2006 MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG Owner's Manual

Sommer\ Corporate\ Media\ AG
Operator’s Manual
G-Class
Order No. 6515 4069 13 Part No. 463 584 46 81 USA Edition A 2006
ÊNCtNq@Ë4635844681
Operator’s Manual G-Class

G500
G55AMG

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your de-
sire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers, we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:
Please read this manual carefully, then
return it to your vehicle where it will be
handy for your reference.

Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.

Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

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
Safety and Security........................... 61
Occupant safety................................... 62
Airbags ........................................... 63
Seat belts ....................................... 68
Children in the vehicle .................... 72
Blocking rear door window
operation ........................................ 78
Panic alarm .......................................... 79
Driving and safety systems .................. 80
ABS ................................................ 80
BAS ................................................ 82
4-ETS .............................................. 83
EBB................................................. 84
ESP ................................................. 84
Anti-theft systems................................ 88
Immobilizer..................................... 88
Anti-theft alarm .............................. 88
Tow-away alarm ............................. 89Controls in detail............................... 91
Locking and unlocking ......................... 92
SmartKey ....................................... 92
Opening the doors from the inside . 96
Opening the tailgate ....................... 97
Closing the tailgate ........................ 98
Automatic central locking .............. 98
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ....................................... 99
Seats ................................................. 100
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 100
Removing and installing front seat
head restraints ............................. 101
Synchronizing head restraints
and seat adjustment fore
and aft for front seats .................. 102
Rear seat head restraints ............. 102
Multicontour seat* ....................... 104
Heated seats ................................ 104
Memory function ............................... 107
Storing positions into memory ..... 108
Recalling positions from memory . 108
Storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position................. 109Lighting ............................................. 110
Exterior lamp switch .................... 110
Combination switch ..................... 114
Hazard warning flasher ................ 115
Interior lighting ............................ 116
Rear interior lamps ...................... 117
Cargo compartment lamps .......... 118
Instrument cluster ............................. 120
Instrument cluster illumination .... 120
Coolant temperature display........ 120
Trip odometer .............................. 121
Tachometer .................................. 121
Outside temperature indicator ..... 122
Control system .................................. 123
Multifunction display.................... 123
Multifunction steering wheel........ 124
Menus .......................................... 126
Standard display menu ................ 128
AUDIO menu ................................ 128
NAVI menu ................................... 130
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 131
Settings menu .............................. 132
Trip computer menu..................... 145
TEL menu ..................................... 146

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
Practical hints................................. 289
What to do if … .................................. 290
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 290
Lamp in center console................ 297
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 298
Where will I find...? ............................ 323
First aid kit ................................... 323
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 323
Vehicle jack.................................. 324
CD changer .................................. 324
Spare wheel ................................. 325
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 327
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 327
Locking the vehicle ...................... 328
Fuel filler flap ............................... 328
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever .. 329Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 330
Tilt/sliding sunroof ....................... 330
Brush guard* ...................................... 331
Lowering and raising brush guard . 332
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 333
SmartKey ...................................... 334
Replacing bulbs .................................. 335
Bulbs ............................................. 336
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 338
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 343
Replacing wiper blades....................... 346
Removing wiper blades ................. 346
Installing wiper blades .................. 347
Flat tire ............................................... 348
Preparing the vehicle .................... 348
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 349
Battery................................................ 353
Charging the battery ..................... 353
Disconnecting the battery............. 354
Reconnecting the battery.............. 355Jump starting...................................... 356
Towing the vehicle.............................. 358
Transporting the vehicle ............... 360
Towing the vehicle - various
problem scenarios ........................ 360
Front towing eye ........................... 361
Rear towing eye ............................ 361
Freeing a stranded vehicle ............ 361
Fuses.................................................. 362
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 362
Fuse box in battery box ................ 362
Fuse box in front passenger
footwell ......................................... 363
Fuse box in middle tunnel ............. 364