2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 Owner's Manual

208 Controls in detail
Good visibility
For information on windshield wipers, see
“Windshield wipers” (
page 62).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The headlamps will automatically be
cleaned with a high-pressure water jet
when you have

switched on the headlamps
and

operated the windshield wipers with
windshield washer fluid five times
When you switch off the headlamps, the
counter resets.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system*” (
page 383).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 51).
Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position
1Lever
Tilt the mirror to the antiglare position
by moving lever1 towards the wind-
shield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.Auto-dimming rear view mirrors*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The rear view mirror will not react if

the automatic transmission is set to
positionR

the interior lighting is turned on
164.boo Seite 208 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

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.
164.boo Seite 209 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

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.
164.boo Seite 210 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

211 Controls in detail
Good visibility
1Sun visor
2Additional sun visor*
3Mirror lamp
4Vanity mirror cover
5Vanity mirror
6Holder for gas cards
7MountingGlare through the windshield
Swing sun visor1 down.
Make sure sun visor1 is properly en-
gaged in mounting7.
When you do not experience glare any-
more, swing sun visor1 up.
Vanity mirror
Swing sun visor1 down.
Flip up cover4 to access vanity
mirror5.
Vanity mirror lamp3 comes on.
After using vanity mirror5, flip down
cover4.
Swing sun visor1 up.Glare through a side window
1Sun visor
2Additional sun visor*
Swing sun visor1 down.
Disengage sun visor1 from
mounting7 (
page 211).
Pivot sun visor1 to the side.
164.boo Seite 211 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

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.

164.boo Seite 212 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

213 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Activating
Press button1 on the climate con-
trol panel (
page 216) or the automat-
ic climate control* panel (
page 230).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press button1 once more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
!If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp starts flashing, too
many electrical consumers are operating simul-
taneously and there is insufficient voltage in the
battery. The system responds automatically by
switching the rear window defroster off.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster switches back on auto-
matically.
164.boo Seite 213 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

214 Controls in detail
Climate control
164.boo Seite 214 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

215 Controls in detail
Climate control
1Driver’s door air vent, fixed
2Left side air vent, adjustable
3Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side and door air vent
4Windshield air vents
5Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
6Left center air vent, adjustable
7Right center air vent, adjustable
8Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
9Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side and door air vent
aRight side air vent, adjustable
bFront passenger door air vent, fixed
cClimate control panel
dFootwell air vents
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the sliders
for center air vents and side air vents to the
middle position.
164.boo Seite 215 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12