2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL SUV towing

Usefu
linfor mation ............................ 338
Stowage areas .................................. 338
Features ............................................. 346 337Stowing and fea
tures

Usefu
linfor mati on
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. National variation sare pos-
sible. Note that your vehicl emay not be
equippe dwith all of the function sdescri-
bed. This is also the case for system sand
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page25). Stowage areas
Loadin
gguidelines G
WARNING
Secure and positio nthe load as described in
the loadin gguidelines.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could
be injured by the load being thrown around in
the event of sharp braking, asudden change
in direction or an accident.
You will find further information in the "Secur-
ing aload" section.
Even if you follow all the loadin gguidelines,
the load will increase the risk of injury in the
event of an accident. G
WARNING
Keep the tailgate closed when the engine is
running. Otherwise, you could be poisoned by
exhaust fumes enterin gthe vehicle.
The handling characteristics of aladen vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of the
load within the vehicle. For this reason, you
should observe the following notes when
transporting aload:
R when transpor ting aload, never exceed the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight or the permissible axle loads for the vehicle
(includin
goccupants).
R position heavy loads as far forward saspos-
sible and as low down in the load compart-
men tasp ossible.
R the load must not protrude abov ethe upper
edge of the seat backrests.
R always plac ethe load against the rea ror
front seat backrests .Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
R hook in the safety net when loading.
R always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R secure the load with sufficiently stron gand
wear-resistant lashing material. Pad sharp
edges for protection.
i Load restraints are available at any quali-
fied specialis tworkshop, e.g. aMercedes-
Benz Servic eCentre. Stowage compartments
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The stowage compartments must be closed
when item sare store dinthem. Luggage nets
ar en ot designed to secur eheavy item sof
luggage.
You or other vehicle occupant scould be
injure dbyo bjectsbeing thrown around if you:
R brak esharply
R change direction suddenly
R arei nvolved in an accident
Sharp-edge dand fragile object smust not be
placed in the luggag enet. 338
Stowage areasStowing and features

Glove compartment
X
To open: pull ha ndle :and ope nglove
compartment flap ;.
X To close: fold glove compartment flap ;
upwards until it engages.
i The glove compartment can be cooled
and ventilated (Y page 154). 1
Glove compartment unlocked
2 Glove compartment locked
The glove compartment can be locked and
unlocked using the emergenc ykey element. Ap
artition :for stowin gflat object sisloca-
te di nt he up per sectio nofthe glov ecom-
partment .Itcan be removed to increase the
stowage space in the glove compartment.
X To remove: pull partition :forwards and
out
X To install: insert partition :and push it
back until it engages.
Stowage compartment/telephone
compartment under the armrest X
To open: pull handle :up.
The armrest folds out.
In the stowage compartment, there is astow-
age tray and amobile phone bracket.
i Depending on the vehicle' sequipment, a
US Bp ort and an AUX-I Njack or aMedia
In terf ace are installed in the stowage com-
partment.
Media Interface is auniversal interface for
mobil eaudi oe quipment, e.g. for an iPod ®
or MP3 Player.
i There is aremovable stowage tray in the
storage compartment, in which objects
such as an iPod ®
can be stored. Stowage areas
339Stowing and features Z

Spectacles compa
rtment X
To open: press marking :.
The spectacles compartmen topens down-
wards.
X To close: press marking:again, the
spectacles compartment returns upwards
and engages.
Make sure that the spectacles compartment
is closed while the vehicle is in motion.
Stowage compartment in the front
centre console X
To open: slide cover :forwards.
Stowage compartment ;appears.
X To close: pull cover :back as far as it will
go. Stowage compartment in the rear
centre console X
To open: briefly press the stowage com-
partment marking.
The stowage compartment opens.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
ther emay be open stowage spaces above
and below the stowage compartment. Stowage nets
G
WARNING
Only place lightweight items in the stowage
net .Don ot use it to transport heavy ,bulky,
sharp-edged or fragile objects. In the event of
an accident, the stowag enet will not secure
the tra nsported goods sufficiently. :
Stowage net in front-passenger footwell 340
Stowage areasStowing and features

:
Stowag enet on the back of the front seats :
Stowag enet in luggage com partment Through-loadin
gfacility in the rear
compartment Th
et hrough-loading facility is opened from
the luggage com partment.
X Releas ethe sea tbackrest sinthesecond
row of seat sand tilt them in the cargo/load
position (Y page 104).
X Fold down the rear seat armrest. X
Pull the centre head restraint on the rear
bench seat into the uppermost position
(Y page 102).
X Slide release catch :to the left and swing
flap ;to the left until it is lying on the rear
side of the rear bench seat. X
Push cover =forward until it is lying on the
rear seat armrest. Enlarging the luggage compartment
Impor tantsafety notes G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle or in the luggag ecompartmen tunless
they are secured.
Oth erwise, yo uand othe rvehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak-
ing, asudden change in direction or an acci-
dent.
When using the luggag ecompartment
enlargement, you should always clip in the
safet ynet,ifath and. G
WARNING
Always drive with the tailgat eclosed. Exhaust
fumes could otherwise enter the vehicle inte-
rior. G
WARNING
Do not fold the backrest ont othe folded-down
seat cushi ons.Ift he seat cushi ons arefolded Stowage areas
341Stowing and fea tures
Z

