2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL SUV engine

Even if the vehicl
einfront leaves th edetec-
tion range ,DIST RONICP LUSt emporarily
maintains the curren tdriving spee dand does
not accelerate. This is base donthe current
map data in the navigation system.
The current spee dismaintained:
R approximately 10 second sbefore the
roundabout/ T-junctio nand approximately
1.5 second swhen drivin gonaroundabout.
R approximately 12 second sbefor ereaching
am otorway exit and approximately
4s econds after the motorway exit.
Af terw ards, the vehicle accelerates back to
the set spee dyou specified.
Stopping G
WARNING
Never get out of the vehicle when DISTRONIC
PLU Sisa ctivated.
DISTRONIC PLUS must als onever be oper-
ated, activated or deactivated by apassenger
or from outside the vehicle.
DISTRONI CPLUS does no treplace the elec-
tri cp arking brake and must not be used for
parking.
The DISTRONI CPLUS brakin geffect is can-
celle dand the vehicl ecan start moving if:
R DISTRONI CPLUS is deactivate dusing the
cruise con trollever.
R you accelerate.
R there is amalfunction in the system or an
interruption in the power supply ,e.g. bat-
tery failure.
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pere dwith.
R the battery is disconnected.
If you wish to leave the vehicle or park it,
deactivate DISTRONIC PLU Sand secure the
vehicl eagainst rolling away.
If DI STRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until
it is stationary. Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains
stationary and you do not need to depres
sthe
brake.
Af terat ime, the electric parkin gbrake
secure sthe vehicle and relieves the service
brake.
Depending on the specifie dminimum dis-
tance, your vehicle will come to astandstill at
as ufficient distance behind the vehicle in
front .The specifie dminimum distance is set
using the control on the cruise control lever.
The electric parkin gbrake secure sthe vehicle
automatically if DI STRONIC PLUS is activated
and:
R the driver's doo risopen and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engine is switched off ,unles sitisa uto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
R as ystem fault occurs.
R the powe rsupply is not sufficient.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is am alfunction, the transmission may also
be automatically shifted into position P.
Setting aspeed X
Press the cruise control lever up :for a
high er spee dordown;for alower speed.
X Keep the cruise contr ol leverpresse duntil
the desired speed is reached.
X Release the cruise contro llever.
The new speed is stored. DI STRONIC PLUS
is activated and adjusts the vehicle's speed
to the new speed stored. Driving systems
203Drivingand parking Z

i
The last speed store dremains stored until
you switc hoff th eengine.
i DISTRONIC PLUS is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. If you accel-
erate to overtake, DISTRONIC PLUS
adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last
speed stored after you have finished over-
taking.
DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically deactiva-
ted if:
R you engage the electric parking brake or if
the vehicl eisautomatically secured with
the electric parking brake.
R you are driving slowe rthan 25 km /hand
there is no vehicle in front, or if the vehicle
in fron tisnol onger detec ted.
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivat eESP®
.
R the transmission is in the P,Ror Nposition.
R the vehicle is near aradio telescop efacility
(Y page 433).
R you switch off the radar senso rsystem
(Y page 283).
R you pull the cruise control lever towards
you in order to pull away ,and the front-
passenger doo rorone of the rear doors is
open.
R you activate DSR.
R you activate off-road program 2onvehicles
with the ON&OFFROA Dpackage.
R the vehicle has skidded.
If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will
hear awarning tone. You will see the DIS‐TRONIC PLUS off message in the multifunc-
tion display for approximately five seconds. Displays in the instrument cluster Displays in the speedometer
Example: DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the speed-
ometer
When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or
two segments
;in the set spee drange light
up.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects avehicle in front,
segments ;between speed of the vehicle in
front :and stored speed =light up.
i For design reasons, the speed displayed
in the speedometer may differ slightly from
the speed set for DI STRONIC PLUS.
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is deacti-
vated Distance display when DISTRONIC PLUS is deacti-
vated
:
Vehicle in front, if detected
; Distance indicator: curren tdistanc eto
the vehicle in front
= Specified minimum distanc etothe vehi-
cle in front; adjustable
? Own vehicle Driving systems
205Driving and parking Z

