2013 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class maintenance

!
As the ESP ®
system operates
automatically, the engine and the ignition
must be switched off (the SmartKey must
be in position 0 or 1 in the ignition lock) if
the parking brake is tested on a brake
dynamometer (for a maximum of ten
seconds).
Braking applications triggered
automatically by ESP ®
may otherwise
seriously damage the brake system.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your
vehicle which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz
vehicles or which correspond
to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
pads/linings which have not been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your
vehicle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use brake fluid that has been specially
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz,
or which corresponds to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake fluid which has not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which is not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If your brake system is subject only to
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of your brakes at regular
intervals by pressing firmly on the brake pedal
at high speeds. This improves the grip of the
brake pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist
(BAS) on ( Y page 61).
High-performance brake system for
AMG vehicles The high-performance brake system is only
installed

on the G 63 AMG and the G 65 AMG. The high-performance brake system is
designed for heavy loads. This may lead to
noise when braking. This will depend on:
R
Speed
R Braking force
R Environmental conditions, such as
temperature and humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake

system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual
driving style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all
circumstances. An aggressive driving style
will lead to high wear. You can obtain further
information about this from your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after
several hundred kilometers of driving.
Compensate for this by applying greater force
to the brake pedal. Keep this in mind, and
adapt your driving and braking accordingly
during this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in
correspondingly high brake wear. Observe
the brake system warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and note any brake status
messages in the multifunction display. For
high-performance driving in particular, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
Parking brake G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer

and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the
vehicle when the service brake is faulty. Do
not apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again. Driving tips
161
Driving and parking Z

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 Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: ( Y page 23).Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The driver's concentration must always be
directed primarily at road traffic.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver

when traffic and road conditions permit
it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers
a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) per
second. G
WARNING
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired. If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.
G
WARNING
Malfunction and warning messages are only
displayed for certain systems and are
intentionally not very detailed. The
malfunction and warning messages are
simply a reminder with respect to the
operation of certain systems. They do not
replace the owner's and/or driver's
responsibility to maintain the vehicle's
operating safety. Have all required
maintenance services and safety checks
performed

on the vehicle. Bring the vehicle to
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to
address the malfunction and warning
messages. G
WARNING
All categories of messages contain important
information which should be taken note of
and, where a malfunction is indicated,
addressed as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair the condition noted may
cause

damage not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty, or result in property
damage or personal injury.
For an illustration of the instrument cluster,
see ( Y page 209).208
Important safety notes
On-board computer and displays

The vehicle data can now be sent to the
Customer Assistance center.
X
Press OK to confirm the message.
The voice connection with the Customer
Assistance center is terminated.
The Vehicle Diagnosis:
Transferring data... message
appears.
The vehicle data is sent to the Customer
Assistance center.
Depending on what the customer service
representative agreed with you, the voice
connection
is re-established after the transfer
is complete. If necessary, you will be
contacted at a later time by another means,
e.g. by e-mail or phone.
Further functions of the vehicle remote
malfunction diagnosis include, for example:
R transfer of service data to the Customer
Assistance center. If a service is overdue,
the COMAND display shows a message
about various special offers at your
workshop.
R monthly status information e-mail on oil
level, air pressure, maintenance, brakes,
etc. If applicable, you will receive
information on special offers in the e-mail.
USA only: this information can also be
called up under "Owners Online" at http://
www.mbusa.com.
Information on the data stored in the vehicle
(Y page 24).
Information on Roadside Assistance
(Y page 22).
Downloading routes Downloading routes allows you to transfer
and save predefined routes in the navigation
system.

To do this, an SD memory card must
be inserted into the COMAND system. If no
SD memory card is inserted, you must insert
the card into the card slot on the COMAND
system before saving.
A route can be prepared and sent either by a
customer service representative or via the mbrace portal on the Internet. Each route can
include

up to 20 way points. When a route has
been received by the navigation system, the
'Route name' has been saved to
memory card. Do you want to start
route guidance? message appears on the
COMAND display. The route is saved to the
SD memory card.
X To start route guidance: select Yes.
An overview of the route is shown in the
display.
i If you select No, the saved route can be
called up later in the navigation menu.
X Select Start.
Route guidance is started.
i Downloaded
and saved data can be called
up again in COMAND. Further information
can be found in the "COMAND", "Online
and Internet services" and "Download
destination/route" sections.
Speed alert You can define the upper speed limit, which
must not be exceeded by the vehicle. If this
selected speed is exceeded by the vehicle, a
message will be sent to the Customer
Assistance center. The Customer Assistance
center

then forwards this information to you.
You can select the way in which you receive
this information beforehand. Possible options
include text message, e-mail or an automated
call.
The data which is sent to the Customer
Assistance center contains the following
information:
R the location where the speed limit was
exceeded
R the time at which the speed limit was
exceeded
R the selected speed limit which was
exceeded Features
279
Stowage and features Z

Useful information ............................
288
Engine compartment ........................ 288
Maintenance ...................................... 293
Care .................................................... 294 287Maintenance and care

