2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class ECU

X
Take mechanical key ; out of the
SmartKey (Y page 61).
X Insert mechanical key ; into the lock of
the driver's door as far as it will go.
X Turn mechanical key ; clockwise
as far as
it will go to position 1.
X Turn the mechanical key back and remove
it.
X Make sure that the doors and the tailgate
are locked.
i If you

lock the vehicle as described above,
the fuel filler flap is not locked. The anti-
theft alarm system is not armed. Cargo compartment
Important safety notes
Do not leave the SmartKey in the cargo
compartment. Otherwise, you could lock
yourself out. G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system,

and do not give them access
to an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. They could:
R injure themselves on vehicle parts
R be seriously or fatally injured by extreme
heat or cold
R injure themselves or have an accident with
vehicle equipment that may still be in
operation even after the SmartKey has
been removed from the ignition, such as the
seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment or memory function.
If children open a door, they could cause
severe or even fatal injury to other persons; if
they get out of the vehicle, they could injure
themselves when doing so or be seriously or
even fatally injured by any passing traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and a child could be burned on these
parts. G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or cargo
compartment unless they are firmly secured
in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident Cargo compartment
67
Opening/closing Z

Seats
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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. Seats
75
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
Z

X
Turn the bulb counterclockwise, applying
slight pressure, and remove it from bulb
holder.
X Insert the new bulb into the bulb holder and
turn it clockwise until it engages.
! When installing the lens, make sure that
the seal is positioned correctly.
X Install lens ;.
X Replace and tighten screws :.
! Do not fasten the screws too tightly. You
could otherwise damage the lens.
X G 55 AMG: secure the protective grille
(Y page 98).
Backup lamp/rear fog lamp Example: rear fog lamp
X
Switch off the lights.
X Remove screws ;.
X Remove lens :. X
Turn bulb = counterclockwise, applying
slight pressure,
and remove it from the bulb
holder.
X Insert the new bulb into the bulb holder and
turn it clockwise until it engages.
X Install lens :.
X Replace and tighten screws ;.
! Do not fasten the screws too tightly. You
could otherwise damage the lens. Windshield wipers
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The windshield will not longer be wiped
properly if the wiper blades are worn. This
could prevent you from observing the traffic
conditions, thereby causing an accident.
Replace the

wiper blades twice a year, ideally
in spring and fall.
! Do not operate the windshield wipers
when the windshield is dry, as this could
damage the wiper blades. Moreover, dust
that has collected on the windshield/rear
window can scratch the glass if wiping
takes place when the windshield/rear
window is dry.
If it is necessary to switch on the windshield
wipers in dry weather conditions, always
use washer fluid when operating the
windshield wipers.
! If the windshield wipers leave smears on
the windshield/rear window after the
vehicle has been washed in an automatic
car wash, this may be due to wax or other
residue. Clean the windshield/rear window
with washer fluid after an automatic car
wash. Windshield wipers
99
Lights and windshield wipers Z

Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions Selector lever
P
Park position with selector lever lock
R Reverse gear
N Neutral
D Drive
Transmission position display :
Transmission position/shift range
; Transfer case position
Current shift range : and current transfer
case position ;

are shown in the instrument
cluster display.
! If the transmission position display in the
multifunction display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether
the desired transmission position is
engaged. Select transmission position D.
Do not restrict the shift range. The current position of the selector lever is
shown by the indicators next to the selector
lever.
The
indicators

light up when the SmartKey is
inserted into the ignition lock. The indicators
go out when the SmartKey is removed from
the ignition lock.
When the selector lever is in position D, you
can influence the gearshifts made by the
automatic transmission by:
R restricting the shift range
R changing gear yourself Transmission positions
B
Park position
Do not shift the transmission into
position

P(Y page 127) unless the
vehicle is stationary. The parking
lock should

not be used as a brake
when parking. In addition to
engaging the parking lock, you
must always apply the parking
brake to secure the vehicle.
i The SmartKey can only be
removed if the transmission is in
position P. When there is no
SmartKey in the ignition lock, the
selector lever is locked in
position P.
If the vehicle electronics are
malfunctioning, the selector lever
may be locked in position P. To
release a locked selector lever, see
"Manual override of parking lock"
(Y page 124).
Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. C
Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. 120
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

cannot complete the attempted climb, back it
down in reverse gear.
Do not drive along the side of a slope. The
vehicle might

otherwise rollover. If in doing so
the vehicle begins to show a tendency to roll,
immediately steer into a line of gravity
(straight up or downhill).
Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle.
You may lose control of the vehicle if you use
only the service brake. For information on
driving downhill, see "Driving downhill". G
WARNING
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 notes Read
this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road.

Practice by driving over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics
of your vehicle and the gear shift operation
before driving through difficult terrain.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R 4ETS ( Y page 56)
R transfer case (Y page 145)
R differential locks (Y page 148)
Observe the following notes:
R stop your vehicle and, if necessary, shift the
transfer case to LOW (Y page 145) before
driving off-road.
R engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 148).
i ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS are deactivated
when the differential locks are activated.
This allows the front wheels to lock briefly,
so that these can dig into a loose surface. However, please note that locked wheels
skid and can no longer steer.
R Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Y page 192).
R Make sure

there is always sufficient ground
clearance to prevent damage to the
vehicle.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope.
R Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a
walking pace.
R Ensure that the wheels are in contact with
the ground at all times.
R Drive with extreme care on unknown off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
R Check the depth of water before fording
rivers and streams.
R When fording, do not stop and do not
switch off the engine.
R Look out for obstacles such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
R Always keep the doors, rear door, side
windows and the sliding sunroof closed
while the vehicle is in motion.
R Switch off cruise control.
R Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
R Adapt your speed to the terrain. The
rougher, steeper or more ruts on the
terrain, the slower your speed should be.
R Drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water. Ensure that a bow wave does not
form as you drive.
R On sand, drive quickly to overcome the
rolling resistance. Otherwise, the vehicle
could dig itself into the sand.
R Do not jump with the vehicle as this will
interrupt the vehicle's propulsion. Driving tips
135
Driving and parking Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions7
The red seat belt
warning lamp lights up
after the engine starts,
as soon as the driver's
or the front-passenger
door is closed.
G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt.
X Fasten your seat belt ( Y page 41).
The warning lamp goes out. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-passenger seat.
X Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning lamp goes out. 7
The red seat belt
warning lamp flashes
and an intermittent
audible warning
sounds.
G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt. In
addition, you
are driving faster than 15 mph (25 km/h) or you have
briefly driven faster than 15 mph (25 km/h).
X Fasten your seat belt ( Y page 41).
The warning
lamp goes out and the intermittent audible warning
ceases. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-passenger seat. In addition, you are
driving faster than 15 mph (25 km/h ) or you have briefly driven
faster than 15 mph (25 km/h

).
X Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning

lamp goes out and the intermittent audible warning
ceases. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
179
On-board computer and displays Z

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please
note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops (Y page 20). Loading guidelines
G
WARNING
Always
fasten items being carried as securely
as possible using cargo tie-down rings and
fastening materials

appropriate for the weight
and size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or sudden
maneuvers, loose items will be thrown around
inside the vehicle. This can cause injury to
vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a collision
or sudden maneuver, exercise care when
transporting cargo. Do not pile luggage or
cargo higher than the seat backrests.
Never drive a vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in
unconsciousness and death.
The handling characteristics of a laden
vehicle are dependent on the distribution of
the load within the vehicle. You should
therefore load your vehicle as shown in the
illustrations. The
gross vehicle weight (GVW) is the vehicle
weight including fuel, vehicle tool kit, spare
wheel, installed accessories, vehicle
occupants and luggage/cargo.
The gross load limit and the gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR) for your vehicle must
never be exceeded. The gross load limit and
the GVWR are specified on the vehicle
identification plate on the B-pillar of the
driver's door ( Y page 271).
The load

must also be distributed so that the
weight on each axle never exceeds the gross
axle weight rating (GAWR) for the front and
rear axles. The specifications for GVWR and
GAWR are on the vehicle identification plate
on the B-pillar of the driver's door
(Y page 271).
Further information can be found in the
"Loading the vehicle" section ( Y page 252).
Observe the following notes when
transporting a load:
R position heavy loads as far forwards as
possible and as low down in the cargo
compartment as possible.
i Transport loads when possible in the
cargo compartment. You should only use
the cargo compartment enlargement if the
load does not fit in the cargo compartment.
R always place the load against the front or
rear seat backrests.188
Loading guidelines
Stowing and features

R
if the
rear bench seat is not occupied, insert
the belt tongue on the outer seat belts into
the buckle of opposite seat belt :.
R secure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistant tie down. pad sharp edges
for protection. Stowage areas
Stowage compartments
Important safety notes G
WARNING
To help avoid personal injury during a collision
or sudden maneuver, exercise care when
storing objects in the vehicle. Put luggage or
cargo in the cargo compartment if possible.
Do not pile luggage or cargo higher than the
seat backrests.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
about and injuring vehicle occupants during
R braking
R vehicle maneuvers
R an accident
Stowage compartments in the front Glove box
i
Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
you will find an AUX-IN jack or a Media
Interface installed

in the glove box. A Media
Interface is a universal interface for
portable audio equipment, e.g. for an iPod
®
or USB device (see the separate
Audio or

COMAND operating instructions). X
To open: pull handle :
and open glove box
flap ;.
X To close: fold glove box flap ; upwards
until it engages.
The glove box can only be locked and
unlocked using the mechanical key. 1
Glove box unlocked
2 Glove box locked
X To lock: insert the mechanical key
(Y page 61) into the lock and turn it 90°
clockwise to position 2.
X To unlock: insert the mechanical key
(Y page 61) into the lock and turn it 90°
counter-clockwise to position 1.
Stowage compartment/telephone
compartment under the armrest/in the
center console.
Under the armrest is a shallow stowage tray
(telephone compartment), under which is a
deeper stowage compartment. Stowage areas
189
Stowing and features Z