engine MERCEDES-BENZ GLK SUV 2012 Owner's Manual

If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions, and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving.
Off-road ABS (vehicles with the Off-
Road Engineering package) An ABS system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road drive program (Y page 215) is activated.
At speeds below 30 km/h, the front wheels
lock cyclically during braking. The digging-in
effect achieved in the process reduces the
stopping distance when driving off-road. This
limits steering capability. BAS (Brake Assist System)
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 65). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep the brake pedal depressed firmly until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System Plus)
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 65). BAS PLUS is only available on vehicles with
DISTRONIC PLUS.
BAS PLUS provides braking assistance in haz-
ardous situations at speeds greater than
7 km/h and uses radar sensor technology to
assess the traffic situation.
With the help of the radar sensor system, BAS
PLUS can detect obstacles that are in the
path of your vehicle for an extended period of
time.
At speeds up to approximately 70 km/h, BAS
PLUS may also detect stationary obstacles,
for example, stopped or parked vehicles.
To prevent a front-end collision, BAS PLUS
calculates the brake force necessary if:
R
you approach an obstacle, and
R BAS PLUS has detected a risk of collision
When driving at a speed over 30 km/h: if
you depress the brake sharply, BAS PLUS
automatically increases the brake pressure to
a degree suited to the traffic situation.
When driving at a speed under 30 km/h:
if you depress the brake, BAS PLUS is activa-
ted. Braking will be carried out at the last
possible moment.
If BAS PLUS demands particularly high brak-
ing force, preventative passenger protection
measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are activated simul-
taneously.
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
BAS PLUS is deactivated and the brakes func-
tion as usual if:
R you release the brake pedal
R there is no longer any danger of a rear-end
collision
R no obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle
Vehicles with COMAND and a navigation sys-
tem: the radar sensor system is switched off
automatically in the vicinity of radio telescope
facilities (Y page 375). 66
Driving safety systemsSafety

!
Switch the ignition off when:
R the parking brake is being tested using a
dynamometer
R the vehicle is being towed with the front/
rear axle raised
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
! Do not tow vehicles with 4MATIC with the
front or rear axle raised.
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarn-
ing lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 288) and any display messages that
appear in the instrument cluster
(Y page 247) or (Y page 252).
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. If necessary, the engine output is also
modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X When pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly. ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 65).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. On vehicles with 4MATIC, more drive
torque is also transferred to the wheel or
wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate ESP ®
.
Deactivating/activating ESP ® i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 65). G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following. X
To switch off: press button:.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To switch on: press button:.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started. 68
Driving safety systemsSafety

If ESP
®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited, and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
Off-road ESP ®
(vehicles with off-road
engineering package) An ESP
®
system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road drive program (Y page 215) is activated.
The off-road ESP ®
intervenes with a delay if
there is oversteering or understeering, thus
improving traction.
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilisation will not be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from swerv-
ing. Trailers with a high centre of gravity can
tip over before ESP ®
can detect this. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
lurch, you can only stabilise the vehicle/
trailer combination by depressing the brake
firmly. In this situation, ESP
®
assists you and can
detect if the vehicle/trailer combination
begins to lurch. ESP ®
slows the vehicle down
by braking and limiting the engine output until
the vehicle/trailer combination has stabi-
lised.
Trailer stabilisation is active above speeds of
about 65 km/h.
Trailer stabilisation does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function. EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 65). G
WARNING
If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can
still lock, e.g. under full braking. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Observe the notes on warning and indicator
lamps (Y page 286) as well as display mes-
sages (Y page 248) (4-button multifunction
steering wheel) and (Y page 253) (12-button
multifunction steering wheel).
EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability while braking. PRE-SAFE
®
Brake
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 65).
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is only available in vehicles
with DISTRONIC PLUS.
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can help you to minimise
the risk of a collision with a vehicle ahead or
reduce the effects of such a collision. If PRE- Driving safety systems
69Safety Z