clearance. You will oth
erwise damag ethe
vehicle.
Lev elcontro ladapt sthe vehicle level auto-
matically to the current operating and driving
situation. Thi sresults in reduced fuel con-
sumption and improved handling.
Make changes to the vehicle level whil ethe
vehicle is in motion. Thi senable sthe vehicle
to adjus ttothe new level as quickly as pos-
sible.
The vehicle level ma ychange visibly if you
par kthe vehicle and the outside temperature
changes. If the temperatur edrops, th evehi-
cle level lowers; with an increase in temper-
ature, the vehicle level rises.
If you unloc kthe vehicle or open adoor, the
vehicle begins to compensate for load dis-
crepancies while still parked. However, for
significant leve lchanges, e.g. after the vehi-
cle has been stationar yfor along period, the
engin emust be running. For safety reasons,
the vehicle is only lowered when the doors are
closed .Lowering is interrupted if adoor is
opened; it con tinues once the doo rhas been
closed.
For information about driving off-road, see
(Y page 188).
Basic settings The exten
ttowhich the vehicle is raised or
lowered depend sonthe basic setting selec-
ted.
Select:
R Highway/high-spee dlevel for driving on
normal roads
R Off -road level 1for drivin goneasily nego-
tiable off-road terrain
R Off-road level 2for drivin gonnormal off-
roa dterrain
R Off -road level 3for freeing the vehicle from
especially difficult off -road terrain at low
speeds The individual vehicle levels differ from high-
way level as follows:
R
highway level: +/– 0mm
R high-spee dlevel: –1 5mm
R off-road leve l1:30mma bove highway level
R off-road level 2: 60 mm above highway level
R off-road level 3: 90 mm above highway level
Highway/high-speed level !
Make sure there is enough groun dclear-
ance when the vehicle is being lowered. It
could otherwise hit the ground, damaging
the underbody. :
Selector wheel
; To raise the level
= Indicator lamps
? To lower the level
X Star tthe engine.
X Selector wheel : engaged:
brieflypress
selecto rwheel :.
Selector wheel :extends.
If one or mor eindicato rlamps =are on:
X Turn selector wheel :anti-clockwise ?
until all indicator lamps =that are lit start
to flash.
The vehicle is lowered to highway level. As
soon as the next lowes tlevel is reached,
the indicator lam pstops flashing and goes
out. 208
Drivin
gsystemsDrivin gand pa rking

During the adjustment, the
Lowering mes-
sage ,for example, appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
If yo upressthe % ora button on the
multifunction steeri ngwheel, the message
will disappear. Onc ehighway level has been
reached, all indicator lamps =go out.
The vehicle automatically select shighway
level if you are drivin gataspeed above
11 5k m/ horify ou drive at aspeed between
10 0k m/ hand 115 km/h for around
20 seconds. The vehicle is lowered to high-
speed level if you are travelling at higher
speeds.
Off- road levels General notes
G
WARNING
Off-road level 3isn ot permitte dfor use on
public roads. Off -road level 3gives your vehi-
cle avery high centr eofgravity. This increa-
se st he risk of the vehi clet ippin gover.
R Onl yselec toff-road level 3for drivin goff-
road in particularl yrough terrain.
R Adjust your drivin gstyle to the altered han-
dling charac teristics.
R Do not drive faster than 20 km/h.
R Avoid sudden majo rsteering movements.
R Take account of th ealtered handling char-
acteristics. Only select an off-road level if this is appro-
priate for road conditions. Otherwise, fuel
consumption may increase and handling per-
formanc
emay be affected.
X Start the engine.
X Selector wheel : engaged:
briefly press
selector wheel :.
Selector wheel :extends.
X To raise: turn selector wheel :clock-
wise ;.
The vehicle is raised.
or
X To lower: turn selector wheel :anti-
clockwise ?.
The vehicle is lowered.
Indicator lamps =for the desired off-road
level flash:
R Off-road level 1: the lower indicator lamp
flashes.
R Off-road level 2: the lower and centre indi-
cator lamps flash.
R Off-road level 3: all three indicator lamps
flash.
The vehicle is being adjusted to the off-road
level selected .Assoon as an off-road leve lis
reached, th ecorresponding indicator lamp
stops flashing and lights up constantly.
Raising th evehicle
During the adjustment, the Vehicleris‐ ing message
,for example, appear sint he
multifunc tion display.
The vehicle rises from highway leve ltooff-
roa dlevel 1. Driving systems
209Driving and parking Z

