MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV 2016 Owners Manual

Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after the vehicle has been washed. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
After washing the vehicle, brake carefully
while paying attention to the traffic conditions in order to restore full braking efficiency.
! 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 centre of the guide rails in order
to avoid damaging the tyres or wheel rims.
Fold in the exterior mirrors before the vehicle is washed. The exterior mirrors could other-
wise be damaged.
! When DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func-
tion is activated, the vehicle brakes automat- ically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or similar situations:
R when towing away
R in a car wash
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at position
0.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
! In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission is in transmission position N, otherwise the
vehicle could be damaged. R
Vehicles with a key:
do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position Pauto-
matically and locks the wheels. You can
prevent this by shifting the automatic trans- mission to Nbeforehand.
R Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO:
do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position Pauto-
matically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N:
X Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
Use the key instead of the Start/Stop button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the
ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, wash off excess dirt
before cleaning the vehicle in an automatic car
wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off the
wax from the windscreen and the windscreen
wiper blades. This will prevent smears and
reduce wiping noises caused by residue on the
windscreen.
Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements for each indi-
vidual country.
X Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft sponge to clean. 338
CareMaintenance and care

X
Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlets.
X Use plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently.
X Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
X Do not let the cleaning agent dry on the paint-
work.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible.
High-pressure cleaning equipment G
WARNING
The water jet of circular-jet nozzles (dirt grind- ers) can cause damage not visible from the
outside to tyres or chassis components. Com-
ponents damaged in this way can unexpect-
edly fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have dam- aged tyres or chassis components replaced
immediately.
! Always maintain a distance of at least 30 cm
between the vehicle and the high-pressure
cleaner nozzle. Information about the correct
distance is available from the equipment
manufacturer.
Move the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around when cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
R tyres
R door gaps, roof gaps, joints etc.
R electrical components
R battery
R plug connectors
R lamps
R seals
R trim elements
R ventilation slots
Damage to seals or electrical components
can lead to leaks or failures. Cleaning the paintwork !
Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected by
corrosion and damage caused by inadequate
care cannot always be completely repaired. In
such cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
X Remove impurities immediately, where pos-
sible, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
X Soak insect remains with insect remover and
rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
X Soak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards.
X Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin, oils,
fuels and greases by rubbing gently with a
cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighter
fluid.
X Use tar remover to remove tar stains.
X Use silicone remover to remove wax.
Care and treatment of matt paintwork !
Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing makes the paintwork shiny.
! The following may cause the paint to
become shiny and thus reduce the matt
effect:
R vigorous rubbing with unsuitable materials
R frequent use of car washes
R washing the vehicle in direct sunlight
! Never use paint cleaner, buffing or polishing
products, or gloss preserver, e.g. wax, for the purpose of paintwork care. These products
are only suitable for high-gloss surfaces. Their
use on vehicles with matt paintwork leads to
considerable surface damage or, more spe-
cifically, to shiny, spotted areas.
Always have paintwork repairs carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Do not use wash programs with a hot wax
treatment under any circumstances.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has a clear
matt finish. This will help you to avoid damage to the paintwork due to incorrect treatment. Care
339Maintenance and care Z

These notes also apply to light-alloy wheels with
a clear matt finish.
i The vehicle should preferably be washed by
hand using a soft sponge, car shampoo and
plenty of water.
i Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products. Cleaning vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels G
WARNING
The water jet of circular-jet nozzles (dirt grind- ers) can cause damage not visible from the
outside to tyres or chassis components. Com-
ponents damaged in this way can unexpect-
edly fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have dam- aged tyres or chassis components replaced
immediately.
! Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
! Do not park up your vehicle for a long period
of time immediately after cleaning, particu-
larly after cleaning the wheel rim with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaner may lead to increased corrosion of the brake discs and pads. You
should 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 up for a long period of time.
Cleaning the windows G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers are set in motion
when cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, you could become trapped. There is a danger of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windscreen or wiper blades. !
Do not use dry cloths, abrasive cleaning
agents, solvents or solvent-based cleaning
agents to clean the inside of the windows/
windscreen. Do not touch the inside of the
windows/windscreen with hard items such
as an ice scraper or a ring. Otherwise, the
windows/windscreen could be damaged.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windscreen and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals and
pollen may under certain circumstances pre-
vent water from draining away. This can lead
to corrosion damage and damage to elec-
tronic components.
X Clean the inside and outside of the windows
with a damp cloth and a cleaning agent that is
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning the wiper blades G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers are set in motion
when cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, you could become trapped. There is a danger of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windscreen orwiper blades.
! Do not pull on the wiper blade. Otherwise,
the wiper blade could be damaged.
! Do not clean wiper blades too often and do
not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the graph-
ite coating could be damaged. This could
cause wiper noise.
! Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windscreen could be damaged if
the wiper arm hits against it suddenly.
X Fold the wiper arms away from the wind-
screen (Y page 129).
X Clean the wiper blades carefully using a damp
cloth.
X Fold the windscreen wipers back again before
switching on the ignition. 340
CareMaintenance and care

