2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class Owner's Manual

found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center
(in the USA) at the hotline number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) or
Customer Service Center (in Canada) at
1-800-387-0100. This will assist us in
contacting you in a timely manner should the
need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave the
entire literature in the vehicle so that it is
available to the next owner.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the "Notice of Purchase of Used
Truck" found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or call the Mercedes-
Benz Customer Assistance Center (in the
USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) or
Customer Service (in Canada) at
1-800-387-0100.
Vehicle operation outside the USA
and Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign
countries, please be aware that:
R service facilities or replacement parts may
not be readily available.
R unleaded fuel for vehicles with a catalytic
converter may not be available. Leaded fuel
may cause damage to the catalytic
converter.
R the fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Unsuitable fuel can cause
engine damage.
Sport Utility Vehicle
GWARNING
This Sport Utility Vehicle is designed for both
on-road and off-road use. It can go places and
perform tasks for which conventional 2-wheel
drive passenger cars are not intended. This
vehicle will handle and maneuver differently
from conventional passenger cars in driving
conditions which may occur on streets,
highways and off-road use.
This vehicle has a higher ground clearance
and a higher center of gravity than many
passenger cars. As with other vehicles of this
type, if you make sharp turns at excessive
speeds or abrupt maneuvers, the vehicle may
roll over or may go out of control and crash.
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
Failure to operate this vehicle safely may
result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury.
Before you start to drive this vehicle, read the
Operator's Manual. Take time to become
familiar with the driving characteristics of this
vehicle. Be sure you are familiar with all
vehicle controls. Learn how your vehicle
handles on different road surfaces. Do not
attempt sharp turns at excessive speeds or
abrupt maneuvers or other unsafe driving
actions that can cause loss of vehicle control.
When driving off-road or working the vehicle
hard, do not overload it. And, always wear
your seat belts at all times. In a rollover crash,
an unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
Operating safety
Safety notes
GWARNING
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because the
vehicle's electronic components are
interconnected, any modifications made may
produce an undesired effect on other
systems. Electronic malfunctions could
seriously impair the operating safety of your
vehicle.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for repairs or modifications to electronic
components.
Introduction23Z

Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function when the
engine is running. You should therefore never
turn off the engine while driving.GWARNING
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody or
tires/wheels may cause serious damage and
impair the operating safety of your vehicle.
Such blows can be caused, for example, by
running over an obstacle, road debris or a
pothole.
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that damage
to your vehicle has occurred:
R turn on your hazard warning flashers.
R slow down carefully.
R drive with caution to an area which is a safe
distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and tires/
wheels for possible damage. If the vehicle
appears unsafe, have it towed to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or other
qualified maintenance or repair facility for
further inspection or repairs.
Qualified specialist workshop
An authorized Mercedes-Benz Center is a
qualified specialist workshop. It has the
necessary specialist knowledge, tools and
qualifications to correctly carry out the work
required on your vehicle. This is especially the
case for work relevant to safety.
Observe the notes in the service booklet.
Always have the following work carried out at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center:
R work relevant to safety
R service and maintenance work
R repair work
Ralterations, installation work and
modifications
R work on electronic components
Proper use
GWARNING
There are various warning stickers affixed to
your vehicle. Their purpose is to alert you and
others to various dangers. Therefore, do not
remove any warning stickers unless the
sticker clearly states that you may do so.
If you remove any warning stickers, you or
others could fail to recognize certain dangers
and be injured.
The proper use of the vehicle requires that
you familiarize yourself with the following
information and rules:
R safety notes in this Operator's Manual
R technical data in this Operator's Manual
R traffic rules and regulations
R laws and safety standards pertaining to
motor vehicles
Problems with your vehicle
If you should experience a problem with your
vehicle, particularly one that you believe may
affect its safe operation, we urge you to
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the problem diagnosed
and rectified. If the problem is not resolved to
your satisfaction, please discuss the problem
again with a Mercedes-Benz Center or
contact us at one of the following addresses.
In the USA
Customer Assistance Center
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
24Introduction

In Canada
Customer Relations Department
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9
Reporting malfunctions relevant to
safety
For the USA only:
The following text is reproduced as required
of all manufacturers according to Title 49,
Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575
pursuant to the National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act of 1966.
Reporting safety defects
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in addition to
notifying Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it
may order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your
dealer, or Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go
to: http://www.safercar.gov ; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA Headquarters,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, West Building,
Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain additional information
about vehicle safety from:
http://www.safercar.gov .
Limited Warranty
! Follow the instructions in this manual
about the proper operation of your vehicle
as well as about possible vehicle damage.
Damage to your vehicle that arises from
culpable contraventions against these
instructions are not covered either by
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty or by the
New or Used-Vehicle Warranty of
Daimler AG.
Data stored in the vehicle
Information about electronic data
acquisition in the vehicle
( Including notice pursuant to California Code
§ 9951)
Your vehicle records electronic data. If your
vehicle is equipped with mbrace 3
, data is
transmitted in the event of an accident.
This information helps, for example, to test
vehicle systems after an accident and to
continually improve vehicle safety.
Daimler AG can access this data and submit
it:
R for safety research or vehicle diagnosis
purposes
R with the consent of the vehicle owner
R on the instruction of prosecuting
authorities
R for use in arbitration of disputes that
involve Daimler AG, its affiliates or its sales
and service organizations
R as otherwise required or permitted by law.
Please observe the mbrace 3
purchase
agreement for further details on the recording
and transfer of data by this system.
3 The system is called TELE AID in Canada.Introduction25Z

26

Cockpit ................................................. 28
Instrument cluster ..............................29
Multifunction steering wheel .............31
Center console .................................... 32
Overhead control panel ......................35
Door control panel .............................. 3627At a glance

CockpitFunctionPage:Combination switch121;Cruise control lever180=Instrument cluster29?HornASteering wheel paddle
shifters
157
BDIRECT SELECT lever154CPARKTRONIC warning
display
196
DOverhead control panel35EClimate control systems134FIgnition lock149Start/Stop button149FunctionPageGAdjusts the steering wheel
manually
109
HOn-board diagnostics
socketIOpens the hood300JParking brake167KReleases the parking brake167LLight switch118MAdjusts the steering wheel
electrically
109
Steering wheel heating11028CockpitAt a glance

Instrument cluster
Displays and controls
FunctionPage:Speedometer with
segments
217
;Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: dimmer=Reset button?Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: brighterFunctionPageATachometer216BFuel gaugeCMultifunction display218DClock224Instrument cluster29At a glance

Warning and indicator lampsFunctionPage:ABS260;The lamp lights up briefly,
but has no function.=Brakes (USA only)259?ESP ®261ADistance warning signal265On vehicles without
DISTRONIC, the lamp lights
up briefly but has no
function.BBrakes (Canada only)259CTire pressure monitor (USA
only)
265
FunctionPageDTurn signal121EESP ®
OFF261FSeat belt258GDiesel engine: preglow150HSRS263ILow-beam headlamps119JCheck Engine (Canada
only)
264
KCheck Engine (USA only)264LHigh-beam headlamps121MReserve fuel26430Instrument clusterAt a glance