195 Controls in detail
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Opening and closing
The tilt/sliding sunroof is opened and
closed electrically. The switch for the
tilt/sliding sunroof is located on the
overhead control panel.
Sunroof switch
1Push up to raise sunroof at rear
2Pull down to lower sunroof at rear
3Push forward to slide sunroof closed
4Push back to slide sunroof open
Warning!G
When closing the tilt/sliding sunroof, make
sure there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
The opening procedure of the tilt/sliding
sunroof can be immediately halted by
releasing the switch or, if the switch was
moved past the resistance point and
released, by moving the switch in any
direction.
The closing procedure of the tilt/sliding sun-
roof can be immediately halted by releasing
the switch.
The closing procedure of the tilt/sliding sun-
roof can be immediately reversed by moving
the switch in direction1 or4.
In a vehicle rollover, occupants not wearing
their seat belts or not wearing them properly
may be thrown out of the opening. Such an
opening also presents a potential for injury
for occupants wearing their seat belts prop-
erly as entire body parts or portions of them
may protrude from the passenger compart-
ment.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment can cause an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
!To avoid damaging the seals, do not trans-
port any objects with sharp edges which can
stick out of the tilt/sliding sunroof.
Do not open the tilt/sliding sunroof if there is
snow or ice on the roof, as this could result in
malfunctions.
The tilt/sliding sunroof can be opened or closed
manually should an electrical malfunction occur
(
page 374).
196 Controls in detail
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Switch on the ignition (page 39).Opening and closing the tilt/sliding
sunroof
To open, close, raise, or lower the
tilt/sliding sunroof, move the sunroof
switch to the resistance point in the
required direction of arrows1 to4
(
page 195).
Release the sunroof switch when the
tilt/sliding sunroof has reached the
desired position.
Fully opening the tilt/sliding sunroof
(Express-open)
Move the sunroof switch past the
resistance point in direction of
arrow4 (
page 195) and release.
The tilt/sliding sunroof opens
completely.Stopping the tilt/sliding sunroof during
Express-operation
Move the sunroof switch in any
direction.
The movement of the tilt/sliding
sunroof stops.
!Please keep in mind that weather conditions
can sometime change rapidly. Make sure to
close the tilt/sliding sunroof when leaving the
vehicle. If water enters the vehicle interior,
vehicle electronics could be damaged which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iWhen the tilt/sliding sunroof is open,
resonance noises may result in addition to the
usual wind noises. They are caused by minimal
pressure changes in the passenger compart-
ment. To reduce or eliminate these noises,
change the position of the tilt/sliding sunroof or
open a side window slightly.
iYou can also open or close the tilt/sliding
sunroof using the SmartKey, see “Summer open-
ing feature” (
page 193) and see “Convenience
closing feature” (
page 194).
Warning!G
The opening procedure of the tilt/sliding
sunroof can be immediately halted by
releasing the switch or, if the switch was
moved past the resistance point and
released, by moving the switch in any
direction.
The closing procedure of the tilt/sliding sun-
roof can be immediately halted by releasing
the switch.
The closing procedure of the tilt/sliding sun-
roof can be immediately reversed by moving
the switch in direction1 or4.
206 Controls in detail
Loading
Roof rack
This vehicle is not intended to carry items
on its roof. Thus roof rails and any
roof-mounted devices must not be used.Expanding cargo compartment
To expand the cargo compartment, you
can fold forward the left and right section
of the rear seat backrest
of the rear seat bench
separately.
For more information, see “Split rear seat
bench” (
page 206).
Split rear seat bench
Warning!G
Do not load items on the roof. It may cause
instability during some maneuvers which
could result in an accident.
Warning!G
Always lock seat backrest in its upright
position when rear seat bench is occupied
by passengers, or cargo is being carried
behind the rear seat bench.
To help avoid personal injury from smaller
objects being thrown around in the occu-
pant compartment during a collision or
sudden maneuver, always use partition net*
when transporting cargo (
page 210).
Always use the cargo tie down rings
(
page 209).
Warning!G
Failure to assure that seat benches and seat
backrests are locked into place could result
in an increased chance of injury in an acci-
dent.
Never place hands under seat or near any
moving parts while a seat is being adjusted.
For safety reasons, the rear seat bench
must only be adjusted when the vehicle is
stationary.
Never drive vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.
!Before folding the rear seat backrest and
the rear seat bench forward, be sure that all
containers in the rear cup holder are removed.
215 Controls in detail
Useful features
Useful features
Storage compartments
Glove box
1Glove box lid release
2Glove box lidOpening the glove box
Pull glove box lid release1 in
direction of arrow.
Glove box lid2 opens downward.
Closing the glove box
Push glove box lid2 up to close.
Warning!G
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when storing objects in the vehicle. Put
luggage or cargo in the cargo compartment
if possible. Do not pile luggage or cargo
higher than the seat backrests.
Always use partition net* when transporting
cargo. Partition net* cannot secure hard or
heavy objects.
Parcel nets cannot secure hard or heavy
objects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
about and injuring vehicle occupants during
braking
vehicle maneuvers
an accident
Warning!G
Do not load items on the roof. It may cause
instability during some maneuvers which
could result in an accident.
iThe glove box is illuminated with SmartKey
in starter switch position1 or2 when opening
the lid.
252 Operation
Driving instructions
Standing water
To prevent water from entering the
passenger compartment or the engine
compartment if you must drive through
standing water, keep in mind
the maximum depth of the water may
not exceed 19 in (48 cm)
you must drive slowly
For more information, see “Driving through
water” (
page 257).
