2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350 BlueTEC roof

Off-road fording:Fording depthFordingdepthVehicles with the AIRMATIC
packageRaised level20 in.
(50 cm)Vehicles with the Off-Road
Pro engineering packageOff-road level 320 in.
(50 cm)Off-road level 220 in.
(50 cm)Off-road level 123.6 in.
(60 cm)
R Establish how deep the water is and the
characteristics of the body of water before
fording.
R Select the highest possible vehicle level.
R Select the off-road drive program
( Y page 204) or the LOW RANGE off-road
gear ( Y page 157).
R Select the off-road drive program
( Y page 204).
R Restrict the shift range to 1 or 2.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Enter and exit the water at a flat place and
at a steady walking pace.
! Under no circumstances should you
accelerate before entering the water. The
bow wave could cause water to enter and
damage the engine and other assemblies.
R Drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water.
R Do not stop.
! 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
Important safety notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, at the onset of
winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 173).
i Vehicles with a diesel engine: do not
cover the radiator, e.g. with a protective
cover. The measuring function of the
Onboard Diagnosis System may otherwise
provide inaccurate values. Some of these
values are required by law and must
therefore always be accurate.
Winter tires
Use winter tires at temperatures below
45 ‡ (7 †) and on snow or ice-covered roads.
Only winter tires also bearing the i
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GWarning!
Please be aware that by raising the vehicle
level, the center of gravity also rises.
Therefore, always ensure that the vehicle
level is as low as possible. With higher ride
height the ESP ®
may activate earlier in certain
situations.
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 information
Read this section before driving your vehicle
off-road. Practice by traveling over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics
of your vehicle and the gear change process
before driving through difficult terrain.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R off-road drive program (vehicles without
the Off-Road Pro engineering package)
( Y page 204)
R LOW RANGE off-road gear ( Y page 157)
R off-road ABS ( Y page 66)
R off-road 4ETS ( Y page 67)
R off-road ESP ®
(Y page 68)
R hill start assist
R differential locks ( Y page 207)
R DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
( Y page 203)
Observe the following notes:
R stop your vehicle and, if necessary, select
the off-road drive program (Y page 204) or
the LOW RANGE off-road gear
( Y page 157) before driving off-road.
R select a vehicle level that is suitable for the
terrain. Make sure there is always sufficient
ground clearance to prevent damage to the
vehicle.
R activate the differential lock if necessary.
R make sure that items of luggage and cargo
are stowed safely and are well secured
( Y page 268).
R always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
Activate DSR ( Y page 203).
R always keep the doors, tailgate, windows
and the tilt/sliding sunroof closed while the
vehicle is in motion.
R adapt the speed to suit the terrain
conditions. The more uneven, worn or
steeper the terrain is, the slower you should
drive.
R drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water. Ensure that a bow wave does not
form as you drive.
R drive with extreme care on unfamiliar off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
R look out for obstacles, such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
R check the depth of water before fording
rivers and streams.
R do not stop in water and do not switch the
engine off.
R drive quickly on sand to overcome the
rolling resistance. Otherwise, the vehicle
could dig itself into the sand.
R do not jump with the vehicle. This
interrupts the vehicle's traction.
R always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on slopes.
R do not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N.174Driving tipsDriving and parking
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Side view
Top view
Front sensors
CenterApprox. 40 in (100 cm)CornersApprox. 24 in (60 cm)
Rear sensors
CenterApprox. 48 in (120 cm)CornersApprox. 32 in (80 cm)
! When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such
as flower pots or trailer drawbars.
PARKTRONIC 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 truck's compressed-air brakes
or a pneumatic drill could cause
PARKTRONIC to malfunction.
Minimum distanceCenterApprox. 8 in (20 cm)CornersApprox. 6 in (15 cm)
If there is an obstacle within this range, all
warning displays light up and a warning tone
sounds. If the distance falls below the
minimum, the distance may no longer be
shown.
Warning displays
The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is located
on the dashboard above the center air vents.
The warning display for the rear area is in the
roof lamp in the rear compartment.
Warning display for the front area
:Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle;Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle=Segments showing operational readiness
The warning display for each side of the
vehicle is divided into five yellow and two red
segments. PARKTRONIC is operational if
yellow segments showing operational
readiness = light up.
The selected transmission position
determines which warning display is active
when the engine is running.
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XInsert one mounting element ; into each
loading rail.XTurn mounting elements ; in the loading
rail to =.XInsert telescopic rod : into mounting
elements ;.XTurn mounting element ; to & until
you feel it clearly engage in the loading rail.
Roof carrier
Important safety notes
GWarning!
