2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class ground clearance

1-800-387-0100. This will assist us in
contacting
you
in a timely manner should the
need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave the
entire literature in the vehicle so that it is
available to the next owner.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the "Notice of Purchase of Used
Truck" found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or call the Mercedes-
Benz Customer Assistance Center (USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) or
Customer Service (Canada) at
1-800-387-0100. Vehicle operation outside the USA
and Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign
countries, please be aware that:
R service facilities

or replacement parts may
not be readily available.
R unleaded fuel for vehicles with a catalytic
converter may not be available. Leaded fuel
may cause damage to the catalytic
converter.
R the fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Unsuitable fuel can cause
engine damage.
Some Mercedes-Benz models are available
for delivery in Europe through our European
Delivery Program. For details, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or write to
one of the following addresses.
In the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9 Sport Utility Vehicle
G
WARNING
This Sport Utility Vehicle is designed for both
on-road and

off-road use. It can go places and
perform tasks for which conventional 2-wheel
drive passenger cars are not intended. This
vehicle will handle and maneuver differently
from conventional passenger cars in driving
conditions which may occur on streets,
highways and off-road use.
This vehicle has a higher ground clearance
and a higher center of gravity than many
passenger cars. As with other vehicles of this
type, if you make sharp turns at excessive
speeds or abrupt maneuvers, the vehicle may
roll over or may go out of control and crash.
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
Failure to operate this vehicle safely may
result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury.
Before you start to drive this vehicle, read the
Operator's Manual. Take time to become
familiar with the driving characteristics of this
vehicle. Be sure you are familiar with all
vehicle controls. Learn how your vehicle
handles on different road surfaces. Do not
attempt sharp turns at excessive speeds or
abrupt maneuvers or other unsafe driving
actions that can cause loss of vehicle control.
When driving off-road or working the vehicle
hard, do not overload it. And, always wear
your seat belts at all times. In a rollover crash,
an unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a seat belt. Operating safety
Safety notes
G
WARNING
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 Introduction
19 Z

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

X
After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud,
gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you notice strong vibrations after off-road
driving, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and, if necessary,
remove them. Foreign objects can disturb
the balance and cause vibrations.
X Test the brakes.
Driving on sand 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.
Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R shift the transfer case to
LOW (Y page 145).
R avoid high engine speeds.
R limit the shift range of the automatic
transmission according to the off-road
conditions.
R drive quickly to overcome the rolling
resistance. Otherwise, the vehicle could dig
itself into the sand.
R drive in the tracks of other vehicles if
possible. Make sure that the ruts are not
too deep, that the sand is firm enough and
that your vehicle has sufficient ground
clearance.
Tire ruts and gravel roads Observe the following rules when driving
along
ruts

in off-road terrain or on roads with
loose gravel: !
Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged
or bottom out and get stuck.
R shift the transfer case to
LOW (Y page 145).
R avoid high engine speeds.
R observe the

safety notes (Y page 134) and
the general notes (Y page 135) on off-road
driving.
R restrict the shift range of the automatic
transmission to 1 (Y page 121).
R drive slowly.
R where ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels of one side on the center grassy
area, if possible.
Driving over obstacles !
Obstacles could damage the floor of the
vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask
passengers for

guidance when driving over
large obstacles. The passenger should
always keep a safe distance from the
vehicle when doing so in order to avoid
injury as a result of unexpected vehicle
movements. After driving off-road or over
obstacles, check the vehicle for possible
damage, especially to the underbody and
the components of the chassis.
Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other
obstacles: Driving tips
137
Driving and parking Z

