MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV 2019 Owner's Manual

e.g. a car shampoo approved for Mercedes-
Benz.
X Dry vehicles covered with film using a soft,
absorbent cloth after every wash.
Water marks could otherwise form.
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 dirt immediately, where possible,
while avoiding rubbing too hard.
The decorative film may be irreparably dam-
aged.
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.
The Paint Cleaner cleaning product, which has
been approved and recommended for
Mercedes-Benz, should be used when dirt has
penetrated the decorative film surface or the
decorative film has become dull.
The manufacturer can provide you with infor-
mation on special care and cleaning products.
Surfaces covered with a decorative film may,
once a decorative film has been removed, show visual differences from the surfaces that were
not protected by a decorative film.
i Have work or repairs on decorative film car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for this
purpose. Cleaning the vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels G
WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately. !
Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
! Do not park your vehicle for a long period of
time directly after cleaning, particularly after
cleaning the wheel rim with wheel cleaner.
Wheel cleaner can lead to the increased cor-
rosion of the brake discs and pads. Therefore,
drive for a few minutes after cleaning. By
heating up the brakes, the brake discs and
pads dry. The vehicle can then be parked for a long period of time.
Cleaning the windows G
WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-
vents to clean the inside of the windows. Do
not touch the insides of the windows with
hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring. There is otherwise a risk of damaging the windows.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windshield 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 product that
is recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning wiper blades G
WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury. Care
329Maintenance and care
Z

Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or wiper blades.
! Do not pull 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 windshield could be damaged if the wiper arm smacks against it suddenly.
X Fold the windshield wiper arms away from the
windshield (Y page 123).
X Carefully clean the wiper blades with a damp
cloth.
X Fold the windshield wiper arms back again
before switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the exterior lighting !
Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
which are suitable for plastic light lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
could scratch or damage the plastic light len- ses.
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 signals !
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 aluminum insert of the side
running board with alkaline or acid-based
cleaning agents, such as wheel cleaner. Do
not use acidic wheel cleaners to remove brake dust. The aluminum inserts could oth-
erwise be damaged.
Cleaning the sensors !
If you clean the sensors with a power
washer, make sure that you keep a distance
of at least 11.8 in (30 cm) between the vehicle
and the power washer nozzle. Information
about the correct distance is available from
the equipment manufacturer. X
Clean sensors 0043of the driving systems with
water, car shampoo and a soft cloth.
Cleaning the rear view camera and 360° camera !
Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the rear view camera or 360° camera with a power washer. 330
CareMaintenance and care

X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the SmartKey is in position 0048in the ignition
lock.
X Open the camera cover for cleaning via the
multimedia system (see Digital Operator's
Manual).
X To clean the camera: use clean water and a
soft cloth to clean the camera lens 0043.
360° camera: if you drive at speeds above
20 mph (30 km/h) or with the SmartKey in posi- tion 0092or0047 in the ignition lock, the cover of
the 360° camera closes.
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 burns.
Always be particularly careful and supervise
children closely around the exhaust pipe and
the exhaust pipe trims. Allow these compo-
nents to cool down before touching them.
! Vehicles with black exhaust pipes: black
chromed screens should not be polished with a chrome polish. They will otherwise lose their
black shine. For optimal care, the screens
should be rubbed with a lightly oiled cloth
after every car wash. Commercially available
engine and care oils are suitable for this.
For heavier soiling, you can apply a fine paint- work polish with a microfiber 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.
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 rags soaked in oil and grease in an environmentally responsible manner. !
Do not clean the ball coupling with a power
washer. 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 0043.
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 gasoline
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. Care
331Maintenance and care Z

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 microfiber cloth and TFT/LCD
display cleaner.
X Dry the display surface using a dry microfiber
cloth.
Cleaning the plastic trim G
WARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing solvents cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. As a result, plastic parts may
come loose in the event of air bag deploy-
ment. There is a risk of injury.
Do not use any care products and cleaning
agents to clean the cockpit.
! Never attach the following to plastic surfa-
ces:
R stickers
R films
R perfume oil container or similar
You could otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent or
sunscreen to come into contact with the plas-
tic trim. This maintains the high-quality look of the surfaces.
X Wipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use care and cleaning prod-
ucts recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change color 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 genuine wood and trim ele-
ments !
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.
! Do not use chrome polish on trim pieces.
The trim pieces have a chrome look but are
mostly made of anodized aluminum and can
lose their shine if chrome polish is used. Use
a damp, lint-free cloth instead when cleaning the trim pieces.
If the chrome-plated trim pieces are very
dirty, you can use a chrome polish. If you are
unsure as to whether the trim pieces are
chrome-plated or not, consult an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
X Wipe the wooden trim and trim pieces with a
damp, lint-free cloth, e.g. a microfiber 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 microfiber cloth to clean covers
made out of real leather, artificial leather or
DINAMICA. If used often, these can damage
the cover.
i Note that regular care is essential to ensure
that the appearance and comfort of the cov-
ers is 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 exhibits natural surface characteristics, for
example:
R differences in the texture
R marks caused by growth and injury
R slight nuances of color 332
CareMaintenance and care

