of
pressure in one or more tires. The affected
tire must not show
any

clearly visible damage.
You can recognize MOExtended tires by the
MOExtended marking which appears on the
sidewall of the tire. You will find this marking
next to the tire size designation, the load-
bearing capacity and the speed index
(Y page 346).
MOExtended tires may only be used in
conjunction with an active tire pressure loss
warning system or with an active tire pressure
monitor.
If the pressure loss warning message
appears in the multifunction display:
R Observe the instructions in the display
messages ( Y page 252).
R Check the tire for damage.
R If driving on, observe the following notes.
The maximum driving distance is
approximately 50 miles (80 km) when the
vehicle is partially laden and approximately
18 miles (30 km) when the vehicle is fully
laden.
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving
distance possible depends upon:
R Speed
R Road condition
R Outside temperature
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving
conditions/maneuvers, or it can be increased
through a moderate style of driving.
The maximum permissible distance which
can be driven in run-flat mode is counted from
the moment the tire pressure loss warning
appears in the multifunction display. Flat tire
313
Breakdown assistance

You must not exceed a maximum speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
i
When replacing one or
all tires, make sure
that you use only tires:
R of the size specified for the vehicle and
R marked "MOExtended"
If a tire has gone flat and cannot be
replaced with a MOExtended tire, a
standard tire may be used as a temporary
measure. Make sure that you use the
proper size and type (summer or winter
tire).
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When driving in emergency mode, the driving
characteristics deteriorate, e.g. when
cornering, accelerating quickly and when
braking. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not exceed the stated maximum speed.
Avoid abrupt steering and driving

maneuvers,
and driving over obstacles (curbs, potholes,
off-road). This applies in particular to a laden
vehicle.
Stop driving in emergency mode if:
R you hear banging noises.
R the vehicle starts to shake.
R you see smoke and smell rubber.
R ESP ®
is intervening constantly.
R there are tears in the sidewalls of the tire.
After driving in emergency mode, have the
wheel rims checked at a qualified specialist
workshop with regard to their further use. The
defective tire must be replaced in every case. Battery (vehicle)
Important safety notes
Special tools and expert knowledge are
required when working on the battery, e.g.
removal and installing. You should therefore have all work involving the battery carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly on the battery
can, for example, lead to a short circuit and
damage your vehicle's electronic system.

This
can disrupt driving safety systems such as
ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program).
R If ABS malfunctions, the wheels can lock
during braking. This limits the steerability
of the vehicle when braking and the braking
distance may increase. There is a risk of
accident.
R If ESP ®
malfunctions, the vehicle will not be
stabilized if it starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin. There is a risk of accident.
You should therefore have all work involving
the battery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation
of sparks, which could ignite the highly
explosive gases of a battery.

There is a risk of
an explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle
body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up.
The highly flammable gas mixture forms when
charging the battery as well as when jump-
starting.
Always make sure that neither you nor the
battery is electrostatically charged. A build-
up of electrostatic charge can be caused, for
example:
R by wearing clothing made from synthetic
fibers
R due to friction between clothing and seats
R if you push or pull the battery across the
carpet or other synthetic materials
R if you wipe the battery with a cloth314
Battery (vehicle)Breakdown assistance

G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin,
eyes or clothing.
Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with
water and seek medical attention. G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery
produces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit
occurs or sparks are created, the hydrogen
gas can ignite. There is

a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into
contact with vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a
battery.
R It is important that you observe the
described order of the battery terminals
when connecting and disconnecting a
battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and
disconnecting the jumper cables.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from the

battery. There is a
risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery. H
Environmental note Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They must be collected separately
and recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified
specialist workshop or a
special collection point for
used batteries.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or contact a

qualified
specialist workshop for more information.
! You should have all work involving the
battery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. In the exceptional case that it is
necessary for you to disconnect the battery
yourself, make sure that:
R you switch off the engine and remove the
SmartKey. On vehicles with KEYLESS-
GO, ensure that the ignition is switched
off. Check that all the indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster are off. Otherwise,
electronic components, such as the
alternator, may be damaged.
R you first remove the negative terminal
clamp and then the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps.
Otherwise, the vehicle's electronic
system may be damaged.
R the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. The
vehicle is secured against rolling away.
You can then no longer move the vehicle.
The battery and the cover of the positive
terminal clamp must be installed securely
during operation.
Comply with safety precautions and take
protective measures when handling
batteries. Battery (vehicle)
315
Breakdown assistance Z

Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking are
prohibited when handling the
battery. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid
contact with skin, eyes
or
clothing.
Wear suitable protective clothing,
especially gloves, apron and
faceguard.
Rinse any acid spills immediately
with clear water. Contact a
physician if necessary. Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Operator's Manual.
In order for the battery to achieve the
maximum possible service life, it
must always
be sufficiently charged.
Have the battery condition of charge checked
more frequently if you use the vehicle mainly
for short trips or if you leave it standing idle
for a lengthy period. Consult a qualified
specialist workshop if you wish to leave your
vehicle parked for a long period of time.
Like other batteries, the vehicle battery may
discharge over time if you do not use the
vehicle. In this case, have the battery
disconnected at a qualified specialist
workshop. You can also charge the battery
with a charger recommended by Mercedes-
Benz. Contact a qualified specialist workshop
for further information.
i Remove the SmartKey if you park the
vehicle and do not require any electrical consumers. The vehicle will then use very
little energy, thus conserving battery
power.
i If the power supply has

been interrupted,
e.g. if you reconnect the battery, you will
have to:
R set the clock; see the separate operating
instructions.
On vehicles with COMAND and a
navigation system, the clock is set
automatically.
R reset the panorama roof with power tilt/
sliding panel. (Y page 92)
R reset the function for folding the exterior
mirrors in/out automatically by folding
the mirrors out once ( Y page 104)15
. Charging the battery
G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from the

battery. There is a
risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin,

eyes or clothing.
Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with
water and seek medical attention. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at
temperatures below freezing point. When
jump-starting the vehicle or charging the
battery, gases can escape from the battery.
There is a risk of an explosion.
15 This function is only available in vehicles for Canada.316
Battery (vehicle)
Breakdown assistance

Jump-starting
For the jump-starting procedure, use
only the jump-starting connection point, consisting of a
positive terminal and an earth point, in the engine compartment. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with water and
seek medical attention. G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk
of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting. Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or sparks
are created, the hydrogen gas can ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a connected battery does not come into contact with
vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a battery.
R It is important that you

observe the described order of the battery terminals when connecting
and disconnecting a battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnecting
the jumper cables.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
Non-combusted fuel can collect in the exhaust system and ignite. There is a risk of fire. Avoid
repeated and lengthy starting attempts.
! Vehicles with a gasoline engine: avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts.
Otherwise, the catalytic converter could be damaged by non-combusted fuel.
Do not start the vehicle

using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jumper
cables. Observe the following points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,
jump-start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.
R Vehicles with a gasoline engine: only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust
system are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed from batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.318
Jump-starting
Breakdown assistance

X
First, remove the jumper cables from earth point 0083 and negative terminal 0085, then from
positive clamp 0044 and positive terminal 0087. Begin each time at the contacts on your own
vehicle first.
X Close cover 0043 of positive terminal 0044 after removing the jumper cables.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
i Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
i Jumper cables and further information regarding jump-starting can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop. Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been
engaged. There
is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar. G
WARNING
If the weight of the vehicle to be towed or tow-
started is greater than the permissible gross
weight of your vehicle:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could
rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the
permissible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate ( Y page 364).
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the

HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash !
The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of
30 mph (50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles ( 50km),

the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as this could damage the vehicle.
If in doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the
SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop
button. Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in
the ignition lock and shift the automatic
transmission to N. Then, turn the SmartKey
back to 0 and leave it in the ignition lock.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
The automatic transmission must be in
position N when the vehicle is being towed. 320
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R
cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2 in
the ignition lock
R cannot shift the automatic transmission
to
position N
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
(Y page 80). You could otherwise be locked
out when pushing or towing the vehicle. Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye G
WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be very hot. There
is a risk of burns when removing the rear
cover.
Do not touch the exhaust

pipe. Take particular
care when removing the rear cover.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch: if you intend
to use the vehicle for towing, install the ball
coupling and connect the towbar to it
(Y page 210).
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit ( Y page 312).
The brackets for the screw-in towing eyes are
located in the bumpers. They are under the
covers at the front and

at the rear on vehicles
without a trailer coupling. On vehicles with a
trailer coupling, the bracket is at the front
under the cover. Vehicles without the AMG Sports package
Vehicles with the AMG Sports package
X
Press the mark on cover 0043 inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
Rear bumpers on vehicles with the AMG
Sports package: lift up cover 0043 from the
bumper by inserting a round, blunt object
into the recess.
X Take cover 0043 off the opening.
X Screw in and tighten the towing eye
clockwise to the stop.
Removing the towing eye X
Unscrew and remove the towing eye.
X Attach cover 0043 to the bumper and press
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit. Towing and tow-starting
321
Breakdown assistance Z

Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Only possible for vehicles without
4MATIC.
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions ( Y page 320).
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could
otherwise damage the brake system.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 113).
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey
from the ignition lock.
X When leaving the vehicle, take the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO key
with you.Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 320).
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 113).
i When towing with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination
switch as usual to signal a change of
direction. In this case, only the indicator
lamps for the direction of

travel flash. After
resetting the combination switch, the
hazard warning lamp starts flashing again.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake. Transporting the vehicle
The towing eyes or trailer tow hitch can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or
transporter if you wish to transport it.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position N.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position P.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey
from the ignition lock.
X Secure the vehicle.
! Only lash the
vehicle down

by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components.
Otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged. Notes on 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not

be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it
transported on a transporter or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical
system
If the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position P. To
shift the automatic transmission to position
N, you must provide power to the vehicle's
electrical system in the same way as when
jump-starting (Y page 318).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer. 322
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance