2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 warning

195 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
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.
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
!Observe instructions

when taking the vehicle through an
automatic conveyor type car wash
(
page 428)

when towing the vehicle (page 538)
!Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other
reason in neutral positionN can result in
transmission damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Effect
êDrive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.
Warning!G
Getting out of your vehicle without shifting
into park positionP is dangerous. Also, park
positionP alone is not intended to or capa-
ble of preventing your vehicle from moving,
possibly hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 67).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could shift the
automatic transmission out of park
positionP, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
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196 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.
Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.
Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
Leave the transmission in gear.
Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop for a longer period of time
with the engine idling and/or on a hill:
Set the parking brake.
Shift into park positionP.Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:
Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.
Accelerate gently.
Never abruptly step on the accelerator.
Rocking the vehicle
Rocking the vehicle by shifting between
drive positionD and reverse gearR can
help free a vehicle stuck in mud or snow.
The engine control system of this vehicle
electronically limits shifting between
drive positionD and reverse gearR to
very low speeds, i.e. approximately
5 mph (9 km/h). To shift between drive
positionD and reverse gearR, move the
gear selector lever past the resistance
point up or down.Working on the vehicle
Hill start assist system
Warning!G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and shift to park positionP.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away.
Warning!G
The hill start assist system is not designed
to function as a parking brake and does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when
parked on an incline.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to park position
P.
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199 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting
Briefly press left shift button1.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
limits the gear range of the automatic
transmission (
page 197).Upshifting
Briefly press right shift button2.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the automat-
ic transmission (
page 197).
Canceling gear range limit
Press and hold right shift button2
until the cipher for the current gear
range disappears from the multifunc-
tion display (
page 197).
The transmission will shift from the
current gear range directly to gear
rangeD.Shifting into optimal gear range
Press and hold left shift button1.
The transmission will automatically
select the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more
gears.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when down-
shifting, the transmission will not shift to a lower
gear if the engine’s max. speed would be ex-
ceeded.
iIf you press on the accelerator when the
engine has reached its rpm limit, the transmis-
sion will upshift beyond any gear range limit
selected.
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202 Controls in detail
Transfer case
Switching LOW RANGE mode
The switch is located on the upper part of
the center console.
1LOW RANGE switch
2Indicator lamp
3LOW RANGE displaySwitching LOW RANGE mode on
(switching from HIGH RANGE to LOW
RANGE)
Press LOW RANGE switch1.
Indicator lamp2 flashes.
If the system senses that all conditions
are met, it will switch to LOW RANGE
mode. A chime sounds and the LOW
RANGE display3 appears in the multi-
function display.
The indicator lamp2 on the
LOW RANGE switch comes on continu-
ously, indicating that the LOW RANGE
mode has been activated.
Warning!G
Always wait until the procedure of shifting
from HIGH RANGE to LOW RANGE – and
from LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE – has
been entirely completed. During this proce-
dure do not:

switch off the engine

shift the automatic transmission into
another gear
If you do not wait until the shifting proce-
dure has been entirely completed then it
might not be correctly performed. The trans-
fer case might be in neutral, thus interrupt-
ing the transfer of power between the
engine and the drive axle.
The vehicle is then freely movable, even if a
gear has been selected, and could uninten-
tionally be set into motion – particularly on
up – or downhill grades. This could lead to
an accident and cause injury to yourself and
others.
Please observe related messages appearing
in the multifunction display (
page 488).
!The shift procedure can only be performed
when the following conditions are met:

The engine is running (page 41).

The automatic transmission is in positionN
(
page 190).

