warning MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 2019 Manual Online

Exterior lighting
General notes
For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched on even during the daytime. In some countries,
operation of the headlamps varies due to legal
requirements and self-imposed obligations. Setting the exterior lighting
Setting options Exterior lighting can be set using:
R the light switch
R the combination switch (Y page 116)
R the on-board computer (Y page 240)
Light switch Operation
0047
0063
Left-hand standing lamps
0048 0064
Right-hand standing lamps
0049 0060
Parking lamps, license plate and
instrument cluster lighting
004A 0071
Automatic headlamp mode, controlled
by the light sensor
004B 0058
Low-beam/high-beam headlamps
0084 005E
Rear fog lamp
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X Turn the light switch to 0071.
The exterior lighting (except the parking/stand-
ing lamps) switches off automatically if you:
R remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the SmartKey in
position 0092in the ignition lock Automatic headlamp mode
0071 is the favored light switch position. The
light setting is automatically selected according
to the brightness of the ambient light (excep-
tion: poor visibility due to weather conditions
such as fog, snow or spray):
R SmartKey in position 0047in the ignition lock:
the parking lamps are switched on/off auto-
matically depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
R With the engine running (USA only): if you
have switched on the Daytime Running
Daytime Running
Lights Lights function in the on-board computer,
the daytime running lamps or the parking
lamps and low-beam headlamps are switched on or off automatically depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
X To switch on automatic headlamp mode:
turn the light switch to
0071. G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to 0058, the low-
beam headlamps may not be switched on
automatically if there is fog, snow or other
causes of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
0058.
The automatic headlamp mode is only an aid.
The driver is responsible for the vehicle's light-
ing at all times.
Canada only:
The daytime running lamps improve the visibility
of your vehicle during the day. The daytime run-
ning lamps function is required by law in Can-
ada. It cannot therefore be deactivated.
When the engine is running and the vehicle is
stationary: if you move the selector lever from a driving position to P, the daytime running
lamps/low-beam headlamps go out after three
minutes.
When the engine is running, the vehicle is sta-
tionary and in bright ambient light: if you turn the light switch to the 0060position, the daytime
running lamps and parking lamps switch on.
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to 0058, the manual settings take prec-
edence over the daytime running lamps.
USA only: Exterior lighting
115Lights and windshield wipers Z

The blue
0057indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up when the high-beam
headlamps are switched on.
X To switch off the high-beam headlamps:
move the combination switch back to its nor- mal position.
The blue 0057indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Vehicles with Adaptive Highbeam Assist: if
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is activated, it auto-
matically controls activation and deactivation of
the high-beam headlamps (Y page 118).Hazard warning lamps
X
To switch on the hazard warning lamps:
press button 0043.
All turn signals flash. If you now switch on a
turn signal using the combination switch, only the turn signal lamp on the corresponding
side of the vehicle will flash.
X To switch off the hazard warning lamps:
press button 0043.
The hazard warning lamps automatically switch
on if:
R an air bag is deployed or
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a speed
of above 45 mph (70 km/h) and comes to a
standstill
The hazard warning lamps switch off automati-
cally if the vehicle reaches a speed of above
6 mph (10 km/h) again after a full brake appli-
cation.
i The hazard warning lamps still operate if the
ignition is switched off. Intelligent Light System
General notes The Intelligent Light System is a system that
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit the
prevailing driving and weather conditions. It
offers advanced functions for improved illumi-
nation of the road surface, e.g. depending on the vehicle speed or weather conditions. The sys-
tem includes the active light function, corneringlight function, highway mode and extended
range fog lamps. The system is only active when it is dark.
You can activate or deactivate the "Intelligent
Light System" using the on-board computer
(Y page 240).
Active light function The active light function is a system that moves
the headlamps according to the steering move- ments of the front wheels. In this way, relevant
areas remain illuminated while driving. This
allows you to recognize pedestrians, cyclists
and animals sooner.
Active: when the lights are switched on.
Vehicles with Lane Keeping Assist: the active
light function evaluates the course of the lane in which you are driving and adjusts the light in
advance.
Cornering light function The cornering light function improves the illu-
mination of the road over a wide angle in the
direction you are turning, enabling better visi-
bility in tight bends, for example. It can only be
activated when the low-beam headlamps are
switched on.
Active:
R if you are driving at speeds below 25 mph
(40 km/h) and switch on the turn signal or
turn the steering wheel
R if you are driving at speeds between 25 mph
(40 km/h) and 45 mph (70 km/h) and turn
the steering wheel
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a short
time, but is automatically switched off after no
more than three minutes. Exterior lighting
117Lights and windshield wipers Z

