towing MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV 2021 User Guide

#
Remo vecap 1bytheta b. #
Top up thewa sher 0uid.
% Further information about the windscreen
wa sher 0uid (/ page 433) K
K
eeping t
eeping t he air
he air-w
-wat
ater duct fr
er duct fr ee
ee #
Keep the area between the bonnet and the
windscreen free of deposits, e.g. ice, snow
and lea ves. Cleaning and care
Cleaning and care
Inf
Inf
or
ormation on w
mation on w ashing t
ashing the v
he vehicle in a car w
ehicle in a car w ash
ash &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of an accident due to
re duced braking po wer aTer washing the
ve hicle
Braking e1ciency is reduced aTer washing the
ve hicle. #
ATer theve hicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention tothe
tra1c conditions until braking po wer has
been fully restored. *
N
NOOTE
TE Dama gefrom au tomatic braking If one of
thefo llowing functions is switched
on, theve hicle brakes automatically in cer tain
situations:
R Active Brake Assist
R Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
R HOLD function
R Active Parking Assist
To avoid damage totheve hicle, deactivate
th ese systems in thefo llowing or similar situa-
tions: #
during towing #
in a car wash *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage due tounsuitable car wash #
Before driving into a car wash make sure
th at the car wash is suitable forth eve hi-
cle dimensions. Main
tenance and ca re
371
371

T
T
o
o w
w -st
-st ar
ar ting or to
ting or towing away
wing away Ov
Ov
er
ervie
vie w of t
w of t he per
he per mitt
mittedto
ed towing met
wing met hods (not
hods (not
plug-in h
plug-in h ybr
ybrid)
id) *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage from automatic braking If one of
thefo llowing functions is switched
on, theve hicle brakes automatically in cer tain
situations:
R Active Brake Assist R
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
R HOLD function
R Active Parking Assist
To avoid damage totheve hicle, deactivate
th ese systems in thefo llowing or similar situa-
tions: #
during towing #
in a car wash Mercedes-Benz
recommends transporting your
ve hicle in the case of a breakdown, rather than
to wing it away.
Fo rto wing, use a tow rope or tow bar with bo th
axles on thegr ound. Do not use tow bar systems.
* N
NOOTE
TE Damage totheve hicle due to tow-
ing awa y incor rectly #
Obser vethe inst ructions and no tes on
to wing away. P
P
er
er mitt
mitt edto
ed towing met
wing met hods
hods V
V
ehicle eq
ehicle eq uipment/to
uipment/to wing met
wing method
hod Bot
Bot
h axles on t
h axles on t hegr
he ground
ound F
F
r
ront axle r
ont axle r aised
aised R
R
ear axle r
ear axle r aised
aised
4MATIC vehicles Yes, maximum 50 km at 50 km/h No No
Ve hicles with rear wheel driv eYes, maximum 50 km at 50 km/h No Yes, if the steering wheel is /xed in
th e centre position with a steering
wheel loc k. Breakd
own assistance
393
393

T
T
o
o wing awa
wing away t
y the v
he v ehicle wit
ehicle wit h bot
h both axles on t
h axles on t he
he
gr
gr ound
ound #
Obser vethe no tes on the permitted towing
me thods (/ page 393). #
Make sure that the battery is connected and
ch arge d.
A dischar ged battery has thefo llowing e.ects:
R theve hicle cann otbe switched on
R the electric parking brake cannot be released
or applied
R the transmission cannot be shiTed toposition
i orj
% Ifth e transmission cannot be shiTed toposi-
tion i, or the multifunction display in the
inst rument clus ter does not show anything,
th eve hicle must be transpor tedaway
( / page 395). A towing vehicle with liTing
equipment is requ ired forve hicle transpor ta-
tion. *
N
NO OTE
TE Damage due to towing away at
ex cessively high speeds or over long dis-
ta nces The driv
etra in could be damaged when towing
at excessively high speeds or over long distan-
ces. #
Atowing speed of 50 km/h must not be
ex ceeded. #
Atowing dis tance of 50 km must not be
ex ceeded. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident when towing a
ve hicle which is too heavy
If th eve hicle tobe tow- star ted or towe daway
is heavier than the permissible gross mass of
yo ur vehicle, thefo llowing situations can
occur:
R theto wing eye may become de tach ed.
R theve hicle/trailer combination may
swer veorove rturn. #
Before tow- starting or towing away,
ch eck if theve hicle tobe tow- star ted or to
we dawa yex ceeds the permissible
gr oss mass. #
Information on the permissible gross mass of
th eve hicle can be found on theve hicle identi-
/cation plate (/ page 423). #
Do not open the driver's door or front
passenger door as the transmission may oth-
erwise shiT toposition jautomaticall y. #
Fitth eto wing eye (/ page 397). #
Fasten theto wing device.
* N
NOOTE
TE Damage due toincor rect connec-
tion of theto w bar #
Only connect theto w rope or tow bar to
th eto wing eyes. %
You can also attach theto w bar tothe trailer
hitch. #
Deactivate the automatic locking mechanism
(/ page 87). #
Do not activate the HOLD function. 394
394
Breakdown assistance

