2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV ESP

Warning and indicator lamps
Function Page
:
L
Dipped-bea mhead-
lamps 105
;
÷
ESP® 256
=
K
Main-beam headlamp 109
?
J
Brakes (yellow) 253
A
·
Distance warning 262
B
#!
Turn signals 108
C
h
Tyre pressure monitor 263
D
6
SRS 259
E
ü
Seat belt 252 Function Page
F
%
Diesel engine: pre-
glow 144
G
?
Coolant 260
H
R
Rear foglamp 107
I
O
Front foglamps 106
J
;
Engine diagnostics 259
K
8
Reserve fuel 260
L
å
ESP®
OFF 256
M
!
ABS 254
N
J
Brakes (red) 253Instrument cluster
29At a glance

Function Page
:
L
Dipped-beam head-
lamps 105
;
÷
ESP® 256
=
K
Main-beam headlamp 109
?
J
Brakes (yellow) 253
A
·
Distance warning 262
B
#!
Turn signals 108
C
h
Tyre pressure monitor 263
D
6
SRS 259
E
ü
Seatbelt 252 Function Page
F
%
Diesel engine: pre-
glow 144
G
?
Coolant 260
H
R
Rear foglamp 107
I
O
Front foglamps 106
J
;
Engine diagnostics 259
K
8
Reserve fuel 260
L
å
ESP®
OFF 256
M
!
ABS 254
N
$
Brakes (red) 25330
Instrument clusterAt a glance

Centre console
Centre console, upper section
Function Page
:
Audio system; see the sep-
arate operating instruc-
tions
COMAND Online ~
;
Seat heating 95
=
s
Seat ventilation 96
?
c
PARKTRONIC 197
A
¤
ECO start/stop func-
tion (AMG vehicles only ) 145 Function Page
B
£
Hazard warning
lamps 109
C
45
Indicator lamp 50
D
å
ESP® 62
E
&
Auxiliary heating 13432
Centre consoleAt a glance

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. Country-specific differen-
ces are possible. Note that your vehicle
may not be fitted with all features descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 22). Occupant safety
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If service work is not carried out correctly, the
operating safety of your vehicle may be affec-
ted. This could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle and cause an accident. More-
over, the safety system smay no longer be
able to protect you or others as they are
designed to do.
Always have service work carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
Modifications to or work performed incor-
rectly on the following parts can result in the
restraint systems no tfunctioning as intended:
R the restraint system, consisting of seat
belts and their anchorage points, belt ten-
sioners, belt force limiters and airbags
R the wiring
R networked electronic systems
Airbags and belt tensioners could fail to
deploy or be triggered in an acciden tdespite
the deceleration force being sufficien tto trig-
ger the systems, or could be triggered unin-
tentionally. For this reason, never make any
modifications to the restraint systems.
Therefore, you must not tamper with elec-
tronic components or their software. Seat belts, together with the Supplemental
Restraint System, SRS (Y page 39), are
complementary, co-ordinated restraint sys-
tems. They reduce the risk of injury in spe-
cific, pre-defined types of accident situations
and thereby increase occupant safety. How-
ever, seat belts and airbags generally do not
protect against objects penetrating the vehi-
cle from the outside.
To ensure that the restraint systems can
deliver their full potential protection, make
sure that:
R the seat and head restraint are adjusted
properly (Y page 90)
R the seat belt has been fastened properly
(Y page 44)
R the airbags can inflate properly if they are
deployed (Y page 40)
R the steering wheel is adjusted properly
(Y page 90)
R the restraint systems have not been modi-
fied
An airbag increases the protection of vehicle
occupants wearing a seat belt. However, air-
bags are only an additional restraint system
which complements, but does not replace,
the seat belt. All vehicle occupants must wear
their seat belt correctly at all times, even if
the vehicle is equipped with airbags. The air-
bags are not deployed in all types of acci-
dents. For example, if the protective capacity
of correctly fastened seat belts is not
increased by deploying the airbags, the air-
bags will not deploy.
Airbag deployment only provides increased
protection if the seat belt is worn correctly.
The seat belt helps, firstly, to keep the vehicle
occupant in the best position in relation to the
airbag. Secondly, in a head-on collision, for
example, the seat belt prevents the vehicle
occupant from being propelled towards the
point of impact. 38
Occupant safetySafety

How the airbag system works is deter-
mined by the severity of the collision detec-
ted, especially the vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, and the apparent type of acci-
dent:
R
head-on collision
R side impact
R overturning
R rea rimpact
The rate of vehicle deceleratio noraccelera-
tion and the direction of the force are essen-
tially determined by:
R the distribution of forces during the colli-
sion
R the collisio nangle
R the deformation characteristics of the vehi-
cle
R the characteristics of the object with which
the vehicle has collided
Factors which can only be see nand measured
after a collision has occurred do not play a
decisive role in the deployment of an airbag,
nor do they provide an indicatio nofairbag
deployment.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly,
e.g. the bonnet or the wing, without an airbag
being deployed. This is the case if only parts
which are relatively easily deformed are affec-
ted and the rate of deceleration is not high.
Conversely, airbags may be deployed even
though the vehicle suffers only minor defor-
mation. This is the case if, for example, very
rigid vehicle parts such as longitudinal body
members are hit, and sufficien tdeceleration
occurs as a result. Airbags
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Airbags provide additional protection; they
are not, however, a substitute for seat belts. Observe the following notes to reduce the risk
of serious or even fatal injury caused by airbag
deployment:
R
all vehicle occupants –inparticular, preg-
nant women – must wear their seat belt
correctly at all times and lean back against
the backrest, which should be positioned
as close to the vertical as possible. The
head restraint must support the back of the
head at about eye level.
R always secure childre nless than 1.50mt all
and unde r12years of age in suitable child
restraint systems.
R all vehicle occupants must select a seat
position that is as far away from the airbag
as possible. The driver's seat position must
allow the vehicle to be driven safely. The
driver's chest should be as far away from
the centre of the driver's airbag cover as
possible.
R move the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible. This is especially important if
you have secured a child in a child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
R vehicle occupants ―inparticular childre n―
must not lean their head in the area of the
window where the windowbag is deployed
R rearward-facing child restraint systems
must not be fitted to the front-passenger
seat unless the front-passenger airbag has
been disabled .Onthe front-passenger
seat, the front-passenger airbag is disabled
if a child restraint system with automatic
child seat recognition is fitted to the front-
passenger seat in a vehicle equipped with
automatic child seat recognition. The
4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp must be continuously lit.
If the front-passenger seat of your vehicle
does not have automatic child seat recog-
nition, or your rearward-facing child
restraint system does not have automatic
child seat recognition, children must be
secured in a child restraint system on a
suitable seat in the rear. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint system to the 40
Occupant safetySafety

