
System ..........................................
198
Vehicle remote unlocking .............. 202
Mechanical key
Function/notes  ................................
61
Loss ................................................. 64
Memory card
Operating (on-board computer) ..... 157
see separate operating instructions        
Memory function ................................. 85
Menu (on-board computer) Audio  ............................................. 156
DVD  ............................................... 157
Message memory .......................... 165
Navigation ..................................... 158
Overview of menus ........................ 155
Resetting to factory settings .......... 158
Settings ......................................... 158
Standard display  ............................ 156
Telephone  ...................................... 163
Trip computer ................................ 162
Messages
see Display messages                              
Mirrors
Sun visor ........................................ 194
Mobile phone
Menu (on-board computer) ............ 163
MP3
Operating (on-board computer) ..... 157
see separate operating instructions        
Multicontour seat ................................ 79
Multifunction display ........................ 154
Multifunction steering wheel Operating the on-board computer . 153
Overview .......................................... 27N
Navigation On-board computer ....................... 158
see separate operating instructions   
      
NECK-PRO head restraints
Operation ......................................... 40
Resetting after being triggered ........ 41
Notes on breaking-in a new
vehicle  ................................................ 114 O
Occupant safety Children in the vehicle  .....................47
System overview .............................. 32
Octane number (fuel)  ........................274
Odometer ........................................... 156
Off-road 4MATIC .......................................... 141
Differential locks ............................ 148
Off-road ABS
 .................................... 54
Off-road driving
Checklist ........................................ 136
Driving on sand  .............................. 137
Important safety notes .................. 134
Off-road fording  ................................. 133
Oil see Engine oil                                           
On-board computer
Audio menu  ................................... 156
Convenience submenu .................. 161
Display messages  ..........................165
Factory settings ............................. 158
Important safety notes .................. 152
Message memory menu ................. 165
Navigation menu  ............................ 158
Operation ....................................... 153
Overview of menus ........................ 155
Settings menu ............................... 158
Standard display menu  ..................156
Status bar ...................................... 159
Telephone menu  ............................ 163
Trip computer menu ...................... 162
Vehicle submenu ........................... 161
Video DVD operation ..................... 157
On-board computer language  ..........159
On-board diagnostics interface  .......... 20
Operating safety Important safety notes .................... 19
On-board diagnostics interface ........ 20
Operating system
see On-board computer                           
Outside temperature
Calling up (on-board computer) ..... 156
Display ........................................... 153
Overhead control panel
Overview .......................................... 2910
Index 

Standard display menu
Standard display X
Press the  V or U button on the
steering wheel to select the standard
display. Standard display
:
Trip odometer
; Odometer
You can select the following functions in the
Standard display  menu using the  & or
* button:
R tire pressure monitor (Y page 249)
R digital speedometer or outside
temperature ( Y page 156)
R Service display  (Y
 page 215)
R G 55 AMG: oil level ( Y page 211)
X To reset the trip odometer:  press and
hold the reset button in the instrument
cluster until the trip odometer is reset.
Displaying the digital speedometer or
outside temperature If you have selected the digital speedometer
as the status line (
Y
  page 159), the outside
temperature is displayed here 10
. G
WARNING
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose. Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing 
point 
do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges. Digital speedometer (example)
Outside temperature (example)
X
Press the 
 V or U button on the
steering wheel to select the standard
display.
X Press the & or * button on the
steering to select digital speedometer  :
or the outside temperature. Audio menu
Selecting a radio station i
SIRIUS XM satellite radio acts like a
normal radio.
For more information on satellite radio
operation, see the separate operating
instructions.
10 Vehicles for the United Kingdom: the outside temperature is always displayed.156
Menus and submenus
On-board computer and displays       

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and 
M Solutions? The engine fan is defective.
X
At coolant temperatures under 248 ‡  (120  † ), drive to the next
qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-and-go traffic. # The battery is not being charged.
Possible causes are:
R
a defective alternator
R a torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronics
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Open the hood.
X Check whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
!  Do not 
continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is not damaged:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. The battery voltage is too low.
X
Switch off electrical consumers that are not required.
X Have the battery and alternator checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. The battery has been charged or the vehicle has been jump-
started.
X
Have the battery and alternator checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. 4
Check 
oil 
level at 
next gas station. The engine oil level has dropped to a critical level.
X
Check the oil level (Y page 211).
X If necessary, add engine oil ( Y page 213).
X Have the engine checked for leaks if the engine oil needs to be
refilled more often than usual. You have added too much engine oil. There is a risk of damaging
the engine or catalytic converter.
X
Siphon off excess engine oil until it is at the specified level.
Observe the legal requirements.172
Display messages
On-board computer and displays 