Cleaning the exterior lighting
!
Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
that are suitable for plastic lenses. Unsuitable
cleaning agents or cleaning cloths could
scratch or damage the plastic lenses of the
exterior lighting.
X Clean the plastic lenses of the exterior light-
ing using a wet sponge and a mild cleaning
agent, e. g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or cleaning cloths.
Cleaning the mirror turn signal !
Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
that are suitable for plastic lenses. Unsuitable
cleaning agents or cleaning cloths could
scratch or damage the plastic lenses of the
mirror turn signals.
X Clean the plastic lenses of the mirror turn sig-
nals in the exterior mirror housing using a wet sponge and mild cleaning agent, e.g.
Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or cleaning
cloths.
Cleaning the side running board !
Do not clean the aluminium inserts of the
side running board with alkaline or acidic
cleaners, such as wheel cleaner. Do not use
acidic wheel cleaners to remove brake dust.
The aluminium inserts could otherwise be
damaged.
Cleaning the sensors !
If you clean the sensors with a high-pressure
cleaner, make sure that you keep a distance
of at least 30 cm between the vehicle and the
high-pressure cleaner nozzle. Information
about the correct distance is available from
the equipment manufacturer. X
Clean sensors :of the driving systems with
water, car shampoo and a soft cloth.
Cleaning the reversing camera and
360° camera !
Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the reversing camera or 360° camera
with a high-pressure cleaner. X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 2in the ignition lock.
X Open the camera cover for cleaning via the
multimedia system (see separate operating
instructions).
X To clean the camera: use clean water and a
soft cloth to clean the camera lens :.
360° camera: if you drive at speeds above
30 km/h or with the key in position 0or 1in the
ignition lock, the cover of the 360° camera
closes automatically. Care
341Maintenance and care Z

Cleaning the exhaust pipe
G
WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe and tail pipe trim can
become very hot. If you come into contact
with these parts of the vehicle, you could burn
yourself. There is a risk of injury.
Always be particularly careful around the
exhaust tail pipe and the tail pipe trim. Allow
these components to cool down before touch-
ing them.
! Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 vehicles with black
exhaust pipes: black chromed exhaust tips
should not be polished with a chrome polish. They will otherwise lose their black shine. For
optimal care, the tips should be rubbed with a lightly oiled cloth after every car wash. Com-
mercially available engine and care oils are
suitable for this.
For heavier soiling, you can apply a fine paint-
work polish with a microfibre cloth. Remove
the excess polish residue after polishing.
Impurities combined with the effects of road grit
and corrosive environmental factors may cause
flash rust to form on the surface. You can
restore the original shine of the exhaust pipe by cleaning it regularly, especially in winter and
after washing the vehicle.
X Clean the exhaust pipe with a chrome care
product tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning the trailer tow hitch H
Environmental note
Dispose of oily and greasy cloths in an envi-
ronmentally-responsible manner.
! Do not clean the ball coupling with a high-
pressure cleaner. Do not use solvents.
! Please note the care instructions in the
trailer coupling manufacturer's operating
instructions. The ball coupling must be cleaned if it becomes
dirty or corroded.
X Remove rust on the ball of the ball coupling,
e.g. with a wire brush.
X Remove dirt with a clean, lint-free cloth or a
brush.
X After cleaning, lightly oil or grease ball cou-
pling :.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer tow hitch is
working properly.
i You can also have the maintenance work on
the ball coupling and the trailer tow hitch car-
ried out by a qualified specialist workshop. Interior care
Cleaning the display !
For cleaning, do not use any of the following:
R alcohol-based thinner or petrol
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household cleaning
agents
These may damage the display surface. Do
not put pressure on the display surface when
cleaning. This could lead to irreparable dam-
age to the display.
X Before cleaning the display, make sure that it
is switched off and has cooled down.
X Clean the display surface using a commer-
cially available microfibre cloth and TFT/LCD
display cleaner.
X Dry the display surface using a dry microfibre
cloth. 342
CareMaintenance and care

Cleaning the plastic trim
G
WARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing solvents can cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. This could result in plastic
parts breaking away when the airbags are
deployed. There is a danger of injury.
Do not use care products and cleaning agents containing solvents to clean the cockpit.
! Do not affix the following to plastic surfaces:
R stickers
R films
R scented oil bottles or similar items
You could otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent or
sunscreen to come in contact with the plastic trim. This maintains the high-quality look of
the surfaces.
X Wipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfibre cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change colour temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or selector lever X
Thoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning wood trim and trim elements !
Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners, polishes
or waxes. There is otherwise a risk of damag- ing the surface.
X Wipe the wooden trim and trim elements with
a damp, lint-free cloth, e.g. a microfibre cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Cleaning the seat covers General notes
! Do not use a microfibre cloth to clean covers
made out of real leather, artificial leather or
DINAMICA. If used frequently, this can dam-
age the cover.
i Note that regular care is essential to make
sure that the appearance and comfort of the
covers are retained over time.
Genuine leather seat covers
! To retain the natural appearance of the
leather, observe the following cleaning
instructions:
R Clean genuine leather covers carefully with
a damp cloth and then wipe the covers
down with a dry cloth.
R Make sure that the leather does not
become soaked. It may otherwise become
rough and cracked.
R Only use leather care agents that have
been tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz. You can obtain these from a qualified specialist workshop.
Leather is a natural product.
It has natural surface properties, e.g.:
R unevenness in structure
R marks caused by growth and injury
R subtle colour differences
These are characteristics of leather and not
material faults.
Seat covers from other materials
! Observe the following when cleaning:
R clean artificial leather covers with a cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. washing-up liquid).
R clean cloth covers with a microfibre cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. washing-up liquid). Rub
carefully, and always wipe entire seat sec-
tions to avoid leaving visible lines. Leave
the seat to dry afterwards. Cleaning results
depend on the type of dirt and how long it
has been there.
R Clean DINAMICA covers with a damp cloth.
Make sure that you wipe entire seat sec-
tions to avoid leaving visible lines. Care
343Maintenance and care Z

Cleaning the seat belts
G
WARNING
Seat belts may be severely weakened if
bleached or coloured. This may lead to the
seat belts, for example, tearing or failing in an accident. There is an increased risk of injury,
possibly even fatal.
Never bleach or colour seat belts.
! Do not clean the seat belts using chemical
cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat belts at
temperatures above 80 † or in direct sun-
light.
X Use clean, lukewarm water and soap solution.
Cleaning the roof lining and carpets X
Roof lining: if it is very dirty, use a soft brush
or dry shampoo.
X Carpets: use the carpet and textile cleaning
agents recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. 344
CareMaintenance and care

Where will I find...?
Warning triangle
Removing the warning triangle Warning triangle
:is located in the stowage
well under the luggage compartment floor.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the
warning triangle may also be located in other
places under the luggage compartment floor.
X Open the tailgate.
X Lift the luggage compartment floor upwards
(Y page 319).
X Remove warning triangle :.
Setting up the warning triangle X
Fold legs =out to the side.
X Fold side reflectors ;upwards to form a tri-
angle and lock them at the top using press
stud :. First-aid kit
X
Open the tailgate.
X Remove first-aid kit :from the luggage net.
Check the expiry date on the first-aid kit at least once a year. Replace the contents if necessary,
and replace any missing items. Fire extinguisher
X
Pull tab :upwards.
X Remove fire extinguisher ;.
Have the fire extinguisher refilled after each use and checked every one or two years. It may oth-
erwise fail in an emergency.
Observe the legal requirements for each indi-
vidual country. Vehicle tool kit
General notes The vehicle tool kit can be found in the stowage
well under the luggage compartment floor.
Apart from some country-specific variants, vehi-
cles are not equipped with tyre-changing tools.
Some tools for changing a wheel are specific to Where will I find...?
345Breakdown assistance

