2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 traction control

352 Operation
Driving instructions
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (
page 384).
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.
Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or
icy road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperatures are close to the freezing
point.Mercedes-Benz recommends winter tires
(
page 420) with a minimum tread depth
of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four
wheels for the winter season to make sure
normal balanced handling characteristics.
On packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance compared to summer
tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consid-
erably greater than when the road is not
covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!G
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction
will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
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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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576 Index
Door
Entry lamps 151
Locking, In an emergency 497
Locking/unlocking,
KEYLESS-GO* 41, 71
Locking/unlocking, SmartKey 40, 70
Messages in the multifunction
display 474
Opening from inside/outside 114,
120
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 337
Unlocking, Mechanical key 496
Door control panel 35
Door handle 35
Door windows see Power windows
DOT 410, 416
Downhill driving
Cruise control 257
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) 273
Messages in the multifunction
display 467
Drinking and driving 347Driving 53, 347
Abroad 370
Hydroplaning 352
In winter 353, 420
Instructions 53, 347
Problems 65
Safety systems 101
Systems 255
Through standing water 355
Through water 360
Tips 195
With Distronic* 270
Driving off 60
Driving safety systems
4-ETS 107
ABS 101
BAS 103
EBP 107
ESP
®103
Driving systems 255
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* 278
Air suspension program 278
Cruise control 255
Distronic* (Canada only) 260Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) 273
Off-road driving program (Vehicles
without enhanced off-road
package*) 277
Parktronic system* 288
Rear view camera* 293
Vehicle level control 279
E
Easy-entry/exit feature
Activating (driver’s seat)* 181
For third-row seats 130
Easy-entry/exit feature* 48
EBP 107
Indicator and warning lamps 438,
468
Electrical connections
Trailer 365
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical system, Technical data 559
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic Traction System see 4-ETS
Emergency calls
Tele Aid 333
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577 Index
Emergency operation
Fuel filler flap 497
Locking/unlocking the vehicle 496,
497
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) 200
Emergency operations
Exit for third-row seats 132
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid 337
Tailgate, Opening from the inside
manually 122
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 536
Engine shut-down 545
First aid kit 490
Flat tire 519
Fuses 543
Hazard warning flasher 149
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 436, 437, 438, 439, 440,
441, 442, 443, 444, 446
Roadside Assistance 12, 335
Towing the vehicle 538Emission control 372
Information label 551
System warranties 10
Engine
Belt layout (GL 450, GL 550) 552
Belt layout (GL 320 CDI) 552
Break-in recommendations 380
Cleaning 427
Compartment 378
Emergency engine shut-down 545
Malfunction indicator lamp 29
Maximum engine speed 153, 553
Number 551
Starting 56
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 57
Starting with the SmartKey 57
Tachometer 29, 153
Technical data 553
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 69
Turning off with the SmartKey 69Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 380, 564
Adding 381, 564
Additives 564
Changing 381, 564
Checking level 380
Checking with the oil dipstick 380
Consumption 380
Filler neck 381
Recommended engine oils and oil
filters 564
Enhanced Off-road Package*
Vehicle level control 283
ESP
®27, 103
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP
®103
Messages in the multifunction
display 457, 458
Off-road-ESP
®106
Warning lamp 27, 441
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