2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL320 climate control

318 Controls in detail
Useful features
2Storage/telephone* compartment
3Coin holder
Opening the storage/telephone* com-
partment
Pull button1 and lift up armrest.
The coin holders3 are located in front
of storage/telephone*
compartment2.Rear storage compartments
Depending on the vehicle configuration,
your vehicle may be equipped with three
storage compartments in the front of the
rear seats.
1Storage compartment cover
2Release button
Briefly press release button2 on
storage compartment cover1.
The storage compartment opens
automatically.
iDepending on vehicle equipment, the upper
storage compartment may be replaced by a
control panel, for example in vehicles with rear
climate control* (
page 226) or rear automatic
climate control* (
page 241).
iDepending on vehicle configuration, the
middle storage compartment contains an
ashtray (
page 322).
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368 Operation
Driving instructions

Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shifts while driving.

When towing a trailer, check occasion-
ally to make sure the load is secure,
and that lighting and trailer brakes (if
so equipped) are functioning properly.

Take into consideration that when tow-
ing a trailer, the handling characteris-
tics are different and less stable from
those when operating the vehicle with-
out a trailer.
It is important to avoid sudden maneu-
vers.

The vehicle and trailer combination is
heavier, and therefore is limited in ac-
celeration and climbing ability, and re-
quires longer stopping distances.
It is more prone to reacting to cross
wind gusts, and requires more sensi-
tive steering input.

If possible, do not brake abruptly, but
rather engage the brake slightly at first
to permit the trailer to activate its
brake. Then increase the braking force.

If the transmission repeatedly shifts
between gears on inclines, manually
shift to a lower gear (select 4, 3, 2 or 1)
(
page 197).
A lower gear and reduction of speed re-
duces the chance of engine overload-
ing and/or overheating.

On very steep inclines, not manageable
with automatic transmission in1,
switch on off-road driving program
(
page 278) or LOW RANGE mode*
(
page 201).

When going down a long hill, shift into
a lower gear and use the engine’s brak-
ing effect.
Avoid riding the brakes, thus overheat-
ing the vehicle and trailer brakes.

If the engine coolant rises to an ex-
tremely high temperature (coolant tem-
perature needle approaching the red
zone) when the air conditioning is on,
turn off the air conditioning system.
Engine coolant heat can be additionally
vented by opening the windows,
switching the climate control fan speed
to high and setting the temperature
control to the maximum hot position.

