2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL tow

Operating safety
Safety notes
GWarning
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because the
vehicle's electronic components are
interconnected, any modifications made may
produce an undesired effect on other
systems. Electronic malfunctions could
seriously impair the operating safety of your
vehicle.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for repairs or modifications to electronic
components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function when the
engine is running. You should therefore never
turn off the engine while driving.
GWarning
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody or
tires/wheels may cause serious damage and
impair the operating safety of your vehicle.
Such blows can be caused, for example, by
running over an obstacle, road debris or a
pothole. If you feel a sudden significant
vibration or ride disturbance, or you suspect
that damage to your vehicle has occurred:
R turn on your hazard warning flashers.
R slow down carefully.
R drive with caution to an area which is a safe
distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and tires/
wheels for possible damage. If the vehicle
appears unsafe, have it towed to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or other
qualified maintenance or repair facility for
further inspection or repairs.
Proper use of the vehicle
To ensure proper use of the vehicle, you must
familiarize yourself with the following
information and rules:
R safety notes in this Operator's Manual
R technical data in this Operator's Manual
R traffic rules and regulations
R laws and safety standards pertaining to
motor vehicles
GWarning!
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended to
make you and others aware of various risks.
Do not remove any of these warning labels
unless explicitly instructed to do so by
information on the label itself.
Removing warning labels may cause you and
others to be unaware of certain risks which
may result in an accident and/or personal
injury.
Problems with your vehicle
If you should experience a problem with your
vehicle, particularly one that you believe may
affect its safe operation, we urge you to
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the problem diagnosed
and rectified. If the problem is not resolved to
your satisfaction, please discuss the problem
with the Mercedes-Benz Center again or, if
necessary, contact us at one of the following
addresses.
In the USA
Customer Assistance Center
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
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Exterior viewFunctionPage:Tailgate80Vehicle tool kit310;Rear window heating141=Lights120?Fuel filler flap159AExterior mirrors108BRoof carrier273Sliding sunroof88CDefrosting the windshield140Cleaning the windows302FunctionPageDWindshield wipers125EOpening the hood294Engine oil295Coolant297FTowing away327GTires and wheels334Flat tire31126Exterior viewAt a glance
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Center console
Vehicles without the Off-Road Pro engineering package
FunctionPage:COMAND APS; see the
separate operating
instructions
;Seat heating104=Seat ventilation105?PARKTRONIC195ALevel control189B42 indicator
lamp (USA only)42
42 indicator
lamp (Canada only)48
CStowage compartment264FunctionPageDATA indicator lamp69EESP®66FSelects ADS settings194GDSR203HHazard warning lamps117IOffroad program204JAshtray279Cigarette lighter280KCup holder277LStowage compartment264Center console31At a glanceBA 164.8 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 2, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-21T15:08:44+02:00 - Seite 31

Vehicles with the Off-Road Pro engineering packageFunctionPage:COMAND APS; see the
separate operating
instructions
;Seat heating104=Seat ventilation105?Engages the differential
locks207
ALOW RANGE off-road gear157BDSR203CLevel control189DATA indicator lamp69ESelects ADS settings194FunctionPageFESP®66GPARKTRONIC195HHazard warning lamps117I42 indicator
lamp (USA only)42
42 indicator
lamp (Canada only)48
JAshtray279Cigarette lighter280KCup holder277LStowage compartment26432Center consoleAt a glance
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XSlide the belt sash guide downwards.XRelease belt sash guide release : and
make sure that the belt sash guide has
engaged.
Releasing seat belts
XPress release button ?(Y page 55) and
guide belt tongue ;(Y page 55) back
towards belt sash guide :(Y page 55).
!
Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled
up. Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue
will be trapped in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This could damage the door,
the door trim panel and the seat belt.
