2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 490

Contents
Oxidation catalyst
(diesel engine).............................. 371
Emission control .......................... 372
Coolant temperature .................... 372
At the gas station .............................. 374
Refueling ...................................... 374
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 376
Engine compartment ......................... 378
Hood ............................................ 378
Engine oil ..................................... 380
Transmission fluid level ................ 381
Coolant level ................................ 381
Windshield/rear window
washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ........ 383
Tires and wheels ................................ 384
Important guidelines .................... 384
Tire care and maintenance........... 385
Direction of rotation ..................... 387
Loading the vehicle ...................... 387
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 393
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 395
Tire labeling.................................. 406
Load identification ....................... 410DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ................................ 410
Maximum tire load ........................ 412
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 412
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 413
Tire ply material ............................ 415
Tire and loading terminology......... 415
Rotating tires ................................ 418
Winter driving ..................................... 420
Winter tires ................................... 420
Snow chains.................................. 421
Maintenance....................................... 422
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 422
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 424
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 424
Vehicle care........................................ 425
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 425
Practical hints.................................. 435
What to do if … ................................... 436
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 436
Lamp in center console ................ 447
Vehicle status messages in
the multifunction display .............. 449
Where will I find ...? ............................ 490
First aid kit.................................... 490
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 490
Spare wheel .................................. 494
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 496
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 496
Locking the vehicle ....................... 497
Fuel filler flap ................................ 497
Resetting activated head restraints.... 499
Vehicles without Rear seat
entertainment system*................. 499
Vehicles with Rear seat
entertainment system*................. 500
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 502
Replacing bulbs .................................. 504
Bulbs............................................. 504
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 507
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 511
Adjusting headlamp aim ............... 514
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23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Tailgate122
Power tailgate*123
Cargo compartment

Loading instructions301

Cargo tie-down rings302

Hooks304

Expanding304

Cover blind310

Cargo net*312
Vehicle tool kit490
Spare wheel494
2Rear window defroster212
3Rear lamps505
4Fuel filler flap374
Refueling374
Fuel375,
565
ItemPage
5Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting51
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors*208
Power folding*209
6Towing eye bolt
Installing towing eye bolt540
7Tires and wheels384,
555
Checking tire inflation
pressure395
General information384
Flat tire519
Spare wheel494
8Hood378
Opening378
Engine oil380
Coolant381
ItemPage
9Windshield wipers62
Wiper blades, replacing516
Wiper blades, cleaning431
aWindshield
Cleaning with wiper fluid64
Cleaning431
bRoof rails295
Carriers*296
cPower tilt/sliding sunroof*251
dDoors
Locking and unlocking112
Opening120
Unlocking/locking in an
emergency496
eFront lamps505
fHeadlamp cleaning system*208
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37 At a glance
Storage compartments
ItemPage
1Parcel net in front passen-
ger footwell319
2Glove box/CD changer315
3Door pocket
4Parcel net on front passen-
ger seat backrest319
5Door pocket
6Cup holder321
7Vehicle tool kit, spare wheel490
8First aid kit490
9Cup holder321
aDoor pocket
bParcel net on driver’s seat
backrest319
ItemPage
cDoor pocket
dHolder for gas cards211
eDepending on vehicle con-
figuration:
Storage compartment
Ashtray
317
321
fCup holders320
gStorage/telephone* com-
partment with coin holder317
hRear storage compartment318
jCup holder in rear armrest320
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254 Controls in detail
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Switch off the ignition (page 42).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Switch off the ignition (page 43).
Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position0,
same as with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch).
The driver’s door then can be
closed again.
Remove the fuse for the tilt/sliding
sunroof from the fuse box
(
page 543).
Reinsert the fuse in the main box.
Switch on the ignition (page 42).
Press and hold the sunroof switch in
the direction of arrow3 (
page 252)
until the tilt/sliding sunroof is fully
raised at the rear.
Hold the sunroof switch in the direction
of arrow3 for approximately
1 second.
Open the tilt/sliding sunroof using the
Express-open feature (
page 253).
If the tilt/sliding sunroof opens
completely, it is synchronized.
If the tilt/sliding sunroof does not open
completely:
Repeat the above steps.
iFor information on which fuse box contains
the fuse for the power tilt/sliding sunroof, see
the fuse chart provided with the vehicle tool kit
(
page 490).
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295 Controls in detail
Loading
Loading
Carriers*
Roof rails
Crossbars*
The maximum roof load (
page 561) of
any add-on roof equipment is reduced by
the unladen weight of the crossbars
(13.7 Ibs/6.2 kg).
Four keys and an Allen wrench required for
installing and removing are included with
the crossbars.
Warning!G
Only use carriers* when the crossbars have
been completely mounted. The left and right
roof rails are only stabilized by means of the
crossbars mounted.
Follow the manufacturer’s installation
instructions. Otherwise, an improperly at-
tached roof rack system or its load could be-
come detached from the vehicle.
Do not exceed the maximum roof load of
198lb (90kg).
Take into consideration that when the roof is
loaded, the handling characteristics are dif-
ferent from those when operating the vehi-
cles without a roof loaded.
!Load the carriers* in such a way that the
vehicle cannot be damaged while driving.
Make sure

the tailgate can be completely opened

the tilt/sliding sunroof can be completely
raised at the rear
iThe following accessories are available for
your Mercedes-Benz:

Roof Cargo Container – Small, Medium, or
Large

Ski and Snowboard Carrier – Standard

Ski and Snowboard Carrier – Deluxe (Only in
connection with corresponding adapter.)
For more information on Mercedes-Benz acces-
sories, contact your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
iThe keys and the Allen wrench are stored
with the vehicle tool kit under the cargo compart-
ment floor (
page 490).
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299 Controls in detail
Loading
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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419 Operation
Tires and wheels
In some cases, such as when your vehicle
is equipped with mixed-size tires (different
tire dimension front vs. rear), tire rotation
is not possible.
If applicable to your vehicle’s tire configu-
ration, tires can be rotated according to
the tire manufacturer’s recommended in-
tervals in the tire manufacturer’s warranty
pamphlet located in your vehicle literature
portfolio. If none is available, tires should
be rotated every 3 000 to 6 000 miles
(5 000 to 10 000 km), or sooner if neces-
sary, according to the degree of tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction
must be maintained (
page 387).
Rotate tires before the characteristic tire
wear pattern becomes visible (shoulder
wear on front tires and tread center wear
on rear tires).
Thoroughly clean the mounting face of
wheels and brake disks, i.e. the inner side
of the wheels/tires, during each rotation.
Check for and ensure proper tire inflation
pressure.For information on wheel change, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 490) and
(
page 519).
Warning!G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
110 lb-ft (150 Nm).
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts specified for your vehicle’s rims.
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490 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located on the driver’s
side in the cargo compartment behind the
cover.
1Lock
2Cover in left side trim panel
Turn lock1 90° in direction of arrow.
Fold down cover2.
The first aid kit can be removed.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit is stored under the
cargo compartment floor.
The vehicle tool kit includes:

Towing eye bolt

Wheel wrench

Alignment bolt

Vehicle jack

Fuse chart

Collapsible wheel chock

Wheel bolts for spare wheel1Cargo compartment floor, lowered
2Handle cover
Open the tailgate (page 122).
Push in handle cover2 as indicated
by arrow and pull handle.
Lift cargo compartment floor1.
iCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
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