Cruise control ................................
170
Distance warning ........................... 258
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 258
ESP ®
.............................................. 252
ESP ®
OFF .......................................
253
Fuel tank ........................................ 256
LIM (DISTRONIC PLUS) .................. 179
LIM (variable SPEEDTRONIC) ......... 175
Overview .................................. 30, 247
Parking brake ................................ 255
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF ................ 44
Reserve fuel ................................... 256
Seat belt ........................................ 248
SRS ................................................ 255
Tire pressure monitor .................... 259
Warning triangle ................................ 302
Warranty ............................................ 348
Washer fluid Display message ............................ 246
Wheel bolt tightening torque ...........344
Wheels Changing a wheel .......................... 340
Checking ........................................ 319
Cleaning ......................................... 296
Cleaning (warning) .........................341
Important safety notes .................. 318
Interchanging/changing ................340
Mounting a new wheel ................... 343
Mounting a wheel .......................... 341
Overview ........................................ 318
Removing a wheel ..........................343
Storing ........................................... 341
Technical data ............................... 344
Tightening torque ........................... 344
Wheel size/tire size ....................... 344
Window curtain air bag
Display message ............................ 230
Operation ......................................... 44
Windows
see Side windows
Windows (cleaning instructions) .....297
Windshield Defrosting ...................................... 131
Windshield heating ...........................133
Windshield washer fluid see Windshield washer system Windshield washer system
Adding washer fluid ....................... 292
Filling capacity ............................... 356
Notes ............................................. 356
Windshield wipers
Problem (malfunction) ...................116
Rear window wiper ........................115
Replacing the wiper blades ............ 115
Switching on/off ........................... 114
Winter
Driving in winter ............................. 163
Winter operation ............................ 320
Winter driving
Snow chains .................................. 321
Winter operation
Overview ........................................ 320
Winter tires
M+S tires ....................................... 320
Wiper blades
Cleaning ......................................... 297
Important safety notes .................. 115
Replacing ....................................... 115 Index
19
X
If appropriate for the driving conditions,
engage the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(Y page 199).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side. In addition, more drive torque is
transferred to the wheel or wheels with
traction.
Traction control remains active if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
At speeds above approximately 37 mph
(60 km/h), traction control is no longer
active.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull away and accelerate on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side. In addition, more drive torque is
transferred to the wheel or wheels with
traction.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You
could otherwise damage the drivetrain. X
To deactivate: press button : until the
å warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
X To activate: press button : until the
å warning lamp goes out in the
instrument cluster.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
i Vehicles with the ECO start/stop
function: the ECO start/stop function
automatically
switches the engine off when
the vehicle comes to a stop. The engine
starts automatically when the driver wants
to pull away again. ESP ®
remains in its
previously selected status. Example: if
ESP ®
was deactivated before the engine
was switched off, ESP ®
remains
deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated. Driving safety systems
63
Safety Z
: ;
G 550
34° 29°
G 63 AMG
Value not
available at
the time of
going to
print. Value not
available at
the time of
going to
print.
R
Observe the safety notes (Y page 164) and
the general notes (Y page 164) on off-road
driving.
R Do not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines
or gradients, but instead follow the direct
line of fall. The maximum gradient-climbing
capability of your vehicle is 80%, which
corresponds to an approach/departure
angle of 38°. Note that the vehicle's
gradient-climbing capability depends on
the off-road conditions.
R Before driving on extreme uphill and
downhill gradients, shift the transfer case
to LOW RANGE(Y page 199).
R Engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 201).
R Drive slowly.
R Accelerate gently and make sure that the
wheels are gripping.
R Avoid high engine speeds, except when
driving on sandy and muddy routes with
high driving resistance.
R Avoid high engine speeds – drive at an
appropriate engine speed (maximum
3,000 rpm).
R When driving down an incline, make use of
the engine's braking effect. Observe the
engine speed; do not overrev the engine.
i Further information on the maximum
engine speed: ( Y page 210). R
Select a shift range appropriate to the
gradient.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1(Y page 150).
R Always check the brakes after driving off-
road.
i Hill start assist will aid you when pulling
away on a hill.
For
more information, see "Hill start assist"
(Y page 141).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability On good road surfaces the maximum
gradient-climbing
capability of your vehicle is
80%, which corresponds to an approach/
departure angle of 38°. Note that the
vehicle's gradient-climbing capability
depends on the off-road conditions.
Accelerate carefully and make sure that the
wheels do not spin when driving on steep
terrain.
i If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS detects this and brakes the wheels
accordingly. The rear wheel torque is
increased, making it easier to drive off.
Hilltops When driving on an uphill gradient, reduce
pressure slightly on the accelerator
immediately
before reaching the top of the hill
(do not shift the transmission to position N).
Use the vehicle's own impetus to drive over
the top of the hill.
This style of driving prevents:
R the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R loss of traction
R the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side168
Driving tips
Driving and parking
R
a central differential lock for the transfer
case,
R a differential lock for the front axle and
R a differential lock for the rear axle.
Each
differential lock can be engaged with the
respective switch on the center console. If
the transfer case differential is disabled, the
front and rear wheels turn at the same speed.
If the differential for the rear axle is locked,
both rear wheels turn at the same speed,
regardless of their individual torques. Please
note that activating the differential locks
severely restricts the vehicle's steerability.
Please note that the functions of the
differential are absolutely necessary for
driving on paved roads. The differential locks
must never be engaged when driving on
paved roads. Otherwise, the vehicle may not
be steerable and you could lose control of the
vehicle. The differential locks must therefore
only be engaged when driving off-road. You
may only engage the differential locks if the
functions of the 4ETS and ESP ®
driving
systems and the LOW RANGE off-road gear
are insufficient.
i The differential locks are only available in
the LOW RANGE off-road gear.
Activating the differential lock Important safety notes
G
WARNING
When differential locks are engaged on a firm,
high-grip surface, the vehicle's steerability is
greatly impaired. In particular, engaging the
differential locks when cornering could lead
to
you losing control of the vehicle. There is a
risk of an accident.
Disengage the differential locks immediately
on firm, high-grip surfaces. G
WARNING
ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS are deactivated
while the differential locks are engaged. As a
result, the wheels could lock when braking and the braking distance is increased. There
is a risk of an accident.
Disengage the differential locks immediately
on firm, high-grip surfaces.
! Only activate the differential locks when:
R you are driving at walking pace.
R the driven wheels are not spinning.
R you
are not driving on a firm road surface.
General notes
The switches are located on the center
console. :
Function indicator lamps (red)
; Differential lock for the front axle
= Differential lock for the transfer case
? Differential lock for the rear axle
A Activation indicator lamps (yellow)
Activate the differential locks:
R off-road
R to deactivate ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS
while off-road
R when fording
For further information on driving off-road,
see ( Y page 164).
i You
can only engage the differential locks
if the transfer case is in the LOW RANGE
off-road driving position (Y page 198).
i You can activate the differential locks in
the following order =, ?, ;.202
Off-road driving systems
Driving and parking
Bead
The tire bead ensures that the tire sits
securely
on the wheel. There are several steel
wires in the bead to prevent the tire from
coming loose from the wheel rim.
Sidewall The part of the tire between the tread and the
bead.
Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras
that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 2.3 kg
(5 lbs). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, level control, a roof rack or a high-
performance battery, are not included in the
curb weight and the weight of the
accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number) This is a unique identifier which can be used
by a tire manufacturer to identify tires, for
example
for a product recall, and thus identify
the purchasers. The TIN is made up of the
manufacturer's identity code, tire size, tire
type code and the manufacturing date.
Load bearing index The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code
that contains the maximum load bearing
capacity of a tire.
Traction Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface.
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating)
The TWR specifies the maximum permissible
weight
that the ball coupling of the trailer tow
hitch can support. Treadwear indicators Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are
distributed
over the tire tread. If the tire tread
is level with the bars, the wear limit of á in
(1.6 mm) has been reached.
Occupant distribution The distribution of occupants in a vehicle at
their designated seating positions.
Total load limit
Nominal load and luggage load plus 150 lbs
(68 kg) multiplied by the number of seats in
the vehicle.
Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Breakdown assistance" section
(Y
page 304) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire. Interchanging the wheels
G
WARNING
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the tires
are of the same dimension.
If your vehicle is equipped with mixed-size
tires
(different tire dimensions front vs. rear),
tire rotation is not possible. G
WARNING
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque of
96 lb-ft (130 Nm
).
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts
specified for your vehicle's rims.
! On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are
located in the wheel. 340
Changing a wheel
Wheels and tires
X
Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
X Place the new wheel on the wheel hub and
push it on.
X Tighten the wheel bolts until they are
finger-tight.
Lowering the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts
and bolts are not tightened to the specified
tightening torque. There is a risk of accident.
Have the tightening torque immediately
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
after a wheel is changed. X
Open the pressure release screw on the
jack using the pump lever
(Y page 342) by
approximately one turn.
X Lower the vehicle until it is once again
standing firmly on the ground.
X Place the jack to one side.
X Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a
crosswise pattern in the sequence
indicated ( : to A). The specified
tightening torque is 96 lb-ft
(130 Nm).
X Disassemble the pump lever.
X Push the jack piston back in and close the
drain plug.
X Use the bolts to secure the faulty wheel to
the spare wheel bracket ( Y page 303).X
Stow the jack and the vehicle tools in the
vehicle again.
X Check the tire pressure of the newly
installed wheel and adjust it if necessary.
A table with the tire pressures for your
vehicle can be found on the B-pillar on the
driver's side. Wheel and tire combinations
General notes
G
WARNING
Replace rims or tires with the same
designation,
manufacturer and type as shown
on the original part. For further information
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted, the wheel brakes or suspension
components can be damaged. Also, the
operating clearance of the wheels and the
tires may no longer be correct. G
WARNING
Replace rims or tires with the same
designation,
manufacturer and type as shown
on the original part. For further information
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted, the wheel brakes or suspension
components can be damaged. Also, the
operating clearance of the wheels and the
tires may no longer be correct. G
WARNING
If you notice sudden significant vibrations or
unusual handling performance or if you
suspect that damage has occurred to the
vehicle, you should activate the hazard
warning lamps, gently reduce speed and
carefully head for an area that is located at a
safe distance from the road.
Check the tires and the underside of the
vehicle for damage. If the vehicle seems
unsafe, have the vehicle towed away to the 344
Wheel and tire combinations
Wheels and tires