2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK SUV steering

Make sure that:
R
you are as far away from the driver's front
airbag as possible.
R you are sitting in a normal upright posi-
tion.
R you can fasten the seat belt properly.
R you have moved the backrest to an
almost vertical position.
R you have set the seat angle so that your
thighs are gently supported.
R you can depress the pedals properly.
R you have adjusted the head restraint so
that the back of your head is supported
at eye level by the central area of the
head restraint.
X Check whether steering wheel :is adjus-
ted properly (Y page 66).
Make sure that:
R you can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent.
R you can move your legs freely.
R you can see all the displays in the instru-
ment cluster clearly.
X Check whether you have fastened seat
belt ;properly (Y page 70).
It should:
R fit snugly across your body.
R be routed across the middle of your
shoulder.
R be routed in your pelvic area across the
hip joints. Lights
Light switch
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, daytime operation of headlamps varies
due to legal and voluntary requirements. In these countries, daytime driving lights are
automatically switched on when the engine is
started.
i
If you drive in countries in which traffic
drives on the opposite side of the road to
the country where the vehicle is registered,
oncoming traffic may be dazzled by the
asymmetrical dipped-beam headlamps.
Have the headlamps changed to symmet-
rical dipped beam when driving in these
countries. You can obtain information
about this from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre. 1
W
Left-hand parking lamp
2 X
Right-hand parking lamp
3 $
Lights off/daytime driving lights
4 c
Automatic headlamp mode/day-
time driving lights
5 T
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment lighting
6 L
Dipped-beam headlamps or main-
beam headlamps
7 N
Foglamps
8 R
Rear foglamp
i The exterior lighting (except for side
lamps and parking lamps) automatically
switches off when you remove the key from
the ignition lock or open the driver's door
while the ignition is switched off (ignition
key in position 0). 74 LightsControls
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Adjusting the headlamp range (halo-
gen headlamps)
The headlamp range control allows you to
adjust the cone of light from the headlamps
to suit the vehicle load. X
Start the engine.
X Turn headlamp range control :to the
position which corresponds to the load in
your vehicle.
0D river's seat and front-passenger seat
occupied
1D river's seat, front-passenger seat and
rear seats occupied, luggage compart-
ment laden
2D river's and front-passenger seats occu-
pied and maximum permissible rear axle
load utilised, e.g. when towing a trailer
3N ot required Headlamp cleaning system*
The headlamps are cleaned automatically if
the "Wipe with windscreen washer fluid" func-
tion is operated while the lights are on and
the engine is running. The headlamps are
cleaned again every tenth time the wind-
screen is wiped with washer fluid. When you
switch off the ignition, the automatic head-
lamp cleaning system is reset and counting is
resumed from 0. Intelligent Light System* (bi-xenon
headlamps*)
The Intelligent Light System is a system which
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit
the prevailing driving and weather conditions.
The bi-xenon headlamps offer advanced func-
tions to improve illumination of the road sur-
face, e.g. depending on the vehicle speed or
weather conditions. The system includes the
active light system, cornering light function,
motorway mode and extended range fog-
lamps. The system is only active when it is
dark.
Vehicles with a luxury multi-function steering
wheel*: you can activate or deactivate the
"Intelligent Light System" using the on-board
computer (Y page 102).
Active light system The active light function is a system that
moves the headlamps according to the steer-
ing movements of the front wheels. In this
way, relevant areas remain illuminated while
driving. This allows you to recognise pedes-
trians, cyclists and animals. Lights
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Cornering light
The cornering light function improves the illu-
mination of the road surface in the broad
direction you are turning, e.g. making it easier
to see in tight corners. It can only be activated
when the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on.
Active:
R if you are driving at speeds below
40 km/h, the cornering light function is
activated either by the turn signal or by the
steering wheel being turned.
R if you are driving at speeds between
40 km/h and 70 km/h, the cornering light
function is activated by the steering wheel
being turned.
Not active: if you are driving at speeds above
70 km/h or you switch off the turn signal or
move the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position.
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a short
time, but is automatically switched off after
no more than three minutes. Motorway mode Motorway mode increases the range of the
beam.
Active:
R
If you are driving at speeds above
110 km/h and do not make any large steer-
ing movements for 1,000 m.
R If you are driving at speeds above
130 km/h.
Motorway mode remains active unless your
speed drops speeds below 80 km/h.
Not active: if you are driving at speeds below
80 km/h.
Extended range foglamps The extended range foglamps reduce the
glare experienced by the driver and improve
the illumination of the edge of the carriage-
way.
Active:
if you are driving at speeds below
70 km/h and you switch on the rear foglamp.
If your speed does not exceed 100 km/h, the
extended foglamp function remains active. 78 LightsControls
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X
To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
X Pull release handle :.
The J warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. Switching off the engine
G
Risk of accident
If the engine is not running, there is no power
assistance for the steering and brakes. Steer-
ing and braking will then require significantly
greater effort.
As a result, you might lose control of the vehi-
cle, cause an accident and injure yourself and
others.
Do not switch off the engine while driving.
X Move the selector lever to P.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 61) in
the ignition lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated.
i The key can only be removed when the
selector lever is in position P.Transmission
Notes on the transmission
G
Risk of accident
The movement of the pedals must not be
impaired in any way. Do not keep any objects
in the driver's footwell. Make sure that floor-
mats or carpets are correctly secured and
that there is sufficient clearance for the ped-
als.
Do not place several floormats on top of one
another. G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and the vehicle could skid. This could cause you
to lose control of your vehicle and cause an
accident.
