2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class air condition

1, 2, 3 ...
115 V socket ...................................... 286
12 V socket see Sockets
4ETS (Electronic Traction System) .... 70
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel
drive) .................................................. 203
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) Display message ............................ 233
Function/notes ................................ 68
Important safety notes ....................68
Warning lamp ................................. 260
Activating/deactivating cooling
with air dehumidification ................. 139
Active light function ......................... 122
Active Light System Display message ............................ 243
Active service system PLUS
see ASSYST PLUS service interval
display
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) ..... 195
Additives (engine oil) ........................ 375
ADS (Adaptive Damping System) ..... 195
Air bags Display message ............................ 239
Front air bag (driver, front
passenger) ....................................... 42
Important safety notes ....................40
Knee bag .......................................... 43
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp .................................. 45
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp (only Canada) ...........50
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp (only USA) ................45
Safety guidelines ............................. 39
Side impact air bag ..........................43
Window curtain air bag ....................44
Air-conditioning system
see Climate control
Air filter (display message) .............. 247
Air pressure see Tire pressure
Air vents
Important safety notes ..................145
Rear ............................................... 146
Setting ........................................... 145
Setting the center air vents ...........145
Setting the side air vents ...............145
Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Ambient lighting (on-board
computer) .......................................... 225
Anti-lock Braking System see ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Anti-Theft Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Anti-theft system
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) .........72
Approach/departure angle .............. 178
Ashtray ............................................... 284
ASSYST PLUS see ASSYST PLUS service interval
display
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Activating/deactivating ...................72
Function ........................................... 72
Switching off the alarm ....................72
Audio menu (on-board computer) .... 221
Audio system see separate operating instructions
Authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
see Qualified specialist workshop
AUTO lights
Display message ............................ 244
see Lights
Automatic headlamp mode .............. 119
Automatic transmission Changing gear ............................... 156
DIRECT SELECT lever .....................154
Display message ............................ 254
Driving tips .................................... 157
Emergency running mode ..............159
Kickdown ....................................... 157
Problem (malfunction) ...................159
Pulling away ................................... 151
Shift ranges ................................... 157
Starting the engine ........................150
Steering wheel paddle shifters ......157
Trailer towing ................................. 1574Index

Notes ............................................. 305
Service messages ..........................305
Service products
Brake fluid ..................................... 375
Capacities ...................................... 371
Coolant (engine) ............................ 376
DEF special additives .....................374
Engine oil ....................................... 375
Fuel ................................................ 372
Important safety notes ..................370
Refrigerant (air-conditioning
system) .......................................... 375
Washer fluid ................................... 377
Settings
Factory (on-board computer) .........223
On-board computer .......................223
Setting the air distribution ............... 142
Setting the airflow ............................ 142
Side impact air bag ............................. 43
Side marker lamp (display
message) ............................................ 243
Side marker lamps Changing bulbs (front) ...................126
Side windows
Convenience closing feature ............91
Convenience opening feature ..........91
Hinged side windows .......................91
Important safety information ...........90
Opening/closing .............................. 90
Problem (malfunction) .....................93
Resetting ......................................... 92
Sliding sunroof
Important safety notes ....................93
Opening/closing .............................. 94
Problem (malfunction) .....................94
Resetting ......................................... 94
SmartKey
Changing the battery .......................80
Changing the programming .............79
Checking the battery .......................80
Convenience closing feature ............91
Convenience opening feature ..........91
Display message ............................ 256
Door central locking/unlocking .......76
Important safety notes ....................76
Loss ................................................. 82
Mechanical key ................................ 79
Positions (ignition lock) .................149Problem (malfunction) .....................82
Starting the engine ........................150
Snow chains .............................. 173, 341
Sockets Center console .............................. 286
Front-passenger footwell ...............286
Luggage compartment ...................286
Points to observe before use .........285
Rear compartment .........................286
Spare wheel
Notes/data .................................... 365
Storage location ............................ 315
see Emergency spare wheel
Specialist workshop ............................ 24
Speed, controlling see Cruise control
Speedometer
Additional speedometer (on-
board computer) ............................ 220
In the Instrument cluster .................29
Segments ...................................... 217
Selecting the unit of
measurement ................................ 223
see Instrument cluster
SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) Display message ............................ 237
Introduction ..................................... 38
Warning lamp ................................. 263
Warning lamp (function) ................... 38
Standing lamps
Changing bulbs .............................. 126
Display message ............................ 243
Switching on/off ........................... 118
Starting (engine) ................................ 150
Station see Radio
Steering (display message) .............. 255
Steering wheel Adjusting (electrically) ...................110
Adjusting (manually) ......................110
Button overview ............................... 31
Buttons (on-board
computer) ...................................... 217
Important safety notes ..................109
Paddle shifters ............................... 15716Index

