MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV 2019 Owners Manual

R
Off-road le vel +3: thre e indicator lamps
2 light up continuously when theve hicle
has finished rising.
Yo ur selection is sa ved. The off-road le vel set
re mains stored even af terth e ignition has been
switched off.
The vehicle is lo wered again in thefo llowing sit‐
uations:
R Off- road le vel +3: when driving fasterthan
20 km/h or when there ar fog lamp is
switched on.
The vehicle is lo weredto off-road le vel +2.
R Off- road le vel +2:
- When driving fasterthan 80 km/h.
- When driving brief ly between 65 km/h
and 80 km/h.
The vehicle is lo weredto off-road le vel +1.
Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:if
yo u are driving at speeds greaterth an
30 km/h, theve hicle lo wersto the normal
le ve l if the electrical connection has been
cor rectly es tablished. R
Off-road le vel +1:
- When driving fasterthan 115 km/h.
- When driving brief lybetween 100 km/h
and 115 km/h.
- Operation with a trailer or bicycle
rack: you are driving at speeds greater
th an 30 km/h.
The vehicle is lo weredto the normal le vel.
R After selecting a dif fere nt drive program
using theDY NA MIC SELECT switch.
The vehicle is adjus tedto the height of the
active drive program.
Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:
th eve hicle lo wersto the normal le vel if the
electrical connection has been cor rectly
es tablished.
Lo weri ngtheve hicle (vehicles with Off-road
pac kage) #
Pull rock er switch 1.
R Off-road le vel +3: theve hicle is lo wered
to off-road le vel +2. Two indicator lamps 2
light up continuously when theve hicle
has finished lo wering.
R Off-road le vel +2: theve hicle is lo wered
to off-road le vel +1. One indicator lamp
2 lights up continuously when theve hi‐
cle has finished lo wering.
R Off-road le vel +1: theve hicle is lo wered
to the normal le vel. No indicator lamp 2
lights up when theve hicle has finished
lo we ring.
Yo ur selection is sa ved. The off-road le vel set
re mains stored even af terth e ignition has been
switched off.
Setting the entering/exiting le vel (AIRMATIC)
Requ irements:
R The engine is running.
R The vehicle is moving at speeds less than
30 km/h 268
Driving and parking

Multimedia sy
stem:
4 © 5
Settings
5 Schnellzugriff (Quick access) #
Select Lower when entering On.
The vehicle is lo weredto low le vel -2 tofacili‐
ta te entering and exiting.
% Further information on AIRMATIC
(/ page 262). E-
AC TIVE BODY CONT ROL Fu
nction of E- ACTIVE BODY CONT ROL
E- AC TIVE BODY CONTROL is an electrohydraulic
suspension sy stem with variable damping for
impr oved driving comfort. The all-round le vel
control sy stem ensures the best possible sus‐ pension and const
ant ground clearance, even
with a laden vehicle. When driving at speed, the
ve hicle is lo wered automatically toimpr ovedriv‐
ing saf ety and toreduce fuel consum ption. The
suspension tuning is adjus ted depending on the
ro ad sur face, vehicle load and the drive program
selected.
The ROAD SUR FACE SCAN function de tects
areas of une venness in thero ad before you drive
ove rth em bymeans of a multifunction camera.
This reduces chassis mo vements.
The damping is adju sted individually toeach
wheel and depends on thefo llowing factors:
R Driving style, e.g. sporty
R Road condition, e.g. bumps
R Drive program E-
AC TIVE BODY CONTROL comprises:
R ROAD SUR FACE SCAN
R Cur veinclination function CURVE
R Recovery mode
R Individual wheel control
R Air suspension with auto matic level control
R Speed-dependent lo wering toreduce fuel
consum ption
R Manual le vel adjustment
R ADS PLUS (Adaptive Damping Sy stem with
const ant adjustment of damping characteris‐
tics)
R DYNA MIC SELECT switch and le vel button Driving and parking
269

Av
ailable suspension settings: Drive prog
ramC haracteristics
C (Sport) R
The suspension tuning is firm er.
R The vehicle is set tolow le vel -1.
R ROAD SUR FACE SCAN is deactivated.
R The cur veinclination function is deactivated.
R Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:ifth e electrical connection has been cor rectly es tablished, theve hicle
re mains at normal le vel.
B (Sport Plus) R
The suspension tuning is evenfirm er.
R The vehicle is set tolow le vel -2.
R ROAD SUR FACE SCAN is deactivated.
R The cur veinclination function is deactivated.
R Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:ifth e electrical connection has been cor rectly es tablished, theve hicle
re mains at normal le vel. 270
Driving and pa rking

