2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 Owner's Manual

Sommer\ Corporate\ Media\ AG
Operator’s Manual
GL-Class
Order No. 6515 4272 13 Part No. 164 584 72 82 USA Edition D 2007GL-Class
1645847282

GL 320 CDI
GL 450

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your de-
sire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers, we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:
Please read this manual carefully,
then return it to your vehicle where it
will be handy for your reference.

Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.

Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and occu-
pants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 13
Operating your vehicle
outside the USA or Canada ............ 13
Where to find it .................................... 15
Symbols ............................................... 16
Operating safety .................................. 17
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 17
Problems with your vehicle .................. 18
Reporting safety defects...................... 19
Reporting safety defects ................ 19
Vehicle data recording......................... 20
Information regarding electronic
recording devices........................... 20At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Instrument cluster ................................ 28
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 30
Center console ..................................... 31
Upper part (Vehicles without
enhanced off-road package*) ......... 31
Upper part (Vehicles with
enhanced off-road package*) ......... 32
Lower part ...................................... 33
Overhead control panel ........................ 34
Door control panel................................ 35
Storage compartments ......................... 36Getting started................................... 39
Unlocking ............................................. 40
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 40
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 41
Starter switch positions .................. 41
Adjusting .............................................. 45
Seats .............................................. 45
Steering wheel ................................ 49
Mirrors ............................................ 52
Driving .................................................. 54
Fastening the seat belts ................. 54
Starting the engine ......................... 57
Parking brake ................................. 60
Driving off ....................................... 61
Switching on headlamps ................. 62
Turn signals .................................... 63
Windshield wipers ........................... 63
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 65
Problems while driving.................... 66
Parking and locking .............................. 68
Parking brake ................................. 68
Switching off headlamps................. 69
Turning off the engine ..................... 69
Releasing seat belts........................ 71
Locking ........................................... 71

Contents
Safety and Security........................... 73
Occupant safety................................... 74
Air bags .......................................... 76
Occupant Classification System* ... 81
BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation
system (Canada only) ..................... 87
Seat belts ....................................... 88
Active head restraint ...................... 92
Rear head restraints ....................... 93
Children in the vehicle .................... 93
Blocking of rear door
window operation ......................... 100
Panic alarm ........................................ 102
Activating ..................................... 102
Deactivating ................................. 102
Driving safety systems ....................... 103
ABS .............................................. 103
BAS .............................................. 105
ESP
®............................................. 105
EBP............................................... 109
4-ETS ............................................ 109
Anti-theft systems.............................. 111
Immobilizer................................... 111
Anti-theft alarm system ................ 111
Controls in detail............................. 113
Locking and unlocking ....................... 114
SmartKey ..................................... 114
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 117
Checking batteries in the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* .............................. 122
Loss of the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 122
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................. 122
Tailgate/Power tailgate*.............. 123
Automatic central locking ............ 130
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 130
Seats ................................................. 132
Easy-entry/exit feature for
third-row seats ............................. 132
Front seat active head restraints . 135
Rear seats .................................... 135
Lumbar support............................ 139
Multicontour seat* ....................... 140
Seat heating* ............................... 140
Seat ventilation* .......................... 142Memory function* ............................. 143
Storing positions into memory ..... 144
Recalling positions from memory . 144
Lighting ............................................. 145
Exterior lamp switch .................... 145
Combination switch ..................... 149
Corner-illuminating
front fog lamps*........................... 150
Hazard warning flasher ................ 151
Interior lighting ............................ 151
Door entry lamps ......................... 154
Cargo compartment lamp ............ 154
Instrument cluster ............................. 155
Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination ...................... 155
Resetting trip odometer ............... 156
Tachometer .................................. 156
Outside temperature indicator ..... 156

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
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 253
Opening and closing ..................... 253
Synchronizing ............................... 255
Driving systems ................................. 257
Cruise control............................... 257
Distronic*..................................... 262
Distance warning function*.......... 274
Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) ............................................ 275
Off-road driving program
(Vehicles without
enhanced off-road package*) ....... 279
Air suspension package ............... 280
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* .......................................... 280
Vehicle level control ..................... 281
Parktronic system* ...................... 290
Rear view camera* ....................... 295
Loading .............................................. 297
Carriers* ...................................... 297
Loading instructions ..................... 303
Cargo tie-down rings .................... 304
Hooks ........................................... 306
Expanding cargo compartment .... 306
Cargo compartment cover blind ... 312
Cargo net* ................................... 313Useful features .................................. 316
Storage compartments ................ 316
Parcel nets ................................... 320
Cup holders.................................. 321
Ashtrays* ..................................... 322
Cigarette lighter* ......................... 324
Power outlets ............................... 325
Floormats* ................................... 326
Seat cover under
third-row seats ............................. 327
Heated steering wheel* ............... 328
Telephone* .................................. 329
Tele Aid ........................................ 332
Garage door opener ..................... 339
Compass ...................................... 345
Infrared reflecting windshield* ..... 345
Operation......................................... 347
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 348
Driving instructions ........................... 349
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 349
Drinking and driving ..................... 349
Pedals .......................................... 349
Power assistance ......................... 350
Brakes.......................................... 350
Driving off .................................... 352
Parking......................................... 352
Tires ............................................. 353
Hydroplaning................................ 354
Tire traction ................................. 354
Tire speed rating .......................... 354
Winter driving instructions ........... 355
Standing water............................. 356
Off-road driving ............................ 357
Trailer towing ............................... 366
Passenger compartment .............. 371
Driving abroad ............................. 372
Control and operation of
radio transmitters ........................ 372
Catalytic converter
(gasoline engine) .......................... 373
Oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) 373

Contents
Emission control .......................... 373
Coolant temperature .................... 374
At the gas station .............................. 375
Refueling ...................................... 375
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 377
Engine compartment ......................... 379
Hood ............................................ 379
Engine oil ..................................... 381
Transmission fluid level ................ 382
Coolant level ................................ 382
Windshield/rear window
washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ........ 384
Tires and wheels ................................ 385
Important guidelines .................... 385
Tire care and maintenance........... 386
Direction of rotation ..................... 388
Loading the vehicle ...................... 388
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 394
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 396
Tire labeling.................................. 406
Load identification ....................... 410
DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ............................... 410Maximum tire load ........................ 412
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 412
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 413
Tire ply material ............................ 415
Tire and loading terminology......... 415
Rotating tires ................................ 418
Winter driving ..................................... 420
Winter tires ................................... 420
Snow chains.................................. 421
Maintenance....................................... 422
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 422
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 424
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 424
Vehicle care........................................ 425
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 425
Practical hints.................................. 435
What to do if … ................................... 436
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 436
Lamp in center console ................ 448
Vehicle status messages in
the multifunction display .............. 451
Where will I find ...? ............................ 495
First aid kit.................................... 495
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 495
Spare wheel .................................. 499
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 500
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 500
Locking the vehicle ....................... 501
Fuel filler flap ................................ 501
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 503
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 503
Resetting activated head restraints.... 504
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 506
Replacing bulbs .................................. 508
Bulbs............................................. 508
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 511
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 515
Adjusting headlamp aim ............... 518