In these cases, PRE-SAFE
®
Brake may:
R give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
R neither give a warning nor intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake, especially if
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake warns you. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else cover-
ing the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R the possibility of strong radar reflections,
for example, in multi-storey car parks
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle
R a vehicle travelling in front on a different
line G
WARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
As a result, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may neither
give warnings nor intervene in all critical sit-
uations. There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
In order to maintain the appropriate distance
to the vehicle in front and thus prevent a col-
lision, you must apply the brakes yourself.
X To activate/deactivate: activate or deac-
tivate PRE-SAFE ®
Brake in the on-board
computer (Y page 237).
When PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is activated, the
Ä symbol appears in the multifunction display, as long as the HOLD function is
deactivated (Y
page 186).
On vehicles with Parking Guidance, the
Ä symbol is displayed when Pis
engaged or you are driving faster than
35 km/h.
For PRE-SAFE ®
Brake to assist you when driv-
ing, the radar sensor system must:
R be switched on (Y page 242)
R be operational (Y page 272)
Vehicles with COMAND and a navigation sys-
tem: the radar sensor system is switched off
automatically in the vicinity of radio telescope
facilities (Y page 375).
Vehicles without COMAND and a navigation
system and vehicles for Australia: the radar
sensor system and on-board computer must
be switched off in the vicinity of radio tele-
scope facilities (Y page 242).
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensors checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at slow speeds where there is no visible
damage to the front of the vehicle. Anti-theft systems
Immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
X To activate with the key: remove the key
from the ignition lock.
X To activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door.
X To deactivate: switch on the ignition.
i The immobiliser is always deactivated
when you start the engine. Anti-theft systems
71Safety Z

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos-
sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 27). Key
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Only for the United Kingdom: if the vehicle
has been locked with the key, the double lock
function is activated as standard. It is then not
possible to open the doors from inside the
vehicle.
Therefore, do not leave any people behind in
the vehicle, particularly children, elderly peo-
ple or people in need of special assistance if
the vehicle has been locked with the key. As
a result, they may not be able to free them-
selves in the event of an emergency. As a
result, they could be seriously or even fatally
injured by prolonged exposure to extremely
high or low temperatures, for example. In this
case, rescuing people from outside the vehi-
cle is difficult.
Deactivate the interior motion sensor before
you lock the vehicle with the key. The doors
can then be opened from the inside after the
vehicle has been locked from the outside with
the key. G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could: R
open a door from inside the vehicle at any
time, even if it has been locked
R start the vehicle using a key which has been
left in the vehicle
R release the parking brake
They could thereby endanger themselves and
others. Never leave children unsupervised in
the vehicle. Always take the key with you
when leaving the vehicle, even if you are only
leaving it for a short time. G
WARNING
If a key ring is too heavy or too large, the
weight acting on the key could cause it to turn
in the ignition lock or catch on the steering
wheel. This could cause the engine to be
switched off suddenly. You may lose control
of the vehicle and cause an accident. Do not
attach any heavy or large key rings to the key
that is inserted in the ignition.
R Do not keep the KEYLESS-GO key:
-with electronic devices, e.g. a mobile
phone or another key
- with metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal
film
- with metallic objects, e.g. a metal case
This can affect the key's functionality.
Keep the key away from strong magnetic
fields. Otherwise, the remote control function
could be affected. Key functions
The key centrally locks/unlocks:
R the doors
R the tailgate
R the fuel filler flap 76
KeyOpening and closing