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 Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: ( Y page 23).Engine compartment
Hood
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. Otherwise, the hood could be
forced open by passing air flow.
This

could cause the hood to come loose and
injure you and/or others. G
WARNING
Do not open the hood when the engine is
overheated. You could be seriously injured.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge to
determine whether the engine may be
overheated. If you see flames or smoke
coming from the engine compartment, move
away from the vehicle. Wait until the engine
has cooled. If necessary, call the fire
department. G
WARNING
You could be injured when the hood is open –
even when the engine is turned off.
Parts of the engine can become very hot. To
prevent

burns, let the engine cool completely
before touching any components on the
vehicle. Comply with all relevant safety
precautions. G
WARNING
To avoid injury, stay clear of moving parts
when the hood is open and the engine is
running.
The radiator fan may continue to run for
approximately 30seconds

or may even restart
after the engine has been switched off. For
this reason, you must not reach into the fan
rotation area. G
WARNING
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage,
it is dangerous to touch any components
(ignition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system:
R with the engine running
R while starting the engine
R when the ignition is switched on and the
engine is turned manually G
WARNING
The windshield wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion.
When the hood is open, you or others could
be injured by the wiper linkage.
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
switched

off and that the SmartKey has been
pulled out of the ignition lock before opening
the hood.
! Make sure that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield
wipers or the hood. 288
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

Opening the hood
The release lever on the hood is in the footwell
on the left-hand side of the vehicle when
viewed in the direction of travel.
X
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off.
X Pull release lever : on the hood.
The hood is released. X
Lift the hood slightly.
X Push hood catch handle ; in the direction
of the arrow and lift the hood.
Closing the hood G
WARNING
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hands or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure the hood is securely engaged
before driving off. Do not continue driving if
the hood can no longer engage after an
accident, for example. The hood could otherwise come loose while the vehicle is in
motion and injure you and/or others.
X Lower the hood and let it drop shut from a
height of approximately

8 in. (20 cm).
X Check that the hood has engaged properly.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with a little more force. Engine oil
Notes on the oil level Depending on the driving style, the vehicle
consumes

up to 0.9 US qt (0.8 l) of oil over a
distance of 600 miles (1000 km). The oil
consumption may be higher than this when
the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive at
high engine speeds.
Checking the oil level using the oil
dipstick Example: oil dipstick
When checking the oil level:
R
park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
R the engine should be switched off for at
least 30 minutes if the engine is not at
operating

temperature (i.e. if you only start
the engine briefly). Engine compartment
289
Maintenance and care Z

X
Pull oil dipstick : out of the dipstick guide
tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick :.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick : into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
The

oil level is correct if the level is between
MIN mark = and MAX mark ;.
X Add oil if necessary.
Checking the oil level using the on-
board computer !
Do
not add too much oil. adding too much
engine oil can result in damage to the
engine or to the catalytic converter. Have
excess engine oil siphoned off.
G 65 AMG: the oil level can be checked using
the on-board computer only.
On all other models, the oil dipstick must be
used to check the engine oil level.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
X Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
X Press the & or * button on the
steering wheel to select the following
message: The measurement takes a few seconds. You
will

see one of the following messages in the
multifunction display:
R Engine Oil Level OK
R Add 1.0 qt (Canada: 1.0 liter) to
reach maximum oil level. R
Add 1.5 qts (Canada: 1.5 liters) to
reach maximum oil level.
R Add

2.0 qts. (Canada: 2.0 liters ) to
reach maximum oil level.
X Add oil if necessary.
If the engine is at normal operating
temperature and the Engine Oil Reduce
Oil Level message appears, the engine oil
level is too high.
X Have excess oil siphoned off.
If the Switch ignition on to check
engine oil level message appears:
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock ( Y page 139).
If the Observe Waiting Time message
appears:
X If the engine is at normal operating
temperature: repeat the measurement
after about five minutes.
X If the engine is not at normal operating
temperature: (e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly) repeat the measurement
after about 30 minutes.
If the Engine Oil level Not With
Engine On message appears:
X Switch off the engine.
X If the engine is at normal operating
temperature: wait about five minutes
before carrying out the measurement.
X If the engine is not at normal operating
temperature: e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly, wait approximately
30 minutes before carrying out the
measurement.
i If you wish to cancel the measurement,
press the * or & button on the
multifunction steering wheel. 290
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

Adding engine oil
H
Environmental note
When adding oil, take care not to spill any. If
oil enters the soil or waterways, it is harmful
to the environment.
! Only use engine oils and oil filters that
have been approved for vehicles with a
service
system. You can obtain a list of the
engine oils and oil filters tested and
approved in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products at any Mercedes-Benz Service
center.
Damage to the engine or exhaust system is
caused by the following:
R using engine oils and oil filters that have
not been specifically approved for the
service system
R replacing engine oil and oil filters after
the interval for replacement specified by
the service system has been exceeded
R using engine oil additives.
! Do not add too much oil. If the oil level is
above the "max" mark on the dipstick, too
much oil has been added. This can lead to
damage to the engine or the catalytic
converter. Have excess oil siphoned off. Example: engine oil cap
X
Turn cap :
counter-clockwise and remove
it.
X Add the amount of oil required. Observe the specifications in the on-board
computer

when doing so or fill carefully to the
maximum mark on the oil dipstick.
Further information on engine oil
(Y page 353).
i The difference between the minimum
mark and the maximum mark on the oil
dipstick is approximately 2.1 US qt (2 l).
X Replace cap : on the filler neck and
tighten clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place
securely. Additional service products
Checking the coolant level G
WARNING
In order to avoid potentially serious burns:
R use extreme caution when opening the
hood if there are any signs of vapor or
coolant

leaking from the cooling system, or
if the coolant temperature display indicates
that the coolant is overheated.
R do not remove the pressure cap on the
coolant tank if the coolant temperature is
above 158 ‡ (70 †). Allow the engine to
cool down before removing the cap. The
coolant tank contains hot fluid and is under
pressure.
R using a cloth, slowly turn the cap
approximately Ö turn to relieve excess
pressure. If you open the cap immediately,
pressurized scalding hot fluid and vapor will
be blown out.
R do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. Engine compartment
291
Maintenance and care Z