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
127 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4Menu5Menu6Menu7
Standard
displayAUDIONAVIVehicle status
message
memorySettingsTrip computerTEL
(page 128)(page 128)(page 130)(page 131)(page 132)(page 145)(page 146)
Commands/submenu
Coolant
temperature
displaySelect radio
stationShow route guid-
ance instruc-
tions, current
direction trav-
eledCall up vehicle
malfunction,
warning and
system status
messages stored
in memoryReset to factory
settingsFuel
consumption
statistics after
startLoad phone book
Digital
speedometerSelect satellite
radio station*
(USA only)Instrument
cluster submenuFuel
consumption
statistics since
the last resetSearch for name
in phone book
Call up mainte-
nance service
indicatorOperate CD
playerLighting
submenuCall up range
Check engine oil
levelVehicle submenu
Convenience
submenu
128 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer
Press buttonj twice.
The current vehicle speed is shown in
the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the
AUDIO menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned
on, the message
AUDIO OFF is shown in the
display.
The following functions are available:
i
The headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.
FunctionPage
Call up coolant temperature
display120
Call up digital speedometer128
Call up maintenance service
indicator281
Check engine oil level244
FunctionPage
Select radio station129
Select satellite radio station*
(USA only)129
Operate CD player130
229 Operation
Driving instructions
Checklist before off-road driving
Engine oil level
Check the engine oil level
(
page 244). The display ENGINE OIL
LEVEL - OK
must appear in the multi-
function display.
Only then can the vehicle obtain a trou-
ble-free oil supply, even on steep gradi-
ents.
Tires
Check the tread depth and maintain
specified tire inflation pressure
(a placard with the recommended tire
inflation pressures is located on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 255)).
Check tires for possible damage and
remove foreign objects.
Replace missing valve caps.Rims
Dented or bent rims can cause tire in-
flation pressure loss and damage the
tire beads. For this reason, check and,
if necessary, change rims before driv-
ing off-road.
Vehicle tool kit
Check if the vehicle jack is functional.
In all cases take the vehicle tool kit, a
strong tow rope, a shovel, and a small
plank (to put under the vehicle jack on
sandy soil) with you.
Avoid excessive engine
speeds – drive at moderate engine
speeds (max. 3000 rpm).
Before driving through water, deter-
mine its depth.
Do not stop vehicle while immersed
in water, and do not shut off the en-
gine.
In sandy soil, drive at a steady
speed as allowed by conditions.
This helps overcome the vehicle
rolling resistance and reduces the
likelihood of the vehicle sinking into
the ground.
Do not initiate jumps with the vehi-
cle. It interrupts the forward mo-
mentum of the vehicle.
Always drive on slopes with the en-
gine running and the vehicle in
gear.
Inspect the vehicle for possible
damage after each off-road trip.
234 Operation
Driving instructions
Returning from off-road drivingOff-road driving increases strain on the ve-
hicle.
We recommend that you inspect the vehi-
cle for possible damage after each off-road
trip. Recognizing any damage and a subse-
quent timely repair reduces the chance of
a possible breakdown or accident later on.
Proceed as follows:
Switch the transfer case in position
HIGH (
page 157).
Disengage differential locks
(
page 162).
Remove excessive dirt from tires,
wheels, wheel housings, and under-
body.
For instance, after driving in mud, clean
the radiator, chassis, engine, brakes,
and wheels from extreme dirt using a
strong jet of water.
Inspect frame, oil pan, brake hoses,
etc., as well as vehicle underbody for
possible damage.
Check tires for possible damage and
remove foreign objects. Clean all exte-
rior lamps and conduct a brake test.
Warning!G
Never drive on pavement with activated dif-
ferential locks. Engaged front axle differen-
tial locks limits ability to move around
curves.
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from
the roadway.
Inspect the tires and under the vehicle for
possible damage. If the vehicle or tires ap-
pear unsafe, have it towed to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center or tire
dealer for repairs.
Damage to the vehicle negatively influences
driving comfort and poses the risk of acci-
dent to you and other drivers.
241 Operation
At the gas station
G55AMG
1Coolant
2Brake fluidCoolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality). For more information,
see “Coolant level” (
page 248) and see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 376).
Brake fluidEngine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 243).
Tire inflation pressure
For more information, see “Checking tire
inflation pressure” (
page 261).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For infor-
mation on replacing light bulbs, see “Re-
placing bulbs” (
page 335).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 110).
Windshield/rear window washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system
For more information on refilling the reser-
voir, see “Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 249).
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Opening the hood, see (page 242).
!
If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks immediately. Noti-
fy an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center immediately. Do not add
brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see
“Practical hints” (
page 292).
243 Operation
Engine compartment
Closing
Lower hood and let it drop into lock
from a height of approximately 0.7 ft
(20 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.
Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the turn signals to the left and
right of the hood, then it is not properly
closed. Open it again and let it drop
with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when
the vehicle is new
the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
Warning!G
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage,
it is dangerous to touch any components (ig-
nition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system
with the engine running
while starting the engine
if ignition is “on” and the engine is
turned manually
Warning!G
Be careful that you do not close the hood on
anyone.
!
Do not push the hood closed manually,
as this could damage it.
i
Do not use any special lubricant addi-
tives, as these may damage the drive
assemblies. Using special additives not
approved by Mercedes-Benz may
cause damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
More information on this subject is
available at any Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
244 Operation
Engine compartment
Checking engine oil level with the
control system
When checking the oil level
the vehicle must be parked on level
ground
with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been sta-
tionary for at least five minutes with the
engine turned off
with the engine not at operating tem-
perature yet, the vehicle must have
been stationary for at least 30 minutes
with the engine turned off
To check the engine oil level via the
multifunction display, do the following:
Switch on the ignition (page 35).
The standard display (
page 123) should
appear in the multifunction display.
Press buttonk orj on the
steering wheel until the following
message is seen in the multifunction
display:
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
MEASURING NOW
MEASURE. CORRECT
ONLY IF VEH. LEVEL
One of the following messages will
subsequently appear in the indicator:
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
OK
ADD 1.0 Qt. TO
REACH MAX. OIL LEVEL!
(Canada: 1.0 LITER)
ADD 1.5 Qts. TO
REACH MAX. OIL LEVEL!
(Canada: 1.5 LITERS)
ADD 2.0 Qts. TO
REACH MAX. OIL LEVEL!
(Canada: 2.0 LITERS)
If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil see (
page 247).
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 376) and
(
page 377).
i
If you want to interrupt the checking
procedure, press thek orj
button on the multifunction steering
wheel.