Highway mode
Highway mode increases the range of the beam.
Active: if you are driving at a speed above
110 km/h and do not make any large steering
movements for at least 1,000 m or if you are
driving at a speed above 130 km/h.
Not active: if you are driving at speeds below
80 km/h following activation.
Extended range fog lamps The extended range fog lamps reduce the glare
experienced by the driver and improve the illu-
mination of the edge of the road.
Active: if you are driving at speeds below
40 mph (70 km/h) and you switch on the rear
fog lamp.
Not active: if, following activation, you are driv-
ing at speeds above 60 mph (100 km/h) or if you
switch off the rear fog lamp
Off-road lights The off-road lights facilitate the early recogni-
tion of objects/obstacles when driving off-road
thanks to a symmetrical, wider and brighter dis- tribution of light from the low-beam headlamps.
Active: when driving at speeds no faster than
30 mph (50 km/h) and the off-road program
selector wheel is in position 1 or 2.
Not active: when driving at speeds above
30 mph (50 km/h).
When the off-road lights are switched on, the
cornering light function is permanently activa-
ted, the active light function is deactivated and
the headlamp range control is set to static
mode. Adaptive Highbeam Assist
General notes You can use this function to set the headlamps
to change between low beam and high beam
automatically. The system recognizes vehicles
with their lights on, either approaching from the opposite direction or traveling in front of your
vehicle, and consequently switches the head-
lamps from high beam to low beam.
The system automatically adapts the low-beam
headlamp range depending on the distance to
the other vehicle. Once the system no longer detects any other vehicles, it reactivates the
high-beam headlamps.
The system's optical sensor is located behind
the windshield near the overhead control panel.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Adaptive Highbeam Assist does not recognize road users:
R who have no lights, e.g. pedestrians
R who have poor lighting, e.g. cyclists
R whose lighting is blocked, e.g. by a barrier
On very rare occasions, Adaptive Highbeam
Assist may fail to recognize other road users
that have lights, or may recognize them too
late. In this, or in similar situations, the auto-
matic high-beam headlamps will not be deac-
tivated or will be activated regardless. There is a risk of an accident.
Always carefully observe the traffic conditionsand switch off the high-beam headlamps in
good time.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist cannot take into
account road, weather or traffic conditions.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only an aid. You are responsible for adjusting the vehicle's lighting
to the prevailing light, visibility and traffic con-
ditions.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if:
R poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or
snow
R dirt on the sensors or the sensors are
obscured
Switching Adaptive Highbeam Assist
on/off X
To switch on: turn the light switch to 0058.
X Press the combination switch beyond the
pressure point in the direction of arrow 0043.
The 00CE indicator lamp in the multifunction
display lights up when it is dark and the light
sensor activates the low-beam headlamps.
If you are driving at speeds above approx-
imately 16 mph (25 km/h): 118
Exterior lightingLights and windshield wipers

Automatic interior lighting control
X
To switch on: set the switch to center posi-
tion 0084.
X To switch off: set the switch to the 0033
position.
The interior lighting automatically switches on if
you:
R Unlock the vehicle
R Open a door
R Remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
The interior lighting is switched on for a set time
when the SmartKey is removed from the ignition
lock. This delayed switch-off can be adjusted via the multimedia system (see Digital Operator's
Manual). Crash-responsive emergency lighting
The interior lighting is activated automatically if
the vehicle is involved in an accident.
X To switch off the crash-responsive emer-
gency lighting: press the hazard warning
lamp button.
or X Lock and then unlock the vehicle using the
SmartKey. Replacing bulbs (vehicles with LED
headlamps)
The front and rear light clusters of your vehicle
are equipped with light-emitting diodes. Do not
replace the vehicle's bulbs yourself. Contact a
qualified specialist workshop which has the nec-
essary specialist knowledge and tools to carry
out the work required.
Lamps are an important aspect of vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure that these func-
tion correctly at all times. Have the headlamp
setting checked regularly. Replacing bulbs (vehicles with halo-
gen headlamps)
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Bulbs, lamps and connectors can get very hot when operating. If you change a bulb, you
could burn yourself on these components.
There is a risk of injury.
Allow these components to cool down before changing a bulb.
Do not use a bulb if it has been dropped or if its glass tube has been scratched.
The bulb may explode if:
R you touch it
R it is hot
R you drop it
R you scratch it
Use bulbs only in closed lamps that have been
designed for this purpose. Only install spare
bulbs of the same type and the specified volt-
age.
Marks on the glass tube reduce the service life
of the bulbs. Do not touch the glass tube with
your bare hands. If necessary, clean the glass
tube when cold with alcohol or spirit and rub it
off with a lint-free cloth.
Protect bulbs from moisture during operation.
Do not allow bulbs to come into contact with
liquids.
Replace only the bulbs listed (Y page 120).
Have the bulbs that you cannot replace yourself
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If you require assistance replacing bulbs, con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
Headlamps and lights are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times. Have
the headlamp setting checked regularly. Overview of bulb replacement - bulb
types
You can replace the following bulbs. The bulb
type can be found in the legend. 120
Replacing bulbs (vehicles with halogen headla
mps)Lights and windshield wipers

