2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 Owner's Manual

136 Controls in detail
Seats
Head restraint fore and aft adjustment
The angle of the head restraint for the out-
er second-row seats or the third-row seats
can be adjusted manually.
While seated, reach behind you with
both hands and find lower edge of the
head restraint.
Adjust the head restraint to the desired
position by pushing or pulling on the
lower edge of the head restraint cush-
ion.Head restraints
Second-row seat head restraint
1Head restraint
2Release button
Removing
Second-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest forward
(
page 134).
Third-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest forward
(
page 305).
Pull head restraint1 to its uppermost
position.
Warning!G
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints installed when the rear seats
are occupied. Head restraints are intended
to help reduce injuries during an accident.
With a rear seat occupied, make sure to
move the respective head restraint up from
the lowest non-use position and have the oc-
cupant adjust the head restraint properly.
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports the
back of the head at eye level. This will re-
duce the potential for injury to the head and
neck in the event of an accident or similar
situation.
164.boo Seite 136 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

137 Controls in detail
Seats
Push release button2 and pull out
head restraint.
Second-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest rearward until it
engages.
Third-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest rearward
(
page 305).
Installing
Second-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest forward
(
page 134).
Third-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest forward
(
page 305).
Insert head restraint1 into openings
on the seat backrest.
Push head restraint1 down until it au-
dibly engages.
Push release button2 and adjust
head restraint1 to the desired posi-
tion (
page 135).
Second-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest rearward until it
engages.
Third-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest rearward
(
page 305).
For more information on seats, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 45).
Lumbar support
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back sup-
port and seating comfort.
The lever for lumbar support adjustment is
located on the right hand side of the
driver’s seat backrest.1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in direction
of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
164.boo Seite 137 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

138 Controls in detail
Seats
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has an extendable
seat cushion and inflatable air chambers
built into the backrest to provide additional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion depth, seat backrest
cushion-height and curvature can be con-
tinuously varied with switches on the in-
side of each front seat base after the
ignition is switched on (
page 41).
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest side bolsters
3Backrest center
4Backrest bottom
Switch on the ignition (page 42).
Seat cushion depth
Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg with
switch1.
Backrest contour
Adjust the contour of the seat backrest
to the desired position with
switchæ orç.
Move the backrest support to the bot-
tom with button4 or to the center
with button3.
Backrest side bolsters
Adjust the side bolsters so that they
provide good lateral support using
switch2.
Seat heating*
The switches for front-seat heating are lo-
cated in the center console.
1Seat heating switch, front seats
2Indicator lamps
164.boo Seite 138 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

139 Controls in detail
Seats
The switches for second-row seat heating*
are located in the rear center console.
1Seat heating switch*, second-row
seats
2Indicator lampsThe red indicator lamps in the switch come
on to show which heating level you have
selected.Switch on the ignition (page 42).
Switching on
Press switch1.
Three red indicator lamps2 in the
switch come on.
Continue pressing switch1 until
desired seat heating level is reached.
Switching off
Press switch1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps2 go out.
Level
3Three indicator lamps on
(highest level)
The seat heating automatically
switches to level 2 after approx-
imately 5 minutes.
2Two indicator lamps on
The seat heating automatically
switches to level 1 after approx-
imately 10 minutes.
1One indicator lamp on
(lowest level)
The seat heating automatically
switches off after approximately
20 minutes.
offNo indicator lamp on
iIf one or more of the indicator lamps2 on
seat heating switch1 (
page 138) are flash-
ing, there is insufficient voltage available since
too many electrical consumers are switched on.
The seat heating switches off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.
164.boo Seite 139 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

140 Controls in detail
Seats
Seat ventilation*
The switches for the seat ventilation are
located in the center console.
1Seat ventilation switch, front seats
2Indicator lampsThe blue indicator lamps in the switch
come on to show which ventilation level
you have selected.
Switch on the ignition (page 42).Switching on
Press button1 repeatedly until the
desired ventilation level is set.
Switching off
Press button1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps2 go out.
Level
3Three indicator lamps on
(highest level)
2Two indicator lamps on
1One indicator lamp on
(lowest level)
offNo indicator lamp on
iThe seat ventilation for the driver’s seat is
automatically set to the highest level if activated
via summer opening feature (
page 249).
164.boo Seite 140 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

141 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Memory function*
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for
proper height. See also the section on
air bags (
page 76) for proper seat posi-
tioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the interior and exterior
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly se-
cured restraint system that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2.With the memory function you can store up
to three different configurations.
Each stored position on the driver’s side
includes the following settings:

Seat position

Multicontour seat*: previously saved
setting

Steering wheel position

Exterior rear view mirrors’ position
Each stored position on the passenger side
includes the following settings:

Seat position

Multicontour seat*: previously saved
settingThe memory button and stored position
buttons are located on the entry side of
each front seat base.
MMemory button
1, 2, 3Stored position buttons
Warning!G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
164.boo Seite 141 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

142 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seats (page 45).
On the driver’s side, additionally adjust
the steering wheel (
page 50) and ex-
terior rear view mirrors (
page 51) to
the desired positions.
Press memory buttonM.
Release memory buttonM and press
stored position button1,2 or3 within
3 seconds.
All settings are stored to the selected
position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold stored position
button1,2 or3 until the seat, steering
wheel and exterior rear view mirrors
have fully moved to the stored posi-
tions.
!Do not operate the power seats using
memory buttonM if the seat backrest is in an
excessively reclined position. Doing so could
cause damage to front or rear seats.
Move seat backrest to an upright position first.
iReleasing the stored position button stops
movement to the stored positions immediately.
164.boo Seite 142 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

143 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 61)
and “Turn signals” (
page 62).
Exterior lamp switch
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country in
which the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
iVehicles equipped with active Bi-Xenon*
headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon* headlamps monitor the
vehicles steering angle and vehicle speed, then
automatically shift their beams to either side to
better follow the curvature of the road ahead,
increasing usable illumination over conventional
headlamps.1‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
2ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left
one stop)
3MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 145)
4UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 145)
5CParking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
6BLow beam headlamps or high
beam headlamps
7‡Front fog lamps
8†Rear fog lamp
iThe exterior lamps switch off automatically
when you remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or open the driver’s door with the ignition
switched off.
When the parking lamps or the rear fog lamp are
switched on and you remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch or open the driver’s door, an
acoustic signal sounds.
In addition the message
Switch Off Lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the parking lamps or the rear fog lamp
manually.
!Failure to switch off the parking lamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.
164.boo Seite 143 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12