:
& To lock the vehicle
; F To open/close the tailgate
= % To unlock the vehicle
When unlocking, the turn signals flash once.
When locking, they flash three times.
When it is dark, the surround lighting also
comes on if it is activated in the on-board
computer (Y page 240).
You can also set an audible signal to confirm
that the vehicle has been locked. The audible
signal can be activated and deactivated using
the on-board computer (Y page 242).
X To unlock centrally: press the%but-
ton.
If you do not open the vehicle within approx-
imately 40 seconds of unlocking:
R the vehicle is locked again.
R the anti-theft system is primed again.
X To lock centrally: press the&button. KEYLESS-GO
General notes Bear in mind that the engine can be started
by any of the vehicle occupants if there is a
KEYLESS-GO key in the vehicle.
Locking/unlocking centrally You can start, lock or unlock the vehicle using
KEYLESS-GO. To do this, you only need carry
the key with you. You can combine the KEY-
LESS-GO functions with the functions of a conventional key. Unlock the vehicle by using
KEYLESS-GO, for instance, and lock it using
the
& button on the key.
When locking or unlocking with KEYLESS-GO,
the distance between the key and the corre-
sponding door handle must not be greater
than 1 m.
KEYLESS-GO checks whether a valid key is in
the vehicle by periodically establishing a radio
connection between the vehicle and the key.
This happens:
R when the external door handles are
touched
R when starting the engine
R while the vehicle is in motion X
To unlock the vehicle: touch the inner
surface of the door handle.
X To lock the vehicle: touch sensor sur-
face :.
X Convenience closing feature: touch
recessed sensor surface ;for an exten-
ded period.
Further information on the convenience clos-
ing feature (Y page 90).
If you pull on the handle of the tailgate, only
the luggage compartment of the vehicle is
unlocked.
If the vehicle has been parked for a long time,
the sensor surfaces are deactivated automat-
ically. In order to unlock the door, pull the
door handle. In order to reactivate the sensor
surface, switch the ignition on again. Key
77Opening and closing Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions You have lost the emer-
gency key element. X
Report the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
X If necessary, have the locks changed as well. The engine cannot be
started using the key. The on-board voltage is too low.
X
Switch off non-essential consumers, e.g. seat heating or interior
lighting, and try to start the engine again.
If this does not work:
X Check the starter battery and charge it if necessary
(Y page 337).
or
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 341).
or
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine cannot be
started using KEYLESS-
GO. The key is in the
vehicle. A door is open. Therefore, the key cannot be detected as easily.
X
Close the door and try to start the vehicle again. There is interference from a powerful source of radio waves.
X
Start your vehicle with the key in the ignition lock. Doors
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Only for the United Kingdom: if the vehicle
has been locked with the key, the double lock
function is activated as standard. It is then not
possible to open the doors from inside the
vehicle.
Therefore, do not leave any people behind in
the vehicle, particularly children, elderly peo-
ple or people in need of special assistance if
the vehicle has been locked with the key. As
a result, they may not be able to free them-
selves in the event of an emergency. As a
result, they could be seriously or even fatally
injured by prolonged exposure to extremely
high or low temperatures, for example. In this
case, rescuing people from outside the vehi-
cle is difficult.
Deactivate the interior motion sensor before
you lock the vehicle with the key. The doors can then be opened from the inside after the
vehicle has been locked from the outside with
the key.
G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open a door from inside the vehicle at any
time, even if it has been locked
R start the vehicle using a key which has been
left in the vehicle
R release the parking brake
They could thereby endanger themselves and
others. Never leave children unsupervised in
the vehicle. Always take the key with you
when leaving the vehicle, even if you are only
leaving it for a short time. 82
DoorsOpening and closing

X
Turn the emergency key element clockwise
as far as it will go to position 1.
i On right-hand-drive vehicles, turn the
emergency key element anti-clockwise.
X Turn the emergency key element back and
remove it.
X Make sure that the doors and the tailgate
are locked.
X Insert the emergency key element into the
key.
i If you lock the vehicle as described above,
the fuel filler flap is not locked. The anti-
theft alarm system is not primed. Luggage compartment
Important safety notes
Do not leave the key in the luggage compart-
ment. You could otherwise lock yourself out. G
WARNING
If the engine is running and the tailgate is
open, exhaust gases can enter the vehicle
interior. This could result in poisoning. There-
fore, make sure that the tailgate is always
closed when the engine is running.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the
rear when opened. Therefore, make sure
that there is sufficient clearance above and
behind the tailgate.
i Tailgate opening dimensions
(Y page 372). Vehicles without the EASY-PACK tail-
gate:
the tailgate can be:
R opened and closed manually from outside
R unlocked from the inside with the emer-
gency key element
For vehicles with the EASY-PACK tailgate
you can:
R open and close the tailgate manually from
outside
R open and close the tailgate automatically
from outside
R open and close the tailgate automatically
from inside
R limit the opening angle of the tailgate
R unlock the tailgate from inside with the
emergency key element Opening/closing from the outside
Opening X
Press the %button on the key. X
Pull handle :.
X Raise the tailgate.
Vehicles with the EASY-PACK tailgate: if
you pull handle :and keep it in this position,
you can open the tailgate manually. If you
release the handle, the tailgate opens auto-
matically. Luggage compartment
85Opening and closing Z

opening procedure. You could become trap-
ped between the side window and the door
frame as the side window moves down. If
there is a risk of becoming trapped, release
the switch or pull the switch upwards to close
the side window again. G
WARNING
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
as you close a side window. If there is a risk
of becoming trapped, release the switch or
press it again to open the side window again. G
WARNING
Children may injure themselves if they open
or close the side windows.
Never leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle. Always take the key with you when leaving
the vehicle, even if you are only leaving it for
a short time. G
WARNING
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system. The children could:
R be seriously or even fatally injured on parts
of the vehicle
R be seriously or even fatally injured by pro-
longed exposure to extremely high or
extremely low temperatures
If children open a door, they could:
R seriously or even fatally injure other people
R get out of the vehicle and injure them-
selves, or be seriously or even fatally
injured by a passing vehicle
Activate the child-proof locks/override fea-
ture if children are travelling in the vehicle.
They could otherwise open doors or side win-
dows while the vehicle is in motion and
thereby injure themselves or others. Opening and closing the side win-
dows
:
Front left
; Front right
= Rear right
? Rear left
The switches for all side windows are located
on the driver's door. There is also a switch on
each door for the corresponding side window.
The switches on the driver's door take prec-
edence.
i The side windows cannot be operated
from the rear when the override feature for
the side windows is activated (Y page 64).
X Turn the key to position 1or 2in the ignition
lock.
X To open: press the corresponding switch.
X To close: pull the corresponding switch.
i If you press the switch beyond the point
of resistance, an automatic opening/clos-
ing process is started in the corresponding
direction. You can stop automatic opera-
tion by pressing again.
i You can continue to operate the side win-
dows after switching off the engine or
removing the key. This function remains
active for five minutes or until the driver's
or front-passenger door is opened. Side windows
89Opening and closing Z

wheel) or (Y
page 239) (vehicles with a 12-
button multifunction steering wheel)
Light switch Operation
1W
Left-hand parking lamps
2X Right-hand parking lamps
3T Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4Ã Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5L Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
BR Rear foglamp
CN Foglamp (only vehicles with front
foglamps)
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X Turn the light switch to Ã.
The exterior lighting (except the side lamps/
parking lamps) switches off automatically if
you:
R remove the key from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the key in posi-
tion 0
Automatic headlamp mode G
WARNING
If the light switch is set to Ãand it is foggy,
snowing or there is poor visibility, the dipped-
beam headlamps will not come on automati- cally. This could endanger you and others. In
such situations turn the light switch to
L.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's
lighting at all times.
à is the preferred light switch setting. The
light setting is automatically selected accord-
ing to the brightness of the ambient light
(exception: poor visibility due to weather con-
ditions such as fog, snow or spray):
R Key in position 1in the ignition lock: the
side lamps are switched on or off automat-
ically depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
R With the engine running: if you have acti-
vated the daytime driving lights function via
the on-board computer, the daytime driving
lights or the dipped-beam headlamps and
side lamps are switched on or off automat-
ically depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
X To switch on automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to Ã.
The daytime driving lights improve the visibil-
ity of your vehicle during the day. The "day-
time driving lights" should also be switched
on using the on-board computer
(Y page 227) (vehicles with a 4-button mul-
tifunction steering wheel) or (Y page 239)
(vehicles with a 12-button multifunction
steering wheel).
When the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on, the Lindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up and the daytime
driving lights switch off.
Dipped-beam headlamps G
WARNING
If the light switch is set to Ãand it is foggy,
snowing or there is poor visibility, the dipped-
beam headlamps will not come on automati-
cally. This could endanger you and others. In
such situations turn the light switch to L. Exterior lighting
111Lights and windscreen wipers
Z