Automatic transmission
Selector lever
:
Selector lever position/shift range
; Drive program (C/S)or(C/S/M)*
The current shift range and drive program
(C/S) or(C/S/M)* appear in the multi-func-
tion display. Transmission
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Selector lever positions
B
Park position
Prevents the vehicle from rolling
away when stopped. Only move the
selector lever to
Pwhen the vehicle
is stationary.
i The key can only be removed
when the selector lever is in posi-
tion P. If the key is removed from
the ignition lock, the selector
lever is locked in position P.C
Reverse gear
Only move the selector lever to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. A
Neutral
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
Do not move the selector lever to
N while you are driving. Otherwise,
the automatic transmission could
be damaged.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only move the selector lever to Nif
the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
e.g. on icy roads. 7
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Touchshift in vehicles with a selector
lever When the selector lever is in position
D, you
can influence the gearshifts made by the
automatic transmission by:
R changing gear yourself using the selector
lever or the steering wheel gearshift pad-
dles*
R restricting/derestricting the shift range X
To shift up/down: briefly push the selec-
tor lever to the right towards D+or to the
left towards D–(Ypage 85).
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear up/down depending on the gear
currently selected. This also restricts/
derestricts the shift range.
i To prevent the engine from overrevving,
the automatic transmission does not shift
down if you push the selector lever towards
D– while driving at too high a speed.
X To derestrict the shift range: press and
hold the selector lever towards D+until D
is shown once more in the multi-function
display.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
X To select the most effective shift
range: press and hold the selector lever to
the left towards D–.
The automatic transmission will shift to a
range which allows ideal acceleration and
deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission will shift down one or more
gears.
Shift ranges When the selector lever is in position
D, it is
possible to restrict or derestrict the shift
range for the automatic transmission.
X Briefly push the selector lever to the left/
right towards D+/D–.
The shift range selected is shown in the
multi-function display. The automatic
transmission shifts only as far as the selec-
ted gear.
i If the maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to accel-
erate, the automatic transmission shifts up
in order to prevent the engine from over-
revving, even if the shift range is restricted. 86 TransmissionControls
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Driving situation: gear indicator
=
The braking effect of the engine can
be used in this position.
5
To use the braking effect of the
engine on downhill gradients and
for driving:
R
on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions 4
To use the braking effect of the
engine on extremely steep downhill
gradients and long downhill
stretches
i
On vehicles with steering wheel gearshift
paddles*, you can restrict or derestrict the
shift range in the same way as with Touch-
shift (Y page 86).
Program selector button The program selector button allows you to
choose between different driving character-
istics.
C
Comfort comfortable driving style
S
Sport sporty driving style
X
Press program selector button :repeat-
edly until the letter for the desired gearshift
program Cor Sappears in the multi-func-
tion display. i
If automatic drive program Cor Shas
been selected, the automatic transmission
will resume the respective drive program
when you restart the engine.
Drive program Cis characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R comfort-oriented engine and suspension
settings.
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully
R increased sensitivity. This improves the
driving stability of the vehicle on slippery
road surfaces, for example.
R the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner, which results in the vehicle being
driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin.
Drive program Sis characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R sporty engine and suspension configura-
tion
R the vehicle pulling away in first gear
R the automatic transmission shifting up
later
Driving tips Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts Transmission
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Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Trailer towing
X When driving up gradients, keep to the mid-
dle of the engine speed range.
X Shift down to shift range 3or 2depending
on the gradient, even if cruise con-
trol*( Ypage 86)is activated. Steering wheel gearshift paddles*
and manual gearshift program* G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid.
Steering wheel gearshift paddles It is possible to shift gear using either the
steering wheel gearshift paddles or the selec-
tor lever. i
When the selector lever is in position P,
N or R, you cannot change gear using the
steering wheel gearshift paddles.
Upshifting
X Pull right-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle ;.
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
If you are not driving in manual drive pro-
gram M, then the shift range will be deres-
tricted.
Downshifting
X Pull left-hand steering wheel gearshift pad-
dle :.
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
If you are not driving in manual drive pro-
gram M, then the shift range will be restric-
ted.
Manual drive program Manual drive program
Mcan be selected
using the program selector button. In manual
drive program M, you can change gear using
the steering wheel gearshift paddles or the
selector lever. :
Program selector button on vehicles with-
out the dynamic handling package with
sports mode* 88 TransmissionCont
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:
Program selector button on vehicles with
the dynamic handling package with sports
mode* C
Comfort comfortable driving style
S
Sport sporty driving style
M
Manual manual gearshifting
i
If manual drive program Mhas been
selected and you restart the engine, the
automatic transmission will switch to an
automatic drive program. If automatic drive
program Cor Shas been selected, the
automatic transmission will resume the
respective drive program when you restart
the engine.
X To activate: press program selector but-
ton :repeatedly until Mappears in the
multi-function display.
If the selector lever is in position D, you can
shift up or down through the gears. The gear
selected is shown in the multi-function dis-
play.
Upshifting
X Briefly press the selector lever to the right
towards D+
or
X Pull the right-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 88).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear. Downshifting
X
Briefly press the selector lever to the left
towards D-
or
X Pull the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 88).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
i If you desire maximum acceleration, push
the selector lever to the left repeatedly or
pull and hold the left-hand steering wheel
gearshift paddle until the transmission
shifts to the optimal gear for the current
speed.
X To deactivate (vehicles without the
dynamic handling package with sports
mode*):
Press program selector button :repeat-
edly, until Cor Sappears in the multi-func-
tion display.
X To deactivate (vehicles with the
dynamic handling package with sports
mode*):
Press program selector button :.
M is no longer shown in the multi-function
display.
Kickdown
You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual drive program M.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
i It is not possible to shift gears using the
steering wheel gearshift paddles or the
selector lever during kickdown. Transmission
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