2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV wheel

boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effor
tto steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
Vehicles with automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock (Y page 143) and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated.
X Apply the parking brake firmly.
X Turn the steering wheel until the steering
wheel lock engages.
i If you switch the engine off with the trans-
mission in position Ror D, the automatic
transmission shifts to Nautomatically.
If you then open one of the front doors or
remove the key from the ignition, the auto-
matic transmission shifts to P.
If you shift the automatic transmission to
N before switching off the engine, the auto-
matic transmission remains in Neven if a
door is opened.
i The key can only be removed if the auto-
matic transmission is in position P.Parking brake
i
When you apply parking brake ;to brake
the vehicle, the brake lamps do not light up.
X To apply: pull parking brake ;up firmly.
Parking brake ;is applied. If the key is in position
1or 2in the ignition
lock, the !indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster is lit.
X To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
The selector lever lock is released.
X Pull parking brake ;up firmly.
X Press release button :on parking
brake ;and move parking brake ;down
to the stop.
The ! indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
i If you pull away with parking brake ;
applied, a warning tone sounds. Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharging.
X Disconnect the battery.
or
X Connect the battery to a trickle charger.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than six weeks, the vehicle may suffer dam-
age as a result of lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice. Driving tips
Short journeys
! Vehicles with adiesel particle filter: if
the vehicle is mostly driven for short dis-
tances, it is possible that malfunctions may
occur during the automatic cleaning of the
diesel particle filter. This may lead to fuel
collecting in the engine oil and cause
engine failure. Therefore, if you frequently 164
Driving tipsDriving and parking

drive short distances, you should take a 20
minute trip on a motorway or rural road at
least every 500km. Brakes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must select shift range
1,2or 3
(Y page 153) in good time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control or SPEEDTRONIC.
This will use the braking effec tofthe engine,
so less braking will be required to prevent the
vehicle from gaining speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking,
depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
The braking system can overheat if you leave
your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
This increases the braking distance and could
even cause the braking system to fail. There
is a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.Do
not simultaneously depress both the brake
pedal and the accelerato rpedal while driving. If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet road surfaces
If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes when brak-
ing for the first time. This may also occur after
the vehicle has been washed.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehi-
cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions .This will warm
up the brake discs, thereby drying them more
quickly and protecting them against corro-
sion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salt-treated roads, a layer of
salt may form on the brake discs and pads.
This can increase the braking distance con-
siderably.
R
Apply the brakes occasionally in order to
prevent any salt build-up. Ensure that you
do not endanger other road users when
doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal at the
end of the journey and when starting the
next journey.
R Maintain a much greater distance to the
vehicle in front. Driving tips
165Driving and parking Z

New brake pads/linings
New brake pads/brake pads and discs that
have been replaced only achieve optimum
braking effect after several hundred kilome-
tres of driving. Compensate for the reduced
braking effect by applying greate rforce to the
brake pedal.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to your vehicle which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which correspond to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake pads/linings which have not
been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which are not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
High-performance brake system for
AMG vehicles The high-performance brake system is
designed for high loads. This may lead to
noise when braking. This is dependent on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as temper-
ature and humidity.
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual driv-
ing style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage (service life) that will be valid under
all circumstances. An aggressive driving style
will lead to high wear. You can obtain further
information about this from your Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre.
Parking brake G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident. Only use the parking brake to brake the vehi-
cle when the service brake is faulty. Do not
apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
When you apply the parking brake to brake
the vehicle, the brake lamps do not light up.
If you drive on wet roads or dirt-covered sur-
faces, road salt and/or dirt could get into the
parking brake.
In order to prevent corrosion and a reduction
in the braking power of the parking brake,
observe the following:
R pull the parking brake upwards with the
release button depressed from time to time
before beginning the journey
(Y page 164).
R drive for approximately 100 m at a maxi-
mum speed of 20 km/h. Tyre traction
G
WARNING
Whereas the vehicle can be fully controlled at
a certain speed on dry roads, you must reduce
your speed on wet or icy roads to achieve the
same road safety. You could otherwise cause
an accident.
Pay particular attention to the road conditions
at temperatures around freezing point.
If ice has formed on the road surface (e.g.
from fog), a thin film of water rapidly forms on
the ice when you brake, considerably reduc-
ing tyre traction. Drive with particular care in
such weather conditions. Driving on slippery surfaces
! If possible, do not let the drive wheels
spin. Otherwise, you could damage the
drive train.
X Engage the differential locks if necessary
(Y page 204). 166
Driving tipsDriving and parking

