2013 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class head light

signal or turn the steering wheel to the
straight-ahead position
The
cornering light function may remain lit for
a short time, but is automatically switched off
after no more than three minutes. Headlamps and indicator lamps
fogged up on the inside
The

headlamps and the indicator lamps in the
exterior mirrors may fog up on the inside if
there is high atmospheric humidity.
X Drive with the headlamps switched on.
The level of moisture diminishes,
depending

on the length of the journey and
the weather conditions (humidity and
temperature).
If the level of moisture does not diminish:
X Have the headlamps checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. Interior lighting
Overview of interior lighting
Front overhead control panel
:
p
Switches the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
; c Switches the front interior lighting
on
= t Switches the cargo compartment
lamp/rear interior lighting on/off
? |
Switches the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off A
p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
B Switches the automatic interior lighting
control on Rear-compartment overhead control panel
:
p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
; p
Switches the left-hand reading lamp
on/off Interior lighting control
General notes In order to prevent the vehicle's battery from
discharging,

the interior lighting functions are
automatically deactivated after some time
unless the SmartKey is in position 2 in the
ignition lock.
The brightness of the ambient lighting may be
set using the control on the instrument
cluster (Y page 209). Interior lighting
105
Lights and windshield wipers Z

Automatic interior lighting control
Front overhead control panel
:
p Switches the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
; c Switches the front interior lighting
on
= t Switches the cargo compartment
lamp/rear interior lighting on/off
? |
Switches the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off
A p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
B Switches the automatic interior lighting
control on
X To switch on: set rocker switch B to the
center position.
The interior lighting switches on
automatically when it is dark if you:
R unlock the vehicle
R open a door
R remove

the SmartKey from the ignition lock
X To switch off: press the | symbol on
rocker switch B.
The interior lighting remains switched off
even when it is dark if you:
R unlock the vehicle
R open a door.
R remove

the SmartKey from the ignition lock
The interior light is activated for a short while
when the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock. You can activate this delayed
switch-off using the on-board computer
(Y page 220). When a front door is opened, the front interior
lighting comes on. When a rear door is
opened, the rear interior lighting comes on.
In addition, the courtesy lights come on.
i
If

a door remains open and the SmartKey
is not in the ignition lock, the interior
lighting switches off after a short while.
Manual interior lighting control Front interior lighting
!
If the interior lighting has been switched
on manually, it will not be switched off
automatically.
This can cause the starter battery to
discharge.
Make sure that the interior lighting does
not remain switched on too long after the
engine has been switched off. Front overhead control panel
:
p
Switches the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
; c Switches the front interior lighting
on
= t Switches the cargo compartment
lamp/rear interior lighting on/off
? |
Switches the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off
A p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
B Switches the automatic interior lighting
control on106
Interior lighting
Lights and windshield wipers

X
To switch on: press the c symbol on
rocker switch B.
X To switch off: set rocker switch B to the
center position.
Reading lamps Front overhead control panel
:
p Switches the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
; c Switches the front interior lighting
on
= t Switches the cargo compartment
lamp/rear interior lighting on/off
? |
Switches the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off
A p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
B Switches the automatic interior lighting
control on
X To activate/deactivate: press the p
button.
Cargo compartment lamp G
WARNING
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the cargo
compartment opening when closing the
tailgate. Be especially careful when small
children are around. G
WARNING
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle interior resulting in
unconsciousness and death.
! Switch

off the cargo compartment lamp if
you wish to leave the rear door open for a
longer period. The battery may otherwise
discharge.
! Do not close the rear door while lock :
is engaged at the bottom. Otherwise, you
could damage lock :. Front overhead control panel
:
p
Switches the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
; c Switches the front interior lighting
on
= t Switches the cargo compartment
lamp/rear interior lighting on/off
? |
Switches the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off
A p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
B Switches the automatic interior lighting
control on
X To switch on/off: press the t button.
i If you open the rear door, the cargo
compartment

lamp comes on. You will then
be unable to switch it off using the t
button.
Switch off the cargo compartment lamp if
you wish to leave the rear door open for a
longer period. This prevents the battery
from discharging. Interior lighting
107
Lights and windshield wipers Z

X
Open the rear door.
X To switch off with the rear door open:
press lock : down in the direction of the
arrow until it engages.
The cargo compartment lamp is switched
off.
X To switch on with the rear door open:
press lock cylinder ; on the door handle.
The cargo compartment lamp resumes its
normal function.
Rear interior lighting Front overhead control panel
:
p Switches the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
; c Switches the front interior lighting
on
= t Switches the cargo compartment
lamp/rear interior lighting on/off
? |
Switches the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off A
p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
B Switches the automatic interior lighting
control on
X To switch on/off: press the t button.
i The rear interior lighting switches on
when you open a rear door. You will then
be unable to switch it off using the t
button.
Switch off the rear interior lighting if you
wish to leave the rear doors open for a
longer period. This prevents the battery
from discharging. Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes
Xenon bulbs G
DANGER
Xenon bulbs carry a high voltage. You could
get
an electric shock and be seriously or even
fatally injured if you touch the electric
contacts on Xenon bulbs. Therefore, never
remove the cover from Xenon bulbs.
Do not change the Xenon bulbs yourself, but
have them replaced at a qualified workshop.
If your vehicle is equipped with Xenon bulbs,
you can recognize this by the following: the
cone of light from the Xenon bulbs moves
from the top to the bottom and back again
when you start the engine. For this to be
observed, the lights must be switched on
before starting the engine.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
LED lamps You can neither replace Xenon bulbs nor LED
bulbs.

