2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class tow

Emergency Tensioning Devices, belt
force limiters
The front seat belts and the outer seat belts
in the rear are equipped with ETDs and seat
belt force limiters.
The
ETDs
tighten the seat belts in an accident,
pulling them close against the body.
The ETDs do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
The ETDs do not pull vehicle occupants back
towards the backrest.
Seat belt force limiters, when triggered, help
to reduce the peak force exerted by the seat
belt on the vehicle occupant.
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 can only be activated when:
R the SmartKey is in position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock.
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" ( Y page 32).
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the lap-shoulder 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 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 certain situations if the vehicle overturns
and the system determines that it can
provide additional protection
If the Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
are triggered, you will hear a bang, and a small
amount of smoke may also be released. Only
in rare cases will the bang affect your hearing.
The smoke that is released generally does not constitute a health hazard. The + SRS
warning lamp lights up. G
WARNING
Pyrotechnic ETDs that were activated must be
replaced.
For your safety, when disposing of the
pyrotechnic ETDs always follow our safety
instructions. These are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
! 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 could be triggered in the
event of an accident. Children in the vehicle
Child restraint systems
Important safety notes We recommend that all infants and children
be properly restrained in an infant or child
restraint
system

at all times while the vehicle
is in motion.
Always use a child restraint system that is
compatible with BabySmart™ on the front-
passenger seat.
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, the U.S.
territories and all Canadian provinces.
Infants and children must always be seated in
an appropriate infant or child restraint system
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. The infant or child restraint system
must be properly secured in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions. All infant or
child restraint systems must comply with U.S.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 210.2.
An information label on the child restraint
system indicates whether it meets these Children in the vehicle
47
Safety Z

BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake pedal
quickly,
BAS
automatically boosts the braking
force, thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. G
WARNING
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system still
functions, but without the additional brake
boost available that the BAS would normally
provide in an emergency braking maneuver.
Therefore, the

braking distance may increase.ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Observe "Important safety notes"
(Y page 53).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction.
Traction is the power transmission between
the tires and the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. If

necessary, the engine output is also
modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or
slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the
vehicle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster. G
WARNING
Under no circumstances should you
deactivate ESP ®
when the ÷ ESP ®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. Proceed as follows:
R when driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R while driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R adapt your

speed to suit the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid. ESP ®
cannot
prevent accidents resulting from excessive
speed.
! Switch the ignition off when:
R the parking brake is being tested using a
dynamometer
R the vehicle is being towed with the front
or rear axle raised
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
! Only operate the vehicle for a maximum
of ten seconds on a brake test
dynamometer. Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy 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.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
i If differential locks are switched on, ABS,
BAS and ESP ®
switch themselves off
automatically. Driving safety systems
55
Safety Z

X
To arm: lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
Indicator lamp : flashes. The alarm
system is armed after approximately 15
seconds.
X To deactivate: unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
i If you

then do not open a side door or the
rear door, the alarm system switches itself
back on again after approximately
40 seconds.
X To stop the alarm: insert the SmartKey
into the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
or
X Press the % or & button on the
SmartKey.
The alarm is switched off. Tow-away alarm
An audible
and visual alarm is triggered if your
vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while
the tow-away alarm is armed. This occurs if
the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for
example.
X To arm: lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is armed after
approximately 30 seconds.
X To deactivate:
unlock
the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is deactivated
automatically.
To prevent a false alarm, deactivate the tow-
away alarm manually if your vehicle:
R is being transported
R is being loaded onto a ferry or car
transporter, for example
R is parked on a movable surface, e.g. in a
split-level garage Deactivating:
X
Remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock. X
Press button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up briefly.
X Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm remains deactivated
until the vehicle is unlocked and locked
again.58
Theft deterrent locking systems
Safety

i
It is only possible to lock the vehicle
centrally if all doors are closed. X
To unlock: press button :.
X To lock: press button ;.
You can open a front door from inside the
vehicle even if it has been locked. Only open
the door when the traffic situation permits.
If the
vehicle has been locked with the central
locking button:
R and the SmartKey is restored to the factory
settings, the entire vehicle is unlocked if a
front door is opened from inside the
vehicle.
R and the SmartKey is set to an individual
setting, only the front door that is opened
from inside the vehicle is unlocked.
If the vehicle has been locked centrally with
the SmartKey, it does not unlock if you use
the central locking button. Automatic locking feature
The vehicle locks automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels of the
vehicle are moving at a speed of more than
9 mph

(15 km/h). There is therefore 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 161). Unlocking the driver's door
(mechanical key)
If the vehicle can no longer be unlocked
centrally with the SmartKey:
X Take the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (Y page 61). X
Insert the mechanical key into the lock of
the driver's door as far as it will go.
X Turn mechanical key ; counter-clockwise
to position
1.
The door is unlocked.
X Turn mechanical key ; back and remove
it. Locking the vehicle
If the vehicle can no longer be locked
centrally with the SmartKey:
X Close the front-passenger door, the rear
doors and the tailgate.
X Press the locking button (Y page 65).
X Make sure that the locking knobs on the
doors are still visible. Press down the
locking knobs by hand, if necessary.
X Close the driver's door from the outside.66
Doors
Opening/closing