#
Deactivate tow- awa y protection
(/ page 107). #
Deactivate Active Brake Assist (/ page 258).#
ShiT the transmission toposition i
(/ page 210). #
Release the electric parking brake. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident due tolimited
saf ety-re lated functions during theto wing
process
Saf ety-re lated functions are limited or no lon-
ge rav ailable in thefo llowing situations:
R theve hicle is switched o..
R the brake system or po wer steering system
is malfunctioning.
R the energy supply or the on-board electri-
cal system is malfunctioning.
When your vehicle is towe daw ay, signi/cantly
more e.ort may be requ ired tosteer and
brake than is normally requ ired. #
Use a tow bar. #
Make sure that the steering wheel can
mo vefreely be fore towing theve hicle
awa y. *
N
NO
OTE
TE Damage due toexcessive tractive
po wer If
yo u pull away sharpl y,the tractive po wer
may be too high and theve hicles could be
damaged. #
Pull away slo wlyand smoo thly. Loading t
Loading t
he v
he vehicle f
ehicle f or tr
or transport
anspo rt #
Obser vethe no tes on towing away
( / page 394). #
Connect theto wing device totheto wing eye
in order toload theve hicle.
% You can also attach theto w bar tothe trailer
hitch. #
ShiT the automatic transmission toposition
i. %
The automatic transmission may be loc ked in
position jintheev ent of damage tothe
electrics. ToshiT toi , pr ovide the on-board
electrical system with po wer (/ page 391). #
Load theve hicle onto the transpor ter. #
ShiT the automatic transmission toposition
j. #
Use the electric parking brake tosecure the
ve hicle against rolling away. #
Only secure theve hicle bythe wheels.
V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit h ADS PL
h ADS PLUS (A
US (Adap
daptiv
tive Dam
e Dam ping Sy
ping Sy s-
s-
t
t em PL
em PL US)
US) &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of an accident when trans-
porting vehicles with Adaptive Damping
System PLUS
When transpo rting vehicles with Adaptive
Damping System PLUS, theve hicle/trailer
combination may begin torock and start to
skid. #
Load theve hicle cor rectly onto the
transpor ter. Breakd
own assistance
395
395

#
Secure theve hicle on all four wheels
with suitable tensioning straps. #
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 60 km/h when transporting. *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage totheve hicle from secur-
ing it inco rrectly #
ATer loading, theve hicle must be
secured on all four wheels. Otherwise,
th eve hicle could be damaged. #
A minimum dis tance of 20 cm upwards
and 10 cm down wards must be kept to
th e transport platform. #
Secure theve hicle on all four wheels aTer
loading. 4MA
4MA
TIC v
TIC v ehicles/v
ehicles/v ehicles wit
ehicles wit h aut
h automatic tr
omatic tr ans-
ans-
mission
mission #
Make sure that the front and rear axles come
to rest on the same transpor tation vehicle.
* N
NOOTE
TE Damage tothe drive train due to
incor rect positioning of theve hicle #
Do not position theve hicle abo vethe
connection point of the transport vehi-
cle. T
T
o
o wing ey
wing eye st
e st or
orag
ag e location
e location Example:
towing eye
To wing eye1 is located under the load compart-
ment 0oor. 396
396
Breakdown assistance

