2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV Owners Manual

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

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.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following. X
To deactivate: press button:until the
å warning lamp lights up in the instru-
ment cluster.
X To activate: press button :until the
å warning lamp goes out in the instru-
ment cluster.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
i Vehicles with the ECO start/stop func-
tion: the ECO start/stop function automat-
ically switches the engine off when the
vehicle comes to a stop. When pulling away
again, the engine starts automatically.
ESP ®
remains in its previously selected sta-
tus. Example: if ESP ®
was deactivated
before the engine was switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated when the engine is
switched on again. It may be best to deactivate ESP
®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited, and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support if you brake.
R and are driving at above 60 km/h, ESP ®
still intervenes when one wheel reaches its
grip limit even though it is switched off.
i If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the ÷warning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehi-
cle.
Trailer stabilisation G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilisation will not be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from swerv-
ing. Trailers with a high centre of gravity can
tip over before ESP ®
can detect this. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Trailer stabilisation does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function.
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
lurch, you can only stabilise the vehicle/
trailer combination by depressing the brake
firmly.
In this situation, ESP ®
assists you and can
detect if the vehicle/trailer combination
begins to lurch. ESP ®
slows the vehicle down Driving safety systems
63Safety Z

by braking and limiting the engine output until
the vehicle/trailer combination has stabi-
lised.
Trailer stabilisation is active above speeds of
about 60 km/h.
EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 60). G
WARNING
If EBDh as malfunctioned, the rear wheels can
still lock, e.g .unde rfull braking .This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps (Y page 254) as well as dis-
play messages (Y page 231).
EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability while braking. ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE provides increased braking
safety. In addition to the braking function,
ADAPTIVE BRAKE also has the HOLD function
(Y page 196) and hill start assist
(Y page 145). Anti-theft systems
Immobiliser
X To activate: remove the key from the igni-
tion lock.
X To deactivate: switch on the ignition.
The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key. i
The immobiliser is always deactivated
when you start the engine. ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
X
To prime: lock the vehicle with the key.
Indicator lamp :flashes. The alarm sys-
tem is primed after approximately
15 seconds.
X To deactivate: unlock the vehicle with the
key.
i If you then do not open a door or the rear
door, the alarm system switches back on
again after approximately 40 seconds.
X To stop the alarm: insert the key into the
ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
or
X Press the %or& button on the key.
The alarm is switched off.
Av isual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is primed and you open:
R a door
R a door using the emergency key element
R the rear door/tailgate
R the bonnet
The alarm is also triggered if:
R the position of the vehicle is changed
R a window is smashed
The alarm is not switched off, even if you
close the open door that has triggered it,
for example. 64
Anti-theft systemsSafety

Tow-away protection
Function An audible and visual alar
mis triggered if your
vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while
tow-away protection is primed. This occurs if
the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for exam-
ple.
Activating X
To prime: lock the vehicle with the key.
Tow-away protection is primed after
approximately 30 seconds.
Switching off X
To deactivate: unlock the vehicle with the
key.
Tow-away protection is switched off auto-
matically.
i To prevent a false alarm, deactivate tow-
away protection manually if your vehicle:
R is being transported
R is being loaded onto a ferry or car trans-
porter, for example
R is parked on a movable surface, e.g. in a
split-level garage
Deactivating X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up briefly.
X Lock the vehicle with the key.
Tow-away protection remains deactivated
until the vehicle is unlocked and locked
again. Interior motion sensor
Function When the interior motion sensor is primed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered if move-
ment is detected in the vehicle interior. This
can occur if someone reaches into the vehicle
interior, for example.
Activating
X
Make sure that:
R
the side windows are closed.
R the sliding sunroof is closed.
R there are no objects, e.g. mascots, hang-
ing on the rear-view mirror or on the grab
handles on the roof trim.
This will prevent false alarms.
X Lock the vehicle with the key.
The interior motion sensor is primed after
approximately 30 seconds.
Switching off X
Unlock the vehicle with the key.
The interior motion sensor is switched off
automatically.
i To prevent a false alarm, deactivate the
interior motion sensor if you lock your vehi-
cle and:
R people or animals remain in the vehicle.
R the side windows remain open.
R the sliding sunroof remains open. Anti-theft systems
65Safety Z

Deactivating
X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up briefly.
X Loc kthe vehicle with the key.
The interior motion sensor remains deacti-
vated until the vehicle is unlocked and
locked again. 66
Anti-theft systemsSafety

Useful information
..............................68
Key ....................................................... 68
Doors .................................................... 73
Rear door (G-Class long-wheelbase
version) ................................................ 75
Tailgate (G-Class Cabriolet) ................76
Side windows ...................................... 77
Sliding sunroof .................................... 79
Soft top (G-Class Cabriolet) ................81 67Opening and closing

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). Key
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of
parking position P.
R shift the manual transmission into neutral.
R start the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children or animals unattended in the vehicle.
Always keep the key out of reach of children. G
WARNING
Do not transport any heavy or hard objects in
the vehicle interior or in the load compart-
ment if these are not properly secured. Loads which are not secured or not stored
properly increase the risk of children being
injured in the following circumstances:
R strong braking manoeuvres
R sudden changes of direction
R in the event of an accident G
WARNING
If you attach heavy or large objects to the key,
the key could be unintentionally turned in the
ignition lock .This could cause the engine to
be switched off. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not attach any heavy or large objects to
the key. Remove any bulky keyrings before
inserting the key into the ignition lock. Key functions
G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of
parking position P.
R shift the manual transmission into neutral.
R start the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children or animals unattended in the vehicle.
Always keep the key out of reach of children. G
WARNING
If you attach heavy or large objects to the key,
the key could be unintentionally turned in the
ignition lock. This could cause the engine to
be switched off. There is a risk of an accident. 68
KeyOpening and closing

Do not attach any heavy or large objects to
the key .Remove any bulky keyrings before
inserting the key into the ignition lock. G
WARNING
When the double locks are activated, the
doors can no longer be opened from the
inside. People in the vehicle can no longer get
out, e.g. in hazardous situations. There is a
risk of injury.
Therefore, do not leave any people unsuper-
vised in the vehicle, particularly children, eld-
erly people or people in need of special assis-
tance. Do not activate the double lock when
people are in the vehicle.
Deactivating the double lock
i If the vehicle has been locked with the
key, the double lock function is activated
as standard. It is then not possible to open
the doors from inside the vehicle.
X Deactivate the interior motion sensor
(Y page 65).
X Lock the vehicle with the key.
The double lock is deactivated and the
doors can be opened from the inside. :
& To lock the vehicle
; % To unlock the vehicle
X To unlock centrally: press the%but-
ton. If you do not open the vehicle within
approximately 40 seconds of unlocking:
R
the vehicle is locked again.
R the anti-theft system is primed again.
X To lock centrally: press the&button.
The key centrally locks/unlocks:
R the doors
R the rear door
R the fuel filler flap
i When unlocking, the turn signals flash
once. When locking, they flash three times.
You can also set an audible signal to confirm
that the vehicle has been locked. The audible
signal can be activated and deactivated using
the on-board computer (Y page 223).
When it is dark, the surround lighting also
comes on if it is activated in the on-board
computer (Y page 222). Changing the settings of the locking
system
You can change the setting of the locking
system in such a way that only the driver's
door and the fuel filler flap are unlocked. This
is useful if you frequently travel on your own.
i
If the setting of the locking system is
changed within the signal range of the vehi-
cle, pressing the &or% button locks
or unlocks the vehicle.
X To change the setting: press and hold
down the %and& buttons simulta- Key
69Opening and closing Z