2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV Owners Manual

Off-road driving
174
i
Information about retrofitting special all-
terrain tyres is available from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Checklist before driving off-road X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil and
top it up if necessary.
Only then does the engine receive enough
oil when the vehicle is standing on a steep
incline.
X Vehicle toolkit: check that the jack is
working and make sure you have the wheel-
brace, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any objects,
e.g. small stones, from the wheels/tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
Checklist after driving off-road Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on nor-
mal roads. After driving off-road, check the
vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident
to yourself and other road users. X
Shift the transfer case to HIGH
(Y page 93).
X Disengage the differential locks
(Y page 95).
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear licence plates.
X Clean the wheels/tyres with a water jet and
remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check
for foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bel-
lows of the axle joints and propeller shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.
X After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads /linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations. Travelling uphill
Approach/departure angle 1
Front approach/departure angle
2 Rear approach/departure angle
The table shows approach and departure
angles 1and 2at maximum load. This
information only provides an indication. The
approach and departure angles vary accord-
ing to the vehicle tyres and optional equip-
ment. Operation
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Off-road driving
1751
1 2
2 Long-wheelbase station
wagon
13 37° 31°
G 55 AMG
33° 28°
Short-wheelbase station
wagon
36° 27°
Cabriolet
34° 26°
R
Follow the line of fall when driving on slopes
and steep gradients.
R Before driving on extreme uphill and down-
hill gradients, shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92).
R Engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 94).
R Observe the warnings for off-road driving
(Y page 172).
R Drive slowly.
R Accelerate gently and make sure that the
wheels are gripping.
R Avoid high engine speeds, except when
driving on sandy and muddy routes with
high driving resistance. R
Select a shift range appropriate to the gra-
dient.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1.
Maximum gradient-climbing capability On good road surfaces and with the
LOWgear
engaged selected, the maximum gradient-
climbing capability is 80%.
i If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS recognises this and brakes the
wheels accordingly. The rear wheel torque
is increased and it is easier to pull away.
Brow of hill When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator immedi-
ately before reaching the brow of the hill.
Make use of the vehicle’s own impetus to
travel over the brow.
This style of driving prevents:R
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R loss of traction
R the vehicle from travelling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill R
Drive slowly.
R Do not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could slip sideways, tip
and overturn.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1.
This way you use the engine's braking
effect to reduce the speed. If this is not
sufficient, brake gently. When doing so,
make sure that the vehicle is facing in the
direction of the line of fall.
R Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
13 except G 55 AMG. Operation
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Off-road driving
176 Driving over obstacles
Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other obsta-
cles:
R shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92).
R avoid high engine speeds.
R select shift range 1.
R drive very slowly.
R try to drive straight over the centre of
obstacles: front wheel first, then rear
wheel.
! Obstacles could damage the floor of the
vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask
passengers for guidance when driving over
large obstacles. Any damage to the vehicle
always increases the risk of an accident. Fording
The fording depth must not exceed 50 cm
when the vehicle is loaded and ready to drive.
Loaded and ready to drive means: a full tank,
all fluids topped up and the driver is in the
vehicle.
!
The depth of water must not exceed
50 cm. Note that the possible fording depth
is less in flowing water.
R Establish how deep the water is and the
characteristics of the body of water before
fording.
R Deactivate the auxiliary heat-
ing* (Y page 130).
R Shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92). R
Engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 94).
R Restrict the shift range to 1or 2.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Enter and exit the water at a flat place and
at a steady walking pace.
! Under no circumstances should you
accelerate before entering the water. The
bow wave could cause water to enter and
damage the engine and neighbouring
assemblies.
R Drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water.
R Do not stop.
! Do not open any of the vehicle’s doors
while fording. Otherwise, water could get
into the vehicle interior and damage the
vehicle’s electronics and interior equip-
ment.
R Water offers a high degree of resistance,
and the ground is slippery and in some
cases unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and
dangerous to pull away in the water.
R Ensure that a bow wave does not form as
you drive. Operation
* optional
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Driving ab
road 177
R
Clean an y mud from the tyre tread after
crossing a ford.
R Apply the brakes to dry them after crossing
a ford. Driving on sand
Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92).
R avoid high engine speeds.
R select a shift range appropriate to the ter-
rain.
R drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. Otherwise, the vehicle could dig itself
into the sand.
R drive in the tracks of other vehicles, if pos-
sible. Make sure that the ruts are not too
deep, that the sand is firm enough and that
your vehicle has sufficient ground clear-
ance. Ruts
Observe the following rules when driving
along ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with
loose gravel:
! Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged
or bottom out and get stuck.
R shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92).
R avoid high engine speeds.
R select shift range 1.
R drive slowly.
R where ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels on one side on the middle section
of the road if possible. Driving abroad
Points to remember
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. You can
obtain the relevant workshop directories
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Only low-octane fuel is available in certain
countries.
