2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV service

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

The front-passenger airbag is not disabled:
R
on vehicles without automatic child seat
recognition on the front-passenger seat
R in vehicles with automatic child seat rec-
ognition in the front-passenger seat, if no
special child restraint system with trans-
ponders for automatic child seat recogni-
tion in the front-passenger seat has been
fitted
R on vehicles with automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat, if the
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
4 is not lit.
To make you aware of this danger, a corre-
sponding warning sticker has been affixed on
the dashboard and on both sides of the sun
visor on the front-passenger side.
Information about recommended child
restraint systems is availabl eatany
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Example: warning notice on the front-passenger
su
nv isor Warning symbol for a rearward-facing child
restraint system Do not use a rearward-facing child restraint
syste monaseat that is protected by an air-
bag installed in front of it.
Automatic child seat recognition on the
front-passengers eat G
WARNING
If the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indica-
to rlamp does no tlight up when the child
restraint system is fitted, the front-passenger
airbag has not been disabled. If the front-
passenger airbag deploys, the child could be
seriously or even fatally injured.
Proceed as follows:
R do not use a rearward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenge rseat.
R fit a rearward-facing child restraint system
on a suitable rear seat.
or
R only use a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat and
move the front-passenger seat to the rear-
most position.
R have the automatic child seat recognition
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
To ensure that the automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat func-
tions/communicates correctly, never place
objects, e.g. a cushion, under the child
restraint system. The entire base of the child
restraint system must always rest on the seat
cushion. An incorrectly fitted child restraint
system cannot perform its intended protec-
tive function in the event of an accident, and
could lead to injuries. G
WARNING
Do not place electronic devices on the front-
passenger seat, e.g.:
R laptops, when switched on
R mobile phones
R cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes or
access cards 50
Children in the vehicleSafety

Courtesy lighting in the front doors
The courtesy light is switched on to help you
see bette rwhen it is dark.
X To switch on: activate the interior lighting
automatic control.
X Open the door.
X To switch off: close the door. Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes
Xenon bulbs G
DANGER
Xenon bulbs carry a high voltage. You could
get an electric shock and be seriously or even
fatally injured if you touch the electric con-
tacts on xenon bulbs. Therefore, never
remove the cover from xenon bulbs.
Do not change the xenon bulbs yourself, but
have them replaced at a qualified workshop.
If your vehicle is equipped with xenon bulbs,
you can recognise this by the following: the
cone of light from the xenon bulbs moves
from the top to the bottom and back again
when you start the engine. For this to be
observed, the lights must be switched on
before starting the engine.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
LED lamps You can neither replace xenon bulbs nor LED
bulbs. Have LED bulbs changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly. Other bulbs G
WARNING
Bulbs and lamps can be very hot. You should
therefore allow them to cool down before you
change them. Otherwise, you could be burned
if you touch them.
Keep bulbs out of the reach of children. Oth-
erwise, they could damage the bulbs, for
example, and injure themselves.
Never use a bulb which has been dropped.
Such a bulb may break or even explode and
injure you.
Halogen bulbs are pressurised and can
explode when you change them, particularly
if they are very hot. You should therefore wear
eye protection and gloves when you are
changing them.
There are bulbs other than the xenon bulbs
that you cannot replace. Replace only the
bulbs listed (Y page 115). Have the bulbs that
you cannot replace yourself changed at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If you require assistance replacing bulbs, con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not touch the glass tube of new bulbs with
your bare hands. Even minor contamination
can burn into the glass surface and reduce
the service life of the bulbs. Always use a lint-
free cloth or only touch the base of the bulb
when fitting.
Only use bulbs of the correct type.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult
a qualified specialist workshop.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly. 114
Replacing bulbsLights and windscreen wipers

