light MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 2019 Owner's Guide

When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. G
WARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is subjected to
direct sunlight, parts may get very hot. Chil-
dren may burn themselves on these parts,
particularly on the metal parts of the child
restraint system. There is a risk of injury.
If you leave the vehicle, taking the child with
you, always ensure that the child restraint
system is not exposed to direct sunlight. Pro- tect it with a blanket, for example. If the child
restraint system has been exposed to direct
sunlight, let it cool down before securing the
child in it. Never leave children unattended in the vehicle.
Child-proof locks for the rear doors You secure each door individually with the child-
proof locks on the rear doors. A door secured
with a child-proof lock cannot be opened from
inside the vehicle. When the vehicle is unlocked, the door can be opened from the outside. X
To activate: press the child-proof lock lever
up in the direction of arrow 0043.
X Make sure that the child-proof locks are work-
ing properly.
X To deactivate: press the child-proof lock
lever down in the direction of arrow 0044.
Override feature for the rear side win-
dows X
To activate/deactivate: press button0043.
If indicator lamp 0044is lit, operation of the rear
side windows is disabled. Operation is only
possible using the switches in the driver's
door. If indicator lamp 0044is off, operation is
possible using the switches in the rear com-
partment. Pets in the vehicle
G
WARNING
If you leave animals unsupervised or unse-
cured in the vehicle, they may press buttons
or switches, for instance.
In this way, animals may:
R activate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
R switch systems on or off and thereby
endanger other road users
Furthermore, unsecured animals may be flung
around inside the vehicle in the event of an
accident or abrupt steering or braking maneu- ver, and thereby injure vehicle occupants.
There is a risk of accident and injury. Pets in the vehicle
65Safety
Z

Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle.
Always secure animals properly when driving, for instance with a suitable pet carrier. Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS (Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
(Y page 66)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System) (Y page 67)
R Active Brake Assist (Y page 67)
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
(Y page 70)
R EBD ( Electronic Brake force Distribution)
(Y page 72)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 72)
R Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
(Y page 72)
R Active Steering Assist STEER CONTROL
(Y page 75) 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 352).
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 0025 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 66). 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 246).
Brakes 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. 66
Driving safety systemsSafety

Activating/deactivating
Active Brake Assist is automatically active after
switching on the ignition.
You can activate or deactivate Active Brake
Assist (Y page 239) in the on-board computer.
When deactivated, the distance warning func-
tion and the autonomous braking function are
also deactivated.
If Active Brake Assist is deactivated, the 00D4
symbol appears in the assistance graphic dis-
play.
If DSR (Y page 215) is activated, Active Brake
Assist is deactivated.
Distance warning function General information
The distance warning function can help you to
minimize the risk of a front-end collision with a
vehicle ahead or reduce the effects of such a
collision. If the distance warning function
detects that there is a risk of a collision, you will
be warned visually and acoustically.
Important safety notesi Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 66).G
WARNING
The distance warning function does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
The distance warning function may not give
warnings in all critical situations. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
Always adapt your speed to suit the prevailing
road and traffic conditions. G
WARNING
The distance warning function cannot always
clearly identify objects and complex traffic
situations. In such cases, the distance warning function
may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and do not rely solely on the distance
warning function.
Function Starting at a speed of approximately 4 mph
(7 km/h), the distance warning function warns
you if you rapidly approach a vehicle in front. An
intermittent warning tone will then sound, and
the 00BA distance warning lamp will light up in
the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or X Take evasive action, provided it is safe to do
so.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause the system to display a warning.
With the help of the radar sensor system, the
distance warning function can detect obstacles
that are in the path of your vehicle for an exten-
ded period of time.
Up to a speed of approximately 44 mph
(70 km/ h), the distance warning function can
also react to stationary obstacles, such as stop-
ped or parked vehicles.
Autonomous braking function If the driver does not react to the distance warn-
ing signal in a critical situation, Active Brake
Assist can assist the driver with the autonomous braking function.
The autonomous braking function is available in
the following speed ranges:
R 4 - 65 mph (7 - 105 km/ h)for moving objects
R 4 - 31 mph (7 - 50 km/h) for stationary
objects
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause the Autonomous Braking Func-
tion to intervene.
If the autonomous braking function requires a
particularly high braking force, preventative 68
Driving safety systemsSafety

