2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class brake

Ball coupling recess
Holes in the ball coupling and ball coupling recess
X
Insert the ball coupling horizontally into ball
coupling recess 0003in the direction of the
arrow until the holes in ball coupling 0021are
in line with the holes in ball coupling
recess 0020. Bolt
X
Slide bolt 001Einto the hole in the ball
coupling recess and the ball coupling to the
stop. Bolt and spring cotter
X
Secure the bol tusing spring cotter 001F. Correctly installed and secured ball coupling
X
Check the ball coupling, bolt and spring
cotter for correct installation.
If the ball coupling cannot be correctly
mounted, remove the ball coupling. Under
these circumstances, the ball coupling must
not be used for trailer towing.
If the ball coupling cannot be locked and the
key cannot be removed, remove the ball
coupling and clean it. If the ball coupling can
still not be installed (locked) after it has been
cleaned, remove the ball coupling. The trailer
tow hitch must then not be used to tow a
trailer, as safe operation cannot be
guaranteed.
Have the entire trailer tow hitch checked at a
qualified specialist workshop. Coupling up a trailer
! Do not connect the trailer's brake system
(if featured) to the hydraulic brake system 260
Towing
atrailerDriving an d parking

of the towing vehicle, as the latter is
equipped with an anti-lock brake system.
Doing so will result in a loss of function of
the brake systems of both the vehicle and
the trailer.
X Make sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.
X Apply the vehicle's electric parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select highway level.
X Vehicles with ADS: set ADS toAUTOor
COMF.
X Switch off the engine.
X Close all doors and the tailgate.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish all electrical connections.
X Check that the trailer lighting system is
working.
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
with a trailer attached, the vehicle will
always remain at highway level. When
coupling up a trailer, please observe the
following:
R Unless highway level has been set
manually, the vehicle is automatically
lowered to highway level. This is the case
if a speed of 5mph(8km/h) is reached.
R High-speed level is not available.
These restrictions apply to all accessories
powered through a connectio nto the trailer
power socket of your vehicle, e.g. a bicycle
carrier.
Observe the maximum permissible trailer
dimensions (width and length).
Most U.S. states and all Canadia nprovinces
require by law:
R Safety chains between the towing vehicle
and the trailer. The chains should be cross-
wound under the trailer drawbar. They must
be fastened to the vehicle's trailer
coupling, not to the bumper or the axle. Leave enough play in the chains to make
tight cornering possible.
R As eparate brake system for certain types
of trailer.
R As afety switch for braked trailers. Check
the specific legal requirements applicable
to your state.
If the trailer detaches from the towing
vehicle, the safety switch applies the
trailer's brakes. Towing
atrailer
There are numerous legal requirements
concerning the towing of a trailer, e.g .speed
restrictions. Make sure that your vehicle/
trailer combination complies with the local
requirements not only in your area of
residence but also at any location to which
you are traveling. The police and local
authorities can provide reliable information.
Please observe the following when towing a
trailer:
R To acquaint yourself with driving with a
trailer and with the resulting changes to
handling, you should practice cornering,
stopping and backing up in a traffic-free
location.
R Before driving, check:
-Trailer tow hitch
- Safety switch for braked trailers
- Safety chains
- Electrical connections
- Lights
- the wheels
R Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer features electronically
controlled brakes, pull away the vehicle/
trailer combination carefully, manually
brake using the brake controller, and check
the brakes for correct function. Towing
atrailer
261Driving an d parking Z

R
Secure any objects on the traile rto prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is
in motion.
R If you couple up a trailer, regularly check
the cargo for secure fastening and make
sure that the trailer lamps and (if
applicable) the trailer brakes are
functioning correctly.
R Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when
driving without one. Avoid sudden steering
movements.
R The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly, has a decreased
gradient climbing capability and a longer
braking distance.
It is more susceptible to side winds and
requires more careful steering.
R If possible, avoid abrupt braking. Depress
the brake pedal moderately at first, so that
the trailer can activate its own brakes. Then
increase the pressure on the brake pedal.
R If the automatic transmission continues to
shift back and forth between two gears
when driving up or downhill, restrict the
shift range. Select shift range 4, 3, 2,or1.
Al ower gear and lower speed reduce the
risk of engine failure.
R When driving downhill, shift to a lower gear
to utilize the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if
installed, the trailer brakes.
R If the coolant temperature increases
dramatically while the air-conditioning
system is switched on, switch off the air-
conditioning system.
Coolant heat can additionally be dissipated
by opening the windows and by setting the
blower fan and the interior temperature to
maximum.
R When overtaking, pay particular attention
to the extended length of your vehicle/
trailer combination. Due to the length of your vehicle/trailer
combination, you will have to travel an
additional distance beyond the vehicle you
are overtaking before returning to the
previous lane. Decoupling
atrailer G
WARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with the overrun
brake engaged, you could trap your hand
between the vehicle and the trailer drawbar.
There is a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer if the overru nbrake
is engaged. G
WARNING
Vehicles with level control:
The vehicle is lowered as soon as you
disconnect the trailer cable. This could result
in yourl imbs or those of other people that are
betwee nthe vehicle body and tires or
underneath the vehicle being trapped. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the immediate
vicinity of the wheel housings or under the
vehicle when you disconnectt he trailer cable.
! Do not disconnect a trailer with an
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle could be damaged by the
rebounding of the overrun brake.
X Make sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.
X Apply the vehicle's electric parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Close all doors and the tailgate.
X Apply the trailer's parking brake.
X Detach the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
X Switch off the engine. 262
Towing
atrailerDriving an d parking