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). Engine compartment
Hood
Opening the hood G
WARNING
Do 
 not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. Otherwise, the hood could be
forced open by passing air flow.
This  could 
cause the hood to come loose and
injure you and/or others. G
WARNING
Do not open the hood when the engine is
overheated. You could be seriously injured.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge to
determine whether the engine may be
overheated. If you see flames or smoke
coming from the engine compartment, move
away from the vehicle. Wait until the engine
has cooled. If necessary, call the fire
department. G
WARNING
You 
 could be injured when the hood is open –
even when the engine is turned off.
Parts of the engine can become very hot. To
prevent  burns, 
let the engine cool completely
before touching any components on the
vehicle. Comply with all relevant safety
precautions. G
WARNING
To help prevent personal injury, stay clear of
moving parts when the hood is open and the
engine is running.
The radiator fan may continue to run for
approximately 30 seconds or may even
restart after the engine has been turned off.
Stay clear of fan blades. G
WARNING
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage,
it is dangerous to touch any components
(ignition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system:
R with the engine running
R while starting the engine
R when the ignition is switched on and the
engine is turned manually
X Make sure that the windshield wipers are
switched off. G
WARNING
The windshield wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion.
When the hood is open, you or others could
be injured by the wiper linkage.
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
switched  off 
and that the SmartKey has been
pulled out of the ignition lock before opening
the hood.
The release lever on the hood is in the footwell
on the left-hand side of the vehicle when
viewed in the direction of travel. 210
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care 

X
Pull release lever  : on the hood.
The hood is released.
!  Make  sure 
that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield
wipers or the hood. X
Lift the hood slightly.
X Push hood catch handle  ; 
in 
 the direction
of the arrow and lift the hood.
Closing the hood G
WARNING
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hands or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure the hood is securely engaged
before driving off. Do not continue driving if
the hood can no longer engage after an
accident, for example. The hood could
otherwise come loose while the vehicle is in
motion and injure you and/or others. X
Lower the hood and let it fall from a height
of approximately 8 inches ( 20 cm).
X Check 
that the hood has engaged properly.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with a little more force. Engine oil
Notes on the oil level Depending on the driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.9 US qts
 (0.8 l) of oil over
a distance of 600 miles (1,000 km). The oil
consumption may be higher than this when
the 
vehicle is new or if you frequently drive at
high engine speeds.
Checking the oil level using the oil
dipstick On the G 55 AMG, the oil level can be checked
using the on-board computer.
When checking the oil level:
R
park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
R the engine should be switched off for at
least 30 minutes if the engine is not at
operating  temperature 
(i.e. if you only start
the engine briefly). Oil dipstick (example: G 550) Engine compartment
211Maintenance and care Z       

X
Pull oil dipstick  : out  of the dipstick guide
tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick  :.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick  : into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
The  oil 
level is correct if the level is between
MIN mark = and MAX mark ;.
X Add oil if necessary.
Checking the oil level using the on-
board computer On the G 55 AMG, the oil level can be checked
using the on-board computer.
When checking the oil level:
R
park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
X Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
X Press the & or * button on the
steering wheel to select the following
message: The measurement takes a few seconds. You
will 
see 
one of the following messages in the
multifunction display:
R Engine Oil Level OK
R Add 1.0 qt (Canada:  1.0 liter) to 
reach maximum oil level. R
Add 1.5 qts (Canada:  1.5 liters) to 
reach maximum oil level.
R Add 2.0 qts (Canada:  2.0 liters) to 
reach maximum oil level.
X Add oil if necessary.
If the engine is at normal operating
temperature and the Engine Oil Reduce 
Oil Level message appears, the engine oil
level is too high.
X Have excess oil siphoned off.
!  Do not 
add too much oil. Adding too much
oil can result in damage to the engine or the
catalytic converter. Have excess oil
siphoned off.
If the  Switch ignition on to check 
engine oil level message appears:
X Turn the SmartKey to position  2 in the
ignition lock.
If the  Observe Waiting Time message
appears:
X If the engine is at normal operating
temperature: repeat the measurement
after about five minutes.
If the engine is not at normal operating
temperature (e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly): repeat the measurement
after about 30 minutes.
If the  Engine Oil Level Not With 
Engine On message appears:
X Switch off the engine.
X If the engine is at normal operating
temperature: wait about five minutes
before carrying out the measurement.
If the engine is not at normal operating
temperature, e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly: wait about 30 minutes
before carrying out the measurement.
i If you wish to cancel the measurement,
press the * or & button on the
multifunction steering wheel. 212
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care   