Drive prog
ramC haracteristics
A (Comfort) R
The suspension tuning is comfor table.
R The vehicle is raised tonormal le vel.
R Ifthe trailer soc ket is not contacted (trailer/bicycle rack ): when driving at speeds abo veappr oximately
14 0 km/h, theve hicle is lo wered.
R When driving at speeds below appr oximately 40 km/h, theve hicle is raised again.
R ROAD SUR FACE SCAN is active.
R The cur veinclination function is deactivated.
R Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:ifth e electrical connection has been cor rectly es tablished, theve hicle
re mains at normal le vel ir respective of speed.
N (CURVE) R
The suspension tuning is comfor table.
R The vehicle is set tothe normal le vel.
R When driving at speeds abo veappr oximately 140 km/h, theve hicle is lo wered.
R When driving at speeds below appr oximately 40 km/h, theve hicle is raised again.
R ROAD SUR FACE SCAN is active.
R The cur veinclination function is active. Driving and parking
271

Drive prog
ramC haracteristics
; (Economy) R
The suspension tuning is comfor table.
R The vehicle is set tothe normal le vel.
R When driving at speeds abo veappr oximately 140 km/h, theve hicle is lo wered.
R When driving at speeds below appr oximately 40 km/h, theve hicle is raised again.
R ROAD SUR FACE SCAN is deactivated.
R The cur veinclination function is deactivated.
R Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:ifth e electrical connection has been cor rectly es tablished, theve hicle
re mains at normal le vel ir respective of speed.
F (Off-road in vehicles
without Off-road pac kage) R
Suspension tuning is suitable for easily negotiable off-road terrain.
R The vehicle is set tooff-road le vel +1.
R When driving at speeds abo veappr oximately 80 km/h, theve hicle is lo wered.
R When driving at speeds below appr oximately 45 km/h, theve hicle is raised.
R ROAD SUR FACE SCAN is deactivated.
R The cur veinclination function is deactivated.
R Free driving mode and the individual wheel control function can be activated pr ovided the necessary conditions
are met. 272
Driving and pa rking

Drive prog
ramC haracteristics
F (Off-road in vehicles with
Off-road pac kage) R
Suspension tuning is suitable for easily negotiable off-road terrain.
R The vehicle is set tooff-road le vel +1.
R When driving at speeds abo veappr oximately 115 km/h, theve hicle is lo wered.
R When driving at speeds below appr oximately 75km/h, theve hicle is raised.
R ROAD SUR FACE SCAN is deactivated.
R The cur veinclination function is deactivated.
R Free driving mode and the individual wheel control function can be activated pr ovided the necessary conditions
are met.
G (Off-road Plus in vehicles
with Off-road pac kage) R
Suspension tuning is suitable for dif ficult off-road terrain.
R The vehicle is set tooff-road le vel +1.
R When driving at speeds abo veappr oximately 80 km/h, theve hicle is lo wered.
R When driving at speeds below appr oximately 45 km/h, theve hicle is raised.
R ROAD SUR FACE SCAN is deactivated.
R The cur veinclination function is deactivated.
R Free driving mode and the individual wheel control function can be activated pr ovided the necessary conditions
are met.
= Individual R
You can call up individual suspension tuning settings here. Driving and parking
273

Fu
nction of ROAD SUR FACE SCAN
% This function is not available in all countries.
% This function is on lyavailable in combination
with the multifunction camera. RO
AD SUR FACE SCAN:
R Monitors thero ad in front of theve hicle
using multifunction camera 1.R
Is active when one of drive programs A
(Comfort) or N(CURVE) is selected.
R Detects une venness in thero ad sur face, e.g.
bu mp s, before theve hicle drives overth em.
R Reduces chassis mo vements.
Sy stem limitations
RO AD SUR FACE SCAN can be impaired in the
fo llowing situations or can stop functioning:
R Ifth e car riag ewa y is insuf ficiently lit, e.g. at
night.
R In sno w,rain, fog, heavy spr ay, if there is
gl are, in direct sunlight or in great lyvarying
light conditions.
R Ifth e windscreen in the area of multifunction
camera 1is dirty, mis ted up, damaged or
co vered.
R Ifth ero ad sur face has no optic stru cture or
re flects light.
R Ifth e dis tance totheve hicle in front is too
short.
R If sections of thero ute ha veave ry small
ra dius of cur vature. R
During dynamic driving manoeuv res, e.g. if
yo u accelerate or brake theve hicle sharply.
R Atspeeds below 7 km/h or abo ve
18 0 km/h.
R Ifth eve hicle is at a raised le vel or in drive
program C(Sport) or B(Sport Plus).
Obser vethe no tes on cleaning the multifunction
camera (/ page545).
Fu nction of reco very mode &
WARNING Risk of inju rydue totheve hi‐
cle moving up and down
When free driving mode is activated, the
ve hicle bounces up and down. Body parts
could become trapped if they are between
th eve hicle body and the tyres or underneath
th eve hicle. #
Make sure that nobody is under or in
th e immediate vicinity of theve hicle
when free driving mode is activated. 274
Driving and pa rking

*
NO
TERisk of dama gedue totheve hicle
moving up and down When free driving mode is activated,
the
ve hicle bounces up and down. Vehicle parts
may be damaged if the underbody bottoms
out. #
Make sure that there is suf ficient
ground clearance when free driving
mode is acti vated. Re
covery mode is a function of the suspension
which can assist the driver on loose sur faces
(e.g. sand, snow) when freeing a vehicle which
has become stuc k.
The vehicle body rock s in slo w,vertical motions
when reco very mode has been activated. This
te mp orarily puts the wheels under greater load,
which means they have inc reased traction and
th eve hicle is freed.
Yo u can activate reco very mode via Off-road
Assist (/ page278). Fu
nction of individual wheel control &
WARNING Risk of becoming trapped
due totheve hicle lo wering
The vehicle can be lo wered when the individ‐
ual wheel control function has been activa‐
te d. Body parts could become trapped if they
are between theve hicle body and the tyres
or underneath theve hicle. #
Make sure that nobody is under the
ve hicle or in the immediate vicinity of
th e wheel ar ches when individual wheel
control is activated. *
NO
TERisk of dama gedue totheve hicle
moving up and down The
vehicle can be lo wered or raised on one
or more wheels when the individual wheel
control function has been activated. Vehicle
parts could be damaged due tocontact wi th
objects. #
Make sure that theve hicle has suf fi‐
cient room tomo vewhen the individual wheel control function has been activa‐
te
d. Individual wheel control is a function of
the sus‐
pension which can be used toset theve hicle
le ve lfo r each wheel individually. This can help to
impr ove alignment of the body when driving off-
ro ad.
Yo u can activate individual wheel cont rol via Off-
ro ad Assist (/ page278).
Setting theve hicle le vel &
WARNING Risk of accident because
ve hicle le vel is too high
If yo u drive at a higher vehicle le vel,th e driv‐
ing characteristics may be impaired due to
th e higher vehicle centre of gravity.
The vehicle can drift outwards, forex ample,
when steering or cornering. #
Alw aysch oose a vehicle le vel which is
suited tothe driving style and thero ad
sur face conditions. Driving and pa
rking 275

&
WARNING Risk of entrapment from vehi‐
cle lo wering
When lo wering theve hicle, other people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between theve hicle body and the tyres or
underneath theve hicle. #
Make sure no one is underneath the
ve hicle or in the immediate vicinity of
th e wheel ar ches when theve hicle is
being lo wered. &
WARNING Risk of entrapment from vehi‐
cle lo wering
Ve hicles with AIRMATIC or le vel control:
when you unload luggage or lea vetheve hi‐
cle, theve hicle firs trises slightly and then
re turns tothe set le vel shortly af terw ards.
Yo u or an yone else in the vicinity of the
wheel ar ches or the underbody could thus
become trapped.
The vehicle can also be lo wered af ter being
loc ked. #
When leaving theve hicle, make sure
th at nobody is in the vicinity of the
wheel ar ches or the underbody. Re
quirements:
R The vehicle has been star ted.
R Vehicles without Off-road pac kage: the
ve hicle is not driving at speeds greater than
65 km/h or is operating with a trailer or bicy‐
cle rack with a cor rectly es tablished elect ri‐
cal connection 30 km/h.
R Vehicles with Off-road pac kage:
- Off-road le vel +1: theve hicle is not driv‐
ing at speeds greater than 100 km/h or
is operating with a trailer or bicycle rack
with a cor rectly es tablished elect rical
connection 30 km/h.
- Off-road le vel +2: theve hicle is not driv‐
ing at speeds greater than 65 km/h or is
operating with a trailer or bicycle rack
with a cor rectly es tablished elect rical
connection 30 km/h.
- Off-road le vel +3: theve hicle is not mov‐
ing fast erthan 20 km/h. Ra
ising theve hicle (vehicles without Off-
ro ad pac kage) #
Push rocker switch 1forw ards.
Indicator lamp 2flashes while theve hicle is
being raised and lights up continuously when
it has finished rising. 276
Driving and pa rking

Yo
ur selection is sa ved. The off-road le vel set
re mains stored even af terth e ignition has been
switched off.
Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:ifyou
are driving at speeds greaterth an 30 km/h, the
ve hicle rises tothe normal le vel in the drive pro‐
grams Sport or Sport + if the electrical connec‐
tion has been cor rectly es tablished.
The vehicle is lo wered again in thefo llowing sit‐
uations:
R When driving fasterthan 80 km/h.
R When driving brief lybetween 65 km/ hand
80 km/h.
R After selecting a dif fere nt drive program
using theDY NA MIC SELECT switch.
The vehicle is adjus tedto the height of the
active drive program.
Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:ifyou
are driving at speeds greaterth an 30 km/h, the
ve hicle lo wersto the normal le vel if the electrical
connection has been cor rectly es tablished. Lo
weri ngtheve hicle (vehicles without Off-
ro ad pac kage) #
Pull rock er switch 1.
The vehicle is adjus tedto the height of the
active drive program.
Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:the
ve hicle lo wersto the normal le vel if the electrical
connection has been cor rectly es tablished. Ra
ising theve hicle (vehicles with Off-road
pac kage) #
Push rocker switch 1forw ards.
R Off- road le vel +1: one indicator lamp 2
lights up continuously when theve hicle
has finished rising.
R Off-road le vel +2: two indicator lamps 2
light up continuously when theve hicle
has finished rising. Driving and parking
277