Contents
Control system .................................. 157
Multifunction display .................... 157
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 158
Menus .......................................... 160
Standard display menu ................ 164
Audio menu .................................. 166
NAV* menu .................................. 168
Off-road menu .............................. 168
DISTRONIC* menu ....................... 169
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 169
Settings menu .............................. 170
Vehicle configuration ................... 185
Trip computer menu..................... 187
TEL* menu ................................... 189
Automatic transmission ..................... 192
Gear selector lever ....................... 192
Shifting procedure ....................... 195
Transmission positions................. 195
Driving tips ................................... 198
Gear ranges ................................. 200
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 201
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 202
Transfer case ..................................... 203
LOW RANGE mode* ..................... 203Differential locks* .............................. 206
A few words about differentials
and differential locks* .................. 206
Switching differential locks* ......... 207
Good visibility ..................................... 210
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 210
Rear view mirrors.......................... 210
Power folding exterior
rear view mirrors*......................... 211
Sun visors ..................................... 213
Rear panorama roof sunshade ...... 214
Rear window defroster .................. 215
Climate control ................................... 216
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 220
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 220
Setting the temperature................ 221
Adjusting air distribution............... 221
Adjusting air volume ..................... 222
Air vents in the roof liner
over the second-row seats* .......... 222
Front defroster.............................. 223
Air recirculation mode .................. 224
Air conditioning............................. 226
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 227Rear climate control* ................... 228
3-zone automatic climate control* ..... 230
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 234
Operating the automatic
climate control system
in automatic mode ........................ 235
Setting the temperature ............... 235
Adjusting air distribution .............. 236
Adjusting air volume ..................... 237
Front defroster ............................. 237
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 239
Air recirculation mode .................. 239
Air conditioning ............................ 241
Using driver-side settings
for all temperature zones.............. 242
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 242
Rear automatic climate control..... 243
Power windows .................................. 248
Opening and closing ..................... 248
Synchronizing the door windows .. 251
Summer opening feature .............. 251
Convenience closing feature......... 252
Contents
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 520
Front wiper blades ....................... 520
Rear wiper blade .......................... 521
Flat tire .............................................. 523
Preparing the vehicle.................... 523
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 524
Bleeding the fuel system
(diesel engine only) ............................ 529
Battery ............................................... 530
Disconnecting, removing,
reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery .............. 532
Charging the battery .................... 537
Jump starting ..................................... 538
Towing the vehicle ............................. 540
Installing towing eye bolt.............. 542
Stranded vehicle .......................... 543
Fuses ................................................. 544
Fuse box in engine compartment . 545
Fuse box in cargo compartment ... 545
Fuse box in
passenger compartment .............. 546
Emergency engine shut-down ...... 546
Technical data................................. 547
Parts service ...................................... 548
Warranty coverage............................. 549
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 549
Identification labels ........................... 550
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 552
GL 320 CDI .................................. 552
GL 450 ......................................... 552
Engine................................................ 553
Rims and tires.................................... 554
Same size tires ............................. 555
Minispare wheel ........................... 556
Electrical system ............................... 557
Main Dimensions ............................... 558
Weights.............................................. 559Fuels, coolants, lubricants ................. 560
Capacities .................................... 560
Engine oils ................................... 562
Engine oil additives ...................... 562
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 562
Brake fluid.................................... 562
Premium unleaded gasoline
(gasoline engine) .......................... 563
Fuel requirements ........................ 563
Gasoline additives
(gasoline engine) .......................... 564
Coolants ...................................... 565
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 567
Index................................................. 569
11 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Important notice for California retail
buyers and lessees of Mercedes-Benz
automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to
a replacement of your vehicle or a refund
of the purchase price or lease price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its
authorized repair or service facilities fail to
fix one or more substantial defects or mal-
functions in the vehicle that are covered by
its express warranty after a reasonable
number of repair attempts. During the
period of 18 months from original delivery
of the vehicle or the accumulation of
18 000 miles (approximately 29 000 km)
on the odometer of the vehicle, whichever
occurs first, a reasonable number of repair
attempts is presumed for a retail buyer or
lessee if one or more of the following oc-
curs:(1) the same substantial defect or mal-
function results in a condition that is
likely to cause death or serious bodily
injury if the vehicle is driven, that de-
fect or malfunction has been subject to
repair two or more times, and you have
directly notified Mercedes-Benz USA,
LLC in writing of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or mal-
function of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to repair
four or more times and you have direct-
ly notified us in writing of the need for
its repair, or(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason
of repair of the same or different sub-
stantial defects or malfunctions for a
cumulative total of more than
30 calendar days.
Written notification should not be sent to a
dealer, it should be addressed to
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Customer Assistance Center
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
57 Getting started
Driving
Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.
Do not fasten a seat belt around a
person and another object at the same
time. When using a seat belt to secure
infant or toddler restraints or children
in booster seats, always follow the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.
Check your seat belt periodically
during travel to make sure that it is
properly positioned.
Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
snugly. Take special care of this when
wearing loose clothing.
Starting the engine
Warning!G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.Warning!G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause un-
consciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one win-
dow fully open.
155 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(
page 26).
1To dim instrument cluster illumination
2Reset button
3To brighten instrument cluster
illumination
The instrument cluster is activated when
you
open a door
switch on the ignition (page 42)
press reset button2
switch on the exterior lamps
(
page 145)For information on changing the instru-
ment cluster settings, e.g. the language,
see “Instrument cluster submenu”
(
page 174).Adjusting instrument cluster illumina-
tion
Use button1 or3 to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster.
To brighten illumination
Press and hold button3 until the
desired level of illumination is reached.
To dim illumination
Press and hold button1 until the
desired level of illumination is reached.
iOpening a front door or pressing the reset
button without switching on the ignition or the
exterior lighting activates the multifunction
display illumination only for 30 seconds.
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am-
bient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.
iWith the exterior lighting switched on, the
brightness of the switches in the center console
will also be adjusted when using button
1 or3.
219 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate
the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode is deactivated
(
page 226).
Warning!G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite to unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
controls (
page 218) to direct the air to air
vents in the vehicle interior that are not in
the immediate area of unprotected skin.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before its
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior
before driving off, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (
page 251). The climate control will then
adjust the interior temperature to the set value
much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
223 Controls in detail
Climate control
Adjusting air distribution
Move air vent slider2 to the left, right,
up, or down to direct the air in the de-
sired direction.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up. You
can also use it to defog the windshield and
door windows.
Activating
Press button0 or, depending on
vehicle production date, button|
(
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.The climate control switches to the follow-
ing functions automatically:
most efficient blower speed and
heating power, depending on outside
temperature
air flows onto the windshield and the
door windows (side air vents must be
open)
the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-drying
Adjustments
You can adjust the air volume and the tem-
perature when the front defroster is
switched on. The air flow will remain on the
windshield and door windows.
Press button to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume
(
page 218) to the desired level.The air volume decreases/increases to
the next lower/higher blower speed
and heating switches to the tempera-
ture that was set before the front de-
froster was switched on.
The indicator lamp on button0 or,
depending on vehicle production date,
button| goes out. The indicator
lamp on button9 comes on.
or
Turn temperature control1
and/or7 (
page 218) slightly in any
direction.
Heating switches to the temperature
that was set before the front defroster
was switched on.
The indicator lamp on button0 or,
depending on vehicle production date,
button| goes out. The indicator
lamp on button9 comes on.iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the door windows are clear again.
224 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
Press button0 or, depending on
vehicle production date, button|
(
page 218) once more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are in effect
again. The air conditioning compressor
remains switched on.Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(
page 64).
Press button0 or, depending on
vehicle production date, button|
(
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The climate control switches automatically
to the following functions:
most efficient blower speed and
heating power, depending on outside
temperature
air flows onto the windshield and the
door windows (side air vents must be
open)
the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-dryingIf the automatic air distribution is switched
off:
Press air distribution button9 ora
(
page 218).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.
iThe air conditioning compressor remains on
even if the indicator lamp in button0 or, de-
pending on vehicle production date, button|
goes out. This helps to prevent the windshield
from fogging.
iTo switch off, you can also press
button´ orU (
page 218).
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.
Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility,
endangering you and others. If the windows
begin to fog on the inside, switching off the
air recirculation mode immediately should
clear interior window fogging. If interior win-
dow fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 218) is activated, or
press button0 or, depending on vehicle
production date, button|.