2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV ESP

The ASSYST service interval display does not
take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Hiding aservice message X
To hide the service message, press the
% back button on the multifunction
steering wheel ( Ypage 31)( Ypage 214).
Displaying service messages Use the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel.
X Switch the ignitio non.
X Press VorU to select the standard
display menu on the steering wheel
(Y page 215).
X Press &or* to select the ASSYST
service interval display.
The ¯ or± service symbol and the
service due date are displayed.
Information about Service Arduous operating conditions or increased
loads on the vehicle will require some service
work to be performed more often than for a
vehicle in normal use. Such arduous condi-
tions include regular city driving with frequent
intermediate stops and use in mountainous
terrai noronp oor road surfaces.
For example, if the vehicle is used under ardu-
ous operating conditions, have air filters,
engine oil and oil filters changed frequently
and check the wheels often.F urther informa-
tion can be obtained at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Ben zService
Centre. Fuel/water separator
H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally-responsible manner. !
If you continue driving without having the
fuel/water separator serviced, this could
cause damage to the engine. Any resulting
damage is not covered by the warranty.
If the fuel/water separator needs servicing,
the following message appears in the multi-
function display: You will also hear a brief warning tone.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop as
soon as possible. Care
General notes
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film. H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
! Do not park up the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly Care
295Maintenance and care Z

after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosio
nofthe brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked up. Care of the exterior
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. This could cause an accident. For
this reason, following a car wash, drive with
particular care until the brakes are dry.
! Preferably use car washes with adjustable
high-pressure jets for pre-washing. This
corresponds with the specifications for
cabriolet programmes. In car washes that
use high water pressures, there is a risk
that a small amount of water may leak into
the vehicle.
! Cabriolet: do not treat the vehicle with
hot wax under any circumstances.
! Make sure that the automatic car wash is
suitable for the size of the vehicle. Fold in
the exterior mirrors before the vehicle is
washed. The exterior mirrors could other-
wise be damaged.
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is in position Nwhen washing your
vehicle in a tow-through car wash. The vehi-
cle could be damaged if the transmission is
in another position.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (airflow control is turned to position
0/theÃandÁ buttons
are switched off).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at posi-
tion 0.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Wash off excess dirt before cleaning the vehi-
cle in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windscreen and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the wind-
screen.
High-pressure cleaning equipment G
WARNING
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles (dirt grinders) to clean your
vehicle, in particular the tyres. You could oth-
erwise damage the tyres and cause an acci-
dent.
! Always maintain a distance of at least
30 cm between the vehicle and the high-
pressure cleaner nozzle. Information about
the correct distance is available from the
equipment manufacturer.
Move the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around when cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
R tyres
R door gaps, roof gaps, joints etc.
R soft top (Cabriolet)
R electrical components
R battery
R connectors
R lights
R seals
R trim elements
R ventilation slots
Damaged seals or electrical components
can lead to leaks or failures. 296
CareMaintenance and care

X
Clean sensors :of the driving systems
with water, car shampoo and a sof tcloth.
Cleaning the reversing camera !
Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the reversing camera with a high-
pressure cleaner. X
Use clear water and a soft cloth to clean
camera lens :. Cleaning chrome parts !
Do not clean the exhaust pipe with acid-
based cleaning agents such as sanitary
cleansers or wheel cleaners.
Impurities combined with the effects of road
grit and corrosive environmental factors may
cause flash rust to form on the surface. You
can restore the original shine to the chrome
parts by cleaning the mregularly, especially in
winter and after washing.
X Clean the chrome parts with a chrome care
product tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning the trailer coupling H
Environmental note
Dispose of oily and greasy cloths in an envi-
ronmentally-responsible manner.
! Do not clean the ball coupling with a high-
pressure cleaner. Do not use solvents.
! Please note the care instructions in the
trailer coupling manufacturer's operating
instructions. Ball coupling
:must be cleaned if it
becomes dirty or corroded.
X After cleaning, lightly oil or grease ball cou-
pling :.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer tow hitch is
working properly.
i You can also have the maintenance work
on the ball coupling and the trailer tow hitch Care
299Maintenance and care Z