R
Clean any mud from the tyre tread after
fording.
R Apply the brakes to dry them after fording.
R Water offers a high degree of resistance,
the ground is slippery and ,insome cases,
unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and dan-
gerous to pull away in the water.
R Ensure that a bow wave does not form as
you drive.
R Clean any mud from the tyre tread after
fording.
R Apply the brakes to dry them after fording. Parking the vehicle after heavy loads
on the engine
! Vehicles with adiesel engine: your
vehicle's exhaust gas turbocharger may get
very hot under heavy engine load, e.g. dur-
ing:
R trailer towing
R longe rmotorway journeys at high speed
R longer journeys through mountainous
terrain
X Let the engine run for approximately
another two minutes while the vehicle is
stationary before switching off the engine.
This way, the exhaust gas turbocharger can
cool down more effectively. Winter driving
General notes G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open
a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind. G
WARNING
If you have fitted snow chains to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tyres.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R never fit snow chains on the front wheels
R fit snow chains to the rear wheels in pairs.
At the onset of winter, have your vehicle win-
terproofed at a qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 323).
Driving with summer tyres Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y
page 323).
Slippery road surfaces G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
You should drive particularly carefully on slip-
pery road surfaces. Avoid sudden accelera-
tion, steering and braking manoeuvres.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Move the transmission to position N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control by
using corrective steering.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see (Y page 324).168
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Off-road driving
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you drive up a steep incline at an angle or
turn on a steep incline, the vehicle could slip
sideways, tip and overturn. There is a risk of
an accident.
When driving up an incline, drive into the line
of fall (upwards or downwards in a straight
line) and do not turn.
! G350 BlueTEC:
The level in the AdBlue ®
tank needs to be
sufficiently high to compensate for driving
at extreme angles when driving off-road.
Before driving off-road, make sure that the
tank contains a minimum of ten litres.
When driving off-road, sand, mud and water,
possibly mixed with oil, for example, could get
into the brakes. This may lead to a reduction
in braking performance or total brake failure
as a result of increased wear. The braking
characteristics will vary, depending on the
substances that get int othe brakes. Cleant he
brakes after driving off-road. If you notice
grinding noises or a reduction in braking per-
formance, have the brake system checked at
a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Adapt your driving style to the altered braking
characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the possibility of
damage to the vehicle, which may cause
assemblies or systems to fail. Adapt your
driving style to the conditions of the terrain.
Drive carefully. Have vehicle damage rectified
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop. Observe the following when on hilly roads:
R
Do not shift the transmission to position
N.
R If the gradient is too steep for your vehicle,
back up in reverse gear.
R Do not continuously depress the brake
pedal, as doing so could cause you to lose
control.
General notes H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Read this section before driving your vehicle
off-road. Practise by travelling over more gen-
tle off-road terrain first.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R 4ETS (Y page 62)
R Transfer case (Y page 201)
R Differential locks (Y page 204)
Observe the following notes:
R stop your vehicle and, if necessary, shift the
transfer case to LOW
RANGE(Y page 202) before driving off-
road.
R AMG vehicles: to shift the transfer case to
LOW RANGE, deactivate the ECO start/
stop function (Y page 146).
R engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 204)
i ABS,4 ETS, ESP ®
and BAS are deactivated
while the differential locks are engaged.
This allows the front wheels to lock briefly,
so tha tthey can dig into a loose surface.
However, please note that locked wheels
skid and can no longer steer. Driving tips
169Driving and parking Z

