2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350 BlueTEC fording

Driving over obstacles ...................176
Off-road driving .............................. 174
Off-road fording ............................. 171
Tire ruts ......................................... 176
Towing a trailer .............................. 209
Wet road surface ........................... 169
Winter ............................................ 173
DSR (Downhill Speed
Regulation) ......................................... 203
Display message ............................ 246
Setting (on-board computer) .......... 226
DVD audio (on-board computer) ...... 219
E
EASY-ENTRY feature ......................... 107
3rd row of seats ............................. 101
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 225
EASY-EXIT feature ............................. 107
3rd row of seats ............................. 101
Crash-responsive ........................... 107
EASY-PACK cargo compartment
management system ........................ 271
EASY-PACK load-securing kit ........... 271
EBD (Electronic Brake force
Distribution) Display message ............................ 236
Function/notes ................................ 68
Electrical fuses
see Fuses
Electronic Brake-force
Distribution) see EBD
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®

Electronic Traction Support
see 4ETS
Emergency call
see mbrace
Emergency release
Fuel filler flap ................................. 161
Vehicle ............................................. 80
Emergency running mode
Automatic transmission .................157
Emergency spare wheel
Storage location ............................ 311
Emergency tensioning device
Function ........................................... 57
Safety guidelines ............................. 37
Emissions purification
Service and warranty information ....19
Engine
Irregular running ............................ 151
Starting problems ..........................151
Starting the engine with the key ....148
Starting with KEYLESS GO .............149
Switching off .................................. 165
Warning lamp (engine
diagnostics) ................................... 259
Engine electronics
Malfunction .................................... 151
Engine emergency stop .................... 331
Engine number .................................. 364
Engine oil Adding ........................................... 296
Checking the oil level ..................... 295
Display message ............................ 242
Lubricant additives ........................369
Notes about oil grades ................... 368
Viscosity ........................................ 369
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability
Program) Activating/deactivating ...................67
Display message ............................ 230
Important safety information ...........66
Trailer stabilization ........................... 68
Warning lamp ................................. 257
Exhaust check ................................... 168
Exhaust tail pipe (cleaning
instructions) ...................................... 303
Exterior lighting see Lights
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ....................................... 108
Dipping (automatic) .......................109
Folding in/out (automatically) .......109
Folding in/out (electrically) ...........108
Folding in when locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 226
Out of position ............................... 109
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OCSFaults ............................................... 47
Operation ......................................... 42
System self-test ............................... 46
Octane number (fuel) ........................ 366
Odometer ........................................... 218
Off-road 4MATIC .......................................... 202
Differential locks ............................ 207
DSR ............................................... 203
LOW RANGE off-road gear .....158, 205
Off-road 4ETS .................................. 67
Off-road ABS .................................... 66
Off-road drive program ..................204
Off-road drive program ..................... 204
Off-road driving ................................. 174
Important safety instructions ......... 173
Off-road fording ................................. 171
Off-road terrain Off-road ESP .................................... 68
Oil
see Engine oil
On-board computer
Additional functions menu .............226
Audio menu ................................... 219
Convenience submenu ..................225
Displaying a service message ........299
Displaying the coolant
temperature ................................... 218
Displaying the outside
temperature ................................... 218
Display messages ..........................229
DISTRONIC menu .......................... 186
Factory settings ............................. 221
Important safety notes ..................214
Instrument cluster submenu ..........221
Lighting submenu .......................... 223
Message memory menu ................. 229
Navigation menu ............................ 220
Off-road menu ............................... 220
Operating video DVD .....................220
Operation ....................................... 215
Overview of menus ........................217
Selecting the language ..................222
Settings menu ............................... 221
Standard display menu ..................218
Telephone menu ............................ 227
Time/Date submenu .....................222Trip computer menu ......................227
Vehicle submenu ........................... 224
Opening and closing the side trim
panels ................................................. 123
Operating system see On-board computer
Outside temperature
Calling up (on-board computer) .....218
Display ........................................... 214
Overhead control panel
Overview .......................................... 33
Override feature
Rear side windows ...........................64
P
Paint code number ............................ 363
Paintwork (cleaning instructions) ... 301
Panel Removing (third row of seats) ........101
Panic alarm .......................................... 64
Parking ............................................... 165
Parking aid PARKTRONIC ................................. 195
Rear view camera .......................... 198
Parking brake .................................... 166
Parking lamp (display message) ...... 239
Parking position Exterior mirror on the front-
passenger side ............................... 109
PARKTRONIC ...................................... 195
Activating/deactivating .................197
Malfunction .................................... 198
Problem ......................................... 198
Range of the sensors .....................195
Trailer towing ................................. 197
Warning display ............................. 196
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp (only Canada) ............................. 48
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp (only USA) ................................... 42
Pedals ................................................. 167
Permanent four-wheel drive see 4MATIC
Plastic trim (cleaning instructions) . 304
Power supply (trailer) ....................... 212
Power washers .................................. 301
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Problems with the transmissionProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear.The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into 2nd gear and reverse gear.XStop the vehicle.XShift the transmission to position P.XSwitch off the engine.XWait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.XShift the transmission to position D or R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into 2nd gear; if R is
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.Transfer case
The vehicle has permanent 4-wheel drive
(4MATIC). Power is always transmitted to
both axles.
! Performance tests may only be carried
out on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake
system or transfer case could otherwise be
damaged. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for a performance
test. Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
use an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for this purpose.
! If the parking brake is being tested on a
brake dynamometer, the ignition must be
switched off (SmartKey or Start/Stop
button in position 0 or 1), as ESP ®
will
otherwise automatically intervene. The test
must last a maximum of 10 seconds. The
brake system could otherwise be damaged.
LOW RANGE off-road gear
The LOW RANGE off-road gear is only
available in vehicles with the Off-Road Pro
Engineering package.
Use the LOW RANGE off-road gear:
R when driving off-road
R when fording
R when towing on uphill or downhill gradients
When LOW RANGE is engaged, the engine’s
performance characteristics and the
gearshifting characteristics of the automatic
transmission are adapted for this purpose. In
addition, ABS, ESP ®
and 4ETS specially
adapted to off-road driving will be activated.
Information about driving off-road
( Y page 173).
Information about driving safety systems in
connection with LOW RANGE ( Y page 65).Automatic transmission157Driving and parkingBA 164.8 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 2, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-21T15:08:44+02:00 - Seite 157Z

