ECO mode MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV 2016 User Guide

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. Driving abroad
General notes If your journey takes you to countries where
vehicles are driven on the opposite side of the
road to the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, your headlamps must be switched to
symmetrical dipped beam as soon as possible
after crossing the border. This prevents oncom-
ing traffic from being dazzled. Symmetrical
lights do not illuminate as large an area of the
edge of the carriageway.
Vehicles with halogen headlamps X
Turn cap :anti-clockwise and remove it.
X Push switchover lever ;down.
X Replace cap :and turn it clockwise.
Convert the headlamps back to asymmetrical
dipped beam as soon as possible after returning across the border.
Vehicles with Intelligent Light System X
Before crossing the border, set the head-
lamps to symmetrical dipped beam and after
returning back to asymmetrical dipped beam via the "Dipped-beam headlamps for driving
on the right/left" function in the on-board
computer (Y page 252). If the headlamps are converted to symmetrical
dipped beam, the "motorway mode" and "exten-
ded range foglamps" functions are not available. Setting the exterior lighting
Setting options Exterior lighting can be set using:
R the light switch
R headlamp range control (vehicles with halo-
gen headlamps only) (Y page 122)
R the combination switch (Y page 122)
R the on-board computer (Y page 252)
Light switch Operation
1
W
Left-hand parking lamps
2 X
Right-hand parking lamps
3 T
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4 c
Automatic headlamps, controlled by
the light sensor
5 L
Dipped-beam/main-beam headlamps
B R
Rear foglamp
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X Turn the light switch to c.
The exterior lighting (except the side lamps/
parking lamps) switches off automatically if you: R remove the key from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the key in posi-
tion 0in the ignition lock 120
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

The hazard warning lamps switch on automati-
cally if:
R an airbag is deployed or
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a speed
of above 70 km/h and comes to a standstill
The hazard warning lamps switch off automati-
cally if the vehicle reaches a speed of above
10 km/h again after a full brake application.
i The hazard warning lamps continue to oper-
ate even 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, motorway mode and extended
range foglamps. The system is only active when it is dark.
You can activate or deactivate the "Intelligent
Light System" function using the on-board com-
puter (Y page 252).
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 you are driving.
This allows you to recognise pedestrians,
cyclists and animals.
Active: when the lights are switched on.
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 be acti-
vated only when the dipped-beam headlamps
are switched on. Active:
R if you are driving at speeds below 40 km/h
and switch on the turn signal or turn the steer-
ing wheel
R if you are driving at speeds between 40 km/h
and 70 km/h and turn the steering wheel
The cornering light function may remain lit for a
short time, but is automatically switched off
after no more than three minutes.
Motorway mode Motorway 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 foglamps reduce the glare
experienced by the driver and improve the illu-
mination of the edge of the carriageway.
Active: if you are driving at speeds below
70 km/h and you switch on the rear foglamp.
Not active: if, following activation, you are driv-
ing at speeds above 100 km/h or if you switch
off the rear foglamp.
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 dipped-beam head-
lamps.
Active: when driving at speeds no faster than
50 km/h and the off-road program selector
wheel is in position 1 or 2.
Not active: when driving at speeds above
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. Exterior lighting
123Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Overview of climate control systems
General notes
Observe the settings recommended on the fol-
lowing pages. Otherwise, the windows could
mist up.
To prevent the windows from misting up:
R switch off climate control only briefly
R activate air-recirculation mode only briefly
R switch on "Cooling with air dehumidification"
R activate the "Windscreen demisting" function
briefly, if required
Climate control regulates the temperature and
the humidity in the vehicle interior and filters
undesirable substances out of the air.
the "Residual heat" function can be switched on
or off only with the ignition switched off
(Y page 140).
i Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period during
warm weather, e.g. using the convenience
opening feature (Y page 95).
This will speed up the cooling process and the desired interior temperature will be reached
more quickly. i
The integrated filter filters out most parti-
cles of dust and soot and completely filters
out pollen. It also reduces gaseous pollutants
and odours. A clogged filter reduces the
amount of air supplied to the vehicle interior.
For this reason, you should always observe
the interval for replacing the filter, which is
specified in the Service Booklet. As this
depends on environmental conditions, e.g.
heavy air pollution, the interval may be
shorter than stated in the Service Booklet.
i Vehicles with AIR-BALANCE package:
in
addition to ionisation, the vehicle has an air
filter with anti-allergenic properties that con-
tribute to improved air filtration.
i Under certain environmental conditions, the
residual heat function may be activated auto-
matically an hour after the key has been
removed in order to dry the automatic climate control. The vehicle is then ventilated for 30
minutes. Control panel for THERMATIC automatic climate control (2-zone)
Front control panel
: To set the temperature, left (Y page 136)
; To demist the windscreen (Y page 137)
= To switch the ZONE function on/off (Y page 137)
? To activate/deactivate cooling with air dehumidification (Y page 135) Overview of climate control systems
131Climate control

=
To switch the ZONE function on/off (Y page 137)
? To activate/deactivate cooling with air dehumidification (Y page 135)
To switch the residual heat on/off (Y page 140)
A To switch the rear window heating on/off (Y page 138)
B To set the temperature, right (Y page 136)
C To switch the rear climate control on/off
D To switch the climate control on/off (Y page 135)
E To set the air distribution (Y page 136)
F To increase the airflow (Y page 137)
G To reduce the airflow (Y page 137)
H Display
I To set the climate mode (Y page 136)
J To switch air-recirculation mode on/off (Y page 138)
K To set climate control to automatic mode (Y page 135)
Rear control panel
L To increase the airflow (Y page 137)
M To set the temperature (Y page 136)
N To control the rear-compartment climate control automatically (Y page 135)
O To direct the airflow through the rear air vents (Y page 136)
P To direct the airflow through the footwell vents (Y page 136)
Q To switch the rear climate control on/off (Y page 135)
R To reduce the airflow (Y page 137)Notes on using the automatic climate
control
Optimum use of the automatic climate
control The following contains notes and recommenda-
tions on how best to use THERMATIC automatic climate control or THERMOTRONIC.
R Activate climate control using the Ãand
Á buttons. The indicator lamps in the
à andÁ buttons light up.
R Vehicles with THERMOTRONIC:in auto-
matic mode, you can also use the ñbutton
to set a climate mode (FOCUS/MEDIUM/
DIFFUSE). The MEDIUM level is recommen-
ded.
R Set the temperature to 22 †.
R Use the "Windscreen demisting" function only
briefly until the windscreen is clear again.
R Use air-recirculation mode only briefly, e.g. if
there are unpleasant outside odours or when
in a tunnel. The windows could otherwise mist up as no fresh air is drawn into the vehicle in
air-recirculation mode. R
Vehicles with THERMOTRONIC:use the
ZONE function to adopt the temperature set-
tings on the driver's side for the front-
passenger side and the rear compartment as well. The indicator lamp above the ábut-
ton goes out.
R Vehicles with THERMOTRONIC:use the
"residual heat" function if you want to heat or
ventilate the vehicle interior when the ignitionis switched off. The residual heat function can
be activated or deactivated only with the igni- tion switched off.
R If you change the settings of the climate con-
trol system, the climate status display
appears for approximately three seconds at
the bottom of the screen in the multimedia
system display. You will see the current set-
tings of the various climate control functions.
During automatic engine switch-off, the climate
control operates only at a reduced capacity. If
you require the full climate control output, you
can switch off the ECO start/stop function by
pressing the ECO button (Y page 153).134
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

Outside air is added after about 30 minutes.
X To deactivate: press thedbutton.
The indicator lamp in the dbutton goes
out.
i Air-recirculation mode is deactivated auto-
matically:
R after approximately five minutes at outside
temperatures below approximately 5 †
R after approximately five minutes if cooling
with air dehumidification is deactivated
R after approximately 30 minutes at outside
temperatures above approximately 5 † if
the "Cooling with air dehumidification"
function is activated Convenience opening/closing using
the air-recirculation button
G
WARNING
When the convenience closing feature is oper- ating, parts of the body could become trapped
in the closing area of the side window and the
sliding sunroof. There is a risk of injury.
Observe the complete closing procedure
when the convenience closing feature is oper-
ating. When closing make sure that no parts of the body are in the closing area. G
WARNING
During convenience opening parts of the body could be drawn in or become trapped
between the side window and window frame.
There is a risk of injury.
When opening, make sure that nobody is
touching the side window. If someone
becomes trapped, immediately press
the W switch in the door to stop the move-
ment of the side windows. To continue closing
the side window, pull on the Wswitch.
X Convenience closing feature: press and
hold the dbutton until the side windows
close.
Vehicles with sliding sunroof or pano-
rama sliding sunroof: the sliding sunroof or
panorama sliding sunroof closes simultane-
ously. The indicator lamp in the
dbutton lights
up. Air-recirculation mode is activated.
If parts of the body are in the closing area during
convenience closing, proceed as follows:
X Press the Wbutton to stop the side win-
dows.
The side windows stop.
X To then open the side windows, press the
W button again.
X Only vehicles with sliding sunroof or pan-
orama sliding sunroof: press the2
switch to stop the sliding sunroof or pano-
rama sliding sunroof.
The sliding sunroof or panorama sliding sun-
roof stops.
X To then open the sliding sunroof or panorama
sliding sunroof, pull back on the 2button.
i If the sliding sunroof is raised and closes,
press the 2switch, to stop the sliding
sunroof. Do not pull back on the 2switch
afterwards. The sliding sunroof closes before
it opens.
i Notes on the automatic reversing function
for:
R the side windows (Y page 93)
R the panorama sliding sunroof (Y page 97)
R the sliding sunroof (Y page 97)
X Convenience opening feature: press and
hold the dbutton until the side windows
open.
Vehicles with sliding sunroof or pano-
rama sliding sunroof: the sliding sunroof or
panorama sliding sunroof opens simultane-
ously.
The indicator lamp in the dbutton goes
out. Air-recirculation mode is deactivated.
i If you open the side windows or the sliding
sunroof or the panorama sliding sunroof man-
ually after closing them with the convenience closing feature, they will remain in this posi-
tion when opened using the convenience
opening feature. Operating the climate control system
139Climate control 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 petrol 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 156).
The transmission position indicator in the
multifunction display shows P(Y page 158).
i You can start the engine in transmission
position Pand N.
Starting procedure with the key X
To start a diesel engine : turn the key to
position 2in the ignition lock (Y page 148).
The % preglow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
X Turn the key to position 3in the ignition lock
(Y page 148) and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
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 key into the ignition
lock. The key must be in the vehicle and the
Start/Stop button must be inserted in the igni-
tion lock. This mode for starting the engine oper-
ates independently of the ECO start/stop auto- matic engine start function. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Press the Start/Stop button once
(Y page 148).
Vehicles with a petrol engine: the engine
starts.
Vehicles with a diesel engine: preglow is
activated and the engine starts. Pulling away
General notes G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
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 253).
It is only possible to shift the transmission from position Pto the desired position if you depress
the brake pedal. Only then is the parking 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 automatically releasing the elec-
trical parking brake (Y page 171).150
DrivingDriving and parking

Driving tips
Changing gear The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position
D. Gearshifting is determined
by:
R the selected drive program
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed
Accelerator pedal position Your driving style influences how the automatic
transmission shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a lower
gear depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Gliding mode (diesel engines only) Gliding mode is characterised by the following:
R the combustion engine is disconnected from
the drive train
R the engine speed is equal to the engine idling
speed
R the gear indicated after the transmission
position Ddisappears in the multifunction
display (Y page 158)
Gliding mode can be activated and transmission
position Dshown in green under the following
conditions:
R you select the "ECO" setting for the drive sys-
tem within the Individualdrive program. You
can find information about this in the Digital
Owner's Manual
R the speed is within a suitable range
R the type of road is suitable, e.g. no steep uphill
or downhill gradients R
the distance to the vehicle in front is sufficient
R you are no longer depressing the accelerator
pedal
Gliding mode is deactivated under the following
conditions:
R you depress the accelerator pedal
R you depress the brake pedal
R you use the DIRECT SELECT lever to switch
the transmission position (Y page 156)
R you use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
change the drive program (Y page 155)
R you activate manual gearshifting
(Y page 160)
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too short
R you leave the suitable speed range
Towing a trailer X
Drive in the middle of the engine speed range
on uphill gradients.
X Depending on the uphill or downhill gradient,
use the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 160) to select a lower gear,
even if cruise control, Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC or the speed limiter are activated. Drive programs
Slippery drive program The
Slippery drive program has the following
characteristics:
R reduced engine and transmission settings for
optimum propulsion on slippery or snow-cov-
ered roads.
R optimised ESP ®
stability control on slippery
or snow-covered roads.
R the vehicle has improved driving stability on
slippery or snow-covered roads, for example.
Comfort drive program The
Comfort drive program has the following
characteristics:
R comfort-orientated engine and transmission
settings.
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner. Automatic transmission
159Driving and parking Z

Problems with the transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. 7G-TRONIC:
The acceleration charac-
teristics are deteriorat-
ing.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is possible to shift only into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. 9G-TRONIC:
The acceleration charac-
teristics are deteriorat-
ing.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only partly possible to engage the gears or the transmission is in
position N.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Refuelling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health. There is a danger of injury. Do not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel
vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek
immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately. Refuelling
163Driving 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: :
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 grey: sporty acceler-
ation ;
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 grey: frequent heavy
braking =
Constant
(continuous evaluation
over the entire journey):
R the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: constant
speed and avoidance of unneces-
sary acceleration and deceleration
R the outer area empties and the
inner area is grey: fluctuations in
speed The three inner areas display the current driving
style and light up green as a result of a particu-
larly economical driving style. Depending on the driving situation, up to two areas may light up
simultaneously.
At the beginning of the journey, the three outer
areas are empty and fill up as a result of eco-
nomical driving. A higher level indicates a more
economical driving style. If the three outer areas
are completely filled at the same time, the driver
has adopted the most economical driving style
for the selected settings and prevailing condi-
tions. The ECO display border lights up.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual fuel consumption. The additionally achieved range
displayed under Bonus fr. start
Bonus fr. start does not
indicate a fixed consumption reduction. In addition to driving style, the actual consump-
tion is affected by other factors, such as:
R load
R tyre pressure
R cold start
R choice of route
R the use of electrical consumers
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
An economical driving style involves driving at a moderate engine speed.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
"Acceleration" and "Constant":
R observe the gearshift recommendation
R drive the vehicle in the Comfortdrive pro-
gram.
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g. on the
motorway, only the outer area for "Constant"
will change.
The ECO display summarises the driving style
from the start of the journey to its completion.
Therefore, there are more marked changes in
the outer areas at the start of a journey. During a prolonged driving time, these changes are
smaller. For more marked changes, perform a
manual reset (Y page 245).
Further information on the ECO display
(Y page 245). Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients Do not depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never cause
the brakes to rub by constantly applying light
pressure to the pedal. This results in excessive
and premature wear to the brake pads. Driving tips
173Driving and parking Z

Use the left-hand gearshift paddle to shift to a
lower gear on long and steep downhill gradients.
Take particular note of this when driving a laden vehicle.
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
less braking will be required to maintain the
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the
brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
The braking system can overheat if you leave your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
This increases the braking distance and could
even cause the braking system to fail. There is
a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Do
not simultaneously depress both the brake
pedal and the accelerator pedal while driving.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If heavy demands are made on the brakes, do
not park the vehicle immediately. Drive on for a
short while. This allows the airflow to cool the
brakes more quickly.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effectiveness.
To do this, brake more firmly from a higher
speed. This improves the grip of the brakes.
Wet road surfaces 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 a car wash or
after driving through deep water.
You will have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance to 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 salt-treated roads, a layer of salt
may form on the brake discs and pads. This can increase the braking distance considerably.
R Apply the brakes occasionally in order to pre-
vent any salt build-up. Ensure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal at the end
of the journey and when starting the next
journey.
R Maintain a much greater distance to the vehi-
cle in front.
New brake pads/linings Brake pads/linings and discs that are either new
or have been replaced only achieve optimum
braking effect after several hundred kilometres
of driving. Compensate for the reduced braking
effect by applying greater force to the brake
pedal.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to your vehicle which have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which corre-
spond to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
pads/linings which have not been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which are not of an
equivalent quality could affect your vehicle's
operating safety.
High-performance brake system
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) The high-performance brake system is designed
for high loads. This may lead to noise when
braking. This is dependent on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as tempera-
ture and humidity
The wear of individual brake system compo-
nents such as the brake pads/linings or brake
discs depends on individual driving style and
operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a mile-
age (service life) that will be valid under all cir-
cumstances. An aggressive driving style will
lead to high wear. You can obtain further infor-
mation about this from your Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. 174
Driving tipsDriving and parking