lights MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 2017 Owner's Guide

been switched off. The heating time depends on
the set interior temperature.
Switching on/off X
To activate: press the K or V button.
The indicator lamp in the K or V button
lights up.
i The blower will run at a low speed regardless
of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the residual heat function at
high temperatures, only the ventilation will be
activated. The blower runs at medium speed. X
To deactivate: press the K or V but-
ton.
The indicator lamp in the K or V button
goes out.
Residual heat is deactivated automatically: R
after approximately 30 minutes R
when the ignition is switched on R
if the battery voltage drops
Ionization Ionization is used to purify the air in the vehicle
interior and attain an improved interior climate.
The ionization of the interior air is odorless and
cannot be perceived directly in the vehicle inte-
rior.
You can switch ionization on and off via the mul-
timedia system (see the separate operating
instructions).
Ionization can only be operated when the auto-
matic climate control is switched on. The side air
vent on the driver's side must be open.
Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in
the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air out- lets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes: R
keep the air inlet grille on the hood and in the
engine compartment on the front-passenger
side free of blockages, such as ice, snow or
leaves. R
never cover the air vents or air intake grilles in
the vehicle interior.
i For virtually draft-free ventilation, adjust the
sliders of the air vents to the center position.
Setting the center air vents
C
Center air vent, left D
Center air vent, right

Key positions with KEYLESS- GO
C
Start/Sto p butto nD
Ignition loc k
As soo n as th e ignition is switched on , all th e
indicator lamps in th e instrumen t cluste r ligh t
up. Further information on situation s wher e an
indicator lamp either fails to go out after starting
th e engin e or lights up while driving
( Y
page 276).
If Start/Sto p butto n C has no t yet been
pressed, this correspond s to th e ke y bein g
remove d from th e ignition .X
To switch on th e power supply : press
Start/Sto p butto n C once.
The power suppl y is switched on . You can no w
activat e th e windshield wipers, for example .
The power suppl y is switched off again if:R
th e driver' s door is opened andR
you press Start/Sto p butto n C twice when in
this position X
To switch on th e ignition: press Start/Sto p
butto n C twice.
The ignition is switched on .
If you press Start/Sto p butto n C once when
in this position , th e ignition is switched off
again .
Removing the Start/S top but ton
You can remove th e Start/Sto p butto n from th e
ignition loc k and start th e vehicl e as normal
usin g th e SmartKey.
It is only possible to switch between KEYLESS -
GO mod e and SmartKey operation when th e
transmission is in position P .X
Remove Start/Sto p butto n C fr om ignition
loc k D . You do no t have to remove th e Start/Sto p but -
to n from th e ignition loc k when you leav e th e
vehicle. You should, however , always tak e th e
SmartKey wit h you when leaving th e vehicle. As
lon g as th e SmartKey is in th e vehicle:R
th e vehicl e can be started usin g th e Start /
Stop butto n R
th e electrically powered equipmen t can be
operate d
Starting the engine
Important safety notes
G WARNIN G
If children are lef t unsupervised in th e vehicle,
they could: R
open th e doors, thus endangering other
people or road users. R
get out and disrupt traffic. R
operate th e vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set th e vehicl e in
motion if, for example , they:R
release th e parking brake. R
shiftin g th e automatic transmission out of
park positio n P R
Start th e engine.
Ther e is a ris k of an acciden t and injury.
When leaving th e vehicle, always tak e th e
SmartKey wit h you and loc k th e vehicle. Never
leav e children or animals unattended in th e
vehicle. Always keep th e SmartKey out of
reac h of children .
G WARNIN G
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gase s suc h as carbon monoxide. Inhalin g
these exhaust gase s leads to poisoning . Ther e
is a ris k of fatal injury. Therefore never leav e
th e engin e runnin g in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficien t ventilation .
G WARNIN G
Flammable materials introduce d throug h
environmental influence or by animals can Driving 139
Driving and parking Z

ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or
parts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk
of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system.
General notes Vehicles with a gasoline engine: the catalytic
converter is preheated for up to 30 seconds
after a cold start. The sound of the engine may
change during this time.
Automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position P
( Y
page 146).
The transmission position display in the mul-
tifunction display shows P ( Y
page 148).
i You can start the engine in transmission
position P and N .
Starting procedure with the SmartKey X
To start a diesel engine : turn the SmartKey
to position 2 in the ignition lock ( Y
page 138).
The \( preglow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 3 in the ignition
lock and release it as soon as the engine is
running ( Y
page 138).
i Vehicles with a diesel engine: you can
start the engine without preglow if the engine
is warm.
Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine The Start/Stop button can be used to start the
vehicle without inserting the SmartKey into the
ignition lock. The Start/Stop button must be
inserted in the ignition lock and the SmartKey
must be in the vehicle. This mode for starting the
engine operates independently of the ECO
start/stop automatic engine start function. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Press the Start/Stop button once
( Y
page 138).
Vehicles with a gasoline engine: the engine
starts.
Vehicles with a diesel engine: preglow is
activated and the engine starts.
Starting procedure via smartphone Observe the important safety notes on starting
the engine ( Y
page 139).
You can also start your engine via your smart-
phone from outside the vehicle. In this case, the
previously selected climate control setting is
activated. In this way you can cool or heat the
interior of the vehicle before starting the jour-
ney.
Only start the engine via your smartphone if it is
safe to start and run the engine where your vehi-
cle is parked.
Observe the legal stipulations in the area where
your vehicle is parked. Engine start via smart-
phone may be limited to certain countries or
regions.
You can execute a maximum of two consecutive
starting attempts via your smartphone. If you
insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock, you
can carry out two more starting attempts.
Once you have started the engine, you can
switch the engine off via your smartphone at any
time.
You can only start the engine via your smart-
phone if: R
the SmartKey is in the ignition lock R
park position P is selected R
the accelerator pedal is not depressed R
the anti-theft alarm system is not activated R
the panic alarm is not activated R
the hazard warning lamps are switched off R
the hood is closed. R
the doors are closed and locked R
the windows and sliding sunroof are closed
Also make sure that: R
the fuel tank is sufficiently filled R
the starter battery is sufficiently charged140
Driving
Driving and parking

Aut oma tic engine startThe engin e start s automatically if:R
you switch off th e ECO start/sto p function by
pressing th e ECO butto nR
in transmission position D or N th e brak e
pedal is release d and th e HOLD function is no t
active R
you depress th e accelerato r pedalR
you engage revers e gear RR
you mov e th e transmission out of position PR
you switch to th e Sport Plu s or Sport drive
program (Mercedes-AM G vehicles)R
you activat e manual gearshifting (Mercedes-
AM G vehicles)R
you switch to th e Offroa d drive program
(vehicles without Off-Road Engineering pack-
age) R
you switch to th e Offroa d or Offroa d Plu s
drive program (vehicles wit h Off-Road Engi-
neering package) R
you unfasten your seat belt or open th e driv-
er' s doorR
th e vehicl e start s to rol lR
th e brak e system require s thisR
th e temperature in th e vehicl e interior devi-
ate s from th e set rangeR
th e system detects moisture on th e wind-
shield when th e air-conditioning system is
switched on R
th e battery's condition of charge is to o low
Shifting th e transmission to position P does no t
start th e engine. Deactivating or activating the ECO
start/stop function All vehicles (excep t Mercedes-AM G veh i-
cles) X
To deactivate: press ECO butto n C .
Indicato r lamp D goe s out .X
To activate: press ECO butto n C .
Indicato r lamp D lights up.
If indicator lamp D is off , th e ECO start/sto p
function has been deactivated manually or as
th e result of a malfunction .
Mercedes-AM G veh icles
X
To deactivate: in th e Comfor t drive pro -
gram , press ECO butto n C .
or X
Activat e manual gearshifting ( Y
page 150).
or X
Switc h to th e Sport Plu s or Sport drive pro -
gram ( Y
page 145).
Indicato r lamp D goes out .X
To activate: press ECO butto n C .
Indicato r lamp D lights up. When th e
Sport Plu s or Sport drive program is activa-
ted, th e automatic transmission switches to
th e Comfor t drive program .Driving 143
Driving and parking Z

