
Through standing water .................262
With Distronic ................................ 153
Driving and parking
Safety notes .................................. 108
Driving off .................................. 110, 261
Driving safety systems ....................... 61
4-ETS ............................................... 64
ABS .................................................. 62
BAS .................................................. 63
EBP .................................................. 63
ESP ®
................................................ 63
Driving systems
Air suspension program .................159
All-wheel drive (4MATIC) ................ 166
Cruise control ................................ 144
Distronic ........................................ 147
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) ..155
Hill-start assist system ..................155
Off-road driving program ...............158
Parktronic system ..........................166
Rear view camera .......................... 169
Driving tips, automatic
transmission ...................................... 117
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) .... 155
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 303
E
Easy-entry/exit feature .............. 92, 139
EBP (Electronic Brake
Proportioning) ...................................... 63
Electrical system
Improper work on or
modifications ................................... 23
Power outlets ................................. 212
Electrical system (Technical data)
see Vehicle specification
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
Electronic Traction System
see 4-ETS
Emergency, in case of
First aid kit ..................................... 284
Flat tire .......................................... 336
Hazard warning flasher ..................101
Roadside Assistance ................ 21, 216
Towing the vehicle .........................352
Emergency calls
Tele Aid .......................................... 215
Emergency engine shutdown ........... 357
Emergency operations
Limp-home mode ........................... 119
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) .......219
Emergency Tensioning Device
see ETD
Emission control ............................... 272
Information label ............................ 361
System warranties ...........................20
Engine
Break-in recommendations ............226
Cleaning ......................................... 276
Compartment ................................ 228
Malfunction indicator
lamp ........................................ 29, 320
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 306
Number .......................................... 361
Starting .......................................... 108
Turning off ..................................... 113
Engine (Technical data)
see Vehicle specification
Engine compartment
Radiator ......................................... 230
Engine coolant
see Coolant
Engine oil
Adding ........................................... 231
Additives ........................................ 371
Checking level ............................... 230
Consumption ................................. 230
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 308
Oil dipstick ..................................... 230
Recommended engine oils and oil
filter ............................................... 370
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability
Program) .............................................. 63
4-ETS ............................................... 64
Messages in the multifunction
display ................................... 289, 300
Off-road ESP ®
.................................. 65
Trailer stabilization ........................... 65
Warning lamp ................................. 3188IndexX164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 8

Capacities fuels, coolants,
lubricants etc. ................................ 368
Coolant .......................................... 373
Engine oil additives ........................371
Engine oils ..................................... 370
Fuel requirements .......................... 371
Gasoline additives .......................... 372
Identification labels .......................360
Premium unleaded gasoline ...........371
Rims and tires ................................ 365
Spare wheel ................................... 368
Vehicle specification
GL 350 BlueTEC ............................. 362
Vehicle specification GL 450 .........362
Vehicle specification GL 550 .........363
Washer and headlamp cleaning
system ................................... 370, 375
Technical data (dimensions)
see Vehicle specification
Technical data (electrical system)
see Vehicle specification
Technical data (engine)
see Vehicle specification
Technical data (weights)
see Vehicle specification
Tele Aid ............................................... 214
Emergency calls ............................. 215
Information button .........................217
Initiating an emergency call
manually ........................................ 216
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 301
Remote door unlock ......................219
Roadside Assistance button ..........216
Search & Send ............................... 218
SOS button .................................... 216
Stolen Vehicle Recovery Services ..219
System self-test ............................. 215
Telephone ............................................. 30
Answering/ending a call ................143
Hands-free microphone ...................34
Menu ............................................. 142
Operation ....................................... 142
Phone book .................................... 143
Redialing ........................................ 144
Temperature
Interior temperature ..............178, 187
Outside .................................. 129, 135Tether anchorage points
see Children in the vehicle
Tie-down rings ................................... 200
Tightening torque
Wheels ........................................... 344
Time setting ....................................... 135
TIN (Tire Identification Number) ...... 256
Tire and Loading Information
placard ............................................... 242
Tire and loading terminology ........... 254
TIREFIT ............................................... 337
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tire inflation pressure
Checking ........................................ 237
Important notes on ........................235
Label on the inside of fuel filler
flap ................................................ 236
Placard on driver’s door B-pillar .....242
Tire labeling ....................................... 250
Tire load rating .................................. 255
Tire ply composition and material
used .................................................... 256
Tire pressure loss warning system . 237
Tire repair kit see TIREFIT
Tires ........................................... 233, 365
Advanced Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (Advanced
TPMS) ............................................ 239
Air pressure ................................... 234
Care and maintenance ...................247
Cleaning ......................................... 248
Direction of rotation, spinning .......246
Important notes on tire inflation
pressure ........................................ 235
Inflation pressure ..................236, 237
Information placard .......................242
Inspection ...................................... 247
Labeling ......................................... 250
Load index ............................. 251, 255
Load rating .................................... 255
Messages in the multifunction
display ................................... 297, 313
MOExtended .................................. 365
Ply composition and material
used ............................................... 256Index17X164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 17

