Contents
Operation......................................... 243
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 244
Driving instructions ............................ 245
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 245
Drinking and driving ..................... 245
Pedals .......................................... 245
Power assistance ......................... 246
Brakes .......................................... 246
Driving off..................................... 247
Parking ......................................... 248
Tires ............................................. 248
Hydroplaning ................................ 249
Tire traction .................................. 249
Tire speed rating .......................... 250
Winter driving instructions ........... 251
Standing water ............................. 252
Passenger compartment .............. 252
Off-road driving ............................ 253
Driving abroad .............................. 261
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 261
Catalytic converter ....................... 262
Emission control........................... 263
Coolant temperature .................... 263At the gas station .............................. 264
Refueling ...................................... 264
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 265
Engine compartment ......................... 267
Hood ............................................ 267
Engine oil ..................................... 269
Transmission fluid level ................ 273
Coolant level ................................ 274
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system ......................................... 275
Tires and wheels ................................ 277
Important guidelines .................... 277
Tire care and maintenance ........... 278
Direction of rotation ..................... 280
Loading the vehicle ...................... 280
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 286
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 288
Tire labeling.................................. 294
Load identification ....................... 298
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 299Maximum tire load ....................... 300
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 301
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 302
Tire ply material ........................... 304
Tire and loading terminology ........ 304
Rotating tires ............................... 307
Winter driving .................................... 309
Winter tires .................................. 309
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 310
Snow chains................................. 310
Maintenance...................................... 311
Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 311
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 313
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 313
Vehicle care....................................... 314
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 314
137 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4
Standard displayAudioNAVVehicle status message
memory1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
(page 140)(page 141)(page 144)(page 144)
Commands/submenu
Trip- and main odometerSelecting radio stationRoute guidance instructions,
current direction traveledCalling up malfunction
messages, warning messages,
and system status messages
stored in memory
Checking tire inflation
pressureSelecting satellite radio
station* (USA only)
Calling up digital speedometer
or outside temperatureOperating CD player
Calling up maintenance
service indicator
Checking engine oil level
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the
system and are not necessarily 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.
140 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
In the standard display, the main odometer
and the trip odometer appear in the multi-
function display.
Standard display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometerIf you see another display instead of the
standard display:
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display.
Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.
The following functions are available:Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperature
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the digital speedometer or the
outside temperature appears in the
multifunction display.
Digital speedometer
FunctionPage
Checking tire inflation pressure288
Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperature140
Calling up maintenance service
indicator313
Checking engine oil level270
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.
266 Operation
At the gas station
G55AMG
1Coolant
2Brake fluidBrake fluid
Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water
(potable water quality).
For more information, see “Coolant level”
(
page 274) and see “Fuels, coolants, lu-
bricants, etc.” (
page 422).Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 269).
Windshield/rear window washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system
For more information on refilling the
washer reservoir, see “Windshield/rear
window washer system and headlamp
cleaning system” (
page 275).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness.
For information on replacing light bulbs,
see “Replacing bulbs” (
page 377).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 117).
Tire inflation pressure
For more information, see “Checking tire
inflation pressure” (
page 288).
!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. Notify 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 326) and see “Brake fluid”
(
page 425).
270 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 5 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 39).
The standard display (
page 140)
should appear in the multifunction
display.
Press buttonk orj on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
following message appears in the
multifunction display:
One of the following messages will
subsequently appear in the multi-
function display:
Engine oil
level
OK
Add
1.0 qt
to reach
maximum
oil level
(Canada: 1.0 liter)
Add
1.5 qts
to reach
maximum
oil level
(Canada: 1.5 liters)
Add
2.0 qts
to reach
maximum
oil level
(Canada: 2.0 liters)
iIf you want to interrupt the checking
procedure, press buttonk orj on the
multifunction steering wheel.
271 Operation
Engine compartment
If necessary, add engine oil
(
page 273).
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 423) and
(
page 425).
Other display messages
If the SmartKey is not turned to position2
in the starter switch, the following
message will appear:
Switch
ignition on to
check engine
oil level
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
If you see the message:
Observe
waiting time
If the engine is at operating
temperature, wait 5 minutes before
repeating check procedure.
If the engine is not at operating
temperature yet, wait 30 minutes
before repeating check procedure.
If you see the message:
Engine oil
level
Not with
engine on
Turn off the engine.
If the engine is at operating
temperature, wait 5 minutes before
checking oil.
If the engine is not at operating
temperature yet, you must wait
30 minutes before checking oil.
If there is excess engine oil with the engine
at operating temperature, the following
message will appear:
Engine oil
level
Reduce oil
level
Have excess oil siphoned or drained
off. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 351).
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained off.
It could cause damage to the engine and/or
catalytic converter not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
iG 500 only:
Perform the engine oil level check with the oil
dipstick if it cannot be completed with the
control system (
page 272).
In this case we recommend that you have the
system checked at a Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
272 Operation
Engine compartment
Checking engine oil level with the oil
dipstick (G 500 only)
When checking the oil level
the vehicle must be parked on level
ground
with the engine at operating
temperature, the vehicle must have
been stationary for at least 5 minutes
with the engine turned off
with the engine not at operating
temperature yet, the vehicle also must
have been stationary for at least
5 minutes with the engine turned off
Open the hood (page 267).1Oil dipstick
2Upper mark
3Lower mark
Pull out oil dipstick1.
Wipe oil dipstick1 clean.
Fully insert oil dipstick1 into the
dipstick guide tube.
Pull out oil dipstick1 again after
approximately 3 seconds to obtain
accurate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is
between lower mark3 (min.) and
upper mark2 (max.) of the oil
dipstick.
If necessary, add engine oil
(
page 273).
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 423) and
(
page 425).
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 351).
iThe filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is approximately
2.1 US qt (2.0 l).