2011 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS service

XConnect a trickle charger.
iYou can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than six weeks, the vehicle may suffer
damage as a result of lack of use.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
GWarning!
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be his/her
primary focus when driving. For your safety
and the safety of others, we recommend that
you pull over to a safe location and stop
before placing or taking a telephone call.
If you choose to use the telephone 11
while
driving, please use the hands-free device and
only use the telephone when road, weather
and traffic conditions permit. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
mobile telephone while driving a vehicle.
Only operate the COMAND 11
(Cockpit
Management and Data System) if road,
weather and traffic conditions permit.
Otherwise, you may not be able to observe
traffic conditions and could endanger yourself
and others.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.XRemove unnecessary loads.XRemove roof carriers when they are not
needed.XWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.XAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.XHave all maintenance work performed at
the service intervals specified in the
Service Booklet or indicated by the service
interval indicator.
Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic
and in mountainous terrain.
Drinking and driving
GWarning
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Pedals
GWarning
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
Keep the driver's footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure that the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers,
the objects could get caught between the
11 Observe all legal requirements.136Driving tipsDriving and parking
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pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Rolling with the engine switched offGWarning!
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is
in motion.
Exhaust check
GWarning
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency
when they are maintained exactly in
accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications. For this reason, all work on the
engine must be carried out only by qualified
and authorized Mercedes-Benz technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed in
any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Service Booklet.
Brakes
Important safety notesGWarning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent
this type of control loss.
Do not engage the transfer case in position
LOW when driving on ice or packed snow. At
speeds below 18 mph (30 km/h) vehicle
steering is adversely affected by the Off-road
ABS.
Downhill gradients
! On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Heavy and light loads
GWarning
Depressing the brake pedal constantly results
in excessive and premature wear to the brake
pads.
It may also cause the brakes to overheat,
seriously impairing their effectiveness. It may
then not be possible to stop the vehicle in
sufficient time to avoid an accident.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Driving tips137Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com

Braking applications triggered
automatically by ESP ®
may otherwise
seriously damage the brake system.
If your brake system is subject only to
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of your brakes at regular
intervals by pressing firmly on the brake pedal
at high speeds. This improves the grip of the
brake pads.GWarning
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
You can find a description of Brake Assist
(BAS) on ( Y page 56).
High-performance brake system for
AMG vehicles
The high-performance brake system is
installed only on the G 55 AMG.
GWarning
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until that
time, you may need to use increased brake
pedal pressure while braking. Please be aware
of this and adjust your driving and braking
accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive high-demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition
messages in the multifunction display.
Especially for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
The high-performance brake system is
designed for heavy loads. This may lead to
noise when braking. This will depend on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as
temperature and humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual
driving style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all
circumstances. An aggressive driving style
will lead to high wear. You can obtain further
information about this from your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Parking brakeGWarning!
While performing this procedure please
assure that the vehicle is stopped before
applying the parking brake. Otherwise the
rear wheels could lock up. You could lose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident.
In addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not
light up when the parking brake is engaged.
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when you engage the parking brake.
To maintain the braking effect of the parking
brake between the service intervals, you can
briefly apply the parking brake while driving.
XDrive about 20 mph (30 km/h) on a dry,
even road.XPull the parking brake upwards with the
release button depressed ( Y page 135),
until the vehicle brakes noticeably.XHold the lever in this position for
approximately ten seconds and then push
it all the way down again.
! Do not drive faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h). Otherwise, you could damage
the brakes.
Driving tips139Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com

Off-road driving
Important safety notesGWarning!
Sand, dirt, mud and other material having
friction property can cause exceptional wear
and tear as well as brake failure.
Have the brakes checked for dirt build-up and
cleaned. There is otherwise a risk that full
braking power may not be available in an
emergency.
GWarning!
Do not load items on the basic carrier bars. It
may cause instability during some maneuvers
which could result in an accident.
Drive slowly in unknown terrain. This will
make it easier to recognize unexpected
obstacles and avoid damage to the vehicle.
To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never
turn it around on steep inclines. If the vehicle
cannot complete the attempted climb, back it
down in reverse gear.
Do not drive along the side of a slope. The
vehicle might otherwise rollover. If in doing so
the vehicle begins to show a tendency to roll,
immediately steer into a line of gravity
(straight up or downhill).
Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle.
You may lose control of the vehicle if you use
only the service brake. For information on
driving downhill, see "Driving downhill".
GWarning!
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure before continuing your trip. Driving
with reduced tire inflation pressure increases
the risk of losing control of the vehicle and
rolling over.
General notes
Read this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road. Practice by driving over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics
of your vehicle and the gear shift operation
before driving through difficult terrain.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R 4ETS ( Y page 58)
R transfer case ( Y page 126)
R differential locks ( Y page 129)
Observe the following notes:
R stop your vehicle and, if necessary, shift the
transfer case to LOW (Y page 126) before
driving off-road.
R engage the differential locks, if necessary
( Y page 129).
i ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS are deactivated
while the differential locks are engaged.
This allows the front wheels to lock briefly,
so that these can dig into a loose surface.
However, please note that locked wheels
skid and can no longer steer.
R Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
( Y page 196).
R Make sure there is always sufficient ground
clearance to prevent damage to the
vehicle.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope.
R Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a
walking pace.
R Ensure that the wheels are in contact with
the ground at all times.
R Drive with extreme care on unknown off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
142Driving tipsDriving and parking
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Menus and submenus
Overview of menus
The number of menus shown depends on the optional equipment in the vehicle.
Function:Standard display menu (Y page 160)
R tire pressure monitor ( Y page 253)
R service interval display ( Y page 219)
R G 55 AMG: oil level ( Y page 215);Audio menu ( Y page 160)=Navigation menu (Y page 162)?Message memory 12
menu ( Y page 169)ASettings menu (Y page 162)BTrip computer menu (Y page 166)CTelephone menu (Y page 167)12
The menu is only visible when there is a display message.Menus and submenus159On-board computer and displaysZProCarManuals.com