Only use carriers when the crossbars have
been completely mounted. The left and right
roof rails are only stabilized by means of the
crossbars mounted.
Follow the manufacturer’s installation
instructions. Otherwise, an improperly
attached carrier or its load could become
detached from the vehicle.
Do not exceed the maximum roof load of
198 lb (90 kg).
Take into consideration that when the roof is
loaded, the handling characteristics are
different from those when operating the
vehicle without the roof loaded.
! Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use roof carriers that have been tested
and approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
This helps to prevent damage to the
vehicle.
Position the cargo on the roof rack in such
a way that the vehicle will not sustain
damage even when it is in motion.
Depending on the vehicle equipment,
ensure that when the roof carrier is
installed you can:
R raise the tilt/sliding sunroof fully
R open the tailgate fully
Fastening the roof carrierXSecure the roof carrier to roof rails :.XObserve the manufacturer's installation
instructions.
Crossbar
The maximum roof load that can be utilized in
conjunction with accessories is reduced by
the dead weight of the crossbars (13.7 lbs/
6.2 kg).
! Note that installing the crossbar
increases the vehicle height by 50 mm
compared to the height stated in the
"Technical data" section.
The keys and an Allen key are stored with the
vehicle tool kit in the stowage compartment
under the cargo compartment floor
( Y page 310).
i Spare parts are available as Mercedes-
Benz accessories. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
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Installing the crossbarsGWarning!
Please follow these installation instructions
carefully. Caution should be exercised to
avoid damage to the vehicle while installing
the crossbars. Also, be careful not to injure
yourself or others while installing and
adjusting the crossbars or loading items on
them.
Each individual step of the installation
instructions, the warning notices, the general
safety precautions and the instructions for
use must be followed exactly. If the crossbars
are not mounted correctly, they and the
objects attached to them could come loose
from your vehicle and cause an accident,
thereby injuring you and other persons and/
or causing damage to property, including
damage to your vehicle.
GWarning!
Every time the crossbars are mounted, before
you set off on a journey and periodically
during longer journeys, check all the screws
on the crossbars to make sure that they are
secure, and tighten them if necessary. Repeat
these checks at regular intervals as road-
surface conditions dictate, and at least after
every 1500 miles (2500 km) of continuous
use.
Otherwise, the crossbars, mounted
accessories and the objects attached to them
could come loose from the vehicle causing an
accident, thereby injuring you and other
persons and/or causing damage to property,
including damage to your vehicle.
Do not use lubricant on the screws of the
crossbars. The screws could work loose and
the crossbars could become detached from
your vehicle, together with the objects
attached to them causing an accident,
thereby injuring you and other persons and/
or causing damage to property, including
damage to your vehicle.
GWarning!
Only install the crossbars at the exact
locations designated on the roof rails. The
designated locations for the front crossbars
are between the markings engraved on the
inside of the roof rails. The designated
locations for the rear crossbars are between
the gaps on the roof rails.
Otherwise, the crossbars, mounted
accessories and the objects attached to them
could come loose from the vehicle causing an
accident, thereby injuring you and other
persons and/or causing damage to property,
including damage to your vehicle.
GWarning!
A roof load creates a greater surface area
exposed to the wind and causes the vehicle
to have a higher center of gravity, thereby
changing the vehicle’s driving characteristics.
Accordingly, the additional weight on the roof
of the vehicle can have a detrimental effect
on braking, cornering and acceleration.
Never exceed the maximum permissible roof
load or the maximum permissible vehicle
weight, even when accessories for the
crossbars (e.g. ski racks, bicycle racks, etc.)
are being used. Overloading the vehicle could
result in an accident. When calculating the
weight placed on the roof please make sure
to add the weight of the crossbars, accessory
racks and the load carried together.
Always adapt your driving style to the road,
traffic and weather conditions, and drive with
added caution when the roof is loaded.
Always drive with extreme care when the
carrier is loaded. Take into consideration that
when the carrier is loaded, the handling
characteristics are different from those when
operating the vehicle without a carrier loaded.
GWarning!
Do not use accessories which have not been
approved by Mercedes-Benz for use in
conjunction with these crossbars. If non-
approved accessories are used, these
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accessories and/or the objects attached to
them could come loose from the vehicle,
thereby injuring you and other persons and/
or causing damage to property, including
damage to your vehicle.
! Have a second person assist you when
installing the crossbars. Otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
! Objects that are attached to crossbar
system accessories must not limit or
obstruct the movement of the sliding
sunroof. Otherwise, the tilt/sliding sunroof
could be damaged when it is raised.:Key;Protective cap=FRONT (or REAR) sticker?Bolt for the clamping clawAClamping claw
The front and rear crossbars differ in length.