Problems under-/overinflation ......236
Retreads ........................................ 233
Rims and tires (technical data) ......365
Rotation ......................................... 249
Service life ..................................... 247
Sizes .............................................. 365
Snow chains .................................. 258
Speed rating .......................... 252, 256
Storing ........................................... 248
Temperature .......................... 235, 249
Terminology ................................... 254
TIREFIT (tire repair kit) ...................337
Tire Identification Number .............256
Tire pressure loss warning system . 237
TPMS low tire pressure/
malfunction telltale ........................321
Traction ................................. 248, 256
Tread ............................................. 257
Tread depth ........................... 247, 257
Treadwear ...................................... 248
Treadwear indicators .............247, 257
Vehicle maximum load on ..............257
Wear pattern .................................. 249
Winter tires ............................ 257, 365
Tire speed rating ....................... 252, 256
Tongue Weight Rating see TWR
Top tether
see Children in the vehicle
Total load limit ................................... 256
Towing
Towing eye bolt .............................. 353
Trailer .................................... 118, 269
Vehicle ........................................... 352
Towing eye bolt ................................. 353
Traction ...................................... 248, 256
Trailer towing ............................ 118, 269
Coupling a trailer ........................... 270
Decoupling ..................................... 271
Electrical connections .................... 269
Towing ........................................... 270
Trailer hitch ................................... 269
Weights and ratings .......................269
Transfer case ..................................... 119
Gear ranges ................................... 120
LOW RANGE mode ......................... 120
Switching LOW RANGE mode ........121Transmission
see Automatic transmission
Transmission fluid level .................... 231
Transmission gear selector lever see Gear selector lever
Transmission positions .................... 116
Traveling abroad ............................... 272
Tread (tires) ....................................... 257
Tread depth (tires) .................... 247, 257
Treadwear .......................................... 248
Treadwear indicators (tires) .... 247, 257
Trip computer menu ......................... 141
Trip odometer, resetting ................... 125
Turning off the engine ...................... 113
Turn signals ....................................... 100
Cleaning lenses ............................. 277
Indicator lamps ................................ 28
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 313
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating) ........... 257
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards .................................. 248, 257
Units
Selecting digital speedometer
display mode ................................. 134
Selecting speedometer/
odometer display mode .................134
Unleaded gasoline, premium ........... 371
Unlocking the vehicle
KEYLESS-GO .................................... 71
Manually ........................................ 323
SmartKey ......................................... 70
Upholstery, cleaning ......................... 280
Useful features .................................. 209
V
Vehicle
Battery ........................................... 348
Care ............................................... 275
Control system .............................. 125
Identification Number (VIN) ...........360
Locking/unlocking ........................... 70
Lowering (wheel change) ...............344
18IndexX164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 18

CockpitFunctionPage:Cruise control lever:Cruise control144Distronic147;Instrument cluster28,
124
=Multifunction steering
wheel
30,
125
?Horn ASteering wheel gearshift
control118
BGear selector lever114CFront Parktronic warning
indicators 166
DOverhead control panel33EGlove box lid release, glove
box lock208
FGlove box207GPower outlet212HCenter console31FunctionPageIStarter switch80JSteering wheel adjustment,
manual91
KOn-board diagnostics
(OBD) socket
LHood lock release228MParking brake release112NParking brake pedal112ODoor control panel34PExterior lamp switch97QSteering wheel adjustment,
electrical91
Heated steering wheel93RCombination switch:Turn signals100Wipers103High beam100Cockpit27At a glanceX164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 27Z

replaced and to have any malfunctioning air
bags repaired. This will help to make sure the
air bags will continue to provide supplemental
crash protection for occupants.
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD)
and air bag GWarning!
R Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been subjected to stress in an accident
must be replaced. Their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use seat belts
installed or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
R Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency
Tensioning Devices (ETDs) contain
perchlorate material, which may require
special handling and regard for the
environment. Check with your local
government’s disposal guidelines.
California residents, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Perchlorate/index.cfm .
R Air bags and ETDs are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An air bag or ETD
that has deployed must be replaced. PRE-
SAFE ®
has electrically operated reversible
pre-tensioners in addition to the
pyrotechnic ETDs.
R Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
R Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat belts.
R Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
R No modifications of any kind may be made
to any components or wiring of the SRS.
R Do no change or remove any component or
part of the SRS.
R Do not install additional trim material, seat
covers, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, front passenger front air bag
cover, outboard sides of the seat
backrests, door trim panels, or door frame
trims.
R Do not install additional electrical/
electronic equipment on or near SRS
components and wiring.
R Keep area between air bags and occupants
free of objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).
R Do not hang items such as coat hangers
from the coat hooks or handles over the
door. These items may be thrown around in
the vehicle and cause head and other
injuries when the window curtain air bag is
deployed.
R Air bag system components will be hot after
an air bag has inflated. Do not touch them.
R Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
R Improper repair work on the SRS creates a
risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended air bag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefore only be
performed by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
R For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit or
ETD, our safety instructions must be
followed. These instructions are available
from any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
R Given the considerable deployment speed,
required inflation volume, and the material
of the air bags, there is the possibility of
abrasions or other, potentially more serious
injuries resulting from air bag deployment.
If you sell your vehicle, we strongly
recommend that you inform the subsequent
owner that the vehicle is equipped with SRS.Occupant safety39Safety and securityX164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 39Z