Damaged seat belts can no longer fulfill
their protective function and must be
replaced. Consult an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
Belt warning for driver and front
passenger
Regardless of whether the driver's and front-
passenger seat belts have already been
fastened, the 7 seat belt warning lamp
lights up for six seconds each time the engine
is started. It then goes out once the driver and
the front passenger have fastened their seat
belts.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened after
the engine is started, an additional warning
tone will sound. The warning tone goes out
after approximately six seconds or once the
driver's seat belt is fastened.
If after six seconds the driver or front-
passenger have not fastened their seat belts
and the doors are closed:
R the 7 seat belt warning lamp remains
illuminated as long as either the driver's or
front-passenger seat belt is not fastened.
R if the vehicle speed once exceeds 15 mph
(25 km/h), the 7 seat belt warning
lamp lights up. Additionally, a warning tone
will sound with increasing intensity for a
maximum of 60 seconds or until the
driver's and front-passenger seat belt are
fastened.
If the driver/front passenger unfasten their
seat belt while the vehicle is in motion, the
7 seat belt warning lamp lights up and a
warning tone sounds again.
The warning tone ceases even if the driver or
front passenger have still not fastened their
seat belt after 60 seconds. The 7 seat belt
warning lamp stops flashing but continues to
be illuminated.
After the vehicle has come to a standstill, the
warning tone is reactivated and the 7 seat
belt warning lamp flashes again if the vehicle
speed has exceeded 15 mph (25 km/h).
The 7 seat belt warning lamp only goes
out if:
R both the driver and the front passenger
have fastened their seat belts
or
R the vehicle is stationary and a door is open
i For more information on the 7 seat
belt warning lamp, see "Indicator and
warning lamps in the instrument cluster,
seat belt" ( Y page 255).
Emergency Tensioning Devices and
seat belt force limiters
The seat belts for the front seats are equipped
with ETDs/belt buckle tensioners and seat
belt force limiters. The outer seat belts in the
second row of seats are equipped with ETDs
and belt force limiters. The seat belts for the
third row of seats are equipped with ETDs.
! If the front-passenger seat is not
occupied, do not engage the seat belt
tongue in the buckle on the front-
passenger seat. Otherwise, the Emergency
Tensioning Device/belt buckle tensioner
could be triggered in the event of an
accident.
ETDs/belt buckle tensioners tighten the seat
belts in an accident, pulling them close
against the body.
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ETDs/belt buckle tensioners do not correct
incorrect seat positions or incorrectly
fastened seat belts.
ETDs do not pull vehicle occupants back
towards the backrest.
Seat belt force limiters, when activated, are
employed to help reduce the force exerted by
the seat belts on occupants during a crash.
The front belt force limiters are synchronized
with the front air bags, which take on a part
of the deceleration force. Thus, the force
exerted on the occupant is distributed over a
greater area.
The ETDs/belt buckle tensioners can only be
activated when:
R the ignition is switched on
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" ( Y page 36)
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the three-point seat belts in the
front
R the front-passenger seat is occupied and
the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
the front-passenger side.
The ETDs on the outside seats in the second
row and on the seats in the third row are
triggered independently of the lock status of
the seat belts.
The ETDs are triggered depending on the type
and severity of an accident:
R in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision if the vehicle decelerates or
accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal
direction during the initial stages of the
impact
R in the event of a side impact, on the side
opposite the impact if the vehicle
decelerates or accelerates rapidly in a
lateral direction
R in certain situations if the vehicle overturns
and the system determines that it can
provide additional protection.
If the ETDs/belt buckle tensioners are
triggered, you will hear a bang and a small
amount of powder may also be released. Onlyin rare cases will the bang affect your hearing.
The powder that is released generally does
not constitute a health hazard. The + SRS
warning lamp lights up.
i If the belt buckle tensioners have been
triggered on the front seats, the buckle will
be pulled down and will be almost flush with
the upper edge of the seat. The + SRS
warning lamp is lit.GWarning
The belt buckle tensioners on the front seats
only function if the belt buckles can be pulled
down unobstructed. They must not be
restricted in any way. Therefore, do not grab
the belt buckles and do not place any objects
under the belt buckles. Otherwise, the
tensioning of the belt by the buckle is
restricted or will not function, and will not
provide any additional protection.