For this reason, pay attention to FRONT or
REAR sticker = on the crossbars.
XUnlock protective cap ; using key :.XRemove protective cap ;.
Sticker = for identifying the installation
location FRONT or REAR becomes visible.XTurn bolt ? counter-clockwise using the
Allen key until clamping claw A is wide
open.BFront crossbarCRear crossbarDRecessesEMarkingsFRoof railsXPosition front crossbar B between marks
E on roof rails F.
i
There are marks E on the inner edge of
the roof rail that are identified by white
lines.
?Bolt for the clamping clawAClamping clawFRoof railsXEnsure that clamping claw A sits flush
against the inner edge of roof rail F.
If necessary, adjust the span width of the
crossbar ( Y page 276).XSlightly tighten up bolts ? on both sides
in a clockwise direction.XPosition rear crossbar C on roof rails F
so that the clamping claws engage in
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XEnsure that clamping claw A sits flush
against the inner edge of roof rail F.
If necessary, adjust the span width of the
crossbar ( Y page 276).XSlightly tighten up bolts ? on both sides
in a clockwise direction.XTighten up bolts ? on the front and rear
crossbars. Observe the tightening torque of
4 lb/ft (6 Nm) .GWarning!
Have the tightening torque checked after
mounting the crossbars. The screws could
come loose if they are not tightened to a
torque of 4 lb-ft (6 Nm).
XAttach and lock protective caps ;.XStow the key and Allen key in the stowage
compartment under the cargo
compartment floor again ( Y page 274).
Setting the span width of the crossbars
GWarning!
Only install the crossbars at the exact
locations designated on the roof rails. The
designated locations for the front crossbars
are between the markings engraved on the
inside of the roof rails. The designated
locations for the rear crossbars are between
the gaps on the roof rails.
Otherwise, the crossbars, mounted
accessories and the objects attached to them
could come loose from the vehicle causing an
accident, thereby injuring you and other
persons and/or causing damage to property,
including damage to your vehicle.
The span width of the crossbars for your
vehicle is set at the factory. The span widths
only fit in the intended positions on the
vehicle.
Only install the crossbars at the marked
positions and observe stickers = FRONT and
REAR.
?Bolt for the clamping clawAClamping clawGBolts for adjusting the span width (2 per
side)HCover stripXPull cover strip H out of the groove until
bolts G on both ends of the crossbar are
visible.XTurn bolts G on both sides approximately
two turns counterclockwise.XAlign the crossbars on the marked
positions on the roof rails.XEnsure that clamping claws A sit flush
with the roof rails on both sides. If
necessary, pull out or slide into clamping
claws A.XTighten bolts G. Observe the tightening
torque of 4 lb/ft (6 Nm) .
The width of the clamping claw is not set
correctly.GWarning!
Have the tightening torque checked after
mounting the crossbars. The screws could
come loose if they are not tightened to a
torque of 4 lb-ft (6 Nm).
XPress cover strip H piece by piece into the
groove of the crossbar.XInstall the crossbars as described
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Removing the crossbars:Key;Protective cap=Sticker FRONT (or REAR)?Bolt for the clamping clawAClamping clawXUnlock protective cap ; using key :.XRemove protective cap ;.XTurn the bolts of clamping claws A
counterclockwise until the crossbars can
be removed from the roof rails.
Shortening the cover strip
The cover strips reduce the wind noise
caused by the crossbars. If additional roof
accessories are installed it may be necessary
to shorten the cover strips.
HCover stripXPull cover strip H out of the groove.XInstall the roof accessory on the crossbars.XPlace cover strip H flush with the roof
accessory and mark the end of the crossbar
on the cover strip.XCut off cover strip H at the marked
position.XPress cover strip H into the groove of the
crossbar, piece by piece.
i Cover strips are available as Mercedes-
Benz accessories. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Features
Cup holder
Points to observe before use
GWarning
In order to help prevent spilling liquids on
vehicle occupants and/or vehicle equipment,
only use containers that fit into the cup
holder. Use lids on open containers and do
not fill containers to a height where the
contents, especially hot liquids, could spill
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an
accident. Liquids spilled on vehicle occupants
may cause serious personal injury. Liquids
spilled on vehicle equipment may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
When not in use, keep the cup holder closed.
An open cup holder may cause injury to you
or others when contacted during braking,
vehicle maneuvers, or in an accident.
Keep in mind that objects placed in the cup
holder may come loose during braking,
vehicle maneuvers, or in an accident and be
thrown around in the vehicle interior. Objects
thrown around in the vehicle interior may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Cup holder in the center console
In the upper center console, there is a cup
holder and a removable support with a card
holder
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