2006 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 headlamp

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 13
Operating your vehicle outside the
USA or Canada............................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 15
Symbols ............................................... 16
Operating safety .................................. 17
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 17
Problems with your vehicle .................. 18
Reporting safety defects...................... 19
Reporting safety defects ................ 19
Vehicle data recording......................... 20
Information regarding electronic
recording devices........................... 20At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 28
Upper part ...................................... 28
Lower part ...................................... 29
Overhead control panel ........................ 30
Door control panel................................ 31Getting started................................... 33
Unlocking ............................................. 34
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 34
Adjusting .............................................. 37
Seats .............................................. 37
Steering wheel ................................ 40
Mirrors ............................................ 41
Driving .................................................. 43
Fastening the seat belt ................... 43
Starting the engine ......................... 48
Switching on headlamps ................. 51
Turn signals .................................... 52
Windshield wipers ........................... 53
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 54
Problems while driving.................... 55
Parking and locking .............................. 57
Parking brake ................................. 57
Switching off headlamps................. 58
Turning off engine ........................... 58

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 149
Gear selector lever position ......... 151
Driving tips ................................... 153
Gear ranges ................................. 154
One-touch gearshifting................. 155
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 156
Transfer case ..................................... 157
Transfer case position .................. 157
Switching transfer case................ 157
Differential locks ............................... 159
A few words about differentials
and differential locks.................... 160
Switching differential locks
on and off..................................... 161
Good visibility .................................... 163
Rear view mirrors ......................... 163
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 165
Sun visors .................................... 165
Rear window defroster ................. 166Climate control ................................... 168
Setting the temperature................ 170
Adjusting air distribution
and volume ................................... 171
Defrosting ..................................... 172
Air recirculation ............................ 172
Residual engine heat utilization .... 173
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 173
Air conditioning............................. 174
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 174
Power windows .................................. 175
Opening and closing the windows. 175
Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 178
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof ........................ 178
Driving systems .................................. 181
Cruise control ............................... 181
Rear Parking Assist* ..................... 184Loading .............................................. 187
Roof rack ...................................... 187
Cargo compartment cover ............ 187
Enlarged cargo compartment ....... 188
Split rear seat bench .................... 188
Partition net* (MB Accessory) ...... 189
Loading instructions ..................... 192
Cargo tie-down rings..................... 193
Useful features ................................... 194
Storage compartments ................. 194
Ashtrays........................................ 198
Cigarette lighter ............................ 199
Electrical outlet............................. 200
Floormats ..................................... 201
Telephone* ................................... 201
Tele Aid ......................................... 202
Garage door opener ...................... 210
Heated steering wheel .................. 215

Contents
Operation......................................... 217
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 218
Driving instructions ............................ 220
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 220
Drinking and driving ..................... 220
Pedals .......................................... 220
Power assistance ......................... 221
Brakes .......................................... 221
Driving off..................................... 222
Parking ......................................... 222
Tires ............................................. 223
Hydroplaning ................................ 224
Tire traction .................................. 224
Tire speed rating .......................... 225
Winter driving instructions ........... 225
Standing water ............................. 226
Passenger compartment .............. 227
Off-road driving ............................ 227
Control and operation of
radio transmitters......................... 235
Driving abroad .............................. 236
Catalytic converter ....................... 236
Emission control........................... 237
Coolant temperature .................... 238At the gas station .............................. 239
Refueling ...................................... 239
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 240
Engine compartment ......................... 242
Hood ............................................ 242
Engine oil ..................................... 243
Transmission fluid level ................ 248
Coolant level ................................ 248
Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp
cleaning system ........................... 249
Battery ............................................... 251
Tires and wheels ................................ 252
Important guidelines .................... 252
Tire care and maintenance ........... 253
Direction of rotation ..................... 255
Loading the vehicle ...................... 255
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 260
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 261
Tire labeling.................................. 263
Load identification ....................... 267
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 268
Maximum tire load ....................... 269Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 270
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 271
Tire ply material ........................... 273
Tire and loading terminology ........ 273
Rotating tires ............................... 276
Winter driving .................................... 278
Winter tires .................................. 278
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 279
Snow chains................................. 279
Maintenance...................................... 280
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 281
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 281
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 281
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 282
Vehicle care....................................... 283
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 283

Contents
Technical data.................................. 365
Parts service ...................................... 366
Warranty coverage ............................. 367
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 367
Identification labels............................ 368
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 369
G 500 ........................................... 369
G 55 AMG..................................... 369
Engine ................................................ 370
Rims and tires .................................... 371
Rims and Tires.............................. 372
Spare wheels ................................ 373
Electrical system................................ 374
Main dimensions, vehicle weights
and ratings ......................................... 375
Main dimensions .......................... 375
Vehicle weights and ratings ......... 375Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 376
Capacities .................................... 376
Engine oils.................................... 377
Engine oil additives ...................... 378
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 378
Brake fluid .................................... 378
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 378
Fuel requirements ........................ 379
Gasoline additives ........................ 379
Coolants....................................... 380
Anticorrosion/antifreeze.............. 381
Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp
cleaning system ........................... 382Technical terms............................... 383
Index................................................. 389

23 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Combination switch

Turn signals52

Windshield wipers53

High beam52
2Headlamp cleaning system165
3Cruise control lever181
4Instrument cluster24
5Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
ItemPage
6Starter switch35
7Glove box194
8Multifunction steering
wheel26,
124,
215
9Horn
aSteering wheel adjustment
lever40,
215
bExterior lamp switch51,
110
cExterior rear view mirror
adjustment41

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Reset button for:

Resetting trip odometer121

Resetting individual or
all settings132,
133,
146,
282

Instrument cluster
illumination120
2LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp24
3?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
(USA only)294
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
(Canada only)294
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp84,
295
AHigh beam
headlamp indicator
lamp52,
114
ItemPage
4KRight turn signal
indicator lamp 24
5Fuel gauge with:
Fuel reserve warning lamp24
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp66,
296
296
6Multifunction display
with:123
Trip odometer24
Main odometer24
Transfer case program
mode157
Gear selector lever position149
Outside temperature
indicator122
Clock (see COMAND
operating instructions)123
ItemPage
7Speedometer
8Tachometer with:
;Brake warning lamp
(USA only)50,
292
3Brake warning lamp
(Canada only)50,
292
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp80,
290

35 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positions
Starter switch
0For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, see “Lamps in
instrument cluster” (page 290).
3Starting position
i
When you switch on ignition, the indi-
cator and warning lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. The indicator and warning lamps
(except high beam headlamp indicator
lamp and turn signal indicator lamps if
activated) will go out when the engine
is running. This indicates that the re-
spective systems are operational.
i
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.

51 Getting started
Driving
After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher revolution. This al-
lows the catalytic converter to reach its
operating temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 220).
For information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” (
page 227).
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch
1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
!
Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.
i
You can open the doors from inside.
Open doors only when the conditions
are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic
locking using the control system
(
page 142).
!
Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.