Extreme care must be exercised since
your vehicle with a trailer will require
additional passing distance ahead than
when driving without a trailer.
Because your vehicle and trailer is
longer than your vehicle alone, you will
also need to go much farther ahead of
the passed vehicle before you can re-
turn to your lane.
!If the trailer should begin to sway, reduce
the vehicle’s speed immediately.
In no case attempt to straighten out the tow
vehicle and trailer by increasing the speed.
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414 Operation
Tires and wheels
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.Traction
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem-
perature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and ex-
cessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Warning!G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
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428 Operation
Vehicle care
Automatic car wash
You can have your car washed in an auto-
matic car wash from the start. Automatic
car washes without brushes are prefera-
ble.
To protect the filter system, switch the
climate control system (
page 216) or
the automatic climate control system*
(
page 230) to air recirculation mode.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it
before running it through the automatic
car wash.When taking the vehicle through an auto-
matic conveyor type car wash, observe the
following instructions.Vehicles with SmartKey:
With the vehicle at a standstill and the
ignition switched on shift the automatic
transmission to neutral positionN.
If engaged, release the parking brake
(
page 59).
Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
With the ignition switched on shift the
automatic transmission to park
positionP.
Release the brake pedal.
Remove the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button from the starter switch
(
page 43).
Insert the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* into the starter switch.
Switch on the ignition.
!Do not clean your vehicle in an automatic
touchless car wash which use caustic spray.
Otherwise the caustic spray will damage the
paint or ornamental moldings.
!Make sure that the windshield wiper switch
is set to0 (
page 63). Otherwise, e.g. the rain
sensor could activate and cause the wipers to
move unintentionally. This may lead to vehicle
damage.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in exterior
rear view mirrors prior to running the vehicle
through an automatic car wash to prevent
damage to the mirrors.
Warning!G
When leaving the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch, do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle.
It is possible for children to switch on the
ignition which could result in unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment.
A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
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571 Index
A
ABS 101
Indicator lamp 436
Off-road - ABS 102
ABS, ESP
®
Messages in the multifunction
display 451
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 195
Accessory weight 415
Accident 66
Active head restraint 90, 133, 499
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)* 278
Air bags 76
Children 77, 91
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp 31, 32, 85
Front, Driver 79
Front, Passenger 79
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 81
Safety guidelines 78
Side impact (front and rear*) 80
Window curtain 80Air conditioning refrigerant 564
Air conditioning system see
Climate control or
Automatic climate control (3-zone)*
Air conditioning, Cooling 224, 239
Air distribution, Front 219, 234
Air distribution, Rear 227, 243
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 222, 237
Air suspension program 278
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* 278
Messages in the multifunction
display 486
Vehicle level control 279
Air vents 227
Air vents*, Rear 245
Air vents, Front 220, 234
Air volume 220, 235
Alarm system see Anti-theft systems
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 492, 524
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 563, 568
Antiglare, Interior rear view mirror 208Antiglare, Rear view mirrors* 208
Antilock Brake System see ABS
Anti-theft systems 110
Anti-theft alarm system 109, 110
Immobilizer 109
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest storage/telephone*
compartment
Front 317
Ashtrays (Depending on
vehicle configuration) 321
Aspect ratio 415
ATF 381
Attaching a trailer 366
AUDIO menu 164
Audio menu
CD operation 165
Radio operation 164
Satellite radio* operation 164
Auto-dimming*, Rear view mirrors 208
Automatic central locking,
Control system 180
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572 Index
Automatic climate control (3-zone)* 228
Air conditioning refrigerant 563
Air conditioning, Cooling 239, 240
Air distribution, Front 234
Air distribution, Rear 243
Air recirculation mode 237
Air vents*, second-row seats 245
Air vents*, third-row seats 245
Air vents, Front 234
Air volume 235
Control panel, Front 230
Control panel, Rear 241
Deactivating system 232
Defogging 235
Defrosting 235
Maximum cooling, MAXCOOL 237
Rear passenger compartment 241
Rear window defroster 212
Residual engine heat (REST) 241
Using driver-side settings for
all temperature zones 240Automatic headlamp mode 144
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 150
Automatic locking when driving 128
Automatic transmission 56
Accelerator position 195
Emergency operation
(limp-home mode) 200
Gear ranges 197
Gear selector lever 56, 189
Gear selector lever position 192
Gear shifting malfunctions 200
Hill start assist system 196
Kickdown 196
Shifting procedure 192
Starting the engine 56
Steering wheel gearshift control 198
Towing a trailer 197
Transmission fluid level 381
Transmission positions 193
Automatic Transmission Fluid see ATFB
Backrest
Seat 46
Seat, Lumbar support 137
Seat, Multicontour* 138
Backup lamps
Messages in the multifunction
display 477
Replacing bulbs 511
Bar 416
BAS 103
Lamps in instrument cluster 436
Messages in the multifunction
display 451
Batteries, SmartKey
Check lamp 112, 115
Checking battery condition 120
Messages in the multifunction
display 466
Replacing 502
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574 Index
Children in the vehicle 91
Air bags 77, 91
Blocking rear door window
operation 98
Indicator lamp, Front passenger front
air bag 85
Infant and child restraint systems 86,
92
LATCH-type child seat anchors 95
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 81
Cigarette lighter
(Depending on vehicle
configuration) 323
Climate control 214
Air conditioning refrigerant 563
Air conditioning, Cooling 224, 225
Air distribution, Front 219
Air distribution, rear 227
Air recirculation mode 222
Air vents*, second-row seats 220
Air vents, Front 220
Air volume 220
Control panel*, Rear 226
Control panel, Front 216
Deactivating system 218Defogging 222
Defrosting 221
Rear window defroster 212
Residual engine heat (REST) 225
Clock 27, 174
Cloth upholstery, Cleaning and
care of 434
Cockpit 24
Cockpit Management and Data System
see COMAND System
Cold tire inflation pressure 416
Collapsible wheel chock 494
COMAND System see separate operating
instructions
Combination switch 61, 62, 64, 147
Compass 344
Adjustment 178
Calibration 179
Calling up the compass 344
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 370
Control system 155
Multifunction display 155
Multifunction steering wheel 156
Resetting to factory default 169Control system menus 155
AUDIO 164
DISTRONIC* (Canada only) 167
NAV* 166
Off-road 166
Settings 168
Standard display 162
TEL* 186
Trip computer 184
Vehicle configuration 182
Vehicle status message memory 167
Control system submenus 159, 161, 171
Comfort* 181
Instrument cluster 172, 173
Lighting 175
Time/Date 174
Vehicle 178
Coolant 381, 567
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 568
Capacities 562
Checking coolant level 376, 381
Messages in the multifunction
display 470, 472
Temperature 372
Temperature display 162
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580 Index
Headlamps
Automatic headlamp mode 144
Bi-Xenon* 477, 508
Cleaning lenses 429
Cleaning system* 208, 383
Halogen 507
High beam see High beam flasher
High beam see High beam headlamps
Light sensor, Messages in the
multifunction display 477
Low beam see Low beam headlamps
Manual headlamp mode 144
Messages in the multifunction
display 477, 478, 479, 480, 481,
482
Replacing bulbs 504, 505
Switch 61, 143
Heated seats see Seat heating*
Heated steering wheel* 327
Height adjustment
Vehicle level control (Vehicles with Air
suspension program) 281
Vehicle level control (Vehicles with
enhanced Off-road Package*) 283High beam flasher 61, 147
High beam headlamps
Indicator lamp 29
Messages in the multifunction
display 478
Replacing bulbs 505, 507, 508
Switching on 61, 147
High mounted brake lamp 505
Hill start assist system 196
Hinged quarter windows* see
Power windows
Hood 378
Messages in the multifunction
display 474
Opening 378
Hooks
Loading 304
Horn 25
HVAC see Climate control or
automatic climate control (3-zone)*
Hydroplaning 352I
Identification labels see Labels
Ignition 42, 44, 57
Immobilizer 109
Indicator lamps see Lamps, Indicator and
warning
Infant and child restraint systems see
Children in the vehicle
Inflation pressure see Tires,
Inflation pressures
Information button see Tele Aid
Infrared reflecting windshield* 344
Inside door handle 120
Instrument cluster 26, 28, 152
Illumination brightness 153
Lamps 436
Messages in display see Multifunction
display messages
Multifunction display 155
Outside temperature indicator 153
Selecting language 172
Instrument lighting see Instrument cluster,
Illumination brightness
Instrument panel see Instrument cluster
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