Permissible trailer loads and drawbar
loads
Weight specifications Maximump
ermissible gross vehicle
weight rating
The gross trailer weight is calculated by
adding the weight of the trailer to the weight
of the load and equipment on the trailer.
Permissible gross weight :7,500 lb
(3,402 kg).
Permissible noseweight
The maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight is the maximum weight with
which the trailer drawbar can be loaded:
600 lbs (272 kg).
Limit for Mercedes-Benz-approved trailer
couplings.
Loading atrailer R
When loading the trailer, make sure that
neithe rthe permissible gross weight of the
trailer nor the gross vehicle weight is
exceeded. The permissible gross vehicle
weight is indicated on the identification
plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of
the vehicle.
You can find the maximum permissible
values on the type plates of your vehicle
and the trailer. When calculating how much
weight the vehicle and trailer may carry,
pay attention to the respective lowest
values.
R The trailer drawbarl oad on the ball coupling
must be added to the rear axle load to avoid
exceeding the permissible gross axle
weight. The permissible gross vehicle
weight is indicated on the identification
plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of
the vehicle.
i Mercedes-Benz recommends atrailer
load where the trailer drawbar noseweight
accounts for 8% to 15% of the trailer's
permissible gross weight. i
The weight of additional accessories,
passengers, and cargo reduces the
permissible trailer load and drawbar load
for yourv ehicle.
Checking the vehicle and trailer weight R
To chec kthat the weights of the towing
vehicle and the trailer comply with the
maximum permissible values, have the
vehicle/trailer combination (including the
driver, passengers, and cargo with a fully
laden trailer) weighed on a calibrated
weighbridge.
R Check the gross axle weight rating of the
front and rear axles, the gross weight of the
trailer and trailer drawbarl oad. Removing the ball coupling
X Remove the spring cotter.
X Remove the bolt from the ball coupling
recess.
X Remove the ball coupling from the ball
coupling recess.
X Clean the ball coupling if it is dirty.
Information on cleaning and care of the trailer
tow hitch can be found at (Y page 376). Storing the ball coupling
G
WARNING
Do not carry the ball coupling in the vehicle
interior if it is not secured.
Otherwise, you and others could be injured by
the ball coupling being thrown around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident Towing
atrailer
263Driving an d parking Z

001E
Drive program (Y page 169)
001F Transmission positio n(Ypage 169)
X To show menu bar 0020:press the 0002
or 0005 button on the steering wheel.
Menu bar 0020disappears after a few seconds.
Text field 0021shows the selected menu or
submenu as well as display messages.
i You can set the time using the audio
system or COMAND; see the separate
operating instructions.
The following messages may appear in the
multifunction display:
00090011000A Active Parking Assist
(Ypage 221)
CRUISE Cruise control (Y
page 195)
000BDSR DSR (Y
page 250)
0006 Off-road program (vehicles
without the ON&OFFROAD
package) (Y page 252)
0006 Off-road program (vehicles with
the ON&OFFROA Dpackage)
(Y page 252)
LOW RANGE LOW RANGE off-road gear
(Y
page 254)
0005 Adaptive Highbeam Assist
(Ypage 130)
0003 ATTENTION ASSIST
(Ypage 234)
0001 Lane Keeping Assist
(Ypage 239)
0001 Active Lane Keeping Assist
(Ypage 245)
0001 HOLD function (Y page 211)
0003 Distance warning function
(Ypage 68)
0003 PRE-SAFE®
Brake (Y page 73) Menus and submenus
Menu overview
Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to call up the menu bar and
selec tamenu.
Operating the on-board computer
(Y page 268).
Depending on the equipment installed in the
vehicle, you can call up the following menus:
R Trip menu (Y
page 270)
R Navi menu (navigatio
ninstructions)
(Y page 272)
R Audio menu (Y
page 273)
R Tel menu (telephone) (Y
page 274)
R DriveAssist menu (assistance)
(Y page 276)
R Service menu (Y
page 277)
R Settings menu (settings) (Y
page 278)
R ON&OFFROAD menu (Y
page 282)
R AMG menu in AMG vehicles (Y
page 282) Trip menu
Standard display X
Press and hold the 0007button on the
steering wheel until the Trip menu with
trip odometer 0002and odometer 0003is
shown. 270
Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

Assistance menu
Introduction In the
DriveAssist menu, you have the
following options:
R showing the distance display
(Y page 276)
R activating/deactivating th edistance
warning function (Y page 276)
R activating/deactivating the PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 276)
R activating/deactivating ATTENTION
ASSIS T(Ypage 277)
R activating/deactivating Blind Spot Assist
or Active Blind Spot Assist (Y page 277)
R activating/deactivating Lane Keeping
Assist or Active Lane Keeping Assist
(Y page 277)
Showing the distance display X
Press 0002or0005 on the steering wheel
to select the DriveAssist menu.
X Press the 0003or0004 button to select
Distance Display .
X Press the 000Bbutton.
The DISTRONIC PLUS distance display
appears in the multifunction display
(Y page 205).
If the Sensors Deactivated message
appears, the radar senso rsystem is
deactivated.
X Activate the rada rsensor system
(Y page 281). Switching the distance warning
function on and off X
Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to select the DriveAssist menu.
X Press 0003or0004 to select Distance Warning .
X Press the 000Bbutton.
The curren tselection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press the000B
button again.
When the distance warning function is
activated, the multifunction display shows
the 0003 symbol if the HOLD function is not
activated (Y page 211).
Vehicles with the Active Parking Assist
driving system: if PARKTRONIC is activated
and you are driving at aspeed below
22 mph (35 km/h), the 0011Active