X
Vehicles with stainless-steel spare
wheel cover: make sure when refitting
cove rpanel ?that retainer Aengages in
recess B(Ypage 308).
X Make sure that tab ;is below when refit-
ting cover ring :(Ypage 308).
X For safety reasons, regularly check to
ensure that the wheel is securely fastened. G-Class Cabriolet
i
Secure the spare wheel of the G-Class
Cabriolet on spare wheel bracket ;, so
that valve :is accessible for checking the
tyre pressure. Flat tyre
Preparing the vehicle
X Stop the vehicle as far away as possible
from traffic on solid ,non-slippery and level
ground.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 109).
X Deactivate the automatic door locking
(Y page 223).
X Apply the parking brake.
X Bring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
X Move the selector lever to P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
The steering wheel lock stays active for as
long as the key is removed. X
All occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make sure that they are not endangered as
they do so.
X Make sure that no one is near the danger
area while a wheel is being changed. Any-
one who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.
X Get out of the vehicle. Pay attention to traf-
fic conditions when doing so.
X Close the driver's door.
X Place the warning triangle (Y page 304) or
warning lamps at a suitable distance.
Observe legal requirements. Battery (vehicle)
Important safety notes
Work on the battery, e.g. removing or instal-
ling, requires specialist knowledge and the
use of special tools. Therefore, always have
work on the battery carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. G
WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly on the battery
can, for example, lead to a short circuit and
damage your vehicle's electronic system. This
can disrupt driving safety systems such as
ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP ®
(Elec-
tronic Stability Program).
R If ABS malfunctions, the wheels can lock
during braking. This limits the steerability
of the vehicle when braking and the braking
distance may increase. There is a risk of
accident.
R If ESP ®
malfunctions, the vehicle will not be
stabilised if it starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin. There is a risk of accident.
You should therefore have all work involving
the battery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. Battery (vehicle)
309Breakdown assistance Z

G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produ-
ces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or
sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can
ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into con-
tact with vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a bat-
tery.
R It is important that you observe the descri-
bed order of the battery terminals when
connecting and disconnecting a battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jump leads.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation
of sparks, which could ignite the highly explo-
sive gases of a battery .There is a risk of an
explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle
body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with
water and seek medical attention.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the Service
Booklet or contact a qualified specialist
workshop for more information. !
Always have work on the battery carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Should it, in exceptional circumstances, be
absolutely necessary to disconnectt he bat-
tery yourself, please observe the following:
R switch off the engine and remove the
key. Check that all the indicator lamps in
the instrumentc luster are off.Otherwise,
you may damage electroni ccomponents
such as the alternator, for example.
R first, disconnect the negative terminal
clamp, followed by the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps.
The vehicle electronics may otherwise be
damaged.
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. The vehi-
cle is secured against rolling away.Y ou
can then no longer move the vehicle.
The battery and the cover of the positive
terminal clamp must be fitted securely dur-
ing operation.
! Have the battery checked and, if neces-
sary, replaced at a qualified specialist
workshop every two years or at least every
20,000 km. H
Environmental note Batteries contain pollutants.
It is illegal to dispose of them
with the household rubbish.
They must be collected sep-
arately and disposed of in an
environmentally responsible
recycling system. Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner
.Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialis tworkshop or to a col-
lection point for used batter-
ies. 310
Battery (vehicle)Breakdown assistance

Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important tha tyou observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 315).
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 109).
i In order to signal a change of direction
when towing the vehicle with the hazard
warning lamps switched on, use the com-
bination switch as usual.Int his case, only
the turn signals for the desired direction
flash. When you reset the combination
switch, the hazard warning lamps start
flashing again.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 143).
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Shift the transfer case to neu-
tral(Y page 203).
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake (Y page 164).
i The transmission can only change gear
when the battery has sufficient charge.
If you cannot move the selector lever to N,
you must remove the propeller shafts to the
driven axles. Transporting the vehicle
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could be damaged.
Use the towing eyes to pull the vehicle if it
needs to be transported on a trailer or trans-
porter (Y page 316).
X Apply the parking brake.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 143). X
Move the selector lever to N.
X Shift the transfer case to neu-
tral(Y page 203).
X Secure the towing cable to the towing eyes
(Y page 316).
X Make sure that the vehicle cannot roll
away.
X Release the parking brake.
X Load the vehicle onto the transporter.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
X Apply the parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock (Y page 143) and remove it.
X Secure the vehicle. Recovering
avehicle that has become
stuck
! When recovering a trapped vehicle, do not
jerk the vehicle or pull it at an angle. If the
tractive power is too high, the vehicles
could be damaged.
If the drive wheels get trapped on loose or
muddy ground, recover th evehicle with the
utmost care, especially so if the vehicle is
laden.
Never attempt to recover a vehicle with a
trailer attached.
Pull out the vehicle backwards, if possible,
using the tracks it made when it became
stuck. Towing in the event of malfunctions
General notes !
If you are removing the propeller shaft,
use M10 nuts as spacers on the M8 bolts
and secure them with M8 nuts.
New self-locking nuts must be used when
the propeller shafts are refitted. Towing and tow-starting
317Breakdown assistance Z

