2011 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS brake

RDrive slowly and at an even speed through
the water.
R Do not stop and do not switch off the
engine.
! Do not open any of the vehicle's doors
while fording. Otherwise, water could get
into the vehicle interior and damage the
vehicle's electronics and interior
equipment.
R Water offers a high degree of resistance,
and the ground is slippery and in some
cases unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and
dangerous to pull away in the water.
R Ensure that a bow wave does not form as
you drive.
R Clean any mud from the tire tread after
fording.
R Apply the brakes to dry them after fording.
Winter driving
General notes
GWarning
If the vehicle becomes trapped in snow,
ensure that snow is kept away from the
exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle as
long as the engine is running. Otherwise,
poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) may enter
the vehicle, resulting in loss of consciousness
and even death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind.
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, at the onset of
winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 248).
Driving with summer tires
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 248).
Slippery road surfaces
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.
GWarning!
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.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise
control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to position N.XTry to bring the vehicle under control using
corrective steering.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see ( Y page 248).
GWarning
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Driving tips141Driving 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
ProCarManuals.com

XClean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.XClean the front and rear license plates.XClean the wheels and tires with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects.XClean the wheels, tires, wheel arches and
the vehicle underside with a water jet;
check for any foreign objects and damage.XCheck whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber
bellows of the axle joints and propeller
shafts.XAfter the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.XAfter driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.XIf you detect strong vibrations after off-road
driving, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drivetrain and remove any that
you find. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.XTest the brakes.
Driving on sand
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.
Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R shift the transfer case to
LOW (Y page 126).
R avoid high engine speeds.
R limit the shift range of the automatic
transmission according to the off-road
conditions.
R drive quickly to overcome the rolling
resistance. Otherwise, the vehicle could dig
itself into the sand.
R drive in the tracks of other vehicles if
possible. Make sure that the ruts are not
too deep, that the sand is firm enough and
that your vehicle has sufficient ground
clearance.
Tire ruts and gravel roads
Observe the following rules when driving
along ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with
loose gravel:
! Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged
or bottom out and get stuck.
R shift the transfer case to
LOW (Y page 126).
R avoid high engine speeds.
R observe the safety notes (Y page 142) and
the general notes (Y page 142) on off-road
driving.
R restrict the shift range of the automatic
transmission to 1 (Y page 123).
R drive slowly.
R where ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels of one side on the center grassy
area, if possible.
144Driving tipsDriving and parking
ProCarManuals.com

RAvoid high engine speeds – drive at
appropriate engine speeds (no more than
3000 rpm).
R Use the braking power of the engine when
driving down a slope. Observe the engine
speed, do not overrev the engine.
i Further information on the maximum
engine speed can be found in the
"Tachometer" and "Technical Data"
sections.
R Select a shift range appropriate to the
gradient.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1 (Y page 123).
R Check the brakes after driving off-road for
a long time.GWarning!
Never turn the vehicle around on steep
inclines. The vehicle might roll over. If the
vehicle cannot complete the attempted climb,
back it down in reverse gear.
i Hill start assist will aid you when pulling
away on a hill.
For more information, see "Hill start assist"
( Y page 118).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability
Do not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines or
gradients, but instead follow the direct line of
fall. The maximum gradient-climbing
capability of your vehicle is 80%, which
corresponds to an approach/departure angle
of 38°. Note that the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability depends on the off-road
conditions.
Accelerate carefully and make sure that the
wheels do not spin when driving on steep
terrain.
i If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS detects this and brakes the wheels
accordingly. The rear wheel torque is
increased, making it easier to drive off.
Brow of hill
When driving on an uphill gradient, reduce
pressure slightly on the accelerator
immediately before reaching the top of the hill
(do not shift the transmission to position N).
Use the vehicle's own impetus to drive over
the top of the hill.
This style of driving prevents:
R the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R loss of traction
R the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1 (Y page 123).
This way you use the engine's braking
effect to reduce the speed. If this is not
sufficient, brake gently. When doing so,
make sure that the vehicle is facing in the
direction of the line of fall.
R Observe the notes on driving in
mountainous terrain ( Y page 146).
R Drive slowly.
R Do not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight.
Otherwise, the vehicle could slip sideways,
tip and rollover.
R Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
i The special off-road ABS( Y page 56)
enables accurate, brief and repeated
locking of the front wheels, causing them
to dig into the loose ground. Note that when
the front wheels are fully braked, they slide
easily over the surface of the ground,
making it difficult to steer.
146Driving tipsDriving and parking
ProCarManuals.com

Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. On long and steep downhill
gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden,
you must select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in good
time. By doing so, you will make use of the
braking effect of the engine, which relieves
the load on the brake system and prevents
the brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
GWarning
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle's speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic,
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in wheel
spin and loss of control.
R Deactivate the cruise control when driving
in fog.
The "Resume" function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
Cruise control lever:To store the current speed or a higher
speed;To store the current speed or a lower
speed=To deactivate cruise control?To call up the last speed stored
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display
for five seconds.
If an DEF ®
display message is shown in the
multifunction display, you will no longer be
able to use the full range of cruise control
functions.
The full range of cruise control functions will
become available again once you confirm the
DEF ®
display message:
XBriefly press the V, U , & or
* button on the multifunction steering
wheel.
or
XBriefly press the reset button on the
instrument cluster.
Storing and maintaining the current
speed
You can store the current speed if you are
driving faster than 20 mph (30 km/h).
Driving systems147Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com

XAccelerate the vehicle to the desired
speed.XBriefly press the cruise control lever
up : or down ;.XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle
automatically maintains the stored speed.
i Cruise control may be unable to maintain
the stored speed on uphill and downhill
gradients. The stored speed is resumed
when the gradient levels out.
Calling up the last speed stored
GWarning
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Possible
acceleration or deceleration differences
arising from returning to the preset speed
could cause an accident and/or serious injury
to you and others.
XBriefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ?.XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated and adjusts the
vehicle's speed to the last speed stored.
i G 350 CDI: if no speed is stored, cruise
control stores the current speed and
maintains it.
Setting a speed
GWarning
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase or decrease the set vehicle speed to
a value that the prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden
and unexpected acceleration or deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident and/
or serious injury to you and others.XPress the cruise control lever up : for a
higher speed or down ; for a lower speed.XKeep the cruise control lever pressed until
the desired speed is reached.XRelease the cruise control lever.
The new speed is stored.
i Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. For
example, if you accelerate briefly to
overtake, cruise control adjusts the
vehicle's speed to the last speed stored
after you have finished overtaking.
Setting in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments
XBriefly press the cruise control lever
up : for a higher speed or down ; for a
lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.
Deactivating cruise control
There are several ways to deactivate cruise
control:
XBriefly press the cruise control lever
forwards =.
or
XBrake.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if:
R you apply the parking brake.
R you are driving below 20 mph (30 km/h).
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
.
R you shift the transmission to position N
while driving.
R G 350 CDI: you engage a differential lock.
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine.
148Driving systemsDriving and parking
ProCarManuals.com

4MATIC (permanent all-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are
permanently driven. Together with ESP ®
and
4ETS , it improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficient grip.GWarning!
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
R While driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4MATIC cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground
or be fully raised. Observe the instructions
for towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires ( M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
! When testing the parking brake, operate
the vehicle only briefly (for a maximum of
ten seconds) on a brake test dynamometer.
When doing this, turn the key to position
0 or 1 in the ignition. Failure to do this can
cause damage to the drive train or the
brake system.
! Function or performance tests may only
be performed on a 2-axle dynamometer. If
you wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
beforehand. You could otherwise damage
the drive train or the brake system.
For information about driving off-road, see
( Y page 142).
Ultrasonic reversing aid
Important safety notes
GWarning!
Make sure no persons or animals are in or
near the area in which you are parking/
maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be
injured.
GWarning
Rear Parking Assist is a supplemental system.
It is not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always remains with the driver.
The ultrasonic backing up aid is an electronic
parking aid. It indicates visually and audibly
the distance between the rear area of your
vehicle and an object.
The ultrasonic backing up aid is activated
automatically when you switch on the ignition
and engage reverse gear.
The ultrasonic backing up aid monitors the
rear area of your vehicle using four sensors in
the rear bumper.
:Sensors in the rear bumperDriving systems149Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com

Range of the sensors
The sensors must be free of dirt, ice and
slush; otherwise they may not function
correctly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
( Y page 224).
Side view
Top view
Sensors
CenterApprox. 59 in (approx.
150 cm)CornersApprox. 40 in (approx.
100 cm)
! When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such
as flower pots or trailer towbars. The
ultrasonic backing up aid does not detect
such objects when they are in the
immediate vicinity of the vehicle. You could
damage the vehicle or the objects.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic
car wash, a lorry's compressed-air brakes
or a pneumatic drill could cause the
ultrasonic backing up aid to malfunction.
Minimum distanceCenterApprox. 8 in (approx.
20 cm)CornersApprox. 8 in (approx.
20 cm)
If there is an obstacle within this range, all
warning displays flash and a warning tone
sounds. If the distance falls below the
minimum, the distance may no longer be
shown.
Warning displays
The warning display shows the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle.
The warning display is in the rear
compartment next to the rear door.
The warning display is divided into four yellow
and two red segments :. The ultrasonic
backing up aid is ready for use when you hear
a warning tone and segment ; lights up
briefly.
One or more segments : light up as the
vehicle approaches an obstacle, depending
on the distance from the obstacle.
150Driving systemsDriving and parking
ProCarManuals.com