F
F
itting and r
itting and r emo
emoving t
ving t heto
he towing eye
wing eye #
Press the mark on co ver1 inwa rds and
re mo ve. #
Screw intheto wing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten.
V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit h a tr
h a trailer hitc
ailer hitc h:
h:vehicles with a trailer
hitch do not ha veare ar brac ketfo rth eto wing
ey e. Fasten theto w bar tothe trailer hitch. #
Make sure that co ver1 engages in the
bumper when youre mo vetheto wing eye.
* N
NO OTE
TE Damage totheve hicle due toincor-
re ct use of theto wing eye or trailer hitch When a
towing eye or trailer hitch is used to
re co ver a vehicle, theve hicle may be damaged
in the process. #
Only use theto wing eye or trailer hitch to
to w awa y or tow start theve hicle. #
Do not use theto wing eye or trailer hitch
to to wtheve hicle during reco very. T
T
o
o w
w -st
-st ar
arting t
ting t he v
he vehicle
ehicle V
V
ehicles wit
ehicles wit h aut
h automatic tr
omatic tr ansmission
ansmission
* NO
NOTE
TEDamage tothe automatic transmis-
sion due to tow-starting The au
tomatic transmission may be damaged
in the process of tow- starting vehicles with
automatic transmission. #
Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow- star ted. #
Vehicles with an automatic transmission must
not be tow- star ted. Electr
Electr
ical fuses
ical fuses N
No
ot
tes on electr
es on electr ical fuses
ical fuses &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident and inju rydue
to ove rloaded lines
If yo u manipulate or bridge a faulty fuse or if
yo ure place it with a fuse with a higher amper-
age, the electric line could be overloaded.
This could result in a /re. #
Alwaysre place faulty fuses with speci-
/ed new fuses containing the cor rect
amperage. Breakdown assistance
397
397

*Depending on
the tyre size
Maximum gr
Maximum gradient climbing ability
adient climbing ability
The vehicle's gradient climbing ability depends on
th ewe ight distribution in theve hicle, thete rrain
conditions and thero ad sur face conditions.
The speci/ed value applies when:
R theve hicle is ready todrive – fuel tank full, all
0uids topped up, with driver
R the LLO
O W RAN
W RAN GE
GEo.-road gear of the transfer
case is engaged
R thero ad sur face conditions and thus the trac-
tion are good
A gradient climbing ability of 100% cor responds to
an incline of 45°.
Obser vethe no tes on driving in moun tainous ter-
ra in (/ page 198). Gr
Gr adient climbing ability
adient climbing ability Model
Model
Maximumgr
Maximum gradi-
adi-
ent climbing abil-
ent climbing abil- ity
ity
V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit hout
houtO.-r
O.-road
oad
pack
pack ag
age
e 80%
V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit h
hO.-r
O.-r oad
oad
pack
pack ag
age
e
When LOW RANGE o.- road
ge ar is engaged 100% Gr
Gr
adient climbing ability (Mer
adient climbing ability (Mer cedes‑Ma
cedes‑Maybac
ybach)
h) Model
Model
Maximumgr
Maximum gradi-
adi-
ent climbing abil-
ent climbing abil- ity
ity
Mercedes-Maybach GLS
480
Mercedes-Maybach GLS
600 4MATIC 80% T T
r
railer hitch
ailer hitch Gener
Gener
al not
al notes on t
es on t he tr
he trailer hitch
ailer hitch Modi/cations
tothe engine cooling system may
be necessar y,depending on theve hicle model.
The retro/tting of a trailer hitch is on lypermissi-
ble if a towing capacity is speci/ed in your vehicle
documents.
Fu rther information can be obtained at a quali/ed
specialist workshop. 438 438
Te
ch nical data