X
Fold se at back rest;back until it engages.
Make sure not to trap the seat belt while
doing so.
X Swing seat cushion :back.
X Pull up and adjus tthe head rest raints if
necessary (Y page 103). Securing
aload
Lashing eyelets General notes
G
WARNING
Distribut ethe load on thelashing eyelets
evenly.
Otherwise, vehicle occupant scould be
injure dbyo bjectsbein gthrown ar oundify ou:
R bra kesharply
R change directio nsuddenly
R are involved in an accident
Please observ ethe loading guidelines.
Observ ethe following notes on securing
loads:
R secur ethe load using the la shingeyelets.
R do not use elasti cstraps or nets to secure
al oad, as these ar eonly intended as an
anti-slip protection for light loads.
R do not route lashing materials across sharp
edges or corners.
R Pad sharp edges for protection. Luggage compartment
There are four lashing eyelets
:in the lug-
gag ecompartmen t.
Bag hook G
WARNING
Only hang ligh tloads on the bag holders. Do
not use them to transpor theavy ,sharp-edged
or fragile objects. When brakin gsharply,
changing direction quickly or in the even tof
an accident, the bag hooks will not secure the
items sufficiently. This could result in injury to
yoursel forothers.
! Theb aghoo kcan bear amaximum load
of 3k g. Do not us eittosecureaload. Ther
eisab ag hook in the luggage compart-
men tont he right-hand side.
X Press bag hook marking :.
X Tur nbag hook :until it engages. Stowage areas
343Stowing and features Z

The TIREFI
Tkit, tyre- change tool kit, etc. are
located in the stowage compartment.
X To open: holding the ribbing, press han-
dle :downwards ;.
Handle :folds upwards.
X Swing the luggag ecompartmen tfloor
upwards using handle :until it rests
against the luggage compar tment cover. X
Fold out hook =on the underside of the
luggage compartment floor in the direction
of the arrow. X
Attach hook =to the luggage compart-
ment's uppe rseal ?.
X To close: detachhook =from the luggage
compar tment's uppe rseal ?.
X Fasten hook =to the bracket on the
underside of the luggage compartment
floor.
X Fold the luggage compartmen tfloor down.
X Press the luggage compar tment floor
down ;until it engages. 1
Luggag ecompartmen tfloor unlocked
2 Luggage compar tment floor locked
The luggage compartment floor can be locked
and unlocke dusing the emergenc ykey ele-
men t. Roof carrier
Important safety notes G
WARNING
An incorrectly secured roof carrier, ski rack or
load could become detached from the vehi-
cle. These object smight then be thrown
around, and could injur eyou or other sor
caus eana ccident .Follow the roof carrier/ski
rac km anufacturer' sinstallation instructions
and special instructions for use.
The roof load raise sthe vehicle' scentre of
gravity, thereby affecting vehicle handling.
You must always observ ethe maximum roof
load of 10 0kg. Always adapt your driving style
to the prevailin groad, traffic and weather Stowage areas
345Stowing and features
Z

cond
itions and drive with partic ularcareift he
roof is laden.
! Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only us eroof carrier sthat hav ebeen tested
and approved for Mercedes-Ben zvehicles.
This helps to prevent damage to the vehi-
cle.
Position the load on the roof carrier in such
aw ay that the vehicle will not sustain dam-
age even when it is in motion.
Depending on the vehicle equipment,
ensure that when the roof carrier is fitted
you can:
R raise the sliding sunroof fully
R open the panorama sliding sunroof fully
R open the tailgate fully
Attaching the roof carrier X
Secure the roof carrier to roof rails :.In
doing so, observe the manufacturer's
installation instructions. Features
Cup holders
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Keep the cup holder closed while the vehicle
is in motion. Otherwise, vehicle occupants
could be injured by object sbeing thrown
around if you: R
brak esharply
R change direction suddenly
R arei nvolved in an accident
Only use the cup holders for containers of a
suitable size and which have lids .The drinks
coul dotherwis espill.
Cup holders should not be used for hot drinks.
You may otherwise scald yourself. G
WARNING
Do not transport any heavy, sharp-edged or
fragile bottles in the stowage compartments.
In the event of an accident, the stowage com-
partment scannot secure the bottles ade-
quately .You and/or other vehicle occupan ts
co uld be injured.
The stowag ecompart ments in the doors pro-
vide space for bottles with acapacity of up to
1.0 l.
The bottles are not secured or prevented from
tipping over. Therefore, do not place any open
drink containers in the stowage compart-
ments.
Cup holder in the front centre console :
Cup holders
; Cover
X To open: slide cover ;to its foremost
position.
X To close: pull cover ;back as far as it will
go. 346
FeaturesStowing and features