If you and/or your passenger release the
seat belt during driving, the seat belt
telltale 7 starts flashing and the
warning chime sounds as described before.
If the driver’s or the front passenger’s seat
belt remains unfastened after 60 seconds,
the warning chime stops sounding, the seat
belt telltale 7 stops flashing but
continues to be illuminated.
After a vehicle standstill, the warning chime
is reactivated and the seat belt telltale
7 is flashing again if the vehicle speed
once exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h).
The seat belt telltale 7 will only go out if
both the driver’s and the front passenger’s
seat belt (with the front passenger seat
occupied) are fastened, or the vehicle is
standing still and a front door is opened.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
( Y page 317).
Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD),
seat belt force limiter
The seat belts for the front seats and second
row outer seats are equipped with ETDs and
seat belt force limiters. The seat belts for the
third-row seats are equipped with ETDs.
The ETDs are designed to activate in the
following cases:
R in frontal or rear-end impacts exceeding
the system’s preset deployment threshold
R in side impacts exceeding the system’s
preset deployment threshold on the far
side of the impact
R in certain vehicle rollovers
R if the restraint systems are operational and
functioning correctly, see “SRS indicator
lamp” ( Y page 36)
The ETDs for the front seats will only activate
if the front seat belts are fastened (latch plate
properly inserted into buckle).
The ETDs for the rear outer seats (second-row
seats) or rear seats (third-row seats) will
activate with or without the respective seat
belts fastened.
In an impact, the ETDs remove slack from the
seat belts in such a way that the seat belts fit
more snugly against the body. Seat belt force
limiters, when activated, are employed to
help reduce the peak force exerted by the
seat belts on occupants during a crash.
i The ETDs do not correct an incorrect seat
position or incorrectly worn seat belts.
The ETDs do not pull occupants back
toward the seat backrest.GWarning!
Pyrotechnic ETDs that were activated must be
replaced.
For your safety, when disposing of the
pyrotechnic ETDs always follow our safety
instructions. These are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The PRE-SAFE ®
system has electrically
operated reversible pre-tensioners that do
not require replacement after activation.
Preventive occupant safety (PRE-
SAFE ®
)
GWarning!
The PRE-SAFE ®
system is intended to reduce
the effects of an accident on vehicle
occupants who are wearing their seat belt
properly. Despite your vehicle being equipped
with the PRE-SAFE ®
system, the possibility of
personal injuries occurring as a result of an
accident cannot be eliminated. Therefore,
always drive carefully and adjust your driving
to the prevailing road, weather, and traffic
conditions.
52Occupant safetySafety and security
X164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 52

must be reset. Otherwise, the NECK-PRO
active front head restraints cannot offer any
additional protection in the event of another
rear-end collision.
For information on resetting the activated
NECK-PRO active front head restraints, see
“Resetting activated head restraints”
(Y page 325).
You cannot remove the NECK-PRO active
front head restraints.
GWarning!
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so 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 reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of an
accident or similar situation.
For information on head restraint adjustment,
see “Head restraint height” (Y page 83), or
see “Head restraint fore and aft adjustment”
(Y page 84).
Correct driver seat adjustment
GWarning!
In order to avoid possible loss of vehicle
control the following must be done before the
vehicle is put into motion:
Rseat adjustment
Rhead restraint adjustment
Rsteering wheel adjustment
Rrear view mirror adjustment
Rfastening of seat belts
Steering wheel
GObserve Safety notes, see page 91.XPosition steering wheel : properly. See
(Y page 91) for manual adjustment and
(Y page 92) for electrical adjustment.
Make sure:
RYou can reach the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent at the elbows.
RYou can move your legs freely.
RAll displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument cluster
are clearly visible.
Seat belt
GObserve Safety notes, see page 48.XFasten and position your seat belt ;
correctly (Y page 50).
54Occupant safetySafety and security
X164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 54

XLower tailgate by pulling firmly on
handles :.
XClose tailgate with hands placed flat on it.
Once the tailgate touches the latch, the
tailgate will pull itself shut automatically.
Opening the tailgate from the inside
GWarning!
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle. Children could open the tailgate from
the inside, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
! Always make sure there is sufficient
overhead clearance.
You can unlock the tailgate from the third-row
seats and then open it manually.
XPush handle : in direction of arrow ; and
hold it there.
XFrom this position, lift handle : in
direction of arrow = and hold it there.
The tailgate is released and can be opened
manually.
iIf you do not open the tailgate within a few
seconds, the tailgate lock will engage again
automatically. 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 tailgate manually
(Y page 75).
Power tailgate
GWarning!
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter vehicle interior resulting in
unconsciousness and death.
! The tailgate swings open upwards
automatically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance.
A minimum height clearance of 7.40 ft
(2.25 m) is required to open the tailgate.
In vehicles with power tailgate, you can
Ropen and close the tailgate from the inside
and the outside electrically
Rlimit the opening height of the tailgate
Rinterrupt the opening/closing procedure at
any time by
-pressing or pulling the door-mounted
remote tailgate opening/closing switch
-pulling the outside handle on the tailgate
76Locking and unlockingControls in detail
X164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 76