Mercedes-Ben
zcannot accept responsibility
for this type of damage. M+S tyres
G
WARNING
M+S tyres with a tyre tread depth of less than
4mma re not suitable for use in winter as they
do not provide sufficient traction. There is a
risk of accident.
M+S tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced. G
WARNING
The spare wheel and M+S tyres have different
tyre characteristics. Driving characteristics
can be severely impaired when you fit the
spare wheel. There is a risk of an accident.
You should therefore adapt yourd riving style
and drive carefully.H ave the spare wheel
replaced with a new wheel with an M+S tyre
at the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
At temperatures below +7 †, use winter tyres
or all-season tyres. Both types of tyre are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tyres bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide the best possible grip in wintry road con-
ditions. Only these tyres will allow driving
safety systems such as ABS and ESP ®
to
function optimally in winter, as these tyres
have been designed specifically for driving on
snow.
Use M+S tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tyres you have
fitted.
If you fit M+S tyres that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than that of the vehi-
cle, affix an appropriate warning sign in the
driver's field of vision .This can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop. Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using variable SPEEDTRONIC so that it does
not exceed the maximum permissible speed
for the M+S tyres(Y
page 178).
When you have fitted the M+S tyres:
X Check the tyre pressures (Y page 327).
X Restart the tyre pressure monitor
(Y page 328).
i You can obtain information about winter
tyres that have been approved by
Mercedes-Ben zespecially for your vehicle
at any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
i For further information about tyres, see
(Y page 333). Snow chains
! Information aboutt he use of snow chain
compatible AMG winter tyres is applicable
for AMG tyres. Use of snow chains is only
permissible with these tyres.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Ben zrecom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or that are of a corre-
sponding standard of quality.
R only use snow chains when the road sur-
face is completely snow-covered. Remove
the snow chains as soon as possible when
you come to road that is not snow-covered.
R local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Observe the appropriate reg-
ulations if you wish to fit snow chains.
R Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel/
tyre combinations (Y page 62).
R fit the snow chains on all four wheels for
maximum tractive power and driving sta-
bility. Observe the manufacturer's fitting
instructions. 324
Winter operationWheels and tyres

i
You may wish to deactivate
ESP ®
(Y page 62) when pulling away with
snow chains fitted. This way you can allow
the wheels to spin in a controlled manner,
achieving an increased driving force (cut-
ting action). Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure specifications
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tyres pose the
following risks:
R the tyres may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
R the tyres may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tyre
traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Observe the recommended tyre pressure and
chec kthe tyre pressure of all the tyres includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R at least every two weeks
R when the load changes
R before embarking on a longer journey
R for changed operating conditions, e.g. off-
road driving
If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. G
WARNING
If you fit unsuitable accessories onto tyre
valves, the tyre valves may be overloaded and
malfunction, which can cause tyre pressure
loss. Due to their design, retrofitted tyre pres-
sure monitors keep the tyre valve open. This
can also result in tyre pressure loss. There is
a risk of accident.
Only screw standard valve caps or valve caps
specifically provided by Mercedes-Ben zfor
your vehicle onto the tyre valve. G
WARNING
If the tyre pressure drops repeatedly, the
wheel, valve or tyre may be damaged. Tyre
pressure that is too low may result in a tyre
blow-out. There is a risk of accident.
R Check the tyre for foreign objects.
R Check whether the wheel is losing air or the
valve is leaking.
If you are unable to rectify the damage, con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop. H
Environmental note
Check the tyre pressure regularly, at least
every 14 days.
General notes You will find a table of tyre pressures for var-
ious operating conditions on the inside of
your vehicle's fuel filler flap.
Operation with a trailer:
the applicable
value for the rear tyres is the maximum tyre
pressure value stated in the table inside the
fuel filler flap.
The table inside the fuel filler flap may state
tyre pressures for different load conditions.
These are defined in the table as different
numbers of passengers and amounts of lug-
gage. The actual number of seats may vary –
for more information, please refer to the vehi-
cle's registration documents.
If tyre sizes are not specified, the tyre pres-
sures stated on the tyre pressure information
label apply for all tyres approved for this vehi-
cle. Tyre pressure
325Wheels and tyres Z