ABS MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 2017 User Guide

Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle. Always secure animals properly during
the journey, e.g. use a suitable animal trans-
port box.
Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems: R
ABS ( A nti-lock B raking S ystem)
( Y
page 63) R
BAS ( B rake A ssist S ystem) ( Y
page 64)R
Active Brake Assist ( Y
page 64)R
ESP ®
( E lectronic S tability P rogram)
( Y
page 67) R
EBD ( E lectronic B rake force D istribution)
( Y
page 69) R
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ( Y
page 69)R
Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
( Y
page 69) R
STEER CONTROL ( Y
page 72)
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are
inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-
ther reduce the risk of an accident nor override
the laws of physics. Driving safety systems are
merely aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for maintaining the distance to the
vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in
good time, and for staying in lane. Always adapt
your driving style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions and maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The driving safety systems described only work
as effectively as possible when there is ade-
quate contact between the tires and the road
surface. Pay particular attention to the informa-
tion regarding tires, recommended minimum
tire tread depths etc. in the "Wheels and tires"
section ( Y
page 346).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow chains.
Only in this way will the driving safety systems
described in this section work as effectively as
possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General information ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that
the wheels do not lock when you brake. This
allows you to continue steering the vehicle when
braking.
The % ABS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h), regardless of road-surface conditions.
ABS works on slippery surfaces, even when you
only brake gently.
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 63).
G WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
When ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information
on the ABS warning lamp ( Y
page 277) and dis-
play messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster ( Y
page 245).
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal vigorously until the braking sit-
uation is over. X
To make a full brake application: depress
the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication
of hazardous road conditions, and functions as a
reminder to take extra care while driving.Driving safety systems 63
Safety Z

Off-road ABS An ABS system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated on: R
Vehicles without the Offroad Engineering
package ( Y
page 217)R
Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering pack-
age ( Y
page 218)
At speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h), the front
wheels lock cyclically during braking. The dig-
ging-in effect achieved in the process reduces
the stopping distance on off-road terrain. This
limits steering capability.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
General information BAS operates in emergency braking situations.
If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS
automatically boosts the braking force, thus
shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 63).
G WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Braking X
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed 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. Active Brake Assist
General information
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 63).
Active Brake Assist consists of a distance warn-
ing function with an autonomous braking func-
tion and Adaptive Brake Assist.
Active Brake Assist can help you to minimize the
risk of a collision with the vehicle traveling in
front or reduce the effects of such a collision.
If Active Brake Assist detects that there is a risk
of collision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically. If you do not react to the visual and
audible collision warning, autonomous braking
can be initiated in critical situations. If you apply
the brake yourself in a critical situation, Adap-
tive Brake Assist of the Active Brake Assist sys-
tem supports you.
Important safety notes In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if: R
there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors R
there is snow or heavy rain R
there is interference by other radar sources R
there are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple in parking garages R
a narrow vehicle is traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike R
a vehicle is traveling in front on a different line R
new vehicles or after servicing is carried out
on the Active Brake Assist system
Observe the notes in the section on breaking-
in ( Y
page 137).
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle,
have the configuration and operation of the
radar sensor checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. This also applies to collisions at slow
speeds where there is no visible damage to the
front of the vehicle.
Activating/deactivating
Active Brake Assist is automatically active after
switching on the ignition.
You can activate or deactivate Active Brake
Assist ( Y
page 237) in the on-board computer.
When deactivated, the distance warning func-64
Driving safety systems
Safety

are in the path of your vehicle for an extended
period of time.
If adaptive Brake Assist detects a risk of colli-
sion with the vehicle in front, it calculates the
braking force necessary to avoid a collision. If
you apply the brakes forcefully, adaptive Brake
Assist will automatically increase the braking
force to a level suitable for the traffic conditions.
Adaptive Brake Assist provides braking assis-
tance in hazardous situations at speeds above
4 mph (7 km/h). It uses radar sensor technology
to assess the traffic situation.
Up to a speed of approximately 155 mph
(25 0 km/ h) , Adaptive Brake Assist is capable of
reacting to moving objects that have already
been detected as such at least once over the
period of observation.
Up to a speed of approximately 44 mph
(70 km/ h) , Adaptive Brake Assist reacts to sta-
tionary obstacles.
If adaptive Brake Assist demands particularly
high braking force, preventative passenger pro-
tection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are activated
simultaneously ( Y
page 55).X
Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will work normally again if: R
you release the brake pedal. R
there is no longer any danger of a collision. R
no obstacle is detected in front of your vehi-
cle.
Adaptive Brake Assist is then deactivated.
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems ( Y
page 63).
G WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic situa-
tions.
In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist can: R
intervene unnecessarily R
not intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation. G WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react: R
to people or animals R
to oncoming vehicles R
to crossing traffic R
when cornering
As a result, the Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause Brake Assist to intervene.
If adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a
malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS.
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 63).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction, i.e.
power transmission between the tires and the
road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating from
the direction desired by the driver, one or more
wheels are braked to stabilize the vehicle. The
engine output is also modified to keep the vehi-
cle on the desired course within physical limits.
ESP ®
assists the driver when pulling away on
wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize
the vehicle during braking.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
4ETS 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. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.66
Driving safety systems
Safety

Up to a speed of approximately 44 mph
(70 km/h) the Active Brake Assist with cross-
traffic function assists you with braking in haz-
ardous situations with: R
stationary obstacles in the path of the vehicle,
e.g. stopped or parked vehicles R
stationary pedestrians in the path of the vehi-
cle R
obstacles crossing your path that move in the
detection range of the sensors and are detec-
ted X
Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
You can prevent the intervention of Active Brake
Assist with cross-traffic function at any time by: R
depressing the accelerator pedal further R
activating kickdown R
releasing the brake pedal
The braking application of Active Brake Assist
with cross-traffic function is ended automati-
cally if: R
you maneuver to avoid the obstacle R
there is no longer a risk of collision R
there is no longer an obstacle detected in
front of your vehicle
STEER CONTROL
General information STEER CONTROL helps you by transmitting a
noticeable steering force to the steering wheel
in the direction required for vehicle stabilization.
This steering assistance is provided in particular
if: R
both right wheels or both left wheels are on a
wet or slippery road surface when you brake R
the vehicle starts to skid
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 63). No steering assistance is provided from STEER
CONTROL, if: R
ESP ®
is deactivated R
ESP ®
is malfunctioning R
the steering is malfunctioning
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, you will be assisted
further by the electrical power steering.
Protection against theft
Immobilizer X
To activate with the SmartKey: remove the
SmartKey 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.
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Anyone
can start the engine if a valid SmartKey has been
left inside the vehicle.
i The immobilizer is always deactivated when
you start the engine.
In the event that the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle's battery is charged), the sys-
tem is not operational. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA) or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
ATA (anti-theft alarm system)72
Protection against theft
Safety

R
LOW RANGE offroad gear (vehicles with the
Offroad Engineering package) ( Y
page 219)R
Differential lock (vehicles with the Off-Road
Engineering package) ( Y
page 218)R
Off-road ABS ( Y
page 64)R
Off-road 4ETS ( Y
page 67)R
Off-road ESP ®
( Y
page 68)R
AIRMATIC package (vehicle level)
( Y
page 186) R
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
( Y
page 216)
Observe the following notes: R
Stop the vehicle before starting to drive along
an off-road route. If necessary, select the off-
road program ( Y
page 218) or shift to the
LOW RANGE off-road gear ( Y
page 219).R
Select a vehicle level that is suitable for the
terrain. To avoid damaging the vehicle, make
sure there is always sufficient ground clear-
ance. R
Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
( Y
page 299). R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate
DSR ( Y
page 216).R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope. R
Adapt your speed to the terrain. The rougher,
steeper or more ruts on the terrain, the slower
your speed should be. R
Do not jump with the vehicle as this will inter-
rupt the vehicle's propulsion. R
Drive with extreme care on unfamiliar off-road
routes where visibility is poor. For safety rea-
sons, get out of the vehicle first and survey
the off-road route. R
Look out for obstacles, such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows. R
Always keep the doors, the tailgate, the side
windows and the sliding sunroof closed while
the vehicle is in motion. R
Do not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N .R
Observe the notes on off-road fording
( Y
page 167).
i Do not use the HOLD function when driving
off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients
or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur-
faces.
Checklist before driving off-road
! If the engine oil warning lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion, stop the vehicle in a
safe place as soon as possible. Check the
engine oil level. The engine oil warning lamp
warning must not be ignored. Continuing the
journey while the symbol is displayed could
lead to engine damage. X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add oil if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the engine
oil level must be sufficiently high to ensure a
correct oil supply in the vehicle. X
DEF tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check the
level and add if necessary ( Y
page 156).X
Tire-changing tool kit: check that the jack is
working and make sure you have the lug
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle. X
Wheels and tires: check the tire tread depth
and tire pressure. X
Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tires. X
Replace any missing valve caps. X
Replace dented or damaged wheels. X
Rims: dented or bent rims can result in a loss
of tire pressure and damage the tire bead.
Before driving off-road, check the wheels and
replace them if necessary.
Checklist after driving off-road
! If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle.
This allows you to detect damage promptly and
reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and
other road users. X
If the Offroad or Offroad Plus drive program
is selected: select the Individual , Sport ,Driving tips 169
Driving and parking Z

