2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 Towing

539 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
If you want the gear position to remain in
neutral positionN, 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.
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, the automatic transmission must be
in neutral positionN.
If you turn off the engine

using the SmartKey and

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or

open a front door

or when using the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button and open a front door
the automatic transmission will shift to park
positionP automatically.
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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540 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
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.
Depress the brake pedal.
Shift the automatic transmission to
neutral positionN.
Release the brake pedal.
If engaged, release the parking brake
(
page 59).
Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in the
starter switch.
Installing towing eye bolt
Depending on whether you are towing a
vehicle or you are being towed, the towing
eye bolt can be screwed into threaded
holes which are located behind covers on
the right-hand side of each bumper.
1Cover!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach a tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
the vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iTo signal turns while being towed with
hazard warning flasher in use, set the starter
switch to position2 and activate combination
switch for left or right turn signal in usual manner
– only the selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.

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541 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
1Cover
Example illustration front bumper
2Towing eye bolt
Removing cover
Press mark on cover1 as indicated by
the arrow.
Lift off cover1 to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.Installing towing eye bolt
Take the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench from the vehicle tool kit
(
page 490).
Screw towing eye bolt2 in clockwise
to its stop and tighten with wheel
wrench.
Removing towing eye bolt
Loosen towing eye bolt2 counter-
clockwise with wheel wrench.
Unscrew towing eye bolt2.
Store the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench back into the vehicle tool kit
(
page 490).
Installing cover
Engage cover1 at top and press at
bottom.
Warning!G
In order to avoid possible serious burns or
injury, use extreme caution when removing
the rear cover, because the rear exhaust
pipe is extremely hot.
iCover1 is secured to the bumper by a
plastic cord.
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542 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Stranded vehicle
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the
wheels are dug into sand or mud, should
be done with the greatest of care, especial-
ly if the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Avoid pulling the vehicle abruptly or diago-
nally, since it could result in damage to the
chassis alignment.
Never try to free a vehicle that is still cou-
pled to a trailer.
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer
hitch receiver should be pulled backward
in its own previously made tracks.
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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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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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578 Index
ETD 89, 446
Safety guidelines 78
Expanding cargo compartment 304
Exterior rear view mirrors 51, 208
Folding 210
Power folding* 209
Synchronizing 209
F
Fastening the seat belts 53
Filler neck, Engine oil 381
First aid kit 490
Flat tire 519
Lifting the vehicle 520
Lowering the vehicle 526
Minispare wheel 494
Mounting the spare wheel 520
Preparing the vehicle 520
Floormats 325Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 381,
562
Brake fluid 377, 563, 564
Capacities 562
Engine coolant 377, 381, 563, 567
Engine oil 380, 562, 564
Power steering fluid 562
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system* 377, 569
Fog lamps 146
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 147
Messages in the multifunction
display 478
Rear fog lamp 146
Replacing bulbs 510
4-ETS 107
Off-road - 4-ETS 108
Front air bags 79
Front defroster 221, 235
Front lamps see Headlamps
Front passenger front air bag 74, 79
Messages in the multifunction
display 460, 461, 462, 463Front passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 31, 32, 85
Front seat head restraints see
Head restraints
Front towing eye 540
Fuel 375, 563
Additives 566
Capacities, Fuel tank 563
Consumption statistics 184, 185
Filling the tank 374
Fuel filler flap and cap 374, 497
Fuel gauge 29
Fuel tank reserve warning lamp 29,
446
Premium unleaded gasoline 375,
563, 565
Requirements, Octane rating 565
Fuel cap
Messages in the multifunction
display 474
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587 Index
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear panorama roof, Sunshade 212
Rear seat head restraints see
Head restraints
Rear towing eye 541
Rear view camera* 293
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 212
Rear window wiper/washer 64
Rear windows see Power windows
Rear wiper blade 517
Recommended tire inflation
pressure 417
Recovery services, Stolen vehicle
(Tele Aid) 338
Refrigerant, Air conditioning 564
Refueling 374
Regular checks 376
Reminder, Seat belt see Seat belts, Telltale
Remote control
SmartKey 112
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 115
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid 337Replacing bulbs 504
Additional turn signals, Exterior rear
view mirrors 511
Backup lamps 504, 505, 511
Brake lamps 504, 505, 511
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 504, 505, 510
Fog lamp, Rear 504, 505, 511
Fog lamps, Front 504, 505, 510
High beam headlamps 504, 505, 508
License plate lamps 504, 505, 514
Low beam headlamps 504, 505, 507
Parking/standing lamps 504, 505,
509, 511, 513
Side marker lamps, Front 504, 505,
507, 510
Side marker lamps, Rear 504, 505,
511, 513
Tail lamps 504, 505, 511, 513
Turn signal lamps, Front 504, 505,
509
Turn signal lamps, Rear 504, 505,
511, 513Reporting safety defects 19
Research Octane Number see RON
Reset button, In instrument cluster 169
Reset tool
Active head restraints,
Depository 500
Residual heat and ventilation 225, 241
Reverse gear position, Automatic
transmission 189
Rims 417, 555
Roadside Assistance 12
Roadside Assistance button see Tele Aid
RON 375, 565
Roof rails 295
Rubber parts, Cleaning 432
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 396
S
Safety
Driving safety systems 101
Occupant safety 74
Reporting safety defects 19
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio* 164
Scissors-type vehicle jack 492, 493
Seat belt force limiter 89
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