R
Chec kthat items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Y page 271).
R To avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure
there is always sufficient ground clearance.
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
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, the rear door or
tailgate (G-Class Cabriolet), the side win-
dows and the sliding sunroof closed while
the vehicle is in motion.
R Switch off cruise control and variable
SPEEDTRONIC.
R Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
R Adapt your speed to the terrain. The
rougher, steeper or more ruts on the ter-
rain, the slower your speed should be.
R Drive slowly and at a constant speed
through the water. Ensure that a bow wave
does not form as you drive.
R On sand, drive quickly to overcome the roll-
ing 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. R
Avoid high engine speeds. Drive at appro-
priate engine speeds.
R Always check the vehicle for damage after
off-road driving.
i Information about retrofitting special all-
terrain tyres is available from any qualified
specialist workshop.
i Do not use the HOLD function when driv-
ing off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gra-
dients or on slippery or loose surfaces. The
HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle on
such surfaces.
Checklist before driving off-road !
If the engine oil warning lamp lights up
during the journey, stop the vehicle in a
safe place as soon as is possible. Check the
engine oil level. The warning given by the
engine oil warning light must not be
ignored. Continuing your journey when the
symbol is shown may result in engine dam-
age.
X Engine oil level: check the engine oil and
top it up if necessary.
Only then does the engine receive enough
oil when the vehicle is standing on a steep
incline.
X G3 50 BlueTEC: have the AdBlue ®
level
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
(Y page 160).
X Tyre-change tool kit: check that the jack
is working and make sure you have the
wheelbrace, a robust tow cable and a fold-
ing spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Carry a sound spare wheel. 170
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Checklist after driving off-road
Driving ove
rrough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on nor-
mal roads. After driving off-road, check the
vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident
to yourself and other road users.
X Shift the transfer case to HIGH
RANGE(Y page 202).
X Disengage the differential locks
(Y page 204).
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear licence plates.
X Clean the wheels and tyres with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, tyres, wheel arches and
the vehicle underside with a water jet;
check for any foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bel-
lows of the axle joints and propeller shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.
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. Driving on sand Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R
Shift the transfer case to LOW
RANGE(Y page 202).
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Limit the shift range of the automatic trans-
mission according to the off-road condi-
tions.
R Drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. Otherwise, the vehicle could dig itself
into the sand.
R Drive in the tracks of other vehicles if pos-
sible. Make sure that the ruts are not too
deep, that the sand is firm enough and that
your vehicle has sufficient ground clear-
ance.
Tyre ruts and gravel roads !
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.
Observe the following rules when driving
along ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with
loose gravel:
R Shift the transfer case to LOW
RANGE(Y page 202).
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Observe the safety notes (Y page 169) and
the general notes (Y page 169) on off-road
driving.
R Restrict the shift range of the automatic
transmission to 1(Ypage 153).
R Drive slowly.
R Where ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels on one side on the middle section
of turf 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 Driving tips
171Driving and parking Z

large obstacles. Any damage to the vehicle
always increases the risk of an accident.
! 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. Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other obsta-
cles:
R
Observe the safety notes (Y page 169)and
the general notes (Y page 169) on off-road
driving.
R Shift the transfer case to LOW
RANGE( Ypage 202).
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Restrict the shift range to 1(Ypage 153).
R Make sure tha tyou have enough ground
clearance before driving across an obsta-
cle.
R Drive very slowly.
R Try to drive straight over the centre of
obstacles: front wheel first, then rear
wheel. Travelling uphill
Approach/departure angle The table shows front approach/departure
angles
:and rear approach/departure
angles ;at maximum load. This information
only provides an indication. The respective
approach and departure angles vary accord-
ing to the vehicle tyres and optional equip-
ment. : ;
G-Class
long-wheel-
base ver-
sion
36° 27°
G 63 AMG
28° 31°
G 65 AMG
28° 31°
G-Class
Cabriolet
36° 27°
R
Observe the safety notes (Y page 169) and
the general notes (Y page 169) on off-road
driving.
R Follow the line of fall when driving on slopes
and steep inclines.
R Before driving on extreme uphill and down-
hill gradients, shift the transfer case to
LOW RANGE(Y page 202).
R Engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 204).
R Drive slowly. 172
Driving tipsDriving and parking