2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 off road

279 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments
Increase set speed:
Briefly lift the cruise control lever up
past the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 278).
Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed increases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
Reduce set speed:
Briefly press the cruise control lever
down past the resistance point in direc-
tion of arrow2 (
page 278).
Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed decreases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
Each time the set speed is changed,
DSR will appear in the multifunction dis-
play and the newly set speed is shown.Off-road driving program (Vehicles
without enhanced off-road package*)
The off-road driving program is designed to
assist the driver when driving off-road in
terrain and crossing water. The off-road
driving program adjusts the engine power
and shifting of the automatic transmission
to be more suitable for the off-road use of
the vehicle. In addition, the ABS, ESP
®, and
4-ETS designed for off-road use are
automatically activated.
In the following situations you should
switch to the off-road driving program:

during off-road driving

when crossing water (page 362)

when towing up or down on steep
gradients
iThe set value is increased or decreased in
5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time
you lift or depress the cruise control lever past
the resistance point.
iThe new speed is set and the vehicle will
accelerate or decelerate. Keep in mind that it
may take a brief moment until the vehicle has
reached the new set speed.
iThe set speed is canceled when DSR is
switched off. If DSR is switched on again, DSR
will use the programmed default speed
(
page 186).

280 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The switch is located on the upper part of
the center console.
1Switch for off-road driving program
2Indicator lampSwitching Off-road driving program on
Press switch1 (page 280).
Indicator lamp2 comes on. The
symboly appears in the lower
multifunction display.
Switching Off-road driving program off
Press switch1 again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out. The
symboly disappears.
Air suspension package
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
vehicle level control which regulates the
ride height of the vehicle. The Adaptive
Damping System (ADS)* optimizes your
vehicle’s suspension tuning.

Suspension tuning: Adaptive Damping
System (ADS)* (
page 280)

Vehicle level control (page 281)
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
The fine tuning of the damping and suspen-
sion is dependent on:

your driving style

road surface conditions

your personal ADS settings

your personal vehicle level settings
The ADS switch is located on the upper
part of the center console.

281 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicles without enhanced off-road
package*
Vehicles with enhanced off-road package*
1ADS switch
2Indicator lamp for SPORT setting
3Indicator lamp for COMF settingThe following settings are available:

AUTO (for normal driving situations)
Indicator lamps2 and3 are off.

SPORT (for sporty driving)
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
With the ADS SPORT setting, the vehi-
cle is lowered approximately 0.6 in
(15 mm).

COMF (for comfort driving)
Indicator lamp3 comes on.
Start the engine (page 41).
Press ADS switch1 repeatedly until
the desired suspension tuning is
reached.
Vehicle level control
The vehicle level control automatically
regulates the ride height to

reduce fuel consumption

improve driving stability by lowering
the center of gravity
The vehicle automatically regulates its ride
height based on the set vehicle height and
the current speed:

As your driving speed increases, the ve-
hicle is lowered by increments until it
reaches high-speed level.
Vehicles with ADS*:

If you are driving with the ADS set-
ting COMF or AUTO, the vehicle is
raised back to highway level as your
driving speed decreases.

You can select the high-speed level
via the ADS setting SPORT. In ADS
Sport, the vehicle is lowered direct-
ly to high-speed level as your driv-
ing speed increases.
iThe setting is stored when you turn off the
engine.

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).

284 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Raised level
Only select the raised level if appropriate
for the driving situation encountered.
Otherwise:

fuel consumption may increase

handling characteristics of the vehicle
may be unfavorable
Start the engine (page 41).
If indicator lamp2 (
page 283) is off.
Press switch1 (page 283).
Indicator lamp2 flashes. The vehicle
adjusts to the raised level.The following message appears in the mul-
tifunction display while the level is being
set:
When the raised level is reached, indicator
lamp2 (
page 283) comes on continu-
ously and the following message appears
in the multifunction display for 5 seconds:Highway level
Start the engine (page 41).
If indicator lamp2 (
page 283) is on.
Press switch1 (page 283).
Indicator lamp2 flashes. The vehicle
adjusts to the highway level.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display while the level is
being set:
iYou can select the raised level at speeds up
to 40 mph (64 km/h). At higher speeds, the
messagen
Level selection not
permitted
appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
iThe message can be cleared by pressing
theèÿk or buttonj on the
multifunction steering wheel.
!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.

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.