ignition MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV 2016 User Guide

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General notes 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 ! 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 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 68). 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.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems, includ-
ing driving safety systems, will also become
inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 293) and display mes-
sages which may be shown in the instrument
cluster (Y page 259).
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force 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; this serves as a
reminder to take extra care while driving. Off-road ABS An ABS system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once an off-
road program is activated:
R Vehicles without the Off-Road Engineering
package (Y page 228)
R Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering pack-
age (Y page 229)
At speeds below 30 km/h the front wheels lock cyclically during braking. The digging-in effect
achieved in the process reduces the stopping
distance when driving off-road. This limits steer- ing capability. BAS (Brake Assist System)
General notes BAS operates in emergency braking situations.
If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS
automatically boosts the braking force, thus
shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Braking X
Keep the brake pedal depressed firmly until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. Driving safety systems
69Safety Z

Active Brake Assist
General information i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
Active Brake Assist consists of a distance warn-
ing function with an autonomous braking func-
tion and Adaptive Brake Assist.
Active Brake Assist can help you to minimise the
risk of a collision with the vehicle travelling in
front or reduce the effects of such a collision.
If Active Brake Assist detects that there is a risk of collision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically. If you do not react to the visual and
audible collision warning, autonomous braking
can be initiated in critical situations. If you apply
the brake yourself in a critical situation, Adap-
tive Brake Assist of the Active Brake Assist sys- tem supports you.
Important safety notes In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired in the following situations:
R dirt on the sensors or obscured sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in multi-
storey car parks
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle
R a vehicle travelling in front on a different line
R new vehicles or after servicing is carried out
on the Active Brake Assist system
Please observe the information in the section on running-in the vehicle (Y page 147).
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle, have the configuration and operation of the
radar sensor checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. This also applies to collisions at low
speeds where no damage to the front of the
vehicle is visible.
Activating/deactivating Active Brake Assist is automatically active after
switching on the ignition.
You can activate or deactivate Active Brake
Assist (Y page 250) in the on-board computer.
When the system is deactivated, the distance warning function and the autonomous braking
function are also deactivated.
If Active Brake Assist is deactivated, the
æ
symbol appears in the assistance graphic dis-
play.
If DSR (Y page 227) is activated, Active Brake
Assist is deactivated.
Distance warning function General information
The distance warning function can help you to
minimise the risk of collision with the vehicle in
front or reduce the effects of such a collision. If the distance warning function detects a risk of
collision with the vehicle in front, you will be
warned visually and acoustically.
Important safety notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 68). 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
Thus, the distance warning function cannot
provide a warning 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. 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; do not rely on the distance warning
function alone. 70
Driving safety systemsSafety

Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Only operate the vehicle for a maximum of
ten seconds on a brake dynamometer. Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
! A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a twin-axle dynamometer.
Before you operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
workshop. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
When ESP ®
is deactivated, the åESP®
OFF
warning lamp lights up continuously.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarning
lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not available
due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 295) and display messages which may
be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 259).
i Only use wheels with the recommended tyre
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Characteristics of ESP ®General notes
If the ÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X When pulling away, only depress the acceler-
ator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions. ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its previ-
ously selected status, e.g. if ESP ®
was deacti-
vated before the engine was automatically
switched off.
Deactivating/activating ESP ® Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
You can select between the following ESP ®
sta-
tuses:
R ESP ®
is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
In the following situations, it may be better to
deactivate ESP ®
:
R when snow chains are used
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action,
which enhances traction.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not stabilise the vehicle if the vehi-
cle starts to skid or a wheel starts to spin. Driving safety systems
73Safety Z