Sliding sunroof
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Children could injure themselves if they
operate the sliding sunroof.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. Always take the SmartKey with you
when leaving
the vehicle, even if you are only
leaving it for a short time. G
WARNING
When closing the sliding sunroof, make sure
that there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
The opening procedure of the sliding sunroof
can be immediately halted by releasing the
sunroof switch or, if the sunroof switch was
moved past

the resistance point and released,
by moving the sunroof switch in any direction.
The closing procedure of the sliding sunroof
can be immediately halted by releasing the
sliding sunroof switch. The closing procedure
of the sliding sunroof can be immediately
reversed by moving the sliding sunroof switch
toward : or ?.
If you are not wearing a seat belt, or are not
wearing it correctly, there is a risk that you
could be thrown through the opening in the
event of the vehicle overturning. An opening
of this kind poses a risk of injury even to
passengers who are wearing their seat belts
correctly, as parts of the body could protrude
from the vehicle interior.
! Only open the sliding sunroof if it is free
of snow and ice. Otherwise, malfunctions
may occur.
Do not allow anything to protrude from the
sliding sunroof. Otherwise, the seals could
be damaged.
! If the sliding sunroof still cannot be
opened or closed as a result of a
malfunction, contact a qualified specialist
workshop. !
The weather

can change abruptly. It could
start to rain or snow. Make sure that the
sliding sunroof is closed when you leave the
vehicle. The vehicle electronics can be
damaged if water enters the vehicle
interior.
i Resonance noises can occur in addition
to the usual airflow noises when the sliding
sunroof is open. They are caused by minor
pressure fluctuations in the vehicle interior.
Change the position of the sliding sunroof
or open a side window slightly to reduce or
eliminate these noises. Opening and closing the sliding
sunroof
Overhead control panel
:
To raise
; To lower
= To close
? To open
X Turn
the SmartKey to position
1 or
2
in the
ignition lock.
X Press or pull the 2 switch in the
corresponding direction.
i If you press the 2 switch beyond the
point of resistance while opening, an
automatic opening process is started. You
can stop

automatic operation by operating
the switch again. 70
Sliding sunroof
Opening/closing

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.
X Switch 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 161).
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
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/ EXIT feature. This could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
G
WARNING
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in
motion. All steering wheel adjustment must
be completed before setting the vehicle in
motion. Driving off with the steering wheel
still adjusting could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
! Do not activate the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT
feature, if

the seat backrest is reclined too
far backwards. This can damage the front
or rear seats. You must first move the
backrest to a vertical position.
Position of the steering wheel when the
EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is active The steering wheel moves upwards and
towards the dashboard if:
R
you remove

the SmartKey from the ignition
lock or
R you open the driver's door with the
SmartKey in position 0 or 1 in the ignition
lock.
i The steering wheel only moves upwards
and towards the dashboard if it has not
already reached the upper end stop.
Position of the steering wheel for
driving The steering wheel is moved to the last
selected position when:
R
the driver's door is closed.
R you insert the SmartKey into the ignition
lock
The last position of the steering wheel is
stored when you switch off the ignition or
when you store the setting with the memory
function ( Y page 85). Steering wheel
83
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors Z

A
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing
the
brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
Do not shift the transmission to N
while driving. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission could be
damaged.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to
position N if the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
If you want to engage the transfer
case, shift briefly into N
(Y page 145).
! Rolling in neutral N can damage
the drive train. 7
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission position D. This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
R a shift range restriction, if selected
R the position of the transfer case ( HIGH or
LOW)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the
automatic transmission shifts gear:
R
little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X
Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic

transmission shifts back up.
Working on the vehicle G
WARNING
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and shift the automatic
transmission into park position P. Otherwise
the vehicle

could roll away which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal injury. Shift ranges
Introduction When the automatic transmission is in
position D, it is possible to restrict or
derestrict the shift range
(

Y page 121). Automatic transmission
121
Driving and parking Z

:
Shift range selected
; Current transfer case position
Selected shift range : and current transfer
case position ; are shown in the cluster
multifunction display. The automatic
transmission shifts
only as far as the selected
gear.
! When the transfer case is in the off-road
driving position LOW range, the automatic
transmission does not shift up, even when
the engine has reached the overrevving
limit. There is then a risk of engine damage.
Make sure that you do not exceed the
maximum permissible engine speed. Driving situations
=
You can use the engine's braking
effect.
5
To use the braking effect of the
engine on downhill gradients and
for driving:
R
on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions 4
To use the braking effect of the
engine on

extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretches Restricting the shift range
X
Press the selector lever to the left towards
D–.
The automatic

transmission shifts down to
the next gear, depending on the gear
currently selected. This also restricts the
shift range.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
i If the

maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up in order to prevent the engine
from overrevving, even if the shift range is
restricted.
Derestricting the shift range X
Briefly press the selector lever to the right
towards D+ .
The automatic

transmission shifts up to the
next gear, depending on the shift range
selected. This also derestricts the shift
range.
Clearing the shift range restriction X
Press and hold the selector lever towards
D+ until D is shown once more in the
multifunction display.
The automatic

transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
Selecting the ideal shift range X
Press the selector lever to the left towards
D– and hold it in position.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
gear which allows optimum acceleration
and deceleration.

To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more
gears.
i The automatic transmission cannot shift
down beyond

second gear. To shift into first122
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking