2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 off-road

282 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The parked vehicle begins adjusting to the
set vehicle level as soon the doors and tail-
gate are

unlocked
or

opened or closed with the vehicle
unlocked
In order to operate the vehicle level control
switch (
page 283), however, the engine
must be running.
For information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” (
page 357).
Warning!G
Make sure that no one is near the wheel
housing or under the vehicle when you lower
the vehicle while it is standing still. Limbs
could become wedged into or under the ve-
hicle.
For safety reasons, the vehicle can only be
lowered with all doors and the tailgate
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door or
the tailgate is opened and will continue after
the door is closed again.
Warning!G
Please be aware that by raising the vehicle
level, the center of gravity also rises. There-
fore, always ensure that the vehicle level is
as low as possible. With higher ride height
the ESP
® may activate earlier in certain
situations.
Adapt your speed and driving to possible
changed driving behavior of the vehicle after
changing the vehicle level. The ESP
® cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed. The ESP
® cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
!Keep in mind that in rough or uneven ter-
rain, adjusting the vehicle to a lower level may
cause the vehicle underbody to come in contact
with the ground and result in damage to the vehi-
cle underbody. Always make sure the vehicle has
sufficient ground clearance before adjusting it to
a lower level.
!Before jacking up the vehicle with equip-
ment that lifts one or more of the wheels com-
pletely off of the ground, remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.
!Please also note the information in the sec-
tion on towing (
page 540).

283 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicles without enhanced Off-road
Package*
The switch is located on the upper part of
the center console.
1Vehicle level switch
2Indicator lampBasic settings
The following vehicle chassis ride heights
can be selected using the vehicle level
switch in the center console:The following is the approximate change in
ride height for each of the level settings:
LevelDriving situation
RaisedFor off-road driving or driv-
ing in rough terrain. The in-
dicator lamp is on.
HighwayFor driving on paved roads
in fair or better condition.
The indicator lamp is off.
iThe third available level is the high-speed
level that is set automatically.
LevelRide height
Raised+ 3.1 in (80 mm)
Highway+/- 0 in (0 mm)
High-speed- 0.6 in (-15 mm)
iVehicles with ADS*:
Depending on the ADS setting (
page 280), the
vehicle will be lowered to the high-speed level
when traveling at higher speeds. At speeds
below 40 mph (64 km/h) at the latest, it will be
returned to the highway level.
iThe high-speed level is not available if tow-
ing a trailer. For more information on towing a
trailer, see “Trailer towing” (
page 366).

285 Controls in detail
Driving systems
When the highway level is reached, indica-
tor lamp2 (
page 283) goes out. The
following message appears in the multi-
function display for 5 seconds:Vehicles with enhanced Off-road
Package*
The switch is located on the upper part of
the center console.
1Rotatable outer adjustment ring
2Set higher vehicle level
3Indicator lamps
4Set lower vehicle levelBasic settings
The following vehicle chassis ride heights
can be selected using the vehicle level
switch in the center console:
iThe message can be cleared by pressing
theèÿk or buttonj on the
multifunction steering wheel.
iThe vehicle is lowered automatically to the
highway level if:

the vehicle speed is above 55 mph
(88 km/h)

the speed stays between 40 mph (64 km/h)
and 55 mph (88 km/h) for approximately
20 seconds
LevelDriving situation
Off-road 3For slow driving on
rough terrain. Lower,
middle and upper indi-
cator lamps are on.
Off-road 2Off-road driving. Lower
and middle indicator
lamps are on.
Off-road 1For driving on easy ter-
rain. Lower indicator
lamp is on.
HighwayFor normal driving. In-
dicator lamps are off.
iAnother available level is the high-speed
level that is set automatically.

286 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The following is the approximate change in
ride height for each of the level settings:You can only select the off-road levels be-
low a certain speed. At higher speeds, the
message
Level selection not permitted
appears in the multifunction display.
You can select

Off-road level 1: selectable below
60 mph (96 km/h)

Off-road level 2: selectable below
40 mph (64 km/h)

Off-road level 3: selectable below
20 mph (30 km/h)Off-road levels
LevelRide height
Off-road 3+ 4.3 in (110 mm)
Off-road 2+ 3.1 in (80 mm)
Off-road 1+ 1.2 in (30 mm)
Highway+/- 0 in (0 mm)
High-speed- 0.6 in (-15 mm)
iVehicles with ADS*:
Depending on the ADS setting (
page 280), the
vehicle will be lowered to the high-speed level
when traveling at higher speeds. At speeds be-
low 40 mph (64 km/h) at the latest, it will be re-
turned to the highway level.
iThe high-speed level is not available if tow-
ing a trailer. For more information on towing a
trailer, see “Trailer towing” (
page 366).
Warning!G
Vehicle off-road level 3 is not intended for
use on paved roads. This vehicle level is only
intended for driving on rough terrain under
special requirements.

Only select off-road level 3 if you are
driving on rough terrain under especially
difficult conditions.

Adapt your driving style to the modified
conditions.

Do not exceed a speed of 20 mph
(30 km/h).

Avoid extreme, quick steering move-
ments.

Keep in mind that the vehicle’s driving
characteristics are modified.
You should therefore drive in off-road level 3
with particular caution as it could otherwise
lead to an accident and/or serious injury to
you or others.

287 Controls in detail
Driving systems
If you are driving too fast while using
off-road level 3, you will see the following
message in the multifunction display:

Reduce speed to
under 20 mph
(30 km/h)
Additional an acoustic signal sounds.
Only use the off-road levels when neces-
sary.
Otherwise:

fuel consumption may increase

handling characteristics of the vehicle
may be unfavorable
Start the engine (page 41).
Turn outer adjustment ring1
(
page 285) repeatedly until indicator
lamp3 (
page 285) of the desired
level flashes.

Off-road level 1, lower indicator
lamp flashes

Off-road level 2, lower and middle
indicator lamps flashes

Off-road level 3, lower, middle and
upper indicator lamps flashes
The vehicle adjusts to the correspond-
ing off-road level.
For example, the following message
appears in the multifunction display while
the level is being set:
The vehicle is raised from off-road level 1
to off-road level 2.When the off-road level 2 is reached, the
following message appears in the multi-
function display for 5 seconds:
The lower and middle indicator lamps3
(
page 285) comes on continuously.
While the vehicle is adjusting from off-road
level 2 to off-road level 3, you will see, for
example, the following message in the
multifunction display:
iThis message cannot be deactivated.
For more information, see “Display messages”
(
page 492).
iThe message can be cleared by pressing
theèÿk or buttonj on the
multifunction steering wheel.


288 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Once off-road level 3 is reached, you will
see, for example, the following message in
the multifunction display:
If you drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h)
for a short period while using off-road
level 3, the following message appears in
the multifunction display:
Off-road level 3 is canceled.
If you continue to increase your speed,
the message remains in the multifunc-
tion display.
The new level will not be shown until
the vehicle has been able to adjust to a
level appropriate for the speed at
which you are currently driving.

If you maintain or reduce your speed,
you will see, for example, the following
message in the multifunction display
while the vehicle is lowering:
The vehicle is lowered to off-road level 2.Once off-road level 2 is reached, you will
see, for example, the following message in
the multifunction display:
While driving, the vehicle is automatically
lowered as follows:

At speeds above 55 mph (88 km/h) or
if the speed lies between 40 mph
(64km/h) and 55mph (88km/h) for
approximately 20 seconds, the
off-road level 2 setting is canceled and
the vehicle is lowered to the off-road
level 1.
iThe message Max. 20 mph reminds you of
the maximum permissible driving speed with
off-road level 3.


289 Controls in detail
Driving systems
You will see, for example, the following
message in the multifunction display:

At speeds above 60 mph (96 km/h)
the off-road level 1 setting is canceled
and the vehicle is lowered to the high-
way level.
You will see, for example, the following
message in the multifunction display:

Depending on the ADS setting
(
page 280), the vehicle will be low-
ered to the high-speed level when trav-
eling at higher speeds. At speeds below
25 mph (40 km/h) at the latest, it will
be returned to the highway level.
Highway level
Start the engine (page 41).If one or more of the indicator lamps
(
page 283) are on:
Press switch2 (page 285)
repeatedly until all lit indicator
lamps3 flash.
The vehicle adjusts to the highway
level.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display while the level is
being set:
iThe setting is stored when you turn off the
engine.
!Keep in mind that in rough or uneven roads,
adjusting the vehicle to a lower level may cause
the vehicle underbody to come in contact with
the road and result in damage to the vehicle un-
derbody. Always make sure the vehicle has suffi-
cient ground clearance before adjusting it to a
lower level.
iThe message can be cleared by pressing
theèÿk or buttonj on the
multifunction steering wheel.

293 Controls in detail
Driving systems
As your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will illuminate,
depending on the distance. When the
seventh red distance segment illuminates,
you have reached the minimum distance.

Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of
2 seconds will sound as the first red
distance segment illuminates and a
constant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of 2 seconds will sound for
the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is set to positionP, or the
parking brake is set.

Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning lasting a maximum of
2 seconds will sound as the first red
distance segment illuminates and a
constant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of 2 seconds will sound for
the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the automatic
transmission is set to positionD, P, or
the parking brake is set.Switching the Parktronic system*
on/off
You can switch off the Parktronic system
manually.
The Parktronic switch is located on the
upper part of the center console.
Vehicles without enhanced off-road
package*
1Parktronic switch
2Indicator lamp
Vehicles with enhanced off-road package*
1Parktronic switch
2Indicator lamp