You can find further information about fuel
grades on (Y page 154). Symmetrical dipped beam
If your journey takes you to countries where
vehicles are driven on the opposite side of the
road to the country in which the vehicle is
registered, your headlamps must be switched
to symmetrical dipped beam. Oncoming traf-
fic will be dazzled less. G
Risk of injury
Xenon bulbs are under high voltage. You
could get an electric shock and be seriously
or even fatally injured if you touch the elec-
tric contacts on xenon bulbs. Therefore, do
not, remove the cover on xenon bulbs.
Do not change xenon headlamps yourself,
but have them replaced at a qualified spe- Operation
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Trailer towing*
178 cialist workshop which has the necessary
specialist knowledge and tools to carry out
the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must be
carried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
X Have the headlamps switched over at a
qualified specialist workshop, e. g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. G
Risk of accident
Have your headlamps switched back to
asymmetrical dipped beam if you are driv-
ing in a country in which traffic drives on
the same side of the road as in the country
in which your vehicle was registered. Oth-
erwise, you may dazzle the oncoming traffic
and could cause an accident. Trailer towing*
Notes on towing a trailer
G
Risk of accident
When reversing the vehicle towards the
trailer, make sure there is nobody between
the trailer and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible trailer drawbar nose-
weight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear axle load of the tow-
ing vehicle
R the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
You will find the applicable permissible val-
ues, which must not be exceeded, in the
vehicle documents.
You will find the values approved by the
manufacturer on the vehicle identification plates and those for the towing vehicle in
the "Technical data" section.
You will find installation dimensions and loads
in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 274).
The maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight on the ball coupling is:
R 140 kg (long-wheelbase station wagon)
R 115 kg (short-wheelbase station wagon
and cabriolet)
However, the actual noseweight must not
exceed the value given on the trailer coupling
and trailer identification plates. The lowest
weight applies.
! Use a drawbar noseweight as close as
possible to the maximum permissible nose-
weight. Do not use a noseweight of less
than 80 kg; otherwise, the trailer may come
loose.
Note that the payload and the rear axle load
are reduced by the actual payload.
i The height of the ball coupling changes
with the load of the vehicle. If necessary,
use a trailer with a height-adjustable draw-
bar. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
179
Coupling up a trailer G
Risk of injury
Do not connect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your hand could
become trapped between the bumper and
drawbar.
! Do not uncouple a trailer with overrun
brake between the bumper and drawbar,
otherwise your vehicle could be damaged
by the spring action of the overrun brake.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
Driving tips In Germany, the maximum permissible speed
for vehicle/trailer combinations is 80 km/h.
! A maximum speed of 80 km/h should not
be exceeded, even in countries where
higher speeds are permitted for vehicle/
trailer combinations.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer. The vehicle/trailer combination:
R
is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R consumes more fuel
X On long and steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1,2or 3in good time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control or Speedtronic.
X If necessary, shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92).
This will use the braking effect of the
engine, so less braking will be required to
maintain the speed. This relieves the load
on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking,
depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
Driving tips
R Maintain a greater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine,
and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
180 G
Risk of accident
On no account should you attempt to draw
the vehicle/trailer combination out by
increasing speed. Trailer po
wer supply
The trailer socket of your vehicle is equipped
at the factory with a permanent power supply.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 9.
! You can connect accessories with a max-
imum power consumption of 180 W to the
permanent power supply.
You must not charge a trailer battery using
the power supply.
You can obtain further information about
installing the trailer electrics from a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Trailer with 7-pin connector
If your trailer has a 7-pin connector, you can
connect it to the 13-pin socket on the ball
coupling using an adapter or, if necessary, an
adapter cable. Both of these can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Fitting the adapter 1
Connector with lug
2 Socket with groove
X Open the socket cover.
X Insert the connector with lug 1into
groove 2on the socket and turn the con-
nector clockwise to the stop. X
Make the cover engage.
X If you are using an adapter cable, secure
the cable to the trailer with cable ties.
! Make sure that there is sufficient cable
play so that the cable cannot become
detached when cornering.
i When socket 2is connected, the ultra-
sound reversing aid is deactivated. Operation
* optional
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Service
181Service
ASSYST service interval display
The ASSYST service display informs you when
the next service is due. Whenever a service is
due, this is shown in the multi-function dis-
play:
Service A in ..days
Service A in .. km
Service A due now The symbol and the letter indicate which type
of service is due:
9
Minor service A
½ Major service B
The ASSYST service display does not record
any periods of time during which the battery is disconnected. In order to maintain the
time-dependent service schedule, you should
call up the service due date and make a note
of it before disconnecting the battery. The
alternative is to subtract the battery discon-
nection periods from the service date shown
on the display.
Fading out the service message
The service message disappears automati-
cally after a few seconds. You can also fade
out the service message yourself.
1
Reset button
X Press reset button 1. Missing the service due date One of the following messages appears in the
multi-function display:
Service A overdue by .. days
Service A overdue by .. km
You will also hear a warning tone.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, resets the
ASSYST service display after the service work
has been carried out.
i If you fail to have the service performed
by the specified date, you may be violating
applicable laws. Your warranty may be inva-
lidated and goodwill settlements may be
refused.
Calling up the service due date Use the buttons on the multi-function steer-
ing wheel. Operation
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