HOL
Dfunction
Gen eral notes Th
eH OLD function ca nassist the driver in the
foll owing situations:
R when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
R when manoeuvrin gonsteep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is cancelled and the HOLD
function is deactivated when you depress the
accelerator peda ltop ull away.
i Do not use the HOLD function when driv-
ing off-road, on steep downhill or uphill
inclines or on aslippery or loose surface.
Under such circumstances, the HOLD func-
tion may not be able to keep the vehicle
stationary.
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD func
tion if:
R the vehicle is stationary.
R the engin eisrunning or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
R the driver' sdoor is closed or if your seat
belt is fastened.
R the electric parkin gbrake is released.
R thet ransmission is in position D,Ror N.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Activatin gthe HOL Dfunction G
WARNING
Th ev ehicle' sbrake sare applied when the
HOLD functio nisactivated. For thi sreason,
deactivat ethe HOL Dfunction if the vehicle is
to be set in motion by other means (e.g. in a
car wash or by towing). X
Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depres sthe brake pedal further
until ë appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The HOL Dfunction is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function G
WARNING
Never get out of the vehicle when the HOLD
function is activated.
The HOLD function must never be operated
or deactivated by apassenger or from outside
the vehicle.
The HOLD function does not replace the elec-
tric parking brake and must not be used for
parking.
The braking effect of the HOLD function is
cancelled and the vehicle could roll away if:
R the HOLD function is deactivated by
depressing the accelerator pedal or the
brake pedal.
R there is amalfunction in the system or an
interruption in the power supply ,e.g. bat-
tery failure.
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pere dwith.
R the battery is disconnected.
If you leave the vehicle or park it, deactivate
the HOLD func tion and secur ethe vehicle
against rolling away.
The HOL Dfunction is deactivated automati-
cally if:
R you accelerate and the transmission is in
position Dor R.
R you shift the transmission to position P. Driving systems
211Drivingand pa rking Z

R
you depress the brak epedal again wit ha
certain amount of pressure until ëdis-
appears from themultifun ctiondisplay.
R you secur ethe vehi cleu sing the elec tric
parking brake.
R you activat eDISTRONIC PLU S.
i After atime, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake.
The electric parking brak esecures the vehicle
automatically if the HOL Dfunction is activa-
ted and:
R the driver' sdoor is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engin eisswitched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
R as ystem fault occurs.
R the powe rsupply is not sufficient.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is am alfunction, the transmissio nmay also
be automatically shifted int oposition P. AIRMATIC package
Genera lnotes AIRMATI
Cenable sasuspension tuning set-
ting to be selected and regulates the damping
behaviour and level of your vehicle. The sys-
tem comprises aminimum of two compo-
nents. These are AD S(Adaptive Damp ingS ys-
tem) (Y page 212) and level control
(Y page 213) .Your vehicle ma yalso be equip-
ped with the Active Curv eSystem
(Y page 213).
Observe the notes on driving with atrailer
(Y page 257).
ADS (Adaptive Damping System) General notes
ADS adapts th
edamping characteristic sto
the curren toperatin gand driving situation. Thi
sd epends on:
R your drivin gstyle
R the road surface conditions
R the AD Ssetting
R the vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored even if you
remov ethe key from the igni tion lock.
Sports tuning Example: vehicles wit
hthe ON&OFFROA Dpackage
X Start the engine.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;ligh tsup. You have sele c-
ted "Sport stuning". The vehicle is lowered
by 15 mm.
The firmer suspension tuning in Spor tmode
ensures even bette rcontac twith th eroad.
Select this mode when empl oyingasporty
driving style, e.g .onwindingcountr yroads.
Comfor ttun ing
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp =light sup. You have selec-
ted "Comfor ttuning". The vehicle is raised
by 15 mm.
In com fort mode, the dri ving characteristics
of your vehicl eare more comfortable. There-
fore, select this mode if you prefer amore
comfortable drivin gstyle. Select comfort
mode also when driving fast on straigh troads,
e.g. on straight stretches of motorway. 212
Driving systemsDriving and pa
rking