These are characteristics of leather and not
material defects.
Seat covers of other materials ! Observe the following when cleaning:
R clean artificial leather covers with a cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. dish washing liquid).
R clean cloth covers with a microfiber cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. dish washing 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.
Cleaning the seat belts G
WARNING
Seat belts can become severely weakened if
bleached or dyed. This could cause the seat
belts to tear or fail, for instance, in the event of an accident. This poses an increased risk of
injury or fatal injury.
Never bleach or dye the seat belts.
! Do not clean the seat belts using chemical
cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat belts by
heating at temperatures above 176 ‡(80 †)
or in direct sunlight.
X Use clean, lukewarm water and soap solution.
Cleaning the headliner and carpets X
Headliner: 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. Care
333Maintenance and care Z

Where will I find...?
Reflective safety jacket
Removing/replacing the reflective
safety jacket The reflective safety jackets are located in front
door stowage compartments 0043. Reflective
safety jackets can also be stored in the rear door stowage compartments.
X To remove: pull out the safety jacket bag
containing the reflective safety jacket.
X Open the safety jacket bag and pull out the
reflective safety jacket.
X To stow: fold the reflective safety jacket, roll
it up and stow it in the safety jacket bag.
X Replace the safety jacket bag in stowage
compartment 0043.
i Remove a new reflective safety jacket from
its packaging material before sliding it into
the stowage compartment. The packaging
material may otherwise cause it to slip out or
make removing it difficult.
Observe the legal requirements in each country. Information on reflective safety jackets 0043
Maximum number of washes
0044 Maximum wash temperature
0087 Do not bleach
0085 Do not iron
0083 Do not use a laundry dryer
0084 Do not dry-clean
006B This is a class 2 vest
R The reflective safety jackets meet the require-
ments defined by the legal standard only:
- if the correct size is used and
- if the reflective safety jackets are correctly
fastened
R Before use, ensure that the reflective safety
jackets are clean and intact. The special prop-
erties may otherwise be compromised.
R The reflective safety jackets should be stored
in their original packaging in a dry place away
from sources of heat and light.
R The maximum number of washes specified is
not the only factor influencing the life span of
the reflective safety jackets. Their life span
also depends on use, care, storage, etc.
R The reflective safety jackets should be dis-
posed of and replaced with new ones:
- after 15 washes, and/or
- if the reflective strips have become
scratched, and/or
- if the backing material and/or reflective
strips have become soiled and cannot be
cleaned off, and/or
- if the fluorescence has faded e.g. due to the
effects of sunlight
R Dispose of reflective safety jackets in an envi-
ronmentally responsible manner. To do so,
contact your local waste disposal company. 334
Where will I find...?Breakdown assistance

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

X
Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground, as far away as possible from
traffic.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 158).
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 187).
X Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering
package:
make sure that the normal level is
selected (Y page 180).
X Switch off the engine.
X Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the driv-
er's door.
The vehicle electronics are now in position
0092. This means no SmartKey is in the ignition
lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 140).
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 Unload heavy luggage.
i Only operate the tire inflation compressor
using a 12 V socket, even if the ignition is
turned off (Y page 307).
An emergency cut-out 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 tires (tires with run-flat
properties)
General notes With MOExtended tires (tires 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 tires. The affected tire must not show
any clearly visible damage.
You can recognize an MOExtended tire by the
MOExtended marking which appears on the
sidewall of the tire. You will find this marking
next to the tire size designation, the load-bear-
ing capacity and the speed index (Y page 367).
MOExtended tires may only be used in conjunc-
tion with an active tire pressure loss warning
system or with an active tire pressure monitor.
If a pressure loss warning message appears in the multifunction display:
R observe the instructions in the display mes-
sages (Y page 268).
R check the tire for damage
R if driving on, observe the following notes
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is approximately 50 miles (80 km) when the vehi-
cle is partially laden and approximately 18 miles
(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
or maneuvers, 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 tire pressure loss warning appears in the multifunction display.
You must not exceed a maximum permissible
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
i When replacing one or all tires, please
observe the following specifications for your
vehicle's tires:
R Size
R Type and
R The "MOExtended" mark
If a tire has gone flat and cannot be replaced with an MOExtended tire, a standard tire may 336
Flat tireBreakdown assistance

