2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 height

135 Controls in detail
Seats
To move seat backrest forward, lean
forward with handle1 pulled and held
at resistance point.
The seat backrest will move forward
against your back.
Release handle1 when the seat back-
rest has reached the desired position.
To make sure the seat backrest has en-
gaged, lean firmly against the backrest.
Head restraint height
Second-row seat head restraint
1Head restraint
2Release buttonRaising:
Manually adjust the height of head
restraint1 by pulling it upward to the
desired position.
Lowering:
To lower head restraint1, push
release button2 and press down on
head restraint1.
Warning!G
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.
iThe third-row seat head restraints are ad-
justed in the same manner.
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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
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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.
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171 Controls in detail
Control system
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus.
Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.
Instrument clusterTime/DateLightingVehicleComfort*
(page 172)(page 174)(page 175)(page 178)(page 181)
Selecting speedometer
display modeSetting the timeSetting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)Compass adjustmentActivating
easy-entry/exit fea-
ture*
Selecting languageSetting the dateSetting locator lightingCompass calibrationSetting fold-in func-
tion* for exterior rear
view mirrors
Selecting display (digital
speedometer or outside
temperature) for status in-
dicatorSetting night security
illuminationAudio search function
Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-offSetting automatic cen-
tral locking
Limiting opening
height of tailgate*
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178 Controls in detail
Control system
Vehicle submenu
Access the
Vehicle submenu via the
Settings menu. Use the Vehicle submenu
to make general vehicle settings.
The following functions are available:Compass adjustment
This function is not available if your vehicle
is equipped with the COMAND system and
navigation module*.
Determine your location on the basis of the
following zone maps.
Zone map North AmericaZone map South America
Press buttonæ orç to move
the selection marker to the
Vehicle
submenu.
FunctionPage
Compass adjustment178
Compass calibration179
Audio search function180
Setting automatic central
locking180
Limiting opening height of
tailgate*181
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181 Controls in detail
Control system
Limiting opening height of tailgate*
Use this function to activate or deactivate
the limiting opening height of the tailgate.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Vehicle
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Opening Limiter
Tailgate
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the limiting opening height of the
tailgate
On or Off.Comfort submenu*
Access the
Comfort submenu via the
Settings menu. Use the Comfort submenu
to change the settings for a number of con-
venience features.
The following functions are available:Activating easy-entry/exit feature*
Use this function to activate and
deactivate the easy-entry/exit feature
(
page 48).
FunctionPage
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature*181
Setting fold-in function* for
exterior rear view mirrors182
Warning!G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of
the following:

Move steering wheel adjustment stalk*
(
page 50).

Press one of the stored position
buttons* or the memory buttonM*
(
page 141).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
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278 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The switch is located on the upper part of
the center console.
1Switch for off-road driving program
2Indicator lampSwitching Off-road driving program on
Press switch1 (page 278).
Indicator lamp2 comes on. The
symboly appears in the lower
multifunction display.
Switching Off-road driving program off
Press switch1 again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out. The
symboly disappears.
Air suspension program
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
vehicle level control which regulates the
ride height of the vehicle. The Adaptive
Damping System (ADS)* optimizes your
vehicle’s suspension tuning.

Suspension tuning: Adaptive Damping
System (ADS)* (
page 278)

Vehicle level control (page 279)
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)*
The fine tuning of the damping and suspen-
sion is dependent on:

your driving style

road surface conditions

your personal ADS settings

your personal vehicle level settings
The ADS switch is located on the upper
part of the center console.
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279 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicles without enhanced off-road
package*
Vehicles with enhanced off-road package*
1ADS switch
2Indicator lamp for SPORT setting
3Indicator lamp for COMF settingThe following settings are available:

AUTO (for normal driving situations)
Indicator lamps2 and3 are off.

SPORT (for sporty driving)
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
With the ADS SPORT setting, the vehi-
cle is lowered approximately 0.6 in
(15 mm).

COMF (for comfort driving)
Indicator lamp3 comes on.
Start the engine (page 41).
Press ADS switch1 repeatedly until
the desired suspension tuning is
reached.
Vehicle level control
The vehicle level control automatically
regulates the ride height to

reduce fuel consumption

improve driving stability by lowering
the center of gravity
The vehicle automatically regulates its ride
height based on the set vehicle height and
the current speed:

As your driving speed increases, the ve-
hicle is lowered by increments until it
reaches high-speed level.
Vehicles with ADS*:

If you are driving with the ADS set-
ting COMF or AUTO, the vehicle is
raised back to highway level as your
driving speed decreases.

You can select the high-speed level
via the ADS setting SPORT. In ADS
Sport, the vehicle is lowered direct-
ly to high-speed level as your driv-
ing speed increases.
iThe setting is stored when you turn off the
engine.
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