Information for customers in
California
Under California law you may be entitled to a
replacement of your vehicle or a refund of the
purchase price or lease price, if after a
reasonable number of repair attempts
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its
authorized repair or service facilities fail to fix
one or more substantial defects or
malfunctions in the vehicle that are covered
by its express warranty. During the period of
18 months from original delivery of the
vehicle or the accumulation of 18 000 miles
(approximately 29 000 km) on the odometer
of the vehicle, whichever occurs first, a
reasonable number of repair attempts is
presumed for a retail buyer or lessee if one or
more of the following occurs:(1)the same substantial defect or
malfunction results in a condition that is
likely to cause death or serious bodily
injury if the vehicle is driven, that defect
or malfunction has been subject to repair
two or more times, and you have directly
notified Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC in
writing of the need for its repair.(2)the same substantial defect or
malfunction of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to repair
four or more times and you have directly
notified Mercedes-Benz in writing of the
need for its repair.(3)the vehicle is out of service by reason of
repair of the same or different substantial
defects or malfunctions for a cumulative
total of more than 30 calendar days.
Please send your written notice to:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Customer Assistance Center
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
Maintenance
The Service and Warranty Booklet describes
all the necessary maintenance work which
should be done at regular intervals.
Always have the Service and Warranty
Booklet with you when you bring the vehicle
to an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. The
service advisor will record every service for
you in the Service and Warranty Booklet.
Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program offers technical help in the event of
a breakdown. Calls to the toll-free Roadside
Assistance Hotline are answered by our
agents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372)
(USA)
1-800-387-0100 (Canada)
For additional information, refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program brochure (USA) or the "Roadside
Assistance" section in the Service and
Warranty booklet (Canada). You will find both
in your vehicle literature portfolio.
In accordance with standard program
guidelines, Roadside Assistance provides
vehicle service up to a reasonable distance
from the next paved road. We will make every
effort to assist in a breakdown situation.
However, the accessibility of your vehicle will
be determined by our authorized Mercedes-
Benz Service technician or the tow service
provider on a case-by-case basis.
Additional charges may be applicable for a
breakdown location determined not to be a
reasonably accessible roadside location as
determined by our authorized technician and
tow service provider.
Change of address or ownership
In the event of a change of address, please
send us the "Change of Address Notice"
22Introduction

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

Problems with air bag deactivation systemProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe 42
indicator lamp lights up
and remains
illuminated.A BabySmart™ compatible child restraint system is installed on
the front-passenger seat.
The front-passenger air bag is therefore disabled.There is no BabySmart™ compatible child restraint system
installed on the front-passenger seat. The BabySmart™ system is
malfunctioning.XHave the BabySmart™ system checked as soon as possible at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz center.GWARNING
If the 42 indicator lamp illuminates and remains illuminated when the weight of a
typical adult or someone larger than a small individual has been detected on the passenger seat,
the system then determines the occupant cannot be a child. Do not allow any occupant to use
the passenger seat until the system has been repaired.
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe 42
indicator lamp does not
illuminate or does not
remain illuminated with
a BabySmart™
compatible child
restraint system
properly installed on
the front-passenger
seat.The BabySmart™ system is malfunctioning.XMake sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and the
child seat.XCheck the installation of the child restraint system.XIf the 42 indicator lamp does not illuminate, have
the BabySmart™ system checked as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not transport a child on the front-passenger seat until the
air bag deactivation system has been repaired.PRE-SAFE ®
(preventative occupant
protection)GWARNING
The PRE-SAFE ®
system reduces the impact of
an accident on vehicle occupants, as long as
their seat belts have been fastened correctly.
Although your vehicle is equipped with a PRE-
SAFE ®
system, the possibility of injury in the
event of an accident cannot be ruled out. You
should therefore always drive carefully and
adapt your driving style to the prevailing road,
weather and traffic conditions.
PRE-SAFE ®
takes preemptive measures to
protect occupants in certain hazardous
situations.
PRE-SAFE ®
intervenes:
R in emergency braking situations when BAS
intervenes
R in critical driving situations, e.g. when
physical limits are exceed and the vehicle
understeers or oversteers severelyOccupant safety53SafetyZ

