2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 headlamp

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 13
Operating your vehicle
outside the USA or Canada ............ 13
Where to find it .................................... 15
Symbols ............................................... 16
Operating safety .................................. 17
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 17
Problems with your vehicle .................. 18
Reporting safety defects...................... 19
Reporting safety defects ................ 19
Vehicle data recording ......................... 20
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 20At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Instrument cluster ................................ 28
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 30
Center console ..................................... 31
Upper part (Vehicles without
enhanced off-road package*) ......... 31
Upper part (Vehicles with
enhanced off-road package*) ......... 32
Lower part ...................................... 33
Overhead control panel ........................ 34
Door control panel................................ 35
Storage compartments ......................... 36Getting started................................... 39
Unlocking ............................................. 40
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 40
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 41
Starter switch positions .................. 41
Adjusting .............................................. 45
Seats .............................................. 45
Steering wheel ................................ 48
Mirrors ............................................ 51
Driving .................................................. 53
Fastening the seat belts ................. 53
Starting the engine ......................... 56
Parking brake ................................. 59
Driving off ....................................... 60
Switching on headlamps ................. 61
Turn signals .................................... 62
Windshield wipers ........................... 62
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 64
Problems while driving.................... 65
Parking and locking .............................. 67
Parking brake ................................. 67
Switching off headlamps................. 68
Turning off the engine..................... 68
Releasing seat belts........................ 70
Locking ........................................... 70
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Contents
Control system .................................. 155
Multifunction display .................... 155
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 156
Menus .......................................... 158
Standard display menu ................ 162
AUDIO menu ................................ 164
NAV* menu .................................. 166
Off-road menu .............................. 166
DISTRONIC* menu
(Canada only) ............................... 167
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 167
Settings menu .............................. 168
Vehicle configuration ................... 182
Trip computer menu..................... 184
TEL* menu ................................... 186
Automatic transmission ..................... 189
Gear selector lever ....................... 189
Shifting procedure ....................... 192
Transmission positions................. 192
Driving tips ................................... 195
Gear ranges ................................. 197
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 198
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 200Transfer case ...................................... 201
LOW RANGE mode* ...................... 201
Differential locks* .............................. 204
A few words about differentials
and differential locks* .................. 204
Switching differential locks* ......... 205
Good visibility ..................................... 208
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 208
Rear view mirrors .......................... 208
Power folding exterior
rear view mirrors* ......................... 209
Sun visors ..................................... 210
Rear panorama roof sunshade ...... 212
Rear window defroster .................. 212
Climate control ................................... 214
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 218
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 218
Setting the temperature................ 219
Adjusting air distribution............... 219
Adjusting air volume ..................... 220
Air vents in the roof liner
over the second-row seats* .......... 220
Front defroster.............................. 221
Air recirculation mode .................. 222Air conditioning ............................ 224
Residual heat and ventilation........ 225
Rear climate control* ................... 226
3-zone automatic climate control* ..... 228
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 232
Operating the automatic
climate control system
in automatic mode ........................ 233
Setting the temperature ............... 234
Adjusting air distribution .............. 234
Adjusting air volume ..................... 235
Front defroster ............................. 235
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 237
Air recirculation mode .................. 237
Air conditioning ............................ 239
Using driver-side settings
for all temperature zones.............. 240
Residual heat and ventilation........ 241
Rear automatic climate control..... 241
Power windows .................................. 246
Door windows ............................... 247
Hinged quarter windows* ............. 248
Synchronizing the door windows .. 249
Summer opening feature .............. 249
Convenience closing feature......... 250
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Contents
Oxidation catalyst
(diesel engine).............................. 371
Emission control .......................... 372
Coolant temperature .................... 372
At the gas station .............................. 374
Refueling ...................................... 374
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 376
Engine compartment ......................... 378
Hood ............................................ 378
Engine oil ..................................... 380
Transmission fluid level ................ 381
Coolant level ................................ 381
Windshield/rear window
washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ........ 383
Tires and wheels ................................ 384
Important guidelines .................... 384
Tire care and maintenance........... 385
Direction of rotation ..................... 387
Loading the vehicle ...................... 387
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 393
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 395
Tire labeling.................................. 406
Load identification ....................... 410DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ................................ 410
Maximum tire load ........................ 412
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 412
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 413
Tire ply material ............................ 415
Tire and loading terminology......... 415
Rotating tires ................................ 418
Winter driving ..................................... 420
Winter tires ................................... 420
Snow chains.................................. 421
Maintenance....................................... 422
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 422
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 424
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 424
Vehicle care........................................ 425
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 425
Practical hints.................................. 435
What to do if … ................................... 436
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 436
Lamp in center console ................ 447
Vehicle status messages in
the multifunction display .............. 449
Where will I find ...? ............................ 490
First aid kit.................................... 490
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 490
Spare wheel .................................. 494
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 496
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 496
Locking the vehicle ....................... 497
Fuel filler flap ................................ 497
Resetting activated head restraints.... 499
Vehicles without Rear seat
entertainment system*................. 499
Vehicles with Rear seat
entertainment system*................. 500
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 502
Replacing bulbs .................................. 504
Bulbs............................................. 504
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 507
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 511
Adjusting headlamp aim ............... 514
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Contents
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 516
Front wiper blades ....................... 516
Rear wiper blade .......................... 517
Flat tire .............................................. 519
Preparing the vehicle.................... 519
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 520
Bleeding the fuel system
(diesel engine only) ............................ 527
Battery ............................................... 528
Disconnecting, removing,
reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery .............. 530
Charging the battery .................... 535
Jump starting ..................................... 536
Towing the vehicle ............................. 538
Installing towing eye bolt.............. 540
Stranded vehicle .......................... 542
Fuses ................................................. 543
Fuse box in engine compartment . 544
Fuse box in cargo compartment ... 544
Fuse box in
passenger compartment .............. 545
Emergency engine shut-down ...... 545
Technical data................................. 547
Parts service ...................................... 548
Warranty coverage............................. 549
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 549
Identification labels ........................... 550
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 552
GL 320 CDI .................................. 552
GL 450, GL 550............................ 552
Engine................................................ 553
Rims and tires.................................... 555
Same size tires ............................. 556
Minispare wheel ........................... 558
Electrical system ............................... 559
Main Dimensions ............................... 560
Weights.............................................. 561Fuels, coolants, lubricants ................. 562
Capacities .................................... 562
Engine oils ................................... 564
Engine oil additives ...................... 564
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 564
Brake fluid.................................... 564
Premium unleaded gasoline
(gasoline engine).......................... 565
Fuel requirements ........................ 565
Gasoline additives
(gasoline engine).......................... 566
Coolants ...................................... 567
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 569
Index................................................. 571
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23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Tailgate122
Power tailgate*123
Cargo compartment