Temporary setting X
To activate: shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to
position D .X
Pull steering wheel paddle shifter C or D .
Temporary setting will be active for a certain
amount of time. Under certain conditions the
minimum amount of time is extended, e.g. in the
case of lateral acceleration, during an overrun
phase or when driving on steep terrain. X
To deactivate: pull steering wheel paddle
shifter D and hold it in place.
or X
Use the DIRECT SELECT lever to switch the
transmission position.
or X
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
change the drive program.
Permanent setting (all vehicles except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
X
To activate: shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to
position D .X
Press button C . X
To deactivate: press button C .
or X
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
change the drive program.
Permanent setting (Mercedes-AMG
vehicles) X
To activate: shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to
position D . X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.X
To deactivate: press button C .
or X
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
switch to the Individual drive program.
Indicator lamp D goes out.
Shifting gears
! Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the automatic
transmission does not shift up automatically
even when the engine limiting speed for the
current gear is reached. When the engine lim-
iting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut to
prevent the engine from overrevving. Always
make sure that the engine speed does not
reach the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.Automatic transmission 151
Driving an d parking Z

Applying or releasing ma nuallyX
To engage: push handle C .
When th e electric parking brak e is engaged,
th e I (US A only) or $ (Canada only)
red indicator lamp lights up in th e instrumen t
cluster.
i The electric parking brak e can also be
applie d when th e SmartKey is removed.X
To release: pull handle C .
The red I (US A only) or $ (Canada
only) indicator lamp in th e instrumen t cluste r
goe s out .
i The electric parking brak e can only be
released: R
if th e SmartKey is in position 1 in th e igni-
tion loc k ( Y
page 138) orR
if th e ignition was switched on usin g th e
Start/Sto p butto n
To ensur e that you do no t rol l backwards when
pullin g away on an uphil l slope, engage th e elec -
tric parking brak e ( Y
page 141).
Applying automatically The electric parking brak e is automatically
applie d when th e transmission is in position P
and : R
th e engin e is switched off orR
th e driver is no t wearing a seat belt and th e
driver's door is opened
To preven t th e electric parking brak e from bein g
automatically applied, pull handle C . The electric parking brak e is also engage d auto -
matically if: R
Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C bring s th e vehicl e
to a standstill or R
th e HOLD function is keepin g th e vehicl e sta-
tionary R
Parking Pilo t is keepin g th e vehicl e stationary
In addition , at least on e of th e followin g condi-
tion s mus t be fulfilled :R
th e engin e is switched off R
th e driver is no t wearing a seat belt and th e
driver's door is opened R
there is a system malfunction R
th e powe r supply is insufficien tR
th e vehicl e is stationary for a lengthy period
The red I (US A only) or $ (Canada only)
indicator lamp in th e instrumen t cluste r lights
up.
The electric parking brak e is no t automatically
engage d if th e engin e is switched off by th e ECO
start/sto p function .
Releasing automatically The electric parking brak e is release d automat -
ically when all of th e followin g condition s are
fulfilled : R
th e engin e is running. R
th e transmission is in position D or R .R
th e seat belt has been fastened. R
you depress th e accelerato r pedal .
If th e transmission is in position R , th e trunk lid
mus t be closed.
If your seat belt is no t fastened, th e followin g
condition s mus t be fulfilled to automatically
release th e electric parking brake: R
th e driver's door is closed. R
you hav e shifte d out of transmission position
P or you hav e previously driven faste r than
2 mph (3 km/h).
i Ensur e that you do no t depress th e accel-
erator pedal unintentionally. Otherwise th e
parking brak e will be release d and th e vehicl e
will start to move. Parking 161
Driving and parking Z