The vehicle speed does not exceed 25 mph
(40 km/h).
iThere is no reset to HIGH after the ignition
has been switched off.
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206 Controls in detail
Differential locks*
AUTO mode
The AUTO mode is adequate for most driv-
ing situations since the center differential
is locked and released as required.
Start the engine (page 42).
The center differential locks is in AUTO
mode. The indicator lamp on the
adjustment ring1 above
symbolU2 is on.Center and rear axle differential locksThe differential locks should only be
engaged manually if traction is insufficient
in AUTO mode.
The differential locks can be engaged in
the sequence3, 4 (
page 205) up to a
speed of 19 mph (30 km/h).
Engaging differential locks:

for off-road driving

for driving through water

when driving on deep snow and icy or
fouled surfaces
iAt speeds up to 19 mph (30 km/h), it is
possible to manually lock the differential locks
for driving on rough terrain.
Warning!G
Never drive on a paved surface with the
center and rear axle differential locks
manually engaged. Ability to steer the
vehicle is greatly reduced when the differen-
tial locks are manually engaged, increasing
the risk of an accident.
For safety reasons, the locks are automati-
cally released at a vehicle speed above
31 mph (50 km/h). Nevertheless, you
should only manually lock the differential if
absolutely necessary because engaged
locks will restrict the vehicle drive train
while cornering and cause the vehicle to
chatter. This could cause you to lose control
of the vehicle and cause an accident.
!The differential locks must not be engaged
manually when towing the vehicle or spinning the
wheels.
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209 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors*
Folding the exterior rear view mirrors
in and out automatically
When the corresponding function in the
control system is activated (
page 182):

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold in as soon as the vehicle is
locked from the outside.

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold out as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front pas-
senger door are subsequently opened.Synchronizing exterior rear view
mirrors
The power folding rear view mirrors may
have to be synchronized after the vehicle
battery has been disconnected or dis-
charged. If the exterior rear view mirrors
do not fold properly upon locking or un-
locking the vehicle although the corre-
sponding function in the control system is
activated (
page 182), do the following:
Fold each exterior rear view mirror in
completely (
page 210).
Fold each exterior rear view mirror out
completely (
page 210).
When the exterior rear view mirrors fold
properly upon locking the vehicle, the exte-
rior mirrors are synchronized. Otherwise
repeat the above steps.
Warning!G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, when transporting cargo
which covers the rear window.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic con-
ditions and could cause an accident.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
!Before you drive the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, fold the exterior rear view
mirrors in. Otherwise they may get damaged.
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210 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Folding the exterior rear view mirrors
in and out manually
The button is located on the door control
panel.
1Button for folding exterior rear view
mirrors in and out
Switch on the ignition (page 42).Folding in
Briefly press button1.
Both exterior rear view mirrors fold in.
Folding out
Briefly press button1 again.
Both exterior rear view mirrors fold out.
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
iThe exterior rear view mirrors can vibrate if
they are not folded out completely.
iIf you are driving at more than approximately
30 mph (47 km/h), you will not be able to fold
the exterior mirrors in.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear) or
forcibly pushed rearward (hit from the front)
press button1 to fold mirrors in, then press
button1 again to fold mirrors out. Do not force
mirrors by hand as this may damage the adjust-
ment mechanism.
The mirror housing is then properly positioned
and you can adjust the mirror in the usual
manner.
Please make sure both rear view mirrors are
folded out before driving off.
Warning!G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.
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212 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Adjust sun visor1 by pushing or pull-
ing in the direction of arrows.
Swing down additional sun visor*2
when you experience additional glare
through the windshield.
Rear panorama roof sunshade
The rear panorama roof sunshade over the
third-row seats prevents the sun from shin-
ing directly into the vehicle.
You can open and close the sunshade by
hand.1Mounting
2Clip
3Handle
4Button
Closing
Grasp on handle3 and insert clips2
into mounting1.
The third-row sunshade engages.
Opening
Press on button4 to disengage the
third-row sunshade from mounting1.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep battery drain to
a minimum, switch off the defroster as
soon as the rear window is clear. The de-
froster is automatically deactivated after
approximately 6 to 17 minutes of
operation depending on the outside tem-
perature.
Switch on the ignition (page 42).
!To avoid damage to vanity mirror cover4
(
page 211), make sure it is closed before
pivoting sun visor1 to the side.
!Always guide the sunshade. Do not let it
snap back abruptly, as it could be damaged.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.

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