be used as a temporary measure. Make sure
that you use the proper size and type (sum-
mer or winter tire).
i Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires
are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the fac- tory. It is therefore recommended that you
additionally equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT
kit if you mount tires that do not feature run- flat characteristics, e.g. winter tires. A TIREFIT kit may be obtained from a qualified specialist
workshop.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When you drive in emergency mode, the han- dling characteristics will be impaired. e.g.
when cornering, when accelerating heavily
and when braking. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for MOExtended tires. Avoid any abrupt
steering and driving maneuver as well as driv-
ing over obstacles (curbs, pot holes, off-road).
This applies, in particular, to laden vehicles.
Stop driving in emergency mode if you notice:
R banging noises
R vehicle vibration
R smoke and the smell of rubber
R continual ESP ®
intervention
R cracks in the tire sidewall
After driving in emergency mode, have the
rims checked by a qualified specialist work-
shop to determine whether they can continue
to be used. The defective tire must be
replaced in every case. TIREFIT kit
Important safety notes TIREFIT is a tire sealant.
You can use TIREFIT to seal punctures of up to
0.16 in (4 mm), particularly those in the tire
tread. You can use TIREFIT at outside tempera-
tures down to 00F84 ‡ (00F820 †). G
WARNING
In the following situations, the tire sealant is
unable to provide sufficient breakdown assis- tance, as it is unable to seal the tire properly:
R there are cuts or punctures in the tire larger
than those mentioned above.
R the wheel rim is damaged.
R you have driven at very low tire pressures or
on a flat tire.
There is a risk of an accident.
Do not drive the vehicle. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop. G
WARNING
The tire sealant is harmful and causes irrita-
tion. It must not come into contact with your
skin, eyes or clothing or be swallowed. Do not inhale TIREFIT fumes. Keep tire sealant away
from children. There is a risk of injury.
If you come into contact with the tire sealant,
observe the following:
R Rinse off the tire sealant from your skin
immediately with water.
R If the tire sealant comes into contact with
your eyes, immediately rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water.
R If tire sealant is swallowed, immediately
rinse your mouth out thoroughly and drink
plenty of water. Do not induce vomiting,
and seek medical attention immediately.
R Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with tire sealant.
R If an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical
attention immediately.
! Do not operate the tire inflation compressor
for longer than eight minutes at a time without a break. It may otherwise overheat.
The tire inflation compressor can be operatedagain once it has cooled down.
Comply with the manufacturer’s safety instruc-
tions on the sticker on the tire inflation com-
pressor. Flat tire
337Breakdown assistance Z

Using the TIREFIT kit
X
Do not remove any foreign objects which have
penetrated the tire, e.g. screws or nails.
X Remove the tire sealant bottle, the accompa-
nying TIREFIT sticker and the tire inflation
compressor from the stowage well under-
neath the cargo compartment floor
(Y page 335).
X Affix part 0043of the TIREFIT sticker to the
instrument cluster within the driver's field of
vision.
X Affix part 0044of the TIREFIT sticker near the
valve on the wheel with the defective tire. X
Pull connector 0085with the cable and hose 0083
out of the tire inflation compressor housing.
X Screw hose 0083onto flange 0084of tire sealant
bottle 0043.
X Place tire sealant bottle 0043head down into
recess 0044of the tire inflation compressor. X
Remove the cap from valve 006Bon the faulty
tire.
X Screw filler hose 006Conto valve 006B.
X Insert connector 0085into a socket in your vehi-
cle.
Cigarette lighter socket: (Y page 307)
12 V sockets: (Y page 307)
Observe the notes on the cigarette lighter
(Y page 307). Observe the notes on sockets
(Y page 307).
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0047in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 140).
X Press on and off switch 0087on the tire inflation
compressor to I.
The tire inflation compressor is switched on.
The tire is inflated.
i First, tire sealant is pumped into the tire. The
pressure can briefly rise to approximately
500 kPa (5 bar/73 psi).
Do not switch off the tire inflation com-
pressor during this phase.
X Let the tire inflation compressor run for a
maximum of five minutes. The tire should then
have attained a pressure of at least 180 kPa
(1.8 bar/26 psi).
If a pressure of 180 kPa (1.8 bar/26 psi) has
been attained after five minutes, see "Tire pres-
sure reached" (Y page 339).
If a tire pressure of 180 kPa (1.8 bar/26 psi) has not been attained after five minutes, see "Tire
pressure not reached" (Y page 339).
If tire sealant has escaped, clean it off affected
areas as quickly as possible. It is preferable to
use clean water.
If your clothes are soiled with tire sealant, have
them cleaned with perchloroethylene at a dry
cleaner as soon as possible. 338
Flat tireBreakdown assistance