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). Overview of climate control systems
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Observe the settings recommended on the
following pages. The windows could other-
wise mist up. This may preven tyou from
observing the traffic conditions, thereby caus-
ing an accident.
THERMATIC automatic climate control regu-
lates the temperature and the humidity in the
vehicle interior and filters undesirable sub-
stances from the air.
THERMATIC automatic climate control is only
operational when the engine is running. Opti-
mum operation is only achieved if you drive
with the side windows and sliding sunroof
closed.
The climatic comfor tdeteriorates whilst the
sliding sunroof is open. The automatic climate
control cannot maintain the set temperature
with the sliding sunroof open. You have to
adjust the climate control manually.
i The residual heat function can only be
activated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off.
i The residual heat function can only be
activated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off (Y page 133). i
Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather, e.g. using the con-
venience opening feature (Y page 78). This
will speed up the cooling process and the
desired vehicle interior temperature will be
reached more quickly.
i The integrated filter can filter out most
particles of dust and completely filters out
pollen. Aclogged filter reduces the amount
of air supplied to the vehicle interior .For
this reason, you should always observe the
interval for replacing the filter, which is
specified in the Service Booklet .As it
depends on environmental conditions, e.g.
heavy air pollution, the interval may be
shorter than stated in the Service Booklet. 124
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

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). Running-in notes
Important safety notes
New brake pads/brake pads and discs that
have been replaced only achieve optimum
braking effec tafter several hundred kilome-
tres of driving. Compensate for the reduced
braking effect by applying greater force to the
brake pedal. The first 1,500 km
If you treat the engine with sufficient care
from the very start, you will be rewarded with
excellent performance for the remainder of
the engine's life.
R Drive at varying vehicle speeds and engine
speeds for the first 1,500 km.
R Avoid overstraining the vehicle during this
period, e.g. driving at full throttle.
R Change gea ringood time, before the rev
counter needle is Ôof the way to the red
area of the rev counter.
R Do not shift down a gear manually in order
to brake.
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the point of resistance (kick-
down).
R The shift ranges 3,2or 1should only be
engaged when driving slowly, e.g. when
driving in mountainous terrain. After 1,500 km, you may gradually bring the
vehicle up to full road and engine speeds.
Additional running-in notes for AMG vehicles:
R
Do not drive at speeds above 140 km/h for
the first 1,500 km.
R Only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4,500 rpm briefly.
R Avoid driving off-road before the differen-
tial oil change at 3,000 km.
R Drive the vehicle mainly in drive program
Cfor the first 1,500 km.
i You should also observe these notes on
running in if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced. AMG vehicles with rear axle differen-
tial lock
To improve the protection of the differential,
change the oil after a run-in distance of
3,000 km. This oil change will lengthen the
service life of the differential. Have the oil
change carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restric tthe
pedal travel or obstruct adepressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle
is jeopardised. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Fit the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficien tclearance for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats. 142
DrivingDriving and parking

G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwea rcan hinder correc tusage
of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only set the automatic transmission to the
respective drive positions when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. Otherwise, you could damage the
drive train.
! Avoid high engine speeds when the
engine is cold. The engine's service life
could otherwise be significantly shortened.
Do not use the engine's full performance
until it has reached operating temperature. !
AMG vehicles: at low engine oil temper-
atures (below +20 †), the maximum
engine speed is restricted in order to pro-
tect the engine. To protect the engine and
maintain smooth engine operation, avoid
driving at full throttle when the engine is
cold. Key positions
g
To remove the key
1 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windscreen wipers
2 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 To start the engine
i The indicator and warning lamps light up
in the instrument cluster when you switch
on the ignition. They go out when the
engine is running. This shows that the indi-
cator and warning lamps for each system
are operational.
i You can only remove the key if:
R the key is in position 0in the ignition
lock.
R the automatic transmission selector
lever is in P. Driving
143Driving and parking Z