GWarning
Pyrotechnical ETDs/belt buckle tensioners
that were activated must be replaced.
For your safety, when disposing of the
pyrotechnic ETDs/belt buckle tensioners
always follow our safety instructions. These
instructions are available from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The PRE-SAFE ®
system is equipped with
electrically reversible pre-tensioners that do
not need replacing after deployment.
58Occupant safetySafety
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Unlocking and opening doors from
the inside
You can open a door from inside the vehicle
even if it has been locked, unless the child-
proof locks have been activated (Y page 64).
Open the door only when the traffic
conditions permit.
If the vehicle has been opened with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO key, opening from
inside triggers the anti-theft alarm system.
Switch off the alarm ( Y page 69).XPull door handle ;.
If the door is locked, locking knob : pops
up. The door is unlocked and can be
opened.
Centrally locking and unlocking the
vehicle from the inside
You can centrally lock or unlock the vehicle
from the inside. This feature may be useful if,
for example, you wish to unlock the front-
passenger door from the inside or lock the
vehicle before you pull away.
The central locking/unlocking button does
not lock or unlock the fuel filler flap.
The buttons are located on both front doors.
i You cannot unlock the vehicle centrally
from the inside if the vehicle has been
locked with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO.
i It is only possible to lock the vehicle
centrally if the front-passenger door is
closed.
XTo lock: press button ;.
The vehicle locks itself when all doors and
the tailgate are closed.XTo unlock: press button :.
You can open a front door from inside the
vehicle even if it has been locked. Open the
door only when the traffic conditions permit.
If the vehicle has been locked with the locking
button for the central locking function:
R and the SmartKey has been reset to the
factory settings, the complete vehicle is
unlocked when a front door is opened from
the inside
R and the SmartKey has been set to an
individual setting, only the front door that
is opened from the inside is unlocked
If the vehicle has been locked centrally with
the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO, it is not
unlocked if you use the unlocking button for
the central locking system.
Automatic locking
The vehicle locks automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels of the
vehicle are moving at a speed above 9 mph
(15 km/h) . Therefore, there is a risk of being
locked out when the vehicle is being pushed,
towed or tested on a dynamometer.
You can switch the automatic locking
function on and off using the on-board
computer ( Y page 224).
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Changing the rear bulbs
Opening/closing the side trim
You must open the side trim panel in the
cargo compartment before you can change
the bulbs in the tail lamps.
Left-hand side trim panel
XTo open: turn release knob : 90° in the
direction of the arrow and remove side trim
panel ;.XInsert a suitable object, e.g. a coin, into the
slots of release knobs =.XTurn release knobs = 90° in the direction
of the arrow and remove stowage
compartment ?.XTo close: insert stowage
compartment ? and turn release
knobs = in the opposite direction to the
arrow until the slots on the release knobs
are in a vertical position.XInsert side trim panel ; and turn release
knob : 90° in the opposite direction to
the arrow.Right-hand side trim panelXTo open: insert a suitable object, e.g. a
coin, into the slot of release knob : on
side trim panel ;.XTurn release knob : 90° in the direction
of the arrow and remove side trim
panel ;.XTo close: insert side trim panel ; and turn
release knob : 90° in the opposite
direction to the arrow.
Tail lamps with LEDs
:Rear fog lamp ;Backup lamp XSwitch off the lights.XOpen the cargo compartment.XOpen the side trim panel ( Y page 123).XTurn the corresponding bulb holder
counter-clockwise and remove it.XRemove the bulb from the bulb holder.XInsert the new bulb into the bulb holder.Changing bulbs123Lights and windshield wipersBA 164.8 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 2, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-21T15:08:44+02:00 - Seite 123Z