2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 rear window

98 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Lower the head restraint if necessary
(
page 135).
Make sure the top tether strap can
pass freely between the head restraint
and top of seat backrest.
Install the child restraint system and
tighten the top tether strap according
to the child restraint manufacturer’s in-
structions.
Blocking of rear door window operation
With the override switch you can disable
the rear side window switches in the rear
door panels.The override switch is located on the
driver’s door control panel.
1Override switch
For more information on power windows,
see “Power windows” (
page 246).
Warning!G
After installing top tether straps, make sure
that the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition and are properly locked. Check for
secure locking by pushing and pulling on the
seat backrests. If a seat backrest is not
properly locked, the seat backrest could
fold. The child seat would no longer be prop-
erly supported or positioned to provide its
intended benefit.
Warning!G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children could otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
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. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.

164.boo Seite 98 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

99 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Disabling
Press override switch1 until it engag-
es.
The switch engages in the recessed
position.
The rear door windows can no longer
be operated using the switches located
in the rear doors.
Enabling
Press override switch1 once more.
The switch disengages from its
recessed position back to its original
position.
The rear door windows can again be
operated using the switches located in
the rear doors.
iOperating the rear door windows using the
switches located on the door control panel of the
driver’s door is still possible.
164.boo Seite 99 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

122 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens slightly.
Pull tailgate upwards to open.Opening the tailgate from the inside
You can unlock the tailgate from the
third-row seats and then open it manually.
The handle is located on the right of the
tailgate’s window trim.
1Handle
2Push
3Lift
Push handle1 in direction of
arrow2 and hold it there.
Lift handle1 in direction of arrow3.
The tailgate is released and can be
opened manually.
iVehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked (
page 40).iIf you do not open the tailgate within a few
seconds, the tailgate lock will automatically
engage again. Additionally, the tailgate will
relock automatically, if the vehicle was locked
when the tailgate was released from the inside.
If the tailgate lock does not engage automatically
and, if applicable, the tailgate does not relock
after a few seconds, you have to close the tail-
gate manually (
page 123).
164.boo Seite 122 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

179 Controls in detail
Control system
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Compass Setting
Zone
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to set the
respective compass zone.
For information on how to call up the
compass, see “Compass” (
page 344).Compass calibration
This function is not available if your vehicle
is equipped with the COMAND system and
navigation module*.
In order to calibrate the compass properly,
mind the following:

Calibrate the compass in open terrain.
Nearby buildings, bridges, power lines
and large antenna masts, for example,
could impair compass calibration.

Switch off electrical consumers (e.g.
climate control, windshield wipers, or
rear window defroster).

Close all doors and the tailgate.
Start the engine (page 56).
Press buttonæ orç to move
the selection marker to the
Vehicle
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Compass Calibration appears in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on setting
switched Off.
Press buttonæ to set the selection
marker to
Start.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
Compass Calibration Active
Please drive in a full circle.
iMake sure you are in area where you can
drive a full circle with your vehicle without dis-
turbing traffic in order to calibrate the compass.

164.boo Seite 179 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

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

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