2011 MERCEDES-BENZ G550 warning light

Seats
Important safety notes
GWarning
In order to avoid possible loss of vehicle
control, all seat, head restraint, steering
wheel and rear view mirror adjustments, as
well as fastening of seat belts, must be done
before setting the vehicle in motion.
GWarning
Do not adjust the driver's seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never travel in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide under
the seat belt in a collision. If you slide under
it, the seat belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck. This could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the wearer is
in a position that is as upright as possible and
seat belts are properly positioned on the
body.
GWarning
Your seat belt must be adjusted so that you
can correctly fasten your seat belt.
Observe the following points:
R adjust the seat backrest until your arms are
slightly angled when holding the steering
wheel.
R adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The
position should be as far back as possible
with the driver still able to operate the
controls properly.
R 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.
R never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.GWarning
The electrically adjustable seats can be
operated at any time. Therefore, do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. A child's
unsupervised access to a vehicle could result
in an accident and/or serious personal injury.
GWarning
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. Thus,
we strongly recommend that children be
placed in the rear seat whenever possible.
Regardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriately sized
child restraint system or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see the
"Children in the vehicle" section.
A child's risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and/
or the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
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.
Seats77Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

Backrest angleXSlide the button forwards or back in the
direction of arrow ;.
Seat height
XSlide the button up or down in the direction
of arrow A.
Seat cushion angle
Adjust the seat cushion angle so that your
thighs are lightly supported.
XSlide the button up or down in the direction
of arrow ?.
Head restraint height
XSlide the button up or down in the direction
of arrow :.
i
For further information on head
restraints, see ( Y page 79).
i You can store the seat settings using the
memory function ( Y page 88).
Adjusting the head restraints
Important safety notes
GWarning!
For safety reasons, always drive with the rear
head restraints in the upright position when
the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear of
articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the 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.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head
restraints. Head restraints are intended to
help reduce injuries during an accident.
Adjusting the front seat head restraint
height
The button is located on the door control
panel.
XSlide head restraint adjustment button :
up or down in the direction of the arrow.
Adjusting the front seat head restraint
angle
GWarning!
Vehicles with Rear Seat Entertainment
System: When adjusting the head restraint,
make sure your fingers do not become caught
between the head restraint cushion and the
monitor. Failing to do so may lead to injury.
XPush or pull the lower edge of the head
restraint in the direction of the arrow.Seats79Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.XTo switch on: press button : repeatedly
until the desired ventilation level is set.
i If you open the side windows and the
sliding sunroof using the key ( Y page 71),
the driver's seat ventilation automatically
switches to the highest level.
XTo switch off: press button : repeatedly
until all the indicator lamps go out.
Problems with the seat ventilation
If one or all of the indicator lamps in the seat
ventilation button are flashing, the seat
ventilation has switched off automatically.
The vehicle's electrical system voltage is too
low because too many electrical consumers
are switched on.
XSwitch off electrical consumers which you
do not need, such as the rear window
defroster or interior lighting.
Once the battery is sufficiently charged, the
seat ventilation will switch back on
automatically.
Steering wheel
Important safety notes
You can adjust the steering wheel electrically.
GWarning!
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of the
vehicle.
The electrical steering wheel adjustment
feature can be operated at any time.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child's unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
When you adjust the steering wheel, make
sure that:
R the steering wheel can be reached with
your arms slightly bent.
R you can move your legs freely.
R you can see all the displays in the
instrument cluster clearly.
Adjusting the steering wheel
:To adjust the steering wheel position
(fore-and-aft adjustment);To adjust the steering wheel heightXMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
1 or 2 in the ignition lock.
i
If the driver's door is open, the steering
wheel can be adjusted for up to 30 minutes
after the ignition has been switched off.
XPress the lever in the direction of
arrow : or ; until the steering wheel is
in the desired position.
You can find more information under:
R EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature ( Y page 84)
R Storing settings ( Y page 88)
Steering wheel heating
Switching on/off
The steering-wheel heating heats the leather
areas of the steering wheel.
Steering wheel83Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