Passenger compartment
!Do not drive through flooded areas or water
of unknown depth. Before driving through water,
determine its depth. Never accelerate before
driving into water. The bow wave could force
water into the engine and auxiliary equipment,
thus damaging them.
If you must drive through standing water, drive
slowly to prevent water from entering the
passenger compartment or the engine
compartment.Water in these areas could cause
damage to electrical components
wiring of the engine or transmission
or could result
in water being ingested by the engine
through the air intake, causing severe
internal engine damage.
Any such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!G
Always fasten items being carried as
securely as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
The rear cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects. Always use cargo
tie-down rings, and if so equipped, always
use partition net* when transporting cargo.
The partition net* cannot secure hard or
heavy objects. Always fasten items being
carried as securely as possible using the
cargo tie-down rings in the cargo compart-
ment floor and fastening materials.
Do not load items on the roof. It may cause
instability during some maneuvers which
could result in an accident. This vehicle is
not intended to carry items on its roof. Thus
roof rails and roof mounted ski or bike
holders must not be used.
253 Operation
Driving instructions
Off-road driving
Read this chapter carefully before you
begin off-road travel.
Familiarize yourself with the vehicle
characteristics and gear changing before
you attempt any difficult terrain off-road
driving. We recommend that you start out
with easy off-road travel.Special driving features for off-road
driving
The following driving features are available
for specific kind of operation:
ABS (page 88)
ESP® (page 92)
4-ETS (page 91)
Differential lock (page 173)
Transfer case (page 170)
Off-road driving rules
Engage the transfer case in position
LOW before driving under off-road
conditions (
page 170).
If necessary activate differential locks
(
page 175).
The ABS, BAS and ESP
® are switched
off automatically when the differential
locks are activated.
Fasten items being carried as securely
as possible (
page 208).
Warning!G
Do not load items on the roof. It may cause
instability during some maneuvers which
could result in an accident.
Drive slowly in unknown terrain. This will
make it easier to recognize unexpected
obstacles and avoid damage to the vehicle.
To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never
turn it around on steep inclines. If the vehi-
cle cannot complete the attempted climb,
back it down in reverse gear.
Do not drive along the side of a slope. The
vehicle might otherwise rollover. If in doing
so the vehicle begins to show a tendency to
roll, immediately steer into a line of gravity
(straight up or downhill).
Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle.
You may lose control of the vehicle if you
use only the brake. For information on
driving downhill, see “Driving downhill”
(
page 257).
Warning!G
Sand, dirt, mud and other material having
friction property can cause exceptional wear
and tear as well as brake failure.
Have the brakes checked for dirt build-up
and cleaned. There is otherwise a risk that
full braking power may not be available in an
emergency.
254 Operation
Driving instructions
Checklist before off-road driving
Engine oil level
Check the engine oil level with the
control system (
page 270). The
message
Engine oil level OK must
appear in the multifunction display.
Only then can the vehicle obtain a
trouble-free oil supply, even on steep
gradients.
!Observe the following during off-road
driving:
Keep doors, tailgate, windows, and
tilt/sliding sunroof closed.
Switch cruise control off.
Adjust vehicle speed to condition of terrain.
The more uneven, rutty, and steeper the
terrain, the lower the speed should be. Drive
through water slowly at an even speed,
avoiding a bow wave.
Be especially careful when driving in
unknown territory. It may be necessary to
get out of the vehicle and scout the path you
intend to take.
Watch out for obstacles, such as rocks,
holes, tree stumps, and ruts.
Avoid excessive engine speeds – drive at
moderate engine speeds (max. 3 000 rpm).
Before driving through water, determine its
depth.
Do not stop vehicle while immersed in water,
and do not shut off the engine.
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 vehicle. It
interrupts the forward momentum of the
vehicle.
Always drive on slopes with the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.
Inspect the vehicle for possible damage after
each off-road trip.
Warning!G
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure (
page 288) before continuing
your trip. Driving with reduced tire inflation
pressure increases the risk of losing control
of the vehicle and rolling over.
!If a engine oil level warning message
(
page 351) appears in the multifunction
display while driving, stop the vehicle in a safe
location or as soon at is safe to do so. Check the
engine oil level (
page 270).
The engine oil level warning messages should
not be ignored. Extended driving with the
message displayed could result in serious engine
damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
315 Operation
Vehicle care
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the
factory with a wax-base rustproofing in the
body cavities which will last for the lifetime
of the vehicle. Post-production treatment
is neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others
applied later.We have selected car-care products and
compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology.
You can obtain Mercedes-Benz approved
car-care products at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion or
damage due to negligent or incorrect care
cannot always be removed or repaired with
the car-care products recommended here.
In such cases it is best to seek aid at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
The following topics deal with the cleaning
and care of your vehicle and give important
“how-to” information as well as references
to Mercedes-Benz approved car-care
products.Power washer
Tar stains
Quickly remove tar stains before they dry
and become more difficult to remove. A tar
remover is recommended.
!Follow the instructions provided by the
power washer manufacturer on maintaining a
distance between the vehicle and the nozzle of
the power washer.
Never use a round nozzle to power-wash tires.
The intense jet of water can result in damage to
the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Always keep the jet of water moving across the
surface. Do not aim directly at electrical parts,
electrical connectors, sensors, seals, or other
rubber parts.