Deactivating/activating ESP
®Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 66).
You can select between the following states of
ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the follow-
ing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action
which provides better grip.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehicle if
the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated. You
could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
Deactivating/activating ESP ® X
To deactivate: press button0043.
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: press button 0043.
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the 00E5ESP®
warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R Engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
R Traction control is still activated.
R Active Brake Assist is no longer available; nor
is it activated if you brake firmly with assis-
tance from ESP ®
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available, nor is it
activated if you brake firmly and ESP ®
inter-
venes.
R Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
is no longer available; nor is it activated if you
brake firmly with assistance from ESP ®
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly.
Offroad ESP ®
(vehicles with Off-Road
Engineering package) An ESP
®
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 216)
R Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering pack-
age (Y page 217)
Offroad ESP ®
intervenes with a delay if there is
oversteering or understeering, thus improving
traction.
Crosswind Assist General information
Strong crosswind gusts can impair the ability of your vehicle to drive straight ahead. The cross- Driving safety syste
ms
71Safety Z

Following damage to the front end of the vehicle,
have the configuration and operation of the
radar sensors 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.
Following damage to the windshield, have the
configuration and operation of the camera sys-
tem checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Function X
To activate or deactivate: activate or deac-
tivate Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic
function using the on-board computer
(Y page 239).
If the Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic
function is deactivated, the 00D4symbol
appears in the multifunction display.
If you have activated DSR (Y page 215), the
Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function is
deactivated.
Starting at a speed of around 4 mph (7 km/h),
this function warns you if you rapidly approach a
vehicle in front. An intermittent warning tone
will then sound and the 00BAdistance warning
lamp will light up in the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately to defuse the situation.
or X Take evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
can also brake the vehicle automatically under
the following conditions:
R the driver and front-passenger have their seat
belts fastened
and
R the vehicle speed is between approximately
4 mph (7 km/h) and 124 mph (200 km/h)
Up to a speed of approximately 44 mph
(70 km/h), Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function may react to:
R stationary objects in the path of your vehicle,
e.g. stopped or parked vehicles
R pedestrians in the path of your vehicle
i If there is an increased risk of a collision,
preventive passenger protection measures
(PRE-SAFE ®
) are triggered (Y page 58).
If the risk of collision with the vehicle in front
remains and you do not brake, take evasive action or accelerate significantly, the vehicle
may perform automatic emergency braking, up
to the point of full brake application. Automatic
emergency braking is not performed until imme-
diately prior to an imminent accident.
If you apply the brake yourself in a critical sit-
uation or during autonomous braking, braking
assistance is provided according to the situa-
tion. If necessary, this increases the brake pres- sure up to full brake application.
To avoid a collision, Active Brake Assist with
cross-traffic function calculates the brake force
necessary if:
R you approach an obstacle, and
R Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
has detected a risk of a collision
When driving at a speed under 20 mph
(30 km/h) : if you depress the brake pedal,
Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function is
activated. The increase in brake pressure from
Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function is
carried out at the last possible moment.
When driving at a speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h): if you depress the brake pedal
sharply, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic
function automatically increases the brake pres- sure to a degree suited to the traffic situation.
Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
provides braking assistance in hazardous situa-
tions with vehicles in front within a speed range
between 4 mph (7 km/h) and 155 mph
(250 km/h).
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 74
Driving safety systemsSafety

If activated in the multimedia system, the loca-
tor lighting also lights up in the dark (see the
Digital Operator's Manual).
X To open the tailgate automatically from
outside the vehicle:
press and hold the0054
button until the tailgate opens.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: X To close the tailgate automatically from
outside the vehicle:
if the SmartKey is loca-
ted in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle,
press the 0054button on the SmartKey.
When the tailgate closes you can then release
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 KEY-
LESS-GO key in the vehicle (Y page 142).
Locking/unlocking centrally You can start, lock or unlock the vehicle using
KEYLESS-GO. To do this, you only need carry the
SmartKey with you. You can combine the func-
tions of KEYLESS-GO with those of a conven-
tional SmartKey. Unlock the vehicle by using
KEYLESS-GO, for instance, and lock it using the 0037 button on the SmartKey.
The driver's door and the door at which the han- dle is used, must both be closed. The SmartKey
must be outside the vehicle. When locking or
unlocking with KEYLESS-GO, the distance
between the SmartKey and the corresponding
door handle must not be greater than 3 ft (1 m).
KEYLESS-GO checks whether a valid SmartKey
is in the vehicle by periodically establishing a
radio connection between the vehicle and the
SmartKey. This happens:
R when starting the engine
R while driving
R when the external door handles are touched
R during convenience closing X
To unlock the vehicle: touch the inner sur-
face of the door handle.
X To lock the vehicle: touch sensor surface 0043
or 0044.
Make sure that you do not touch the inner
surface of the door handle.
X Convenience closing feature: touch
recessed sensor surface 0044for an extended
period.
Further information on the convenience closing
feature (Y page 90).
If you pull on the handle of the tailgate, only the cargo compartment of the vehicle is unlocked.
Deactivating and activating If you do not intend to use a SmartKey for an
extended period of time, you can deactivate the
KEYLESS-GO function of the SmartKey. The
SmartKey will then use very little power, thereby conserving battery power. For the purposes of
activation/deactivation, the vehicle must not be
nearby.
X To deactivate: press the0037button on the
SmartKey twice in rapid succession.
The battery check lamp of the SmartKey
flashes twice briefly and lights up once, KEY-
LESS-GO is deactivated (Y page 80).
X To activate: press any button on the Smart-
Key.
or X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
KEYLESS-GO and all of its associated features are available again. 78
SmartKeyOpening and closing

SmartKey battery
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Batteries contain toxic and corrosive substan- ces. If batteries are swallowed, it can result in
severe health problems. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children. If
a battery is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately. 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 spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
The SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. National guide-
lines must be observed during disposal. In Cal-
ifornia, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the
batteries replaced at a qualified specialist work- shop. Checking the battery X
Press the 0037or0036 button.
The battery is working properly if battery
check lamp 0043lights up briefly.
The battery is discharged if battery check
lamp 0043does not light up briefly.
X Change the battery (Y page 80).
If the SmartKey battery is checked within the
signal reception range of the vehicle, pressing
the 0037 or0036 button:
R locks or
R unlocks the vehicle
i You can get a battery at any qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Replacing the battery You require a CR 2025 3 V cell battery.
X Take the mechanical key out of the SmartKey
(Y page 79). X
Press mechanical key 0044into the SmartKey
opening in the direction of the arrow until bat- tery compartment cover 0043opens. Do not
hold battery compartment cover 0043closed
while doing so.
X Remove battery compartment cover 0043.80
SmartKeyOpening and closing

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions There is interference from a powerful source of radio waves.
X Unlock (Y page 84) or lock (Y page 84) the vehicle using the
mechanical key. KEYLESS-GO is malfunctioning.
X Lock/unlock the vehicle using the remote control function of the
SmartKey.
X Have the vehicle and SmartKey checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
If the vehicle can also not be locked/unlocked using the remote con-
trol function:
X Unlock (Y page 84) or lock (Y page 84) the vehicle using the
mechanical key.
X Have the vehicle and SmartKey checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. The engine cannot be
started using the Smart-
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 342).
or X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 343).
or X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine cannot be
started using the Start/
Stop button. The Smart-
Key is in the vehicle. The vehicle is locked.
X Unlock the vehicle and try to start the vehicle again. The SmartKey battery is discharged or nearly discharged.
X Check the SmartKey battery (Y page 80) and replace it if necessary
(Y page 80).
If this does not work: X Start your vehicle with the SmartKey in the ignition lock. There is interference from a powerful source of radio waves.
X Start your vehicle with the SmartKey in the ignition lock. You have lost a Smart-
Key. X
Have the SmartKey deactivated at a qualified specialist workshop.
X Report the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
X If necessary, have the locks changed as well. You have lost the
mechanical key. X
Report the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
X If necessary, have the locks changed as well. 82
SmartKeyOpening and closing

Automatic locking feature
X
To deactivate: press and hold button 0043for
about five seconds until a tone sounds.
X To activate: press and hold button 0044for
about five seconds until a tone sounds.
If you press one of the two buttons and do not
hear a tone, the relevant setting has already
been selected.
The vehicle is locked automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels are turn-
ing.
You could therefore be locked out if:
R the vehicle is being pushed.
R the vehicle is being towed.
R the vehicle is on a roller dynamometer.
You can also switch the automatic locking func-
tion on and off using the on-board computer
(Y page 241). Power closing
Power closing pulls the doors and tailgate into
their locks automatically even if they are not
completely closed.
X To power close a door: push the door into
the lock up to the first detent position.
Power closing will pull the door fully closed.
X To power close the tailgate: lightly press
the tailgate downwards.
Power closing will pull the tailgate fully
closed. Unlocking/locking the driver's door
using the mechanical key
i If you want to centrally lock the vehicle using
the mechanical key, begin by pressing the
locking button for the interior locking mech-
anism while the driver's door is open. Then
proceed to lock the driver's door using the
mechanical key. X
Insert the mechanical key into the lock of the
driver's door as far as it will go.
X To unlock: turn the mechanical key counter-
clockwise to position 0047.
X To lock: turn the mechanical key clockwise as
far as it will go to position 0047.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door, the anti-theft alarm sys- tem will be triggered. Switch off the alarm
(Y page 75).
If you lock the vehicle as described above, the
fuel filler flap is not locked. The anti-theft alarm
system is not armed. Cargo compartment
Important safety notes
G
DANGER
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Exhaust
gases can enter the vehicle interior if the tail- gate is open while the engine is running, espe-cially if the vehicle is in motion. There is a risk of poisoning.
Always switch off the engine before opening
the tailgate. Never drive with the tailgate
open. 84
Cargo compartmentOpening and closing

G
WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury, particu-
larly in the event of sudden braking or a sud-
den change in direction.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the rear
when opened. Therefore, make sure that
there is sufficient clearance above and behind
the tailgate.
The opening dimensions of the tailgate can be
found in the "Vehicle data" section
(Y page 389).
You should preferably place luggage or loads in the cargo compartment. Observe the loading
guidelines (Y page 295).
Do not leave the SmartKey in the cargo com-
partment. You could otherwise lock yourself
out.
You can:
R 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 emer-
gency release Tailgate reversing feature
On vehicles with the tailgate remote closing fea- ture, the tailgate is equipped with automatic
obstacle recognition with a reversing feature. If a solid object blocks or restricts the tailgate
when automatically opening or closing, this pro-
cedure is stopped. If the tailgate is stopped dur- ing the closing procedure, it will open again
automatically. The automatic obstacle recogni-
tion with reversing feature is only an aid. It is not
a substitute for your attentiveness when open-
ing and closing the tailgate. G
WARNING
The reversing feature does not respond:
R to soft, light and thin objects, e.g. fingers
R over the last 00C2in (8 mm) of the closing
movement
The reversing feature cannot prevent some-
one from becoming trapped in these situa-
tions in particular. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that no body parts are in close
proximity during the closing procedure.
If somebody becomes trapped:
R press the 0054button on the SmartKey, or
R pull or press the remote operating switch
on the driver's door or
R press the closing or locking button on the
tailgate or
R pull the handle on the tailgate Opening and closing manually from
outside
Opening X
Press the 0036button on the SmartKey.
X Pull handle 0043and release it.
The tailgate opens automatically. Cargo compartment
85Opening and closing Z