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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XTo activate: press off-road button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up. Off-road
indicator = appears in the multifunction
display.XTo deactivate: press off-road button :.
Indicator lamp ; and off-road indicator
= go out.
LOW RANGE
General notes
The LOW RANGE off-road gear assists you in
driving off-road and when fording. When LOW
RANGE is engaged, the engine’s performance
characteristics and the gearshifting
characteristics of the automatic transmission
are adapted for this purpose. ABS, ESP ®
and
4ETS programs especially adapted to off-road
driving are also activated.
For information on "Off-road driving", see
( Y page 173) . You will find information about
driving safety systems in conjunction with
LOW RANGE in the "Safety" section
( Y page 65).
Shift rangesHIGH RANGERoad position for all
normal driving situationsLOW RANGEOff-road position for
driving off-road and
fording
The gear ratio between the
engine and wheels is only
approximately one third of
that in the HIGH RANGE
road position. The drive
torque is correspondingly
higher as a result.
Do not use LOW RANGE:
R on slippery road
surfaces, e.g. in the case
of slush
R on snow or ice-covered
roads
R if you have mounted
snow chains to your
vehicleGWarning!
Always wait until the procedure of shifting
from HIGH RANGE to LOW RANGE – and from
LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE – has been
entirely completed. During this procedure do
not turn off the engine or shift the automatic
transmission into another gear.
If you do not wait until the shifting procedure
has been entirely completed then it might not
be correctly performed. The transfer case
might be in neutral, thus interrupting the
transfer of power between the engine and the
drive axle.
The vehicle is then freely movable, even if a
gear has been selected, and could
unintentionally be set into motion –
particularly on up – or downhill grades. This
could lead to an accident and cause injury to
yourself and others.
Please observe related messages appearing
in the multifunction display.
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Automatic mode
Use automatic mode ; for all driving
situations, including driving off-road or when
fording.
In automatic mode, the differential locks are
engaged and disengaged according to driving
requirements. This guarantees sufficient
traction for most driving situations with
unrestricted vehicle steerability.
XStart the engine.
The differential locks are in automatic
mode. The indicator lamp in selector
wheel : lights up above symbol for
automatic mode ;.
Engaging manually
GWarning!
Never drive on a paved surface with the center
and rear axle differential locks manually
engaged. Ability to steer the vehicle is greatly
reduced when the differential locks are
manually engaged, increasing the risk of an
accident.
For safety reasons, the locks are
automatically released at a vehicle speed
above 31 mph (50 km/h). Nevertheless, you
should only manually lock the differential if
absolutely necessary because engaged locks
will restrict the vehicle drivetrain while
cornering and cause the vehicle to chatter.
This could cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident.
! The differential locks must not be
activated when the vehicle is being towed
or while the wheels are spinning.
Only engage the differential locks manually if
traction in automatic mode is insufficient.
At speeds of up to 19 mph (30 km/h), you
can engage the differential locks manually.XStart the engine.XTurn selector wheel : to desired position
= or ?.
The indicator lamp in selector wheel :
lights up at the corresponding symbol.
The engaged differential appears in the
multifunction display:
AThe differential lock for the transfer case
is locked.
If you have not previously selected the off-
road menu ( Y page 220) in the on-board
computer, the message disappears after
about five seconds.
The differential locks are not controlled
automatically. The steerability of the vehicle
is restricted considerably. Drive carefully and
accelerate gently for optimum traction.
! If the differential locks are activated
manually, the wheels scuff on the road
when cornering since the rotation
difference between the wheels is no longer
balanced out.
You can switch back to automatic mode at
any time. For safety reasons, the differential
locks disengage automatically at speeds
above 31 mph (50 km/h). If you stop the
vehicle and switch off the ignition for longer
than ten seconds, the differential locks
switch back to automatic mode.
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