Switching the rear window wipers
on/off
Combination switch
0043
00C5 Rear window wiper switch
0048 008E Wipes with washer fluid
0049 ISwitches on intermittent wiping
004A 0Switches off intermittent wiping
004B 008E Wipes with washer fluid
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0047or0048
(Y page 140).
X Turn switch 0043on the combination switch to
the corresponding position.
When the rear window wiper is switched on,
the 00C5 symbol appears in the assistance
graphic in the instrument cluster. Further
information on the assistance graphic
(Y page 238). Replacing the wiper blades
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the windshield wipers begin to move while
you are changing the wiper blades, you could be trapped by the wiper arm. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
ignition before changing the wiper blades.
! To avoid damaging the wiper blades, make
sure that you touch only the wiper arm of the
wiper.
! Never open the hood/tailgate if a wiper arm
has been folded away from the windshield/
rear window. Never fold a windshield wiper arm without a
wiper blade back onto the windshield/rear
window.
Hold the windshield wiper arm firmly when
you change the wiper blade. If you release the
wiper arm without a wiper blade and it falls
onto the windshield/rear window, the wind-
shield/rear window may be damaged by the
force of the impact.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have
the wiper blades changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Changing the windshield wiper blades Removing the wiper blades
X Remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Fold the wiper arm away from the windshield. X
Firmly press release knob 0043and pull wiper
blade 0044upwards from the wiper arm in the
direction of the arrow.
Installing the wiper blades Windshield wipers
123Lights and windshield wipers Z

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 Digital Operator's Man-
ual).
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
0043
Center air vent, left
0044 Center air vent, right
0087 Center vent thumbwheel, right
0085 Center vent thumbwheel, left
X To open or close: turn thumbwheels0087
and 0085to the left or right. Setting the side air vents
Example
0043
Side window defroster vent
0044 Side air vent, left
0087 Thumbwheel for side air vent
X To open or close: turn thumbwheel0087up or
down. Setting the glove box air vent
! Close the air vent when heating the vehicle.
At high outside temperatures, open the air
vent and activate the "cooling with air dehu-
midification" function. Otherwise, tempera-
ture-sensitive items stored in the glove box
could be damaged. 136
Setting the air ventsClimate control

Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Important safety notes
The sensor system of some driving and driving
safety systems adjusts automatically while a
certain distance is being driven after the vehicle has been delivered or after repairs. Full system
effectiveness is not reached until the end of this
teach-in procedure.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after several hundred kilometers of driving. Compensate for
this by applying greater force to the brake pedal. The first 1000 miles (1500 km)
The more you look after the engine when it is
new, the more satisfied you will be with its per-
formance in the future. R You should therefore drive at varying vehicle
and engine speeds for the first 1000 miles
(1500 km).
R Avoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throttle,
during this period.
R Change gear in good time, before the tach-
ometer needle is 00C3of the way to the red area
of the tachometer.
R Do not manually shift to a lower gear to brake
the vehicle.
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator pedal
beyond the point of resistance (kickdown).
Additional breaking-in notes for Mercedes-AMG
vehicles:
R Do not drive faster than 85 mph (140 km/h)
for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km).
R Only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4,500 rpm briefly.
R Change gear in good time.
R Ideally, for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km),
drive in the Comfortdrive program.
After 1000 mile s(1500 km), you can increase
the engine speed gradually and accelerate the
vehicle to full speed.
You should also observe these notes on break-
ing in if the engine or parts of the drive train on your vehicle have been replaced.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restrict the pedal travel or obstruct a depressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle is
jeopardized. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient clearance for the pedals. Do not use loose floormats and do not place floormats on
top of one another. G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off. Driving
139Driving and pa rking Z