the vehicle. For more information on which tools
are required to perform a wheel change on your vehicle, consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Necessary tyre-changing tools may include, for
example:
R jack
R wheel chock
R wheel wrench
R ratchet ring spanner
R centring pin
i The jack weighs approximately 3.4 kg.
The maximum load-bearing capacity of the
jack can be found on the adhesive label on the
jack.
The jack is maintenance-free. If there is a
malfunction, please contact a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit :
Wheel wrench
; Towing eye
= Ratchet ring spanner
? Centring pin
A Tyre sealant bottle
B Tyre inflation compressor
C Folding wheel chock
D Jack
E Wheel bolts
X Open the tailgate.
X Swing the luggage compartment floor
upwards (Y page 319).
X Use the TIREFIT kit (Y page 348).
i The tyre inflation compressor weighs
approximately 1.6 kg. The tyre inflation compressor is maintenance-
free. If there is a malfunction, please contact a qualified specialist workshop.
Vehicles with a "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel :
Centring pin
; Velcro fastener
= Folding wheel chock
? Ratchet ring spanner
A Wheel wrench
B Jack
C Warning triangle
D Wheel bolts
E Towing eye
X Open the tailgate.
X Lift the luggage compartment floor upwards
(Y page 319).
X Remove the "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel (Y page 375). Flat tyre
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with: R MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat char-
acteristics)
Vehicle preparation is not necessary on vehi- cles with MOExtended tyres.
R a TIREFIT kit (Y page 345)
R an emergency spare wheel (certain countries
only)
Information on changing and fitting a wheel
(Y page 369). 346
Flat tyreBreakdown assistance

X
Stop the vehicle as far away as possible from
traffic on solid, non-slippery and level ground.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 168).
X If possible, bring the front wheels into the
straight-ahead position.
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
make sure that the normal vehicle level is
selected (Y page 198).
X Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering
package:
make sure that the normal level is
selected (Y page 192).
X Switch off the engine.
X Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove the
key from the ignition lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the driv-
er's door.
The on-board electronics now have status 0.
This is the same as the key having been
removed.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
X Make sure that the passengers are not endan-
gered as they do so. Make sure that no one is
near the danger area while a wheel is being
changed. Anyone who is not directly assisting in the wheel change should, for example,
stand behind the barrier.
X Get out of the vehicle. Pay attention to traffic
conditions when doing so.
X Close the driver's door.
X Place the warning triangle at a suitable dis-
tance (Y page 345). Observe legal require-
ments.
X Unload heavy luggage.
i Only operate the tyre inflation compressor
using a 12 V socket, even if the ignition is
turned off (Y page 324).
An emergency cut-off ensures that the on-
board voltage does not drop too low. If the on-
board voltage is too low, the power to the
sockets is automatically cut. This ensures
that there is sufficient power to start the
engine. MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics)
General notes With MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat char-
acteristics), you can continue to drive your vehi- cle even if there is a total loss of pressure in one
or more tyres. The affected tyre must not show
any clearly visible damage.
You can recognise MOExtended tyres by the
MOExtended marking which appears on the tyre wall. You will find this marking next to the tyre
size designation, the load-bearing capacity and
the speed index.
MOExtended tyres may only be used in conjunc-tion with an activated tyre pressure loss warning
system or tyre pressure monitor.
If a pressure loss warning message appears in the multifunction display:
R observe the instructions in the display mes-
sages (Y page 283)
R check the tyre for damage
R if driving on, observe the following notes
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is
approximately 80 km when the vehicle is parti-
ally laden and approximately 30 km when the
vehicle is fully laden.
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving dis-
tance possible depends upon:
R vehicle speed
R road condition
R outside temperature
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving conditions/
manoeuvres, or it can be increased through a
moderate style of driving.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is counted from the moment the tyre pressure loss
warning appears in the multifunction display.
You must not exceed a maximum speed of
80 km/h.
i When replacing one or all tyres, observe the
following specifications for your vehicle's
tyres:
R size
R type and
R the "MOExtended" mark
If a tyre has gone flat and cannot be replaced
with an MOExtended tyre, a standard tyre Flat tyre
347Breakdown assistance