:To switch on the steering-wheel heating;Indicator lamp=To switch off the steering-wheel heatingXTo switch on/off: make sure that the key
is in position 1 or 2 in the ignition lock.XTurn the lever in the direction of arrow :
or = .
Indicator lamp ; lights up or goes out.
i
The steering wheel heating does not
switch off automatically.
i The steering wheel heating may switch off
temporarily if:
R the temperature of the vehicle interior is
above 86 ‡ (30 †).
R the temperature of the steering wheel is
above 95 ‡ (35 †).
Indicator lamp ; remains on.
i The steering wheel heating is deactivated
if you remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock.
Problems with the steering wheel
heating
If steering wheel heating indicator lamp ; is
flashing, the steering wheel heating has
switched off automatically. The vehicle's
electrical system voltage is too low because
too many electrical consumers are switched
on.
XSwitch off electrical consumers which you
do not need, such as the rear window
defroster or interior lighting.
Once the battery is sufficiently charged, the
steering wheel heating will switch back on
automatically.
Steering wheel EASY-ENTRY/EXIT
feature
General notes
The EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature makes getting
in and out of your vehicle easier.
You can activate and deactivate the EASY-
ENTRY/EXIT feature in the on-board
computer ( Y page 165).
Important safety notes
GWarning
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is
activated.
To stop steering maneuver do one of the
following:
R press the steering column adjustment
switch.
R press one of the memory function position
buttons.
R press the memory button.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver's door and
unintentionally activate the EASY-ENTRY/
84Steering wheelSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

Problems with the exterior mirrorsProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsAn exterior mirror has
been pushed out of
position.XMove the exterior mirror into the correct position manually.Automatic anti-glare mirrorsGWarning!
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sensors
in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, when transporting cargo
which covers the rear window.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic
conditions and could cause an accident.
The rear-view mirror and the exterior mirror
on the driver's side automatically go into anti-
glare mode if the ignition is switched on and
incident light from headlamps strikes the
sensor in the rear-view mirror.
The mirrors do not go into anti-glare mode if
reverse gear is engaged or the interior lighting
is switched on.
Parking position for the exterior
mirror on the front-passenger side
General notes
To make it easier to park, you can store the
front-passenger side exterior mirror position
in such a way that you can see the rear wheel
on that side as soon as you engage reverse
gear R.
Using the memory buttons on the driver's
side, you can store three parking positions
per key.
Setting and storing the parking position:Adjustment button;Right-hand exterior mirror=Left-hand exterior mirror?Memory buttonXMake sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock.XPress button ; for the exterior mirror on
the front-passenger side.XEngage reverse gear R.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side moves to the preset parking position.XUse adjustment button : to adjust the
exterior mirror to a position which allows
you to see the rear wheel and the curb.XPress memory button ? and adjustment
button : within three seconds.
The parking position is stored if the exterior
mirror does not move.
i If the mirror moves out of position, repeat
the steps.
i If you shift the transmission to another
position, the exterior mirror on the front-
Mirrors87Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

Vehicle equipment
i This manual describes all the standard
and optional equipment of your vehicle
which was available at the time of
purchase. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
relevant systems and functions.
Exterior lighting
Important safety notes
For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you drive with the lights
switched on even during the daytime. In some
countries, operation of the headlamps varies
due to legal requirements and self-imposed
obligations. In these countries, the daytime
running lamps are automatically switched on
when the engine is started.
Information about driving abroad
Converting to symmetrical low beam
when driving abroad: switch the headlamps
to symmetrical low beam in countries in
which traffic drives on the opposite side of the
road to the country where the vehicle is
registered. This prevents glare to oncoming
traffic. Symmetrical lights do not illuminate
as large an area of the edge of the road.
Have the headlamps converted at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, as close to the border
as possible before driving in these countries.
Converting to asymmetrical low beam
after returning: have the headlamps
converted back to asymmetrical low beam at
a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, as soon as
possible after crossing the border when
returning.
Light switch
Operation1 WLeft-hand standing lamps2XRight-hand standing lamps3$Lights off/daytime running lamps4ÃAutomatic headlamp mode/daytime
running lamps5 TStanding lamps, perimeter lamps,
license plate illumination and
instrument cluster illumination6 LLow-beam/high-beam headlamps7NFront fog lamps8RRear fog lamp
The turn signals, high-beam headlamps and
the high-beam flasher are operated using the
combination switch ( Y page 93).
! Switch off the standing lamps, parking
lamps and low-beam headlamps when you
leave the vehicle. This prevents the battery
from discharging.
The exterior lighting (except the parking
lamps) switches off automatically if you:
R remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the SmartKey
in position 0
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
The Switch Off Lights message appears
in the multifunction display.
XTurn the light switch to $ or à .90Exterior lightingLights and windshield wipers