AdBlue
®
Important notes on use To function properly, BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment 1
mus tbe operated with the
reducing agent AdBlue ®
.
When the supply of AdBlue ®
is almost used
up, the Refill AdBlue See Owner's Man‐
ual message is shown in the multifunction
display. Awarning tone also sounds.
If the Refill AdBlue No start in: .. km message is shown in the multifunction dis-
play, you can still driv ethe vehicle over the
distance shown. Awarning tone also sounds.
If the AdBlue ®
is no ttopped up, you will sub-
sequently be unable to start the engine.
After receiving the warning message, it is
preferable to fill the AdBlue ®
tank with
10 litres of AdBlue ®
.Int his way, you can
ensure that the AdBlue ®
supply lasts until the
next regular service date.
Further information about BlueTEC exhaust
gas aftertreatment and about AdBlue ®
can
be obtained from any Mercedes-Ben zService
Centre.
Topping up AdBlue ®!
Only use AdBlue ®
in accordance with
ISO 22241. Do not mix any additives with
AdBlue ®
, and do not dilute AdBlue ®
with
water. This may destroy the BlueTEC
exhaust gas aftertreatmen tsystem.
! In order to fill the AdBlue ®
tank, the vehi-
cle mus tbe parked on a level surface. The
AdBlue ®
tank can only be filled as intended
with the vehicle parked on a level surface.
Fluctuations in capacity will thus be avoi-
ded. Filling a vehicle standing on an uneven
surface is not permitted. There is a danger
of overfilling, which can cause damage to
BlueTEC exhaust gas aftertreatmen tcom-
ponents. !
Do not fill the AdBlue ®
container with a
pump nozzle.
! If there are steep gradients while driving
off-road, a sufficient filling level in the
AdBlue ®
tank must be ensured. Make sure
for this reason that there is a minimum fill
level of ten litres before driving off-road.
! Surfaces which have come into contact
with AdBlue ®
while refilling should be
rinsed immediately with water, or remove
AdBlue ®
with a moist cloth and cold water.
If AdBlue ®
has already crystallised, use a
sponge and cold water to clean the area.
AdBlue ®
residue crystallises after a certain
amount of time and soils the affected sur-
faces.
! AdBlue ®
is not a fuel additive and must
not be added to the fuel tank.IfA dBlue®
is
added to the fuel tank, this can lead to
engine damage.
If you open the AdBlue ®
tank cap, small
amounts of ammonia vapour may be
released.
Ammonia vapours have a pungen todour and
are particularly irritating to:
R skin
R mucous membranes
R eyes
You may experience a burning sensation in
your eyes, nose and throat, as well as cough-
ing and watering of the eyes.
Do not inhale any ammonia vapours that may
be released. Fill the AdBlue ®
tank only in well-
ventilated areas.
1 BlueTEC vehicles only. 160
RefuellingDriving and parking

AdBlue
®
must not come into contact with
your skin, eyes or clothing.
R If you ge tAdBlue ®
in your eyes or on your
skin, rinse thoroughly without delay using
clear water.
R If AdBlue ®
has been swallowed, rinse your
mouth out immediately with plenty of clean
water, and drink plenty of water.
R Change immediately out of clothing conta-
minated with AdBlue ®
.
R If you notice allergic reactions, visit a doc-
tor immediately.
Keep AdBlue ®
away from children.
Have the AdBlue ®
tank refilled at a qualified
specialist workshop. However, you can also
top up the AdBlue ®
tank:
R with AdBlue ®
refill bottles
R with an AdBlue ®
refill canister
If the outside temperature is below Ò11 †, it
may be difficult to top up. If AdBlue ®
is frozen
and there is an active warning indicator, top-
ping up may not be possible. Park the vehicle
in a warm place, e.g. in a garage, until
AdBlue ®
has become liquid again. Topping up
is then possible again. Alternatively, have the
AdBlue ®
tank refilled at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Have the AdBlue ®
supply checked at a quali-
fied specialist workshop before the following
types of journeys:
R journeys abroad outside of Europe
R off-road driving
X If necessary, have AdBlue ®
topped up.
Before a longer stay outside of Europe, con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop.
For further information on AdBlue ®
, see
(Y page 345). Opening the AdBlue
®
filler cap The filler neck for AdBlue
®
is located behind
the fuel filler flap on the rear right-hand side.
X Switch the ignition off.
X Press the fuel filler flap in the direction of
arrow :.
The fuel filler flap swings up.
X Turn blue AdBlue ®
filler cap ;anti-clock-
wise and remove it.
AdBlue ®
filler cap ;is secured with a plas-
tic strip.
AdBlue ®
refill canisters !
Do not tighten disposable hose ;with
too much force. Disposable hose ;may
otherwise be destroyed. AdBlue
®
refill canisters can be obtained at
many filling stations or at a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. AdBlue ®
refill canisters are
often sold with a filler hose. Afiller hose that
does not exactly fit the vehicle's AdBlue ®
tank offers no protection against overfilling. Refuelling
161Driving and parking Z