R
the road is narrow and winding R
there are strong shadows cast on the road
Switching on Lane Keeping Assist X
Switch on Active Lane Keeping Assist using
the on-board computer; to do so, select
Standard or Adaptive ( Y
page 238).
If you drive at speeds above 40 mph
(60 km/h) and lane markings are detected,
the lines in the assistance graphics display
( Y
page 237) are shown in green. Lane Keep-
ing Assist is ready for use.
Standard If Standard is selected, no warning vibration
occurs if: R
you switch on the turn signals. In this event,
the warnings are suppressed for a certain
period of time. R
a driving safety system intervenes, such as
ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
Adaptive When Adaptive is selected, no warning vibra-
tion occurs if: R
you switch on the turn signals. In this event,
the warnings are suppressed for a certain
period of time. R
a driving safety system intervenes, e.g. ABS,
BAS or ESP ®
.R
you accelerate hard, e.g. kickdown. R
you brake hard. R
you steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid an
obstacle or change lanes quickly. R
you cut the corner on a sharp bend.
In order that you are warned only when neces-
sary and in good time if you cross the lane mark-
ing, the system recognizes certain conditions
and warns you accordingly.
The warning vibration occurs earlier if: R
you approach the outer lane marking on a
bend. R
the road has very wide lanes, e.g. a highway. R
the system recognizes solid lane markings.
The warning vibration occurs later if: R
the road has narrow lanes. R
you cut the corner on a bend. Driving Assistance PLUS package
General notes The Driving Assistance Plus package consists of
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC ( Y
page 174), Active
Blind Spot Assist ( Y
page 210) and Active Lane
Keeping Assist ( Y
page 213).
Active Blind Spot Assist General notes Active Blind Spot Assist monitors the areas on
either side of the vehicle that are not directly
visible to the driver with two lateral, rear-facing
radar sensors. A warning lamp lights up in the
exterior mirrors and draws your attention to
vehicles detected in the monitored area. If you
then switch on the corresponding turn signal to
change lanes, you will also receive a visual and
audible collision warning. If a risk of lateral col-
lision is detected, corrective braking may help
you avoid a collision. Before a course-correcting
brake application, Active Blind Spot Assist eval-
uates the space in the direction of travel and at
the sides of the vehicle. For this, Active Blind
Spot Assist uses the forward-facing radar sen-
sors.
Active Blind Spot Assist supports you from a
speed of approximately 20 mph (30 km/h).
Important safety notes Active Blind Spot Assist is only an aid and is not
a substitute for attentive driving.
G WARNING
Active Blind Spot Assist does not react to: R
vehicles overtaken too closely on the side,
placing them in the blind spot area R
vehicles which approach with a large speed
differential and overtake your vehicle
As a result, Active Blind Spot Assist may nei-
ther give warnings nor intervene in such sit-
uations. There is a risk of an accident.
Always observe the traffic conditions care-
fully, and maintain a safe lateral distance.
i USA only: This device has been approved by
the FCC as a "Vehicular Radar System". The
radar sensor is intended for use in an auto-
motive radar system only. Removal, tamper-
ing, or altering of the device will void any war-210
Driving system s
Dr ivi ng an d parking

R
a driving safety system intervenes, e.g. ESP ®
,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake or Active Blind Spot Assist.R
you have adopted a sporty driving style with
high cornering speeds or high rates of accel-
eration. R
ESP ®
is switched off.R
the transmission is not in position D .R
on vehicles with a trailer tow hitch, the elec-
trical connection to the trailer has been cor-
rectly established. R
the offroad program is activated (vehicles
without the Offroad Engineering package). R
the Offroad or Offroad Plus drive program is
activated (vehicles with the Off-Road Engi-
neering package). R
the LOW RANGE offroad gear is activated
(vehicles with the Offroad Engineering pack-
age). R
an obstacle has been detected in the lane in
which you are driving. R
when a loss of tire pressure or a defective tire
has been detected and displayed.
There is a possibility that the Active Lane Keep-
ing Assist could misjudge the given traffic sit-
uation. An inappropriate brake application may
be interrupted at any time if you: R
steer slightly in the opposite direction. R
switch on the turn signal. R
clearly brake or accelerate.
A lane-correcting brake application is interrup-
ted automatically if: R
a driving safety system intervenes, e.g. ESP ®
,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake or Active Blind Spot Assist.R
lane markings are no longer detected.
Switching on Active Lane Keeping Assist X
Switch on Active Lane Keeping Assist using
the on-board computer; to do so, select
Standard or Adaptive ( Y
page 238).
If you drive at speeds above 40 mph
(60 km/h) and lane markings are detected,
the lines in the assistance graphics display
( Y
page 237) are shown in green. Active Lane
Keeping Assist is ready for use.
If Standard is selected, no warning vibration
occurs if: R
you switch on the turn signals. In this event,
the warnings are suppressed for a certain
period of time. R
a driving safety system intervenes, such as
ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
When Adaptive
is selected, no warning vibra-
tion occurs if: R
you switch on the turn signals. In this event,
the warnings are suppressed for a certain
period of time. R
a driving safety system intervenes, e.g.
ABS, BAS or ESP ®
. R
you accelerate hard, e.g. kickdown. R
you brake hard. R
you steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid an
obstacle or change lanes quickly. R
you cut the corner on a sharp bend.
Towing a trailer When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
correctly established the electrical connection.
This can be accomplished by checking the trailer
lighting. Lane-correcting brake application does
not take place when towing a trailer. Active Lane
Keeping Assist is not activated and the lines in
the assistance graphic are gray.
Off-road driving systems
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive) 4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are perma-
nently driven. Together with ESP ®
and 4ETS, it
improves the traction of your vehicle whenever
a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor override
the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot take
account of road, weather and traffic conditions.
4MATIC is only an aid. You are responsible for
the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for staying in
your lane.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle raised.
This may damage the transfer case. Damage
of this sort is not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty. All wheels must
remain either on the ground or be fully raised.
Observe the instructions for towing the vehi-
cle with all wheels in full contact with the
ground.Driving systems 215
Driving and parking Z

Offroad programs (vehicles with Off-
road Engineering package) General notes The Offroad and Offroad Plus drive programs
assist you when driving off-road. The engine's
performance characteristics and the gearshift-
ing characteristics of the automatic transmis-
sion are adapted for this purpose. ABS, ESP ®
and 4ETS programs especially adapted to off-
road driving are activated. An accelerator pedal
curve suitable for the terrain is selected, i.e. the
accelerator pedal must be depressed further to
accelerate.
Do not use the Offroad or Offroad Plus drive
programs on roads that are snow-covered or icy,
or if you have installed your vehicle with snow
chains.
Offroad drive program
C
DYNAMIC SELECT controllerD
Offroad program indicator lamp
Select the Offroad program for easily negotia-
ble off-road terrain, e.g. dirt tracks, gravel or
sandy surfaces. The engine's torque is restric-
ted to a limited degree and the drive wheels can
spin. The spinning wheels produce a cutting
effect for better traction. ABS, ESP ®
and 4ETS
programs especially adapted to off-road driving
are activated. A gentle accelerator pedal curve
is also selected, i.e. the accelerator pedal must
be depressed much further in order to acceler-
ate.
You can select the Offroad drive program at
speeds below 60 mph (96 km/h). The Drive
Program "Offroad" Max. Speed 60 mph
message appears in the multifunction display. If
you drive at speeds above 60 mph (96 km/ h)
and select the Offroad drive program, the
Drive More Slowly message appears in the multifunction display. The last active drive pro-
gram is selected again.
Selecting the Offroad program X
To select a drive program: turn DYNAMIC
SELECT controller C until indicator lamp D
lights up.
The Drive program "Offroad" Max.
speed 60 mph message appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
The vehicle is raised by +1.2 in (30 mm).
The vehicle changes from the Offroad drive pro-
gram to the Comfort drive program if you drive
faster than 70 mph (11 2 km/ h) .
The Drive more slowly message appears in
the multifunction display.
Offroad Plus drive program
C
DYNAMIC SELECT controller D
Offroad Plus drive program indicator lamp
Select the Offroad Plus drive program for rough
terrain, e.g. for steep and/or uneven terrain or
for driving on rocky terrain.
Your vehicle has an automatically activated dif-
ferential lock for the transfer case. It controls
the balance between the front and rear axles.
The differential lock improves the vehicle's trac-
tion. 4ETS ( Y
page 67) controls the balance
between both wheels on an axle.
Selecting the Offroad Plus drive program X
To select drive program: turn DYNAMIC
SELECT controller C until indicator lamp D
lights up.
The Drive program "Offroad Plus"
Max. speed 25 mph message appears in the
multifunction display.218
Driving systems
Driving and parking

R
The Offroad Plus program is selected and
the vehicle is raised by +1.2 in (30 mm)
compared with the Offroad drive program.R
DSR is switched on. R
The differential lock is closed.
You can select the Offroad Plus drive program at
speeds below 25 mph (40 km/ h) .
The Offroad Plus drive program automatically
switches to the Offroad drive program if you
drive faster than 30 mph (45 km/ h) . The Drive
more slowly message appears in the multi-
function display.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
( Y
page 168).
LOW RANGE offroad gear (vehicles with
the Offroad Engineering package) Important safety notes
G WARNING
If you select the LOW RANGE off-road gear on
a slippery road surface, the wheels could lose
traction: R
if you remove your foot from the accelera-
tor pedal when driving R
if off road ABS intervenes when braking
If the wheels lose traction. the vehicle can no
longer be steered. There is an increased dan-
ger of skidding and accidents.
Never select the LOW RANGE off-road gear
when driving on slippery road surfaces.
G WARNING
If you do not wait for the transfer case gear
change process to complete, the transfer
case could remain in the neutral position. The
power transmission to the driven wheels is
then interrupted. There is a danger of the
vehicle rolling away unintentionally. There is a
risk of an accident.
Wait until the transfer case shift process is
completed.
Do not turn off the engine while changing gear
and do not shift the automatic transmission to
another position. General notes
C
LOW RANGE offroad gear button D
LOW RANGE offroad gear indicator lamp
HIGH RANGE
Position for all normal on-
road driving conditions
LOW RANGE
Offroad position for driving
off-road and fording
The transmission ratio
between the engine and
wheels is only approx-
imately one third of that in
the HIGH RANGE road posi-
tion. Drive torque is thus
proportionately higher.
Do not use LOW RANGE: R
on slippery road surfaces,
e.g. in the case of slush R
on snow or ice-covered
roads R
if you have mounted snow
chains to your vehicle
The LOW RANGE offroad gear assists you in
driving off-road and when fording. When LOW
RANGE is engaged, the engine’s performance
characteristics and the gearshifting character-
istics of the automatic transmission are adapted
for this purpose.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
( Y
page 168). You will find information about
driving safety systems in conjunction with
LOW RANGE in the "Safety" section ( Y
page 63).Driving systems 219
Driving and parking Z

Warning/
indicator
lamp Q Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
%
Q The yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is deactivated due to a malfunction.
Other driving systems and driving safety systems may also malfunction.
In addition, the