Key positions with KEYLESS-GO
0043
Start/Stop button
0044 Ignition lock
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. Further information on situations where an
indicator lamp either fails to go out after starting the engine or lights up while driving
(Y page 276).
If Start/Stop button 0043has not yet been
pressed, this corresponds to the SmartKey
being removed from the ignition.
X To switch on the power supply: press
Start/Stop button 0043once.
The power supply is switched on. You can now activate the windshield wipers, for example.
The power supply is switched off again if:
R the driver's door is opened and
R you press Start/Stop 0043button twice when in
this position
X To switch on the ignition: press Start/Stop
button 0043twice.
The ignition is switched on.
If you press Start/Stop button 0043once when
in this position, the ignition is deactivated
again.
Removing the Start/Stop button
You can remove the Start/Stop button from the
ignition lock and start the vehicle as normal
using the SmartKey.
It is possible to switch between KEYLESS-GO
mode and key operation only when the trans-
mission is in position 005D.
X Remove Start/Stop button 0043from ignition
lock 0044. You do not have to remove the Start/Stop but-
ton from the ignition lock when you leave the
vehicle. You should, however, always take the
SmartKey with you when leaving the vehicle. As
long as the SmartKey is in the vehicle:
R the vehicle can be started using the Start/
Stop button
R the electrically powered equipment can be
operated Starting the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R Start the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children. G
DANGER
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases is hazardous to health
and can result in poisoning. There is a risk of
fatal injury. Therefore, never leave the engine running an enclosed space without adequate
ventilation. Driving
141Driving and pa rking Z

G
WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
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 005D
(Y page 148).
The transmission position indicator on the
multifunction display shows 005D
(Y page 149).
i You can start the engine in transmission
position 005Dand 005C.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey X
Turn the SmartKey to position 0049in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 140) and release it as soon
as the engine is running.
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 140).
The engine starts. Starting procedure via smartphone Observe the important safety notes on starting
the engine (Y
page 141).
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 005Dis 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 has been sufficiently
charged G
WARNING
Limbs could be crushed or trapped if the
engine is started unintentionally during ser-
vice or maintenance work. There is a risk of
injury.
Always secure the engine against uninten-
tional starting before carrying out mainte-
nance or repair work. 142
DrivingDriving and parking

Make sure that the engine cannot be started via
your smartphone before carrying out mainte-
nance or repairs. You can prevent an engine
start via your smartphone if you:
R switch on the hazard warning lamps
R do not lock the doors
R open the hood Pulling away
General notes G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position 003A
or 0046, the vehicle could pull away suddenly.
There is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position 003Aor
0046, always firmly depress the brake pedal
and do not simultaneously accelerate.
Depress the accelerator carefully when pulling
away.
The vehicle locks centrally once you have pulled
away. The locking knobs in the doors drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at any
time.
You can also deactivate the automatic locking
feature (Y page 241).
It is possible to shift the transmission from posi-
tion 005Dto the desired position only if you
depress the brake pedal. Only then is the park-
ing lock released. If you do not depress the
brake pedal, the DIRECT SELECT lever can still
be moved but the parking lock remains
engaged.
i Upshifts take place at higher engine speeds
after a cold start. This helps the catalytic con- verter to reach its operating temperature
more quickly.
Information on the automatic release of the
electric parking brake (Y page 160).Pulling away with a trailer To ensure that you do not roll backwards when
pulling away on an uphill slope, engage the elec-
tric parking brake.
X Press and hold handle 0043.
The electric parking brake continues to brake
and prevent the vehicle from rolling back-
wards.
The red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster remains on.
X Depress the accelerator pedal.
X As soon as the vehicle/trailer combination is
held by the driving force of the engine, release lever 0043.
the electric parking brake is released.
The red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
goes out.
Hill start assist Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forward or in reverse on an uphill gradient. It
holds the vehicle for a short time after you have removed your foot from the brake pedal. This
gives you enough time to move your foot from
the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal and to
depress it before the vehicle begins to roll. G
WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no lon-
ger brake your vehicle and it could roll away.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist. Driving
143Driving and parking Z