Loading instructions301

Cargo tie-down rings302

Hooks304

Expanding304

Cover blind310

Cargo net*312
Vehicle tool kit490
Spare wheel494
2Rear window defroster212
3Rear lamps505
4Fuel filler flap374
Refueling374
Fuel375,
565
ItemPage
5Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting51
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors*208
Power folding*209
6Towing eye bolt
Installing towing eye bolt540
7Tires and wheels384,
555
Checking tire inflation
pressure395
General information384
Flat tire519
Spare wheel494
8Hood378
Opening378
Engine oil380
Coolant381
ItemPage
9Windshield wipers62
Wiper blades, replacing516
Wiper blades, cleaning431
aWindshield
Cleaning with wiper fluid64
Cleaning431
bRoof rails295
Carriers*296
cPower tilt/sliding sunroof*251
dDoors
Locking and unlocking112
Opening120
Unlocking/locking in an
emergency496
eFront lamps505
fHeadlamp cleaning system*208
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29 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
8Multifunction display with:

Trip odometer153

Main odometer155
9Tachometer with:
442
qPreglow indicator
lamp1
1Vehicles with Diesel engine only.
57
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp74,
446
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only439
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only439
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator61,
147
ItemPage
aFuel gauge with:
Fuel tank reserve warning
lamp446
4Fuel filler flap indica-
tor: The fuel filler flap
is located on the rear
right-hand side.374
bMultifunction display
with:

Outside temperature
indicator or digital speed-
ometer (depending on
selected setting in the
control system)155,
173

Transmission position
indicator192

Gear range indicator197
ItemPage

Distance warning func-
tion* indicator
(Canada only)183

LOW RANGE mode*
indicator202

Downhill Speed Regula-
tion (DSR) indicator275

Off-road driving program
indicator278

Rear window wiper
indicator64

Set speed for

Cruise control

Distronic*
(Canada only)
257
266
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42 Getting started
Unlocking
SmartKey
Starter switch
0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 436).
3Starting position
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning lamps (ex-
cept high beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps if activated) will go
out when the engine is running. This indicates
that the respective systems are operational.
iIf the SmartKey does not belong to the
vehicle, the SmartKey can be turned in the start-
er switch. However, the ignition does not switch
on and the engine does not start.
iWhen the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch and the automatic transmission is
in a position other thanP, the automatic trans-
mission automatically shifts toP.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be sufficient-
ly charged.

Check the battery and charge it if necessary
(
page 528).

Get a jump start (page 536).
To prevent accelerated battery discharge or a
completely discharged battery, always remove
the SmartKey from the starter switch when the
engine is not in operation.
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44 Getting started
Unlocking
Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (as with
SmartKey removed).
Position 1
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button once.
This supplies power for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or Position 2)
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button twice.
This supplies power for all electrical
consumers.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 436).For information on starting the engine
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 57).
For more information on KEYLESS-GO, see
“SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 115).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button

once more, the ignition (position2) is
switched on

twice more, the power supply is again
switched off
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once more, the power supply
is again switched off.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp and turn signal indica-
tor lamps unless activated) in the instrument
cluster come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except high beam headlamp indicator
lamp and turn signal indicator lamps if activated)
should go out when the engine is running. This
indicates that the respective systems are
operational.
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