Standard display menu
Standard displayXPress the V or U button on the
steering wheel to select the standard
display.
Standard display
:Trip odometer;Odometer
You can select the following functions in the
Standard display menu using the & or
* button:
R tire pressure monitor ( Y page 253)
R digital speedometer or outside
temperature ( Y page 160)
R Service display ( Y page 219)
R G 55 AMG: oil level (Y page 215)
XTo reset the trip odometer: press and
hold the reset button in the instrument
cluster until the trip odometer is reset.
Displaying the digital speedometer or
outside temperature
If you have selected the digital speedometer
as the status line ( Y page 163), the outside
temperature is displayed here 13
.
GWarning!
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
Digital speedometer (example)
Outside temperature (example)
XPress the V or U button on the
steering wheel to select the standard
display.XPress the & or * button on the
steering to select digital speedometer :
or the outside temperature.
Audio menu
Selecting a radio station
i SIRIUS XM satellite radio acts like a
normal radio.
For more information on satellite radio
operation, see the separate operating
instructions.
13 Vehicles for the United Kingdom: the outside temperature is always displayed.160Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays
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Calling up the rangeXPress the V or U button to select
From Start .XPress the & or * button to select
Range: .
The multifunction display shows the
estimated range of the vehicle, based on
the current driving style and the fuel level.
If there is only a small amount of fuel
remaining in the fuel tank, a gas pump
7 appears instead of the range.
Telephone menu
Introduction
You can establish a Bluetooth ®
connection to
COMAND (see the separate operating
instructions).
GWarning
A driver's attention to the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we
recommend that you pull over to a safe
location and stop before placing or taking a
telephone call. If you choose to use the
telephone while driving, please use the hands-
free device and only use the telephone when
weather, road and traffic conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h ), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
XSwitch on the mobile phone and COMAND
(see the separate operating instructions).XPress the V or U button on the
steering wheel to select the Telephone
menu.
You will see one of the following display
messages in the multifunction display:
R Ready or the name of the network provider:
the mobile phone has found a network and
is ready to receive.
R Bluetooth Ready : the mobile phone is not
yet connected via Bluetooth ®
to COMAND.
R No Service : no network is available.
Accepting a call
If someone calls you when you are in the
Telephone menu, a display message appears
in the multifunction display, for example:
COMAND display (example)
XPress the 6 button on the steering
wheel to accept an incoming call.
If you are not in the Telephone menu, you can
still accept a call.
Rejecting or ending a call
XPress the ~ button on the steering
wheel.
If you are not in the Telephone menu, you can
still accept a call.
Dialing a number from the phone book
You can enter new telephone numbers into
the phone book via the mobile phone (see the
separate operating instructions). If your
mobile phone is operational, you can select
and dial a number from the phone book at any
time.
Menus and submenus167On-board computer and displaysZProCarManuals.com

Safety systemsDisplay messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsESP
Inoperative See
Operator's ManualGRisk of accident
ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunction.
ABS, BAS, EBD, 4ETS and the tire pressure monitor have also been
deactivated.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
XDrive on carefully.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.G
Tele Aid
InoperativeUSA only: one or more main functions of the mbrace system are
malfunctioning.
Canada only: one or more main functions of the Tele Aid system
are malfunctioning.XUSA only: have the mbrace system checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.XCanada only: have the Tele Aid system checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.+
Restraint System
Malfunction
Service RequiredGRisk of injury
The restraint systems are malfunctioning.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.GWarning
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indicated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational.
For your safety, we strongly recommend that you contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the system checked. Otherwise the SRS may not be activated when needed
in an accident, which could result in serious or fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could also result in injury.
170Display messagesOn-board computer and displays
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