R
observe the safety notes (Y page 134) and
the general notes (Y page 135) on off-road
driving.
R shift the transfer case to
LOW (Y page 145).
R avoid high engine speeds.
R select shift range 1 (Y page 121).
R make sure that you have enough ground
clearance before driving across an
obstacle.
R drive very slowly.
R try to drive straight over the center of
obstacles: front wheel first, then rear
wheel.
! Drive with particular care when driving
over an obstacle while driving up or down
a steep slope.
The vehicle could otherwise tilt and slide
sideways or tip over. Traveling uphill
Approach/departure angle :
Approach/departure angle, front
; Approach/departure angle, rear : ;
G 550
37° 31°
G 55 AMG
33° 28° R
Observe the safety notes (Y page 134) and
the general notes (Y page 135) on off-road
driving.
R Do not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines
or gradients, but instead follow the direct
line of fall. The maximum gradient-climbing
capability of your vehicle is 80%, which
corresponds to an approach/departure
angle of 38°. Note that the vehicle's
gradient-climbing capability depends on
the off-road conditions.
R Before driving on extreme uphill and
downhill gradients, shift the transfer case
to LOW (Y page 145).
R Engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 148).
R Drive slowly.
R Accelerate gently and make sure that the
wheels are gripping.
R Avoid high engine speeds, except when
driving on sandy and muddy routes with
high driving resistance.
R Avoid high engine speeds – drive at
appropriate engine speeds (no more than
3000 rpm).
R Use the braking power of the engine when
driving down a slope. Observe the engine
speed; do not overrev the engine.
i Further information on the maximum
engine speed can be found in the
"Tachometer" and "Technical data"
sections.
R Select a shift range appropriate to the
gradient.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1 (Y page 121).
R Check the brakes after driving off-road for
a long time. G
WARNING
Never turn the vehicle around on steep
inclines. The vehicle might roll over. If the
vehicle cannot

complete the attempted climb,
back it down in reverse gear. 138
Driving tips
Driving and parking

Cooling system
Vehicle
model Antifreeze protection
Approx.
-35 ‡
(-37 †) Approx.
-49 ‡
(-45 †)
G 550 6.4 US qt
(6.05 l) 7.1 US qt
(6.7 l)
G 55 AMG 6.7 US qt
(6.35 l) 7.4 US qt
(7.0 l)
Windshield/headlamp cleaning
system
G
WARNING
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly
flammable. Do not spill washer solvent/
antifreeze on
hot engine parts, because it may
ignite and burn. You could be seriously
burned.
X Use windshield washer concentrate MB
SummerFit.
X At temperatures above freezing: add 1
part MB

SummerFit to 100 parts water, e.g.
1.34 fl oz (40 ml) MB SummerFit to 1 gal
(4.0 l) of water.
X At temperatures below freezing: add 1
part MB SummerFit to 100 parts washer
fluid, e.g.

1.34 fl oz (40 ml) MB SummerFit
to 1 gal (4.0 l) of water. Vehicle data
Vehicle data, G 550 (463.237)
The data stated here refers specifically to a
vehicle with standard equipment. Consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the
data for all vehicle variants and trim levels. Vehicle dimensions, G 550
Vehicle length
22 183.9 in
(4672 mm) Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors
79.0 in (2007 mm)
Vehicle height
76.8 in (1951 mm)
Wheelbase
112.2 in ( 2850 mm)
Track width
59.7 in (1515 mm)
Ground clearance,
front
9.1 in (232 mm)
Ground clearance,
rear
8.8 in (223 mm)
Turning circle
44.6 ft (13.6 m)
Vehicle weights, G 550
Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating
(GVWR)
23 6615 lbs (3000 kg)
Gross Axle
Weight Rating
(GAWR), front
24 3110 lbs (1410 kg)
Gross Axle
Weight Rating
(GAWR), rear
24 3965 lbs (1800 kg)
Vehicle data, G 55 AMG (463.271)
The data stated here refers specifically to a
vehicle with standard equipment. Consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the
data for all vehicle variants and trim levels.
22 Including spare wheel.
23 GVWR is the maximum total vehicle weight permissible. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the vehicle weight
including fuel, service products, spare wheel, accessories installed, load and, if applicable, trailer drawbar
load. The GVW must never exceed the GVWR.
24 The GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight rating. Vehicle data
277Technical data Z

Vehicle dimensions
Vehicle length
183.9 in
(4672 mm) 25
188.2 in
(4780 mm) 26Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors
79.0 in (2007 mm)
Vehicle height
76.8 in (1951 mm)
Ground clearance
9.2 in (234 mm)
Wheelbase
112.2 in (2850 mm)
Track width
59.1 in (1501 mm)
Turning circle
44.6 ft (13.6 m)
Vehicle weights
Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating
(GVWR)
27 6615 lbs (3000 kg)
Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR),
front
28 3263 lb (1480 kg)
Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR),
rear
28 3965 (1800 kg)
25
Including spare wheel.
26 Including spare wheel and styling bar (USA only).
27 GVWR is the maximum total vehicle weight permissible. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the vehicle weight
including fuel, service products, spare wheel, accessories installed, load and, if applicable, trailer drawbar
load. The GVW must never exceed the GVWR.
28 The GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight rating.278
Vehicle dataTechnical data