Up to a speed of approximately 70 km/h, the
Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
assists you with braking in hazardous 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
The braking application of Active Brake Assist
with cross-traffic function is ended automati-
cally if:
R you steer to avoid the obstacle
R the risk of collision has passed
R an obstacle is no longer detected in the path
of your vehicle STEER CONTROL
General information STEER CONTROL helps you by transmitting a
noticeable steering force to the steering wheel
in the direction required for vehicle stabilisation.
This steering support is provided in particular if:
R both right wheels or both left wheels are on a
wet or slippery road surface when you brake
R the vehicle starts to skid
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
No steering support is provided from STEER
CONTROL, if: R ESP ®
is deactivated
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning
R the steering is faulty If ESP
®
is malfunctioning, you will be assisted
further by the electrical power steering. Protection against theft
Immobiliser
X To activate with the key: remove the key
from the ignition lock.
X To activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door.
X To deactivate: switch on the ignition.
The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Anyone can start
the engine if a valid key has been left inside the vehicle.
i The immobiliser is always deactivated when
you start the engine. ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
X
To prime: lock the vehicle with the key or
KEYLESS-GO.
Indicator lamp :flashes. The alarm system
is primed after approximately 15 seconds.
X To switch off with the key: unlock the vehi-
cle using the key.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
X To switch off with KEYLESS-GO: unlock the
vehicle using KEYLESS-GO.
or
X Press the Start/Stop button on the dash-
board. The key must be inside the vehicle. 78
Protection against theftSafety

A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is primed and you open:
R a door
R the vehicle with the emergency key element
R the tailgate
R the bonnet
X To stop the alarm with the key: press the
% or& button on the key.
The alarm stops.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
The alarm stops.
X To stop the alarm using KEYLESS-GO:
grasp the outside door handle. The key must
be outside the vehicle.
The alarm stops.
or X Press the Start/Stop button on the dash-
board. The key must be inside the vehicle.
The alarm stops.
The alarm does not switch off, even if you close the open door that has triggered it, for example. Tow-away protection
Function An audible and visual alarm is triggered if your
vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while
tow-away protection is primed. This can occur if
the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for exam-
ple.
Priming X
Make sure that:
R the doors are closed
R the tailgate is closed
Only then is tow-away protection primed.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-GO.
Tow-away protection is primed after approx-
imately 60 second s. Switching off X
To switch off with the key: unlock the vehi-
cle using the key.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
Tow-away protection is switched off automat-
ically.
X To switch off with KEYLESS-GO: unlock the
vehicle using KEYLESS-GO.
or X Press the Start/Stop button on the dash-
board. The key must be inside the vehicle.
Tow-away protection is switched off automat-
ically.
Deactivating X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up briefly.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-GO.
Tow-away protection is deactivated.
Tow-away protection remains deactivated until:
R the vehicle is unlocked again and
R a door is opened and closed again and
R the vehicle is locked again
To prevent a false alarm, deactivate tow-away
protection if you lock your vehicle and it:
R is being transported
R is being loaded onto a ferry or car transporter,
for example
R is parked on a movable surface, e.g. in a split-
level garage Protection against theft
79Safety Z

Interior motion sensor
Function When the interior motion sensor is primed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered if move-
ment is detected in the vehicle interior. This can
occur if someone reaches into the vehicle inte-
rior, for example.
Priming X
Make sure that:
R the side windows are closed
R the hinged side windows are closed
R the sliding sunroof/panorama sliding sun-
roof is closed
R there are no objects, e.g. mascots, hanging
on the rear-view mirror or on the grab han-
dles on the roof trim
This will prevent false alarms.
X Make sure that:
R the sliding sunroof/panorama sliding sun-
roof is closed
R the doors are closed
R the tailgate is closed
Only then is the interior motion sensor
primed.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-GO.
The interior motion sensor is primed after
approximately 30 seconds.
Switching off X
To switch off with the key: unlock the vehi-
cle using the key.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
The interior motion sensor is automatically
switched off.
X To switch off with KEYLESS-GO: unlock the
vehicle using KEYLESS-GO.
or
X Press the Start/Stop button on the dash-
board. The key must be inside the vehicle.
The interior motion sensor is automatically
switched off. Deactivating
X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes several times in
rapid succession.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-GO.
The interior motion sensor is deactivated.
The interior motion sensor remains deactivated until:
R the vehicle is unlocked again and
R a door is opened and closed again and
R the vehicle is locked again
To prevent a false alarm, deactivate the interior
motion sensor if you lock your vehicle and:
R people or animals remain in the vehicle
R a hinged side window remains open
R the sliding sunroof/panorama sliding sunroof
remains open
R the side windows remain open
i UK only:
your vehicle is equipped with a
double-lock function. The doors cannot be
opened from the inside if the vehicle has been
locked with the key or with KEYLESS-GO.
Deactivate the interior motion sensor before
you lock the vehicle. The doors can then be
opened from the inside after the vehicle has
been locked from the outside. Observe the
"Important safety notes" (Y page 87).80
Protection against theftSafety