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 24).
Overview of climate control systems
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled replacement interval. A clogged
filter will reduce the air volume to the interior
and the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and others.
Have a blocked filter replaced at a Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.
GWARNING
Follow the recommended settings for heating
and cooling given on the following pages.
Otherwise, the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
The automatic climate control 13
adjusts the
temperature and the humidity of the vehicle
interior and filters undesired substances from
the air.
The automatic climate control 13
is only
operational when the engine is running. 14
Optimum operation is only achieved when
you drive with the side windows and the
sliding sunroof closed.
i Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather, e.g. using the
convenience opening feature ( Y page 91).
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. A clogged 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.13 Canada only.
14 The residual heat function can only be activated/deactivated when the ignition is switched off.134Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

Switching the front climate control on/
off using the front control panelXTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo switch on: press the à button.
The indicator lamp in the à button lights
up. Airflow and air distribution are set to
automatic mode.
or
XPress the ^ button.
The indicator lamp in the ^ button goes
out. The previously selected settings come
into effect again.XTo switch off: press the ^ button.
The indicator lamp in the ^ button lights
up.
Switching the rear-compartment
climate control on/off using the front
control panel
2-zone automatic climate control
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo switch on/off: press the ± button.
The indicator lamp in the ± button lights
up or goes out.
3-zone automatic climate control
USA only:
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo switch on/off: press the ± button.
The indicator lamp in the ± button lights
up or goes out.
Canada only:
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo switch on: press the Y button.
ON and MODE are shown in the automatic
climate control display behind the Y
symbol. The MODE display goes out after
three seconds. The display switches back
to the standard display.XTo switch off: press the Y button.
MODE is shown in the display behind the
Y symbol.XPress button ^.
OFF is shown in the display behind the
Y symbol.
Switching the rear-compartment
climate control on/off using the rear
control panel
3-zone automatic climate control
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XSwitch on automatic climate control using
the front control panel.XTo switch on: press the à button.
The indicator lamp in the à button lights
up.XTo switch off: press the ^ button.
The indicator lamp in the ^ button lights
up.
Activating/deactivating cooling with
air dehumidification
Important information
The cooling with air dehumidification function
is only available when the engine is running.
The air inside the vehicle is cooled and
dehumidified according to the temperature
selected.
GWARNING
If you switch off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Window fogging may impair
visibility and endanger you and others.
Condensation may drip from the underside of
the vehicle when it is in cooling mode. This is
normal and not a sign that there is a
malfunction.
Operating the climate control system139Climate controlZ

iThe cooling with air dehumidification
function uses refrigerant R134a. This
coolant does not contain
chlorofluorocarbons, and therefore does
not damage the ozone layer.
Activating/deactivating
! If the cooling with air dehumidification
does not switch on, it is possible that the
climate control system has lost coolant.
Have the cooling with air dehumidification
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
XTo activate: press the Á button.
The indicator lamp in the Á button lights
up.XTo switch off: press the Á button.
The indicator lamp in the Á button goes
out. The cooling with air dehumidification
function has a delayed switch-off feature.
Problems with the cooling with air
dehumidification function
If the indicator lamp in the Á button does
not go out when the function is activated, the
cooling with air dehumidification function is
deactivated due to a malfunction. You can no
longer switch on the cooling with air
dehumidification function.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
Setting climate control to automatic
GWARNING
If you switch off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Window fogging may impair
visibility and endanger you and others.
In automatic mode, the set temperature is
maintained automatically at a constant level.
The system automatically regulates the
temperature of the dispensed air, the airflow
and the air distribution.
Automatic mode will achieve optimal
operation if cooling with air dehumidification
is also activated. If desired, cooling with air
dehumidification can be deactivated.
Controlling the front climate control
using the front control panelXTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XSet the desired temperature.XTo activate: press the à button.
The indicator lamp in the à button lights
up. Automatic air distribution and airflow
are activated.XTo deactivate: press the K or I
button.
The indicator lamp in the à button goes
out. Automatic airflow is deactivated and
the airflow is controlled according to the
level set. Automatic air distribution
remains activated.
or
XPress the Z, M , ¯ , \ , P ,
c or O button.
The indicator lamp in the à button goes
out. Automatic air distribution is
deactivated. Air distribution is controlled
according to the position set. Automatic
airflow remains activated.
Controlling the rear-compartment
climate control automatically using the
rear control panel
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XSwitch on automatic climate control using
the front control panel.XSet the desired temperature.XTo activate: press the à button.
The indicator lamp in the à button lights
up. Automatic air distribution and airflow
are activated.140Operating the climate control systemClimate control