Raised level
Example
:vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD
package
Only select raised level if this is appropriate
for the road conditions. Otherwise, fuel con-
sumption may increase and handling may be
affected.
X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is not lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes. The vehicle rises
to raised level. During the adjustment, the
Vehicleris‐ ing message
,for example, appear sint he
multifunction display.
If you press the %ora button on the
multifunction steerin gwheel, the message
will disappear.
Onc ethe vehicle has reached raised level,
indicat or lamp ;remains lit.T he Vehicle rising message disappear
sfrom th emulti-
function display. If you try to select raised level at
aspeed
above 65 km/h, the Please reduce speed message appears.
Highway/high-speed level
!
Make sure there is enough groun dclear-
ance when the vehicle is being lowered. It
could otherwise hit the ground, damaging
the underbody. Example: vehicles without the ON&OF
FROAD
package
: Level control button
; Level control indicator lamp
X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes. The vehicle is
adjusting to highway/high-speed level. During the adjustment
,the bein glowered message
,for example, appears in the multi-
func tion display. 214
Driving systemsDriving and pa
rking

If yo
upressthe % ora button on the
multifunction steering wheel, the messa ge
wil ldisappear.
Once highway level has been reached, indi-
cator lamp ;goes out. The beinglow‐ ered messa
gedisappears from the multi-
function display.
The vehicle autom atically adjusts to highway
level when you:
R drive faster than 80 km/ hor
R driv eatas peed between 65 km/ hand
80 km/h for approximatel y20seconds.
Dependin gonthe ADS setting selected
(Y page 212), the vehicle is lowered to high-
speed level at high speeds. AM
GR IDE CONTROL sports suspen-
sion
Vehicl elevel The vehicle automatically sets the vehicle
level at the rear axle. Rea raxle level control
ensures the best poss iblesuspension and
that the ground clearanc eremains const ant
even when the vehicle is loaded .This
improves drivin gsafety and fuel consump-
tion.
Suspensio ntuning General notes
Th
ee lectronically controlled damping system
works continuously. This improves driving
safety and ride comfort.
The damping is tuned individually to each
wheel and depends on:
R your drivin gstyle, e.g. sporty
R the road surface conditio n,e.g .bum ps
R your individual selection of Sport, Sport +
or Comfort
If you select Sport or Sport +mode and
restar tthe engine, the suspension setting
revert stoComfort mode. Spor
tmode The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing
asporty
driving style, e.g. on windin gcountry roads.
X Press the :button once.
Indica torlamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted Sport mode.
The AMGR ide Control SPORT message
appears in th emultifunction display.
Sport +mode
The very firm settin gofthe suspension tuning
in Spor t+mode ensures the best possible
con tact with the road .Select this mode only
when driving on rac ecircuits.
If indicator lamps =and ;are off:
X Press button :twice.
Indicator lamps =and ;light up. You
have selected Sport +mode.
The AMG Ride Control SPORT + message
appear sint he multifunc tion display.
If indicator lamp ;lights up:
X Press the :button once.
Secon dindicato rlamp =lights up. You
have selected Sport +mode.
The AMG Ride Control SPORT + message
appear sint he multifunc tion display.
Comfort mode
In comfor tmode, the drivin gcharacteristics
of your vehicle ar emore comfortable .There-
fore, selec tthis mode if you prefer amore Driving systems
215Driving and parking Z