Engine oil
Please bear the following in mind The engine oils are matched to the
performance of Mercedes-Benz engines and
service intervals. For this reason, only use
engine 
oils 
and oil filters that are approved for
vehicles with a service system.
For a list of approved engine oils and oil filters,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or go to the Internet site
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com (USA
only).
!  Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specification other than is necessary to
fulfill the prescribed service intervals. Do
not change the engine oil or oil filter in
order to achieve longer replacement
intervals than those prescribed. You could
otherwise cause engine damage or damage
to the exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Follow the instructions in the service
interval display regarding the oil change.
Otherwise, you may damage the engine and
the exhaust gas aftertreatment.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle. Model Engine
model MB
Approval
G 550 273 229.5
G 55 AMG 113 229.5
i
MB approval is indicated on the oil
containers.
Additives ! 
Do not 
use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine.
Engine oil viscosity Viscosity describes the flow characteristics
of 
a 
fluid. If an engine oil has a high viscosity, this means that it is thick; a low viscosity
means that it is thin.
Select an engine oil with an SAE (viscosity)
classification suitable for the prevailing
outside temperatures. The following table
shows the correct SAE classification to be
used. 
The 
low-temperature characteristics of
engine oils can deteriorate significantly, e.g.
as a result of aging, soot and fuel deposits. It
is therefore strongly recommended that you
carry out regular oil changes using an
approved engine oil with the appropriate SAE
classification. Refrigerant of the air-conditioning
system
The air-conditioning system is filled with
R134a (HFC) refrigerant and a special PAG
lubricant.
!  Never use refrigerant R 12 (CFC) or
mineral lubricants. Otherwise, you could
damage the air-conditioning system. Brake fluid
G
WARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air; this lowers its boiling point.
If  the 
boiling point of the brake fluid is too low,
vapor pockets may form in the brake system
when the brakes are applied hard (e.g. when
driving downhill). This would impair braking
efficiency. Service products and capacities
275
Technical data
Z   

You should have the brake fluid renewed at
regular intervals. The brake fluid change
intervals can be found in the Maintenance
Booklet.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz. Information about approved brake
fluids can be obtained from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Coolant
Important safety notes The coolant is a mixture of water and
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs
the following tasks:
R
anti-corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with coolant which contains an
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor that ensures
protection down to approximately -35 ‡
(-37 † ).
!  Only  add 
coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection.
Otherwise, the engine could be damaged.
Further information on coolants and on
filling can be found in the Mercedes-Benz
Specifications for Service Products, MB
Approval 310.1, e.g. on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com. You can
also consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
!  Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the engine cooling system is not
sufficiently protected from corrosion and
the boiling point will be too low.
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down
to -35 ‡ (-37 † ), the boiling point of the
coolant in the pressurized system is
approximately 266 ‡ (130 † ). Your vehicle has a range of aluminum
components. Aluminum components in the
engine make it necessary to use
anticorrosion/antifreeze coolant which has
been specifically formulated to protect the
aluminum parts. Using other antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitors without these
characteristics affects the service life.
The 
coolant 
must be used throughout the year
in order to maintain the necessary corrosion
protection and provide protection from
overheating. In the Maintenance Booklet, you
can find information on the intervals for
renewal.
The renewal interval is determined by the
coolant type and the engine cooling system
design. The renewal interval in the
Maintenance Booklet is only valid if the
coolant is renewed or replenished with
Mercedes-Benz approved products.
Therefore, only use MB 326.0 antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor or another Mercedes-Benz
approved product of the same specification.
Information on other products with the same
specifications that are approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be obtained at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or on the
Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
The coolant is checked at every maintenance
interval at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor
concentration in the engine cooling system
should:
R be at least 50%. This will protect the engine
cooling system against freezing down to
approximately -35 ‡ (-37 † ).
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection to
-49 ‡ [-45 † ]); otherwise, heat will not
dissipate as effectively.
If the coolant level is too low, MB 325.0
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor should be
added. Have the engine cooling system
checked for possible leaks. 276
Service products and capacities
Technical data