Displa
Displa
y messag
y messag es P
es Possible causes/conseq
ossible causes/consequences and uences andM
MSolutions
Solutions
Blind Spot Assist inopera-
tive *B
lind Spot Assist is malfunctioning. #
Drive on
or #
Stop theve hicle in accordance with the tra1c conditions and restart theve hicle. #
Ifth e display message does not disappear: consult a quali/ed specialist workshop.
Blind Spot Assist not availa-
ble when towing a trailer
See Owner's Manual *W
hen you establish the electrical connection tothe trailer, Blind Spot Assist will be una vailable. #
Press the leT-hand Touch Control and ackno wledge the display message.
Active Blind Spot Assist
currently unavailable See
Owner's Manual *A
ctive Blind Spot Assist is temp orarily una vailable.
The system limits ha vebeen reached (/ page 261).
Once the cause of the problem is no longer present, the system will be available again. #
Drive on
or #
Ifth e display message does not disappear, stop theve hicle in accordance with the tra1c conditions and restart
th eve hicle.
Active Blind Spot Assist
inoperative *A
ctive Blind Spot Assist is malfunctioning. #
Drive on
or #
Stop theve hicle in accordance with the tra1c conditions and restart theve hicle. Displ
aymessages and warning/indicator lamps
479 479

Displa
Displa
y messag
y messag es P
es Possible causes/conseq
ossible causes/consequences and uences andM
MSolutions
Solutions #
Ifth e display message does not disappear: consult a quali/ed specialist workshop.
Active Blind Spot Assist
not available when towing
a trailer See Owner's Man-
ual *W
hen you establish the electrical connection tothe trailer, Active Blind Spot Assist will be una vailable. #
Press the leT-hand Touch Control and ackno wledge the display message.
Active Lane Keeping Assist
currently unavailable See
Owner's Manual *A
ctive Lane Keeping Assist is temp orarily una vailable.
The ambient conditions are outside the system limits (/ page 264).
As soon as the ambient conditions are within the system limits, the system will become available again. #
Drive on
Active Lane Keeping Assist
inoperative *A
ctive Lane Keeping Assist is malfunctioning. #
Drive on
or #
Stop theve hicle in accordance with the tra1c conditions and restart theve hicle. #
Ifth e display message does not disappear: consult a quali/ed specialist workshop. 480 480
Displ
aymessages and warning/indicator lamps

ç
O................................................ .473
ë O.................................................4 71
ï Operation only possible in
transmission position P .......................... 452
! Parking brake See Owner's
Manual..................................................4 67
Á Please reduce speed .................... .486
Ý Please wait 48 V battery charg-
ing......................................................... 494
h Rectify tyre pressure ..................... 497
Ø Re/ll AdBlue See Owner ’sMan-
ual ......................................................... 499
! Release parking brake ...................469
¸ Replace air cleaner ....................... 463
Á Replace key.................................. 446
8 Reser vefuel le vel.......................... 463
6 Restraint sys. malfunction Con-
sult workshop ....................................... .443
# See Owner's Manual..................... 492
y Siderunning boa rdnot extended ... 455 Ù
Steering malfunction Increased
ph ysical e.ort See Owner's Manual....... 456
Ù Steering malfunction Stop
immediately See Owner's Manual ........... 456
# Stop vehicle Lea veengine run-
ning ....................................................... 494
# Stop vehicle See Owner's Man-
ual......................................................... 493
ç suspended .................................... 473
: Switch o. lights............................ 449
: Switch on headlamps .................... 449
á temp orarily una vailable Camera
view restric ted....................................... 482
¸ temp orarily una vailable Sensors
dirty....................................................... 481
Ø Top up AdBlue Emer gency op. in
XXX miles See Owner's Manual.............. 499
+ Top up coolant See Owner ’s
Manual.................................................. 461
¥ Top up washer 0uid...................... .460 ï
Trailer coupling extending…........... 453
! Turn on the ignition torelease
th e parking brake ................................... 470
d Vehicle is operational Switch o.
ignition before exiting............................. 452
Á Vehicle rising Please wait.............. 485
Á Vehicle rising ................................ 485
h Warning tyre defect....................... 497
h Wheel sensor(s) missing ................ 496
Ø XX,X l Top up AdBlue Swit chon
ignition, wait 60 sec. or eng. start not
poss...................................................... 500
Ac tive Blind Spot Assist cur rently
una vailable See Owner's Manual ............ 479
Ac tive Blind Spot Assist inoperative........ 479
Ac tive Blind Spot Assist not available
when towing a trailer See Owner's
Manual................................................. .480
Ac tive Brake Assist Functions cur-
re ntly limi ted See Owner's Manual .........490 528 528
Index