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
Contents
Technical data.................................. 409
Parts service ...................................... 410
Warranty coverage ............................. 411
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 411
Identification labels............................ 412
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 414
G 500 ........................................... 414
G 55 AMG..................................... 414
Engine ................................................ 415
Rims and tires .................................... 416
Same size tires ............................. 417
Spare wheel ................................. 418
Electrical system................................ 419
Main dimensions, vehicle weights
and ratings ......................................... 420
Main dimensions .......................... 420
Vehicle weights and ratings ......... 421Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 422
Capacities .................................... 422
Engine oils.................................... 425
Engine oil additives ...................... 425
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 425
Brake fluid .................................... 425
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 426
Fuel requirements ........................ 426
Gasoline additives ........................ 427
Coolants....................................... 427
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system ......................................... 430Index................................................. 431
17 Introduction
Operating safety
Operating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:
the safety precautions in this manual
the “Technical data” section in this
manual
traffic rules and regulations
motor vehicle laws and safety
standards
Warning!G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are
interconnected, any modifications made
may produce an undesired effect on other
systems. Electronic malfunctions could
seriously impair the operating safety of your
vehicle.
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center for repairs or modifications to
electronic components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore
never turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!G
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires/wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,
may cause serious damage and impair the
o per at i ng s a fet y of yo ur veh ic l e. I f y ou f ee l a
sudden significant vibration or ride
disturbance, or you suspect that damage to
your vehicle has occurred, you should turn
on your hazard warning flashers, carefully
slow down, and drive with caution to an area
which is a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and
tires/wheels for possible damage. If the
vehicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center or other qualified maintenance
or repair facility for further inspection or
repairs.
Warning!G
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended
to make you and others aware of various
risks. You should not remove any of these
warning labels unless explicitly instructed to
do so by information on the label itself.
Removal of any of these labels may cause
you and others to be unaware of certain
risks which may result in an accident and/or
personal injury.
23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Tailgate105
Cargo compartment
Loading instructions208
Expanding206
Cargo tie-down rings209
Partition net*210
Cover blind214
2Rear view camera203
3Rear window defroster181
4Rear lamps378
5Fuel filler flap264
Refueling264
Fuel265,
426
ItemPage
6Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting46
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors177
7Hood267
Engine oil269
Coolant274
8Windshield wipers58
Wiper blades, replacing388
Wiper blades, cleaning319
9Windshield
Cleaning with windshield
washer fluid59
Cleaning319
Windshield defroster180
aPower tilt/sliding sunroof195
ItemPage
bDoors
Locking and unlocking100
Opening and closing104
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency370
cHeadlamp cleaning system177
dFront lamps378
eTires and wheels277,
416
Checking tire inflation
pressure288
General information277
Flat tire390
Spare wheel368
fFront towing eye404
Rear towing eye404
88 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:
ABS (Antilock Brake System)
BAS (Brake Assist System)
4-ETS (Electronic Traction System)
EBB (Electronic Brake Booster)
ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) indepen-
dent of road surface conditions (as long as
the differential locks are not engaged).
Warning!G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
Excessive speed, especially in turns
Wet and slippery road surfaces
Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
iIn winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, the BAS, the ESP®, the EBB, and
the 4-ETS is only achieved with winter tires or
snow chains as required.
Warning!G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
ABS and significantly reduces braking effec-
tiveness.
90 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
LOW RANGE– ABS
During off-road driving a special low range
system for the Antilock Brake System
(ABS) is operational with transfer case in
position LOW (
page 170).
An improved braking action (dig-in effect)
is obtained for vehicle speeds up to
37 mph (60 km/h) through a change in the
ABS control function.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 324).
BAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing braking distance. Apply con-
tinuous full braking pressure until the
emergency braking situation is over. The
ABS will prevent the wheels from locking.
When you release the brake pedal the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
With the BAS malfunctioning, the ABS,
ESP
®, and 4-ETS are also switched off.
Warning!G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction
afforded. The ABS cannot prevent acci-
dents, including those resulting from
excessive speed in turns, following another
vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning. Only a
safe, attentive, and skillful driver can pre-
vent accidents. The capabilities of an ABS
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in
a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
Warning!G
If the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake
system is still functioning normally, but
without the additional brake boost available
that BAS would normally provide in an emer-
gency braking maneuver. Therefore, the
braking distance may increase.
91 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 340).
4-ETS
The 4-Electronic Traction System (4-ETS)
improves vehicle’s ability to utilize avail-
able traction, especially under slippery
road conditions. The brakes are applied to
the spinning wheel and power is allowed to
flow to the wheel(s) with traction.
The 4-ETS function is available between
vehicle speeds of 0 mph (km/h) and
37 mph (60 km/h).
The ESP
® warning lampv in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 26) comes on when
you switch on ignition (
page 39). It goes
out when the engine is running.
The ESP
® warning lampv starts to
flash at any vehicle speed, as soon as a tire
loses traction and the wheel begins to
spin.
Warning!G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that
afforded by the condition of the vehicle
brakes and tires or the traction afforded.
The BAS cannot prevent accidents, includ-
ing those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, following another vehicle too closely,
or hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of a BAS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
Warning!G
When you see the ESP® warning lampv
flashing in the instrument cluster, then
proceed as follows:
While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.
While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.
Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4-ETS cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
92 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 330).
EBB
The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB)
enhances braking effectiveness by allow-
ing the rear brakes to supply a greater
proportion of the braking effort in straight
line braking circumstances without a loss
of vehicle stability.
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 327).
ESP®
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) is
operational as soon as the engine is run-
ning and monitors the vehicle’s traction
(force of adhesive friction between the
tires and the road surface) and handling.
The ESP
® recognizes when a wheel is
spinning or if the vehicle starts to skid.
By applying the brakes to the appropriate
wheel and by limiting engine output, the
ESP
® works to stabilize the vehicle.
The ESP® is especially useful while driving
off and on wet or slippery road surfaces.
The ESP
® also stabilizes the vehicle during
braking and steering maneuvers.
The ESP
® warning lampv in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 26) flashes when the
ESP® is engaged.
The ESP
® warning lampv comes on
when you switch on ignition (
page 39).
It goes out when the engine is running.
!Operational or performance test must only
be conducted on a two-axle dynamometer. If
such tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake system or
the transfer case which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1)
when testing the parking brake on a brake test
dynamometer and such testing should be no
longer than 10 seconds.
Active braking action through ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Warning!G
If the EBB is malfunctioning, the brake
system is still functioning. However, the rear
wheels may lock during hard braking, caus-
ing you to lose control over the vehicle and
possibly causing an accident. Adjust your
driving style to the non-operating status of
the EBB.