Key
Important safety notes
United Kingdom only: G
WARNING
When the double locks are activated, the
doors can no longer be opened from the
inside. People in the vehicle can no longer get out, e.g. in hazardous situations. There is a
risk of injury.
Therefore, do not leave any people unsuper-
vised in the vehicle, particularly children, eld-
erly people or people in need of special assis-
tance. Do not activate the double lock when
people are in the vehicle.
All countries: G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they can:
R open doors and endanger other persons or
road users
R climb out and be injured by the traffic
R operate vehicle equipment and, for exam-
ple, trap themselves.
Children could also set the vehicle in motion, for example by:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R starting the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children unattended in the vehicle. Always
keep the key out of reach of children. G
WARNING
If you attach heavy or large objects to the key, the key could be unintentionally turned in the
ignition lock. This could cause the engine to
be switched off. There is a risk of an accident. Do not attach any heavy or large objects to the
key. Remove any bulky keyrings before insert-
ing the key into the ignition lock.
! Keep the key away from strong magnetic
fields. Otherwise, the remote control function could be affected.
Strong magnetic fields can occur in the vicin-ity of powerful electrical installations.
Do not keep the key:
R with electronic devices, e.g. a mobile phone
or another key
R with metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal film
R inside metallic objects, e.g. a metal case
This can affect the key's functionality.
Do not keep the KEYLESS-GO or KEYLESS-GO
Start function key in the temperature-controlled
cup holder. Otherwise, the KEYLESS-GO or KEY- LESS-GO Start function key will not be detected.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO start function: do
not keep the key in the luggage compartment.
Otherwise, the key may not be detected, e.g.
when starting the engine using the Start/Stop
button.
Only for the United Kingdom: if the vehicle
has been locked with the key from the outside,
the double lock function is activated as stand-
ard. It is then not possible to open the doors
from inside the vehicle. Key functions
:
& Locks the vehicle
; F Opens/closes the tailgate
= % Unlocks the vehicle
X To unlock centrally: press the%button. Key
81Opening and closing Z

X
To deactivate: press the&button on the
key twice in rapid succession.
The battery check lamp of the key flashes
twice briefly and lights up once, then KEY-
LESS-GO is deactivated (Y page 84).
X To activate: press any button on the key.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
KEYLESS-GO and all its associated features
are available again. KEYLESS-GO start function
General notes Bear in mind that the engine can be started by
any of the vehicle occupants if there is a key in
the vehicle (Y page 150). Changing the settings of the locking
system
You can change the settings of the locking sys-
tem. This means that only the driver's door and
the fuel filler flap are unlocked when the vehicle is unlocked. This is useful if you frequently travel
alone.
X To change the setting: press and hold down
the % and& buttons simultaneously
for about six seconds until the battery indica-
tor lamp flashes twice (Y page 84).
If the setting of the locking system is changed
within the signal range of the vehicle, pressing
the & or% button:
R locks or
R unlocks the vehicle
The key now functions as follows:
X To unlock: press the%button once.
X To unlock centrally: press the%button
twice.
X To lock centrally: press the&button. The KEYLESS-GO function is changed as fol-
lows:
X
To unlock the driver's door: touch the inner
surface of the door handle on the driver's
door.
X To unlock centrally: touch the inner surface
of the door handle on the front-passenger
door or the rear door.
X To lock centrally: touch the outer sensor
surface on one of the door handles
(Y page 82).
X To restore the factory settings: press and
hold down the %and& buttons simul-
taneously for approximately six seconds until the battery check lamp flashes twice
(Y page 84). Emergency key element
General notes If the vehicle can no longer be locked or
unlocked with the key or with KEYLESS-GO, use
the emergency key element.
If you use the emergency key element to unlock
and open the driver's door, the anti-theft alarm
system will be triggered. Switch off the alarm
(Y page 78).
If you unlock the vehicle using the emergency
key element, the fuel filler flap will not be
unlocked automatically.
X To unlock the fuel filler flap: insert the key
into the ignition lock.
Removing the emergency key element Key
83Opening and closing Z