Have LED bulbs changed at a qualified
specialist workshop. 108
Replacing bulbs
Lights and windshield wipers

Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle
safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
Other bulbs G
WARNING
Bulbs and lamps can become very hot. For
this reason, allow them to cool down before
changing them. Otherwise, you could burn
yourself when you touch them.
Keep bulbs out of the reach of children.
Otherwise, they could, for example, damage
the bulbs and injure themselves.
Never use a bulb which has been dropped.
Such a bulb may explode and injure you.
Halogen bulbs are pressurized and could
explode when you change them, especially if
they are very hot. You should therefore wear
eye protection and gloves when you are
changing them.
There are bulbs other than the Xenon bulbs
that you cannot replace. Replace only the
bulbs

listed (Y page 109). Have the bulbs that
you cannot replace yourself changed at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If you require assistance changing bulbs,
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not touch the glass tube of new bulbs with
your bare hands. Even minor contamination
can burn into the glass surface and reduce
the service life of the bulbs. Always use a lint-
free cloth or only touch the base of the bulb
when installing.
Only use bulbs of the correct type.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult
a qualified specialist workshop.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly. Before changing bulbs Have the following bulbs changed at a
qualified specialist workshop:
R
Additional turn signals in the exterior
mirrors
R High-mounted brake lamp
R High-beam/low-beam headlamps (Xenon
bulbs)
R Daytime running lamps
R Parking lamp/standing lamp
R License plate lamp
i Individual segments of the license plate
lamp LEDs may fail without a display
message appearing in the multifunction
display. Regularly check the license plate
lamp. If necessary, visit a qualified
specialist workshop.
You can replace the following bulbs:
R Fog lamp/cornering light with fog lamp
function
R Turn signal lamp (front)
R Brake/tail lamp
R Turn signal lamp (rear)
R Tail lamp/standing lamp
R Backup lamp
R Rear fog lamp
R Side marker lamps Overview: changing bulbs/bulb types
Front lamps You can change the following bulbs. The bulb
type can be found in the legend. Replacing bulbs
109
Lights and windshield wipers Z

Never activate the LOW off-road gear while
driving on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients !
On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early
to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving,
the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes when
braking

for the first time. This may also occur
after the vehicle has been washed. You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the
vehicle washed, brake firmly while paying
attention to the traffic conditions. This will
warm

up the brake discs, thereby drying them
more quickly and protecting them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt
residue may form on the brake discs and
brake pads. This can result in a significantly
longer braking distance.
R
Brake

occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes !
If
the brake warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster and you hear a warning
tone even though the parking brake has
been released, the brake fluid level may be
too low. Observe additional warning
messages in the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a 2-axle
dynamometer. If you are planning to have
the vehicle tested on such a dynamometer,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to obtain further information first.
Otherwise, you could damage the drive
train or the brake system. 160
Driving tips
Driving and parking

X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add oil if necessary.
Only then does the engine receive enough
oil when the vehicle is standing on a steep
incline.
X Tire-changing tool kit:
check that the jack
is working and make sure you have the lug
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tires: check the tire tread
depth and tire pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tires.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Carry a sound spare wheel.
Checklist after driving off-road Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on
normal roads. After driving off-road, check
the

vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident
to yourself and other road users.
X Shift the transfer case to HIGH
RANGE(Y page 199).
X Disengage the differential locks
(Y page 201).
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear license plates.
X Clean the wheels and tires with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, tires, wheel housings and
the vehicle underside with a water jet;
check

for any foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber
bellows of the axle joints and propeller
shafts. X
After the trip, examine without fail the
entire

undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.
X After driving for extended periods across
sand,

mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you notice strong vibrations after off-road
driving, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and, if necessary,
remove them. Foreign objects can disturb
the balance and cause vibrations.
X Test the brakes.
Driving on sand Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R
Shift the transfer case to LOW
RANGE(Y page 199).
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Limit the shift range of the automatic
transmission according to the off-road
conditions.
R Drive quickly to overcome the rolling
resistance.

Otherwise, the vehicle could dig
itself into the sand.
R Drive in the tracks of other vehicles if
possible. Make sure that the ruts are not
too deep, that the sand is firm enough and
that your vehicle has sufficient ground
clearance.
Tire ruts and gravel roads !
Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged
or bottom out and get stuck.
Observe the following rules when driving
along

ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with
loose gravel: 166
Driving tips
Driving and parking

Top view
The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or
slush. Otherwise, they may not function
correctly.
Clean the sensors regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
(Y page 297).
Front sensors Center Approximately 40 in
(approximately

100 cm
from brush guard) Corners Approximately 24 in
(approximately

60cm)Rear sensors
Center Approximately 36 in
(approximately

90 cm)
from spare wheel Corners Approximately 32 in
(approximately

80 cm)Minimum distance
Center Approximately 8 in
(approximately

20 cm)Corners Approximately 8 in
(approximately

20 cm)If there is an obstacle within this range, the
relevant warning displays light up and a
warning tone sounds. If the distance falls
below the minimum, the distance may no
longer be shown. Warning displays
Warning display for the front area
:
Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
; Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
= Segments showing operational readiness
The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is located
on

the dashboard above the center air vents.
The warning display for the rear area is
located on the headliner in the rear
compartment.
The warning display for each side of the
vehicle is divided into five yellow and two red
segments. PARKTRONIC is operational if
yellow segments showing operational
readiness = light up.
The selected transmission position and the
direction in which the vehicle is rolling
determine which warning display is active
when the engine is running. Transmission
position Warning display
D
Front area activated
R, N or the vehicle
is rolling
backwards Rear and front areas
activated
P
No areas activatedDriving systems
195
Driving and parking Z