
0043 0044
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 

done safely. Drive carefully and maintain a
suitable distance to the vehicle in front.
General notes
SPEEDTRONIC brakes automatically so that
you do not 
exceed 
the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing a trailer, you must
select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in good time. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine, which relieves the load
on the brake system and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly. If
you need additional braking, depress the
brake pedal repeatedly rather than
continuously.
i The speed indicated in the speedometer
may differ slightly from the limit speed
stored.
Cruise control lever 0043
To store the current speed or a higher
speed
0044 LIM indicator lamp
0087 To call up the last speed stored
0085 To store the current speed or a lower
speed
0083 To switch between cruise control and
variable SPEEDTRONIC
0084 To deactivate variable SPEEDTRONIC
You can operate cruise control and variable
SPEEDTRONIC with the cruise control lever. The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control
lever indicates which system you have
selected:
R
LIM indicator lamp off: cruise control is
selected.
R LIM indicator lamp on: variable
SPEEDTRONIC is selected.
You can use the cruise control lever to limit
the  speed to 
any 
speed above 30 km/h while
the engine is running.
Selecting variable SPEEDTRONIC 0043
To activate or increase speed
0044 LIM indicator lamp
0087 To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
0085 To activate or reduce speed
0083 To switch between cruise control and
variable SPEEDTRONIC
0084 To deactivate cruise control
If you fail to adapt your driving style,
SPEEDTRONIC  can neither 
reduce 
the risk of
accident nor override the laws of physics.
SPEEDTRONIC cannot take account of road,
weather and traffic conditions.
SPEEDTRONIC is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in lane. Only engage
SPEEDTRONIC when the current road,
weather and traffic conditions permit it to be
done safely. Drive carefully and maintain a
suitable distance to the vehicle in front.
X Check whether LIM indicator lamp  0044 is on. Driving systems
175
Driving and parking Z     

There will be either no or only a weak course-
correcting brake application if:
R
there are vehicles or obstacles, e.g. crash
barriers, located on both sides of your
vehicle.
R a vehicle approaches  you 
too closely at the
side.
R you have adopted a sporty driving style with
high cornering speeds.
R you clearly brake or accelerate.
R a driving safety system intervenes, e.g.
ESP ®
.
R ESP ®
 is switched off.
R the LOW RANGE off-road gear is activated.
R a loss of tire pressure has been detected.
Switching on Active Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that active Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 218) is activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the SmartKey to position  2 in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps  0043 in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds  and then turn yellow.
Towing a trailer When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
correctly established the electrical
connection. This can be accomplished by
checking the trailer lighting. 
Active Blind Spot
Assist is then deactivated. The indicator lamp
lights up yellow in the exterior mirrors and the Active Blind Spot Assist Currently 
Unavailable See Operator's Manual
message appears in the multifunction
display.
HOLD function
General notes The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
R
when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
R when maneuvering on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect  is 
canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
i Do not use the HOLD function when
driving off-road, on steep uphill or downhill
gradients or on slippery or loose surfaces.
The HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle
on such surfaces.
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R
the vehicle is stationary.
R the engine is running or it has been
switched off by the ECO start/stop
function (AMG vehicles).
R the engine is running.
R the  driver's 
door is 
closed or your seat belt
is fastened.
R the transmission is in position D, R or N.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Activating the HOLD function The vehicle's brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. For this reason,
deactivate the HOLD 
function 
while in the car
wash or while towing. 192
Driving systems
Driving and parking   

i
AMG vehicles:  to shift the transfer case
to  LOW RANGE, deactivate  the 
ECO start/
stop function (Y page 142).
X Press LOW RANGE button 0044.
When the shift procedure is complete, the
LOW RANGE transfer case position appears
in the multifunction display.
Indicator lamp 0043 lights up.
X Shift the transmission to position  D.
Switching off the off-road gear ratio G
WARNING
When the transfer case is in the neutral
position, power transmission to the driven
wheels  is interrupted.  As 
a result, the vehicle
could roll away. There is a risk of an accident.
Secure the vehicle with the parking brake, and
on uphill or downhill gradients, also secure it
with a device such as a wheel chock.
!  Only carry out the gear selection if:
R the engine is running.
R the vehicle is rolling.
R the automatic transmission is in selector
lever position N.
R you are driving no faster than 43 mph
(70 km/h).
You could otherwise damage the transfer
case.
X Press button 0044.
When the shift procedure is complete, the
HIGH  RANGE
 transfer 
case position appears
in the multifunction display.
Indicator lamp 0043 goes out.
If the gear change is not completed, the
following messages could appear in the
display:
R TC Shift Conditions Not Fulfilled
You have not met one or more shift
conditions.
R TC NEUTRAL On
The transfer case has canceled the gear
change process and is in N. The N transfer case position appears in the multifunction
display.
R TC Shift Canceled
The transfer case has not performed the
gear change process.
X Carry out the gear change process again.
Make sure to meet all conditions for
changing gears.
R  TC Malfunction Visit Workshop
There  is 
a malfunction 
in the transfer case.
X Do not shift the transfer case.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible at a  qualified 
specialist workshop.
Shifting to neutral G
WARNING
When the transfer case is in the neutral
position, power transmission to the driven
wheels  is interrupted.  As 
a result, the vehicle
could roll away. There is a risk of an accident.
Secure the vehicle with the parking brake, and
on uphill or downhill gradients, also secure it
with a device such as a wheel chock.
X Turn the SmartKey to position
2 (Y page 139) in the ignition lock.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Move the selector lever to position
N(Y page 145).
X Press and hold LOW RANGE button 0044 for
approximately  10 seconds.
Once the gear change procedure is
complete, TC Neutral On  message
appears in the multifunction display for
approximately 
5 seconds.
If the gear change is not completed, the
following messages could appear in the
display  (
Y page 238).
i If the transfer case is in  Neutral, the
SmartKey is in the ignition lock and you
open the driver's door, the  TC Neutral 
On
 message appears in the multifunction200
Off-road driving systems
Driving and parking 

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and 
0050 Solutions0049
Check Left Daytime 
Running Light  or 
Check Right 
Daytime Running 
Light The left or right-hand daytime running lamp is defective.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 0049
Malfunction See 
Operator's Manual The exterior lighting is defective.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 0049
Auto Lamp Function 
Inoperative The light sensor is defective.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 0049
Switch Off Lights The lights are still switched on when you leave the vehicle. A
warning tone also sounds.
X
Turn the light switch to 0058. Engine
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and 
0050 Solutions00BD
Check Coolant 
Level See 
Operator's Manual The coolant level is too low.
X
Add coolant, observing the warning notes before doing so
(Y page 291).
X Have the coolant system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop if the  coolant 
needs topping up more often than usual.00AC The fan motor is faulty.
X
At coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †),  drive 
 to the next
qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain and stop-start traffic.234
Display messages
On-board computer and displays 

Problem Possible causes/consequences and 
0050 Solutions00E5
The yellow ESP
®
warning lamp flashes
while the vehicle is in
motion. ESP
®
 or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X When pulling  away, 
only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: ( Y page 62).00BB
The yellow ESP
®
 OFF
warning lamp is  lit 
while
the engine is running. ESP
®
 is deactivated.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
 is switched off, ESP ®
 is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: ( Y page 62).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
 cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
 checked at a qualified specialist workshop. 00E500BB
The yellow ESP
®
 and
ESP ®
 OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, the HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake
lights and ESP ®
 trailer stabilization are not available due to a
malfunction.
G WARNING
The brake  system 
continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
 is  not 
operational, 
ESP®
 is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
253
On-board computer and displays Z 

Engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and 
0050 Solutions00B9
The yellow Check
Engine warning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running.
There may be a malfunction, for example:
R
in the engine management
R in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system
R in the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engine may
be running in emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop.
i In some states, you must immediately visit a qualified
specialist workshop as  soon 
as the yellow Check Engine warning
lamp lights up. This is due to the legal requirements in effect in
these states. If in doubt, check whether such legal regulations
apply in the state in which you are currently driving. 00B6
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp lights up
while the engine is
running.
The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
X
Refuel at the nearest gas station. 00B6
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp flashes
while the vehicle is in
motion.
In addition, the 00B9
Check Engine warning
lamp may light up.
The fuel system pressure is too low. The fuel filler cap is not closed
correctly or the fuel system is leaking.
X
Check that the fuel filler cap is correctly closed.
X If the fuel filler cap is not correctly closed:  
close  the 
fuel 
 filler
cap.
X If the fuel filler cap is closed:  visit a qualified specialist
workshop. 00AC
The red coolant
warning lamp lights up
while the engine is
running 
and the 
coolant
temperature gauge is
at 
the start of the scale. The temperature sensor for the coolant temperature gauge is
defective.
The coolant temperature 
is 
no longer being monitored. There is a
risk of engine damage if the coolant temperature is too high.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road 
and traffic conditions. Do not continue
driving under any circumstances.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.256
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays 

Problem Possible causes/consequences and 
0050 SolutionsX
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 156).
X Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and add coolant, observing the warning
notes (Y page 291).
X If you need to add coolant more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by snow, slush or ice.
X At coolant temperatures below 248 ‡  (120 †), 
drive  to the next
qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-start driving. Driving systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and 
0050 Solutions00BA
The red distance
warning lamp lights up
while the vehicle is in
motion.
The distance to the vehicle in front is too small for the speed
selected.
X
Increase the distance. 00BA
The red distance
warning lamp lights up
while the vehicle is in
motion. A warning 
tone
also sounds. You are approaching a vehicle or a stationary obstacle in your line
of travel at too high a speed.
X
Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to
brake or take evasive action.
Further information on DISTRONIC PLUS ( Y page 177).258
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays