towing MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 2019 Owner's Guide

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions Blind Spot Assist
Blind Spot Assist
Currently Unavaila‐ Currently Unavaila‐
ble See Operator's ble See Operator's
Manual Manual
orActive
Active
Blind Spot Assist
Blind Spot Assist
Currently Unavaila‐ Currently Unavaila‐
ble See Operator's ble See Operator's
Manual Manual Blind Spot Assist or Active Blind Spot Assist is temporarily inoperative.
Possible causes are:
R the radar sensor system is outside the operating temperature range
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to elec-
tromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio stations or
other sources of electromagnetic radiation
The yellow 0063indicator lamps also light up in the exterior mirrors.
When the causes stated above no longer apply, the display message
disappears.
Blind Spot Assist or Active Blind Spot Assist is operational again.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 158).
X Restart the engine. Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot Assist
Not Available When Not Available When
Towing a Trailer Towing a Trailer
See Operator's Man‐ See Operator's Man‐
ual ual
orAct. Blind
Act. Blind
Spot Asst. Not
Spot Asst. Not
Available When Tow‐ Available When Tow‐
ing a Trailer See ing a Trailer See
Operator's Manual Operator's Manual Blind Spot Assist or Active Blind Spot Assist is deactivated while tow-
ing a trailer.
You have established the electrical connection between the trailer and
your vehicle.
X Press 0076on the steering wheel to confirm the display message. Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot Assist
Inoperative Inoperative
or
Active Blind Spot
Active Blind Spot
Assist Inoperative Assist Inoperative Blind Spot Assist or Active Blind Spot Assist is malfunctioning.
The yellow
0063indicator lamps also light up in the exterior mirrors.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Active Parking Active Parking
Assist Canceled Assist Canceled The driver's door is open.
X Repeat the parking gap measurement and parking process with the
driver's door closed. You have inadvertently touched the multifunction steering wheel while
steering intervention was active.
X While steering intervention is active, make sure that the multifunc-
tion steering wheel is not touched unintentionally. The vehicle has started to skid and ESP
®
has intervened.
X Use Active Parking Assist again later (Y page 192).Active Parking
Active Parking
Assist Inoperative Assist Inoperative Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is malfunctioning or faulty.
X Follow the instructions and helpful hints in the "Problems with
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC" section (Y page 192).
If the multifunction display still shows the display message:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
265On-board computer and displays Z

R
Always stow objects in such a way that they
cannot be tossed about in these or similar
situations.
R Always make sure that objects do not pro-
trude out of the stowage spaces, luggage
nets or stowage nets.
R Ensure that closable stowage spaces are
shut before beginning your journey.
R Always stow and secure heavy, hard, poin-
ted, sharp-edged, fragile or large objects in
the cargo compartment.
Observe the loading guidelines (Y page 295).
Glove box X
To open: pull handle 0043and open glove box
flap 0044.
X To close: fold glove box flap 0044up until it
engages.
i The glove box can be cooled and ventilated
(Y page 136). 0047
Glove box unlocked
0048 Glove box locked
The glove box can be locked and unlocked using the mechanical key. Partition
0043for stowing flat objects is located in
the upper section of the glove box. It can be
removed to increase the stowage space in the
glove box.
X To remove: pull out partition 0043.
X To install: insert partition 0043and push it back
until it engages.
Stowage compartment under the arm-
rest Vehicles without touchpad
X To open: pull handle 0043up.
The armrest folds out. 296
Stowage areasSto
wage an d features

lished between the Customer Assistance Center
and the vehicle occupants.
R If the vehicle occupants respond, the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center
attempts to get more information on the
emergency.
R If there is no response from the vehicle occu-
pants, an ambulance is immediately sent to
the vehicle.
R If the relevant mobile phone network is not
available, no emergency call can be initiated.
The indicator lamp in the SOS button flashes
continuously.
No voice connection can be established to the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center.
The Call Call Failed
Failed message appears on the mul-
tifunction display and must be confirmed.
In this case, summon assistance by other
means.
Making an emergency call X
To initiate an emergency call manually:
press cover 0043briefly to open.
X Press and hold the SOS button for at least one
second 0044.
The indicator lamp in SOS button 0044flashes
until the emergency call is concluded.
X Wait for a voice connection to the Mercedes-
Benz Customer Assistance Center.
X After the emergency call, close cover 0043.
If the mobile phone network is unavailable,
mbrace will not be able to make the emergency
call. If you leave the vehicle immediately after
pressing SOS button 0044, you do not know if
mbrace has successfully made the emergency
call. In this case, always summon assistance by other means. Breakdown assistance call button
X
To call: press Roadside Assistance but-
ton 0043.
This initiates a call to the Mercedes-Benz Cus-
tomer Assistance Center.
The indicator lamp in Roadside Assistance
button 0043flashes while the call is active. The
Connecting Call Connecting Call message appears in the
multifunction display. The audio output is
muted.
If a connection can be established, the Call Call
Connected Connected message appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
If a mobile phone network and GPS reception
are available, the system transfers data to the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center,
for example:
R Current location of the vehicle
R Vehicle identification number
The multimedia system display indicates that a
call is active. During the call, you can change to
the navigation menu by pressing the NAVI but-
ton on the multimedia system, for example.
Voice output is not available in this case.
A voice connection is established between the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center
and the vehicle occupants.
From the remote malfunction diagnosis, the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center
can ascertain the nature of the problem
(Y page 314).
The Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter either sends a qualified Mercedes-Benz tech-
nician or makes arrangements for your vehicle
to be transported to the nearest Mercedes-Benz
Service Center.
You may be charged for services such as repair work and/or towing. Features
311Stowage and features Z

Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network is
also available in other countries. You can obtain further information from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Care
General notes
H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man- ner.
! When cleaning your car, do not use:
R dry, coarse or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces and films with hard
objects, e.g. rings or ice scrapers. Otherwise,
you may scratch or damage the surfaces and films.
! Do not park your vehicle for a long period of
time directly after cleaning, particularly after
cleaning the wheel rim with wheel cleaner.
Wheel cleaner can lead to the increased cor-
rosion of the brake discs and pads. Therefore,
drive for a few minutes after cleaning. By
heating up the brakes, the brake discs and
pads dry. The vehicle can then be parked for a long period of time.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident. After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored.
! Before driving into an automatic car wash,
make sure that it is suitable for the dimen-
sions of the vehicle. In particular, make sure
that:
R there is enough ground clearance between
the vehicle underbody and the guide rails of the automatic car wash.
R the clearance width of the automatic car
wash is sufficient, particularly the width of
the guide rails.
R you enter the automatic car wash straight
and in the center of the guide rails in order
to avoid damaging the tires or wheel rims.
Fold in the exterior mirrors before the vehicle
is washed. The exterior mirrors could other-
wise be damaged.
! When Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC or
the HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC and the
HOLD function in the following or similar sit-
uations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
! Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and the sliding sunroof
are fully closed.
R that the blower of the ventilation/heating
system is switched off (OFF button has
been pressed).
R the windshield wiper switch is at position
005A.
The vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
! In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission is
in transmission position 005C; otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
R Vehicles with a SmartKey:
Do not remove the SmartKey from the igni-
tion lock. Do not open the driver's door or 326
CareMaintenance and care

Vehicle tool kit
General notes The vehicle tool kit can be found in the stowage
well under the cargo compartment floor.
Apart from certain country-specific variations,
the vehicles are not equipped with a tire-change
tool kit. Some tools for changing a wheel are
specific to the vehicle. For more information on
which tools are required to perform a wheel
change on your vehicle, consult a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Necessary tire-changing tools can include, for
example:
R jack
R wheel chock
R lug wrench
R ratchet wrench
R alignment bolt
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit 0043
Lug wrench
0044 Towing eye
0087 Ratchet wrench
0085 Alignment bolt
0083 Tire sealant filler bottle
0084 Tire inflation compressor
006B Folding wheel chock
006C Jack
006D Wheel bolts
X Open the tailgate.
X Lift the cargo compartment floor up
(Y page 302).
X Use the TIREFIT kit (Y page 337). Vehicles with a "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel 0043
Alignment bolt
0044 Velcro fastener
0087 Folding wheel chock
0085 Ratchet wrench
0083 Lug wrench
0084 Jack
006B Wheel bolts
006C Towing eye
X Open the tailgate.
X Lift the cargo compartment floor up
(Y page 302).
X Remove the "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel (Y page 379). Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with: R MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat proper-
ties)
Vehicle preparation is not necessary on vehi-
cles with MOExtended tires.
R a TIREFIT kit (Y page 335)
R an emergency spare wheel (only for certain
countries)
Vehicles with an mbrace system (USA only)
which are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit: in the event of a flat tire, contact the Customer Assis-tance Center for the mbrace emergency call
system (Y page 310).
Information on changing and mounting wheels
(Y page 372). Flat tire
335Breakdown assis tance

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
R there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate (Y page 383).
! When Active Brake Assist, Active Distance
Assist DISTRONIC or the HOLD function is
activated, the vehicle brakes automatically in
certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
these systems in the following or similar sit-
uations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
! Make sure that the electric parking brake is
released. If the electric parking brake is faulty,
visit a qualified specialist workshop. !
Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes, or the trailer tow hitch, if availa-
ble. You could otherwise damage the vehicle.
! Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R Secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R Make sure that the tow rope is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow rope in
the middle, e.g. with a white cloth
(11.8 x 11.8 in). This will make other road
users aware that a vehicle is being towed.
R Only secure the tow cable to the towing
eyes or, if available, to the trailer tow hitch.
R Observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a dis-
tance a distance so that the tow rope does not sag.
R Do not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise damage
the vehicle.
! Do not use the trailer tow hitch for recovery
or towing. Do not use the towing eye for
recovery. this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, have the vehicle recovered using a
crane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. Pull the towed vehicle as straight as possible and not at an acute angle. Excessive
tractive power could damage the vehicles.
When towing, it is preferable to use a rigid tow-
ing bar as opposed to a tow rope. A rigid towing bar helps to keep the tractive power low.
! When towing away vehicles with KEYLESS-
GO, use the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. The automatic transmission may oth-
erwise shift to position 005Dwhen you open the
driver's or front-passenger door, which could damage the transmission.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment. This
could damage the vehicle.
! Vehicles with differential locks: make sure
the differential locks are in automatic mode.
When towing, the differential locks must not
be switched on. The transmission may other- wise be damaged.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum dis-
tance of 30 miles (50 kilometers). A towing 346
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not be
exceeded.
For towing distances over 30 miles
(50 kilometers), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed away.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission damage, have it transported on a transporter or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in position
005C when the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the SmartKey to position 0048in
the ignition lock
R cannot release the electric parking brake
R cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position 005C
Disarm the automatic locking feature before the vehicle is towed (Y page 241). You could other-
wise be locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle. Permitted towing methods
Mercedes-Benz recommends transporting your
vehicle in the case of a breakdown, rather than
towing it away.
When towing away, use a towing rope or a tow-
ing bar with both axles on the ground. Do not use any tow bar systems. Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye The brackets for the screw-in towing eye are
located in the bumpers. They are at the front and
rear behind covers 00430044.
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle tool
kit (Y page 335).
X To open the cover at the front: press the
mark on cover 0043inwards in the direction of
the arrow.
X To open the cover at the rear: insert a flat,
blunt object into the cutout and lever
cover 0044out of the bumper.
X Take cover 0043or0044 off the opening.
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye X
Unscrew and remove the towing eye.
X Position cover 0043or0044 in the bumper and
press the cover on until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit. Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
The automatic transmission shifts to position
005D automatically when you open the driver's or
front-passenger door or when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Towing and tow-starting
347Breakdown assistance Z

In order to ensure that the automatic transmis-
sion stays in position 005Cwhen towing away the
vehicle, you must observe the following points:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0048in the igni-
tion lock.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
005C.
X Leave the SmartKey in position 0048in the igni-
tion lock.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 117).
In order to signal a change of direction when
towing the vehicle with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination switch as usual. In this case, only the indicator lamps
for the direction of travel flash. After resetting
the combination switch, the hazard warning
lamp starts flashing again. Transporting the vehicle
4MATIC vehicles/vehicles with auto-
matic transmission !
When the vehicle is loaded for transport, the
front and rear axles must be stationary and on
the same transportation vehicle. Positioning
over the connection point of the transport
vehicle is not permitted. The drive train may
otherwise be damaged. All vehicles !
You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting pur-
poses.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0048in the igni-
tion lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
005C.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
005D.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0092in the igni-
tion lock and remove it.
X Secure the vehicle.
Securing the vehicle !
After loading, the vehicle must be secured at
all four wheels. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
A minimum distance of 8 in (20 cm) up and
4 in (10 cm) down must be maintained to the transport platform.
X Secure all four wheels after loading the vehi-
cle.
Vehicles with ADS PLUS (Adaptive
Damping System PLUS) Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The weaker damping forces of the vehicle to
be transported can cause the vehicle/trailer
combination to swing.
As a result, when transporting vehicles with
Adaptive Damping System PLUS, the vehicle/ trailer combination may start to skid. Conse-
quently, you could lose control of the vehicle.
There is a risk of accident and injury. 348
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

i
The specifications shown on the Tire and
Loading Information placard in the illustration
are examples. The number of seats is vehicle- specific and can differ from the details shown.
The number of seats in your vehicle can be
found on the Tire and Loading Information
placard. Determining the correct load limit
Step-by-step instructions The following steps have been developed as
required of all manufacturers under Title 49,
Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 pur- suant to the "National Traffic and Motor Vehicle
Safety Act of 1966".
X Step 1: Locate the statement "The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s
Tire and Loading Information placard.
X Step 2: Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
X Step 3: Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kilograms or
XXX lbs.
X Step 4: The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage load capa-
city. For example, if the "XXX" amount equals 1400 lbs and there will be five 150-lb pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
X Step 5: Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehi-
cle. That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity cal- culated in step 4. Example: steps 1 to 3
The following table shows examples on how to calculate total and cargo load capacities with varying seating configurations and number and size of occupants. The following examples use a load limit of
1500 lbs (680 kg). This is for illustration purposes only. Make sure you are using the actual load
limit for your vehicle stated on your vehicle's Tire and Loading Information placard (Y page 362).
The greater the combined weight of the occupants, the lower the maximum luggage load.
Additional information when towing a trailer (Y page 222).
Step 1 Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Combined maximum
weight of occupants
and cargo (data from
the Tire and Loading
Information placard)
1500 lbs (680 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
Step 2
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Number of people in
the vehicle (driver and
occupants)
5 3 1
Distribution of the
occupants
Front: 2
Rear: 3 Front: 1
Rear: 2 Front: 1364
Loading the vehicleWheels and tires

the time restriction on use as well as the speed
limitation specified on the emergency spare
wheel.
Replace the tires after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the
emergency spare wheel.
When you are driving with the collapsible spare wheel mounted, the tire pressure loss warning
system or the tire pressure monitor cannot func-
tion reliably. Only restart the tire pressure loss
warning system or tire pressure monitor when
the defective wheel has been replaced with a
new wheel.
Vehicles with tire pressure monitor: after
mounting an emergency spare wheel, the sys-
tem may still display the tire pressure of the
removed wheel for a few minutes. The value dis- played for the mounted emergency spare wheelis not the same as the current tire pressure of
the emergency spare wheel. Removing/stowing the emergency
spare wheel
Vehicles with a "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel under the cargo compart-
ment floor Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(Y page 373).
Example image: vehicle without a lockable
cargo compartment floor. Removing the emergency spare wheel
X Lift the cargo compartment floor upwards
(Y page 302).
X Vehicles with a lockable cargo compart-
ment floor: remove the stowage tray.
X Release the Velcro fastener (Y page 335).X
Take out the jack.
X Turn emergency spare wheel retainer 0043
counter-clockwise and remove it.
X Remove stowage well 0044.
X Remove "Minispare" emergency spare wheel
0087.
Vehicles with a "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel in the emergency spare
wheel bag Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(Y page 373).
On vehicles with a Bang & Olufsen sound sys-
tem, the "Minispare" emergency spare wheel is
packed in an emergency spare wheel bag. The
emergency spare wheel bag is secured to the
cargo tie-down rings in the cargo compartment. Removing the emergency spare wheel
X Detach fastening straps 0044.
X Unhook retaining spring hooks 0043and 0087of
fastening straps 0044from the cargo tie-down
rings.
X Remove the emergency spare wheel bag with
the "Minispare" emergency spare wheel.
X Open the emergency spare wheel bag and
remove the "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel.
Stowing the emergency spare wheel X Place the "Minispare" emergency spare wheel
into the emergency spare wheel bag and
close the emergency spare wheel bag.
X Place the emergency spare wheel bag with
the "Minispare" emergency spare wheel into
the cargo compartment with the carrying
strap at the back. Emergency spare
wheel
379Wheels an d tires Z