XIf you see the Turn off lights or
remove key message in the multifunction
display, remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock.
or
XTurn the light switch to $ or à .
Low-beam headlamps
XTo switch on: turn the SmartKey to
position 2 in the ignition lock or start the
engine.XTurn the light switch to L.
The L indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.XTo switch off: turn the light switch to
$ .
Daytime running lamps
Daytime running lamps in Canada
The "daytime running lamps" function is
required by law in Canada. It cannot therefore
be deactivated.
XTurn the light switch to $ or à .
When the engine is running: depending on
the ambient light, the low-beam headlamps
or the parking lamps are switched on.
When the low-beam headlamps are
switched on, the L indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
If the light switch is set to $ or à , you
cannot activate the high-beam headlamps.
However, the high-beam flasher can always
be used. Turn the light switch to L when
driving at night. You can switch on the high-
beam headlamps in this position.
When the engine is running and the vehicle is
stationary: if you move the selector lever from
a driving position to N or P, the low-beam
headlamps go out after three minutes.
When the engine is running: if you turn the
light switch to T, you turn on the parking
lamps and low-beam headlamps.
When the engine is running: if you turn the
light switch to L, the manual settings take
precedence over the daytime running lamps.
Daytime running lamps in the USA
In the USA, the daytime running lamps are
deactivated upon delivery from the factory.XTo switch on: activate the daytime
running lamps function in the on-board
computer ( Y page 164).XTurn the light switch to $ or à .
When the engine is on: the low-beam
headlamps are switched on. The L
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up.
If the light switch is set to $ or à , you
cannot switch on the high-beam headlamps
in bright conditions. Turn the light switch to
L . You can switch on the high-beam
headlamps in this position.
If the light switch is set to $, Ã or
L , you can switch on the high-beam
headlamps in less bright conditions.
However, the high-beam flasher can always
be used.
Turn the light switch to L when driving at
night.
When the engine is running: if you turn the
light switch to T or L , the manual
settings take precedence over the daytime
running lamps.
Automatic headlamp mode
GWarning
If the exterior lamp switch is set to Ã, the
headlamps will not automatically come on
under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others, activate
headlamps by turning exterior lamp switch to
L when traffic and/or ambient lighting
conditions require you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only switch
from position à to L with the vehicle
at a standstill in a safe location. Switching
Exterior lighting91Lights and windshield wipersZ

from à to L will briefly switch off the
headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an aid
to the driver. The driver is responsible for the
operation of the vehicle’s lights at all times.
The parking lamps, low-beam headlamps and
license plate lamp are switched on or off
automatically, depending on the brightness of
the ambient light.XTo switch on: turn the light switch to
à .
SmartKey in position 1 in the ignition lock:
the standing lamps are switched on or off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light.
When the engine is running: depending on
the ambient light, the parking lamps, the
low-beam headlamps and the license plate
lamp are switched on or off automatically.
When the low-beam headlamps are
switched on, the L indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
Canada only: if the light switch is in position
$ or à , you cannot switch on the high-
beam headlamps. However, the high-beam
flasher can always be used. Turn the light
switch to L when driving at night. You can
switch on the high-beam headlamps in this
position.
Front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
Front fog lamps
GWarning
If you suspect that driving conditions will be
foggy, turn the light switch to L before you
start your journey. Your vehicle may
otherwise not be visible and you could
endanger yourself and others.
GWarning
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position à to L with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from à to L will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions may
result in an accident.
XTo switch on: turn the SmartKey to
position 2 in the ignition lock or start the
engine.XTurn the light switch to L or T . If the
light switch is set to Ã, you cannot
switch on the fog lamps.XPull the light switch out to the first detent.
The green N indicator lamp on the light
switch lights up.XTo switch off: press the light switch in as
far as it will go.
The green N indicator lamp on the light
switch goes out.
Rear fog lamp
XTo switch on: turn the SmartKey to
position 2 in the ignition lock or start the
engine.XTurn the light switch to L or T . When
the light switch is set to Ã, you cannot
switch on the rear fog lamp.XPull the light switch out to the second stop.
The yellow R indicator lamp on the light
switch lights up.XTo switch off: press the light switch in as
far as it will go.
The yellow R indicator lamp on the light
switch goes out.92Exterior lightingLights and windshield wipers