The ECO display consists of three sections, with
an inner and outer area. The sections corre-
spond to the following three categories:
C
Acceleration (evaluation of all accel-
eration processes): R
the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: moderate
acceleration, especially at higher
speeds R
the outer area empties and the
inner area is gray: sporty acceler-
ation
D
Coasting (evaluation of all decelera-
tion processes): R
the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: anticipatory
driving, keeping your distance and
early release of the accelerator.
The vehicle can coast without use
of the brakes. R
the outer area empties and the
inner area is gray: frequent heavy
braking

This helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
When you take advantage of engine braking, a
drive wheel may not turn for some time, e.g.
on a slippery road surface. This could cause
damage to the drive train. This type of damage
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz war-
ranty.
Do not depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. causing the
brakes to rub by constantly applying light pres-
sure to the pedal. This results in excessive and
premature wear to the brake pads.
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter
to shift into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. This is especially
important if the vehicle is laden.
This also applies if you have activated cruise
control, the speed limiter or Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC.
This will use the braking effect of the engine, so
that less braking will be required to maintain the
speed. This relieves the load on the brake sys-
tem and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly.
Heavy and light loads
G WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately. Drive
on for a short while. This allows the airflow to
cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac-
tion from the brakes when braking for the first time. This may also occur after the vehicle has
been washed or driven through deep water.
You then have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehicle
washed, brake firmly while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-
due may form on the brake discs and brake
pads. This can result in a significantly longer
braking distance. R
Brake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so. R
Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey. R
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes
! The brake fluid level may be too low, if: R
if the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and R
you hear a warning tone while the engine is
running
Observe additional warning messages in the
multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immediately.
Consult a qualified specialist workshop to
arrange this.
! A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a 2-axle dynamometer. If
you wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified spe-
cialist workshop in advance. You could oth-
erwise damage the drive train or the brake
system.
! Because ESP ®
is an automatic system, the
engine and ignition must be switched off
(SmartKey in position 0 or 1 or Start/Stop
button in position 0 or 1 ) when the electricDriving tips 165
Driving and parking Z

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

Comfort or Slippery drive program
( Y
page 145).X
Deactivate the LOW RANGE off-road gear
( Y
page 219).X
Deactivate DSR ( Y
page 216).X
Lower the vehicle level again to a level suita-
ble to the road conditions, e.g. to the normal
level. X
Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage. X
Clean the front and rear license plates. X
Clean the wheels and tires with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects. X
Clean the wheels, wheel housings and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check for
any foreign objects and damage. X
Check whether twigs or other parts of plants
have become trapped. These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle joints
and propeller shafts. X
After the trip, examine without fail the entire
undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes, body-
work structure, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage. X
After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned. X
If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the wheels
and drive train and remove them if necessary.
Foreign objects can disturb the balance and
cause vibrations.
Driving on sand Observe the following rules when driving on
sand: R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 217).R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
with Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 218).R
Select a higher vehicle level. R
Avoid high engine speeds. R
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter to shift to a lower gear appropriate to
the terrain. R
Drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. Otherwise the vehicle's wheels could
become stuck in loose ground. R
Drive in the tracks of other vehicles if possi-
ble. Make sure that: -
the tire ruts are not too deep. -
the sand is sufficiently firm. -
the ground clearance of the vehicle is suf-
ficient.
Tire ruts and gravel roads
! Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or
bottom out and get stuck.
Observe the following rules when driving along
ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with loose
gravel: R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 217). R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
with Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 218). R
Select a higher vehicle level. R
Avoid high engine speeds. R
Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing wheel paddle shifter. R
Drive slowly. R
Where ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels of one side on the center grassy area,
if possible.
Driving over obstacles
! Obstacles could damage the floor of the
vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask
passengers for guidance when driving over
large obstacles. The passenger should always
keep a safe distance from the vehicle when
doing so in order to avoid injury as a result of
unexpected vehicle movements. After driving
off-road or over obstacles, check the vehicle
for possible damage, especially to the under-
body and the components of the chassis.170
Driving tips
Driving and parking