2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 warning

296 Controls in detail
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Installing the crossbars
iSpare parts are available as Mercedes-Benz
accessories. Contact your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!G
Please follow these installation instructions
carefully. Caution should be exercised to
avoid damage to the vehicle while installing
the crossbars. Also, be careful not to injure
yourself or others while installing and ad-
justing the crossbars or loading items on
them.
Each individual step of the installation in-
structions, the warning notices, the general
safety precautions and the instructions for
use must be followed exactly. If the cross-
bars are not mounted correctly, they and the
objects attached to them could come loose
from your vehicle and cause an
accident, thereby injuring you and other per-
sons and/or causing damage to property,
including damage to your vehicle.
Warning!G
Every time the crossbars are mounted, be-
fore you set off on a journey and periodically
during longer journeys, check all the screws
on the bars to make sure that they are se-
cure, and tighten them if necessary. Repeat
these checks at regular intervals as
road-surface conditions dictate, and at least
after every 1500 miles (2500 km) of contin-
uous use.
Otherwise, the crossbars, mounted acces-
sories and the objects attached to them
could come loose from the vehicle causing
an accident, thereby injuring you and other
persons and/or causing damage to proper-
ty, including damage to your vehicle.
Do not use lubricant on the screws of the
crossbars. The screws could work loose and
the crossbars could become detached from
your vehicle, together with the objects at-
tached to them causing an accident, thereby
injuring you and other persons and/or caus-
ing damage to property, including damage
to your vehicle.
Warning!G
Only install the crossbars at the exact loca-
tions designated on the roof rails. The desig-
nated locations for the front crossbars are
between the markings engraved on the in-
side of the roof rails (
page 298). The des-
ignated locations for the rear crossbars are
between the gaps on the roof rails
(
page 298).
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297 Controls in detail
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Otherwise, the crossbars (page 298),
mounted accessories and the objects at-
tached to them could come loose from the
vehicle causing an accident, thereby injuring
you and other persons and/or causing dam-
age to property, including damage to your
vehicle.
Warning!G
A roof load creates a greater surface area
exposed to the wind and causes the vehicle
to have a higher center of gravity, thereby
changing the vehicle’s driving characteris-
tics. Accordingly, the additional weight on
the roof of the vehicle can have a detrimen-
tal effect on braking, cornering and acceler-
ation.
Never exceed the maximum permissible
roof load or the maximum permissible vehi-
cle weight, even when accessories for the
crossbars (e.g. ski racks, bicycle racks, etc.)
are being used. Overloading the vehicle
could result in an accident. When calculat-
ing the weight placed on the roof please
make sure to add the weight of the cross-
bars, accessory racks and the load carried
together.
Always adapt your driving style to the road,
traffic and weather conditions, and drive
with added caution when the roof is loaded.
Always drive with extreme care when the
roof rack is loaded. Take into consideration
that when the roof rack is loaded, the han-
dling characteristics are different from
those when operating the vehicles without a
roof rack loaded.Warning!G
Do not use accessories which have not been
approved by Mercedes-Benz for use in con-
junction with these crossbars. If non-ap-
proved accessories are used, these
accessories and/or the objects attached to
them could come loose from the vehicle,
thereby injuring you and other persons
and/or causing damage to property, includ-
ing damage to your vehicle.
!Have a second person assist you when
installing the crossbars. The vehicle could other-
wise be damaged.
!Objects attached to the crossbar system’s
accessories must not be allowed to restrict the
movement of the tilt/sliding sunroof. The
tilt/sliding sunroof could otherwise be damaged
when it is raised.
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299 Controls in detail
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Place rear crossbar7 on roof railsa
in such a way that the clamping claws
reach into gaps8 (
page 298) on the
roof rails.
Make sure clamping claw5 lies flush
against the inside of roof raila as
shown in the illustration (
page 298).
If necessary, adjust clamping width of
crossbars (
page 299).
Slightly tighten screw4 on both sides
by turning it clockwise.
On the front and rear crossbars tighten
screws4. Observe a tightening
torque of 4 lb-ft (6 Nm).
Attach cover caps (page 298) and
lock them.
Store key and Allen wrench back into
the storage well (
page 490).
Adjusting the clamping widths of the
crossbarsThe clamping widths of the crossbars are
factory set for your vehicle. These clamp-
ing widths are solely intended for the des-
ignated positions.
Only install the crossbars at the designat-
ed locations and pay attention to the
stickers3 FRONT and REAR
(
page 298).
4Screw for clamping claw
5Clamping claw
bScrews for adjusting clamping width
(2 in total for each side)
cCover strip
Warning!G
Have the tightening torque checked after
mounting the crossbars. The screws could
come loose if they are not tightened to a
torque of 4 lb-ft (6 Nm).
Warning!G
Only install the crossbars at the exact loca-
tions designated on the roof rails. The desig-
nated locations for the front crossbars are
between the markings engraved on the in-
side of the roof rails (
page 298). The des-
ignated locations for the rear crossbars are
between the gaps on the roof rails
(
page 298).
Otherwise, the crossbars (
page 298),
mounted accessories and the objects at-
tached to them could come loose from the
vehicle causing an accident, thereby injuring
you and other persons and/or causing dam-
age to property, including damage to your
vehicle.

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300 Controls in detail
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Pull cover stripc out of groove until
you see screwsb on each end of the
crossbar.
Turn screwsb on both sides counter-
clockwise approximately 2 rotations.
Place the crossbar at designated loca-
tions (
page 298) on roof rails.
On both sides, make sure the clamping
claws5 lie flush against the roof rails.
If necessary pull out or push in the
clamping claws5.
Tighten screwsb. Observe a
tightening torque of 4 lb-ft (6 Nm).
The width of the clamping claws is
correctly adjusted.
Press cover stripc piece by piece into
groove of crossbar.
Install the crossbars as described
(
page 298).
Removing the crossbars
1Key
2Cover cap
3Sticker FRONT (or REAR)
4Screw for clamping claw
5Clamping claw
Unlock cover cap2 with key1.
Remove cover cap2.
Turn screws for clamping claws5
counterclockwise until the crossbars
can be lifted from the roof rails.
Shortening the cover strip
The cover strips reduce the wind noise
caused by the crossbars. In order to install
add-on roof equipment, it may be neces-
sary to shorten the cover strips.
cCover strip
Pull cover stripc out of groove.
Warning!G
Have the tightening torque checked after
mounting the crossbars. The screws could
come loose if they are not tightened to a
torque of 4 lb-ft (6 Nm).

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301 Controls in detail
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Attach add-on roof equipment to the
crossbars.
Place cover stripc flush against the
add-on roof equipment, and mark the
end of crossbar on cover strip.
Cut off cover stripc at marked loca-
tion.
Press cover stripc piece by piece into
groove of the crossbar.
Loading instructions
Load distribution
iCover strips are available as Mercedes-Benz
accessories. Contact your Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Warning!G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible using cargo tie-down rings and
fastening materials appropriate for the
weight and size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, always use tie
down rings, and if so equipped, always use
the cargo net* when transporting cargo.
Never drive vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.
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304 Controls in detail
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Hooks
Two hooks are located on the rear com-
partment trim panels, one on each side.
1Hook
Use the hooks to secure light weight items
only. The maximum permissible weight per
hook is 9lb(4kg).Expanding cargo compartment
You can separately fold the left and right
rear seat backrests to expand the cargo
compartment.
Warning!G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fully fold the corresponding seats
and, if so equipped, always use the
cargo net* (
page 312) when transporting
cargo.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause
injury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
Always use the cargo tie down rings
(
page 302).
Warning!G
Never drive the vehicle with the tailgate
open. Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases
may enter vehicle interior resulting in un-
consciousness and death.
!When the second-row seats are folded for-
ward, the front seats may not be moved to the
rearmost position. Otherwise you could damage
the front and second-row seats.
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306 Controls in detail
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Press and hold button2 for each side
until the third-row seats are fully fold-
ed.
If a third-row seat is not engaged properly,
for example, the message
3rd Row Of
Seats – Right Not Locked
appears in the
multifunction display (
page 155).
Press and hold button2 again, until
the message disappears.Expanding cargo compartment fully
Folding second-row seats
Push in the head restraints of the
second-row seats all the way
(
page 135).
Warning!G
Folded second-row seats are intended to
serve as a cargo compartment expansion in
conjunction with folded third-row seats only.
Do not fold the second-row seats and allow
third-row seat occupants to use folded sec-
ond-row seats as a footrest while driving.
Third-row seat occupants must, like all vehi-
cle occupants, keep both feet on the floor in
front of their seat. Otherwise, occupants
could slide under their seat belt in a colli-
sion. If occupants slide under the belt, it
would apply force at the abdomen or neck.
That could cause serious or even fatal inju-
ries. Do not fold the second-row seats and
allow third-row seat occupants to use folded
second-row seats as a table while driving.
Objects placed on folded second-row seats
may come loose during braking, vehicle ma-
neuvers, or an accident and be thrown
around the vehicle interior. Objects thrown
around the vehicle interior may cause an ac-
cident and/or serious personal injury.
!When the second-row seats are folded for-
ward, the front seats may not be moved to the re-
armost position. Otherwise you could damage
the front and second-row seats.

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309 Controls in detail
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Returning seats to their original positionStep 1:
Return third-row seats to its original
position (
page 308).
Step 2:
1Seat backrest
2Lever
Pull and hold lever2 in direction of
arrow at resistance point.
Fold seat backrest1 rearward until it
engages.
Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on seat backrest1.3Seat cushion
Fold seat cushion3 rearward until it
locks into position.
Warning!G
Make sure all seats are properly locked in
position before driving off. Do not drive with
seats not properly locked.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
not properly locked as this can be danger-
ous. The seat could move forward and the
seat backrest could fold. You could slide un-
der the seat belt during braking, vehicle ma-
neuvers, or in an accident. If you slide under
it, the belt would apply force at the abdomen
or neck. That could cause serious or even fa-
tal injuries.
The seat backrest and seat belt provide the
best restraint when the wearer is in a nearly
upright position and the belt is properly po-
sitioned on the body.
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