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions There is interference from a powerful source of radio waves.
X Unlock (Y page 89) or lock (Y page 89) the vehicle using the
emergency key element. There is a fault with KEYLESS-GO.
X Lock/unlock the vehicle using the remote control function of the
key.
X Have the vehicle and key checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
If the vehicle cannot be locked/unlocked even using the remote con-
trol function:
X Unlock (Y page 89) or lock (Y page 89) the vehicle using the
emergency key element.
X Have the vehicle and key checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop. The engine cannot be
started using the 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 353).
or X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 354).
or X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine cannot be
started using the Start/
Stop button. The key is in
the vehicle. The vehicle is locked.
X Unlock the vehicle and try to start the vehicle again. The key battery is discharged or nearly discharged.
X Check the key battery (Y page 84) and replace it if necessary
(Y page 84).
If this does not work: X Start your vehicle with the key in the ignition lock. There is interference from a powerful source of radio waves.
X Start your vehicle with the key in the ignition lock. You have lost a key. X
Have the key 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 emer-
gency key element. X
Report the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
X If necessary, have the locks changed as well. 86
KeyOpening and closing

X
Front door: pull door handle ;.
If the door is locked, locking knob :pops up.
The door is unlocked and can be opened.
X Rear door: pull door handle ;.
If the door is locked, locking knob :pops up
and the door unlocks.
X Pull door handle ;again.
The door can be opened. Centrally locking and unlocking the
vehicle from the inside
You can centrally lock or unlock the vehicle from the inside. The buttons are located on both frontdoors. X
To unlock: press button :.
X To lock: press button ;.
If the front-passenger door is closed, the vehi-
cle locks.
This does not lock or unlock the fuel filler flap.
You cannot unlock the vehicle centrally from the
inside if the vehicle has been locked from the
outside.
For all countries except the United Kingdom:
you can open a door from inside the vehicle even if it has been locked.
Only for the United Kingdom: if the vehicle
has been locked with the key from the outside,
the double lock function is activated as stand-
ard. It is then not possible to open the doors
from inside the vehicle. You can deactivate the
double lock function by deactivating the interior motion sensor (Y page 80). The doors can then
be opened from the inside after the vehicle has
been locked from the outside. For all countries:
when a locked door is opened
from inside the vehicle, the previous unlocking
process will be observed if the vehicle has been:
R locked with the locking button for the central
locking or
R locked automatically
The vehicle will be fully unlocked if it had previ-
ously been fully unlocked. Only the door which
has been opened from the inside is unlocked if
only the driver's door had been previously
unlocked. Automatic locking feature
X
To deactivate: press and hold button :for
about five seconds until a tone sounds.
X To activate: press and hold button ;for
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.
Therefore, you could be locked out if:
R the vehicle is being pushed
R the vehicle is being towed
R the vehicle is being tested on a dynamometer.
You can also activate and deactivate the auto-
matic locking function using the on-board com- puter (Y page 253). Power closing
Power closing pulls the doors and tailgate into
their locks automatically even if they are not
completely closed. 88
DoorsOpening and closing