tion instructions and the correct use of the
child restraint system.
Child restraint systems shoul dbe fitted to the
rear seats. Children are generally better pro-
tected there.
The entire base of the child restraint system
must always rest on the seat cushion. There-
fore, never place objects, e.g. a cushion,
under the child restraint system.
Only use child restraint systems with the orig-
inal cover designed for them. Only replace
damaged covers with genuine Mercedes-Benz
covers.
We recommend the use of child restraint sys-
tems which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply
R the HOLD function is deactivated by the
accelerator pedal being depressed, e.g. by
a vehicle occupant
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pered with
R the battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
Before leaving the vehicle, always deactivate
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
from rolling away. G
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly positioned loads
increase the risk of injury for children and all
other occupants in the event of:
R an accident
R a braking manoeuvre
R a sudden change of direction
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the vehi-
cle interior unless they are secured. You will find further information under "Loading guide-
lines" in the index.
If a child is travelling in your vehicle, secure
the child using a child restraint system which
is appropriate to the size, age and weight of
the child and recommended for Mercedes-
Benz vehicles. You should preferably fit the
restraint system to a suitable rear seat. Make
sure that the child is secured in a child
restraint system throughout the trip.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use the child restraint systems listed under
(Y page 56).
You can obtain information about the correct
child restraint system from any Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre.
i It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care
products to clean child restraint systems.
You can obtain information about this at
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat G
WARNING
If the front-passenger airbag is not disabled:
R a child secured in a child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat could be seri-
ously and even fatally injured by the front-
passenger airbag deploying. This is espe-
cially a risk if the child is in the immediate
vicinity of the front-passenger airbag when
it deploys.
R never secure a child on the front-passenger
seat in a rearward-facing child restraint sys-
tem. Only secure a rearward-facing child
restraint system on a suitable rear seat.
R always move the front-passenger seat to
the rearmost position if you secure a child
in a forward-facing child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat. Children in the vehicle
49Safety
Z

X
To activate: press the child-proof lock
lever down in the direction of arrow ;.
X Make sure tha tthe child-proof locks are
working properly.
X To deactivate: press the child-proof lock
lever up in the direction of arrow :.
Override feature for the rear side win-
dows X
To activate/deactivate: press button:.
If indicator lamp ;is lit, operation of the
rear side windows is disabled. Operation is
only possible using the switches in the driv-
er's door. If indicator lamp ;is off, oper-
ation is possible using the switches in the
rear compartment. Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems: R
ABS ( Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
(Y page 60)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System) (Y page 61)
R Adaptive brake lamps (Y page 61)
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
(Y page 62)
R EBD ( electronic brake force distribution)
(Y page 64)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 64)
R Trailer stabilisation Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, the driv-
ing safety systems can neither reduce the risk
of accident nor override the laws of physics.
Driving safety systems are merely aids
designed to assist driving. You are responsi-
ble for the distance to the vehicle in front, for
vehicle speed and for braking in good time.
Always adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions as
well as the traffic conditions, and maintain a
safe distance from the vehicle in front. Drive
carefully.
i Please note that the driving safety sys-
tems described only work as effectively as
possible when there is adequate contact
between the tyres and the road surface.
Pay particular attention to the information
regarding tyres, recommended minimum
tyre tread depths etc. in the "Wheels and
tyres" section (Y page 322).
In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tyres (M+S tyres) and, if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-
ing safety systems described in this section
work as effectively as possible. ABS (Anti-lockB
raking System)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 60). 60
Driving safet
ysystemsSafety

light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h
.You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning switch button (Y page 109).ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 60). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Only operate the vehicle for a maximum
of ten seconds on a brake dynamometer.
Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on atwin-axle dyna-
mometer. Before you operate the vehicle
on such a dynamometer, please consult a
qualified workshop .You could otherwise
damage the drive train or the brake system.
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction.
Traction is the transmission of power from the
tyres to the road surface.
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarn-
ing lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 256) and any display messages that
appear in the instrument cluster
(Y page 229). If ESP
®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise 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 slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X When pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
i If differential locks are switched on, ABS,
BAS and ESP ®
switch off automatically.
4ETS (Electronic Traction System) Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate ESP
®
.
X If appropriate for the driving conditions,
engage the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(Y page 202).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate ESP ®
.
Traction control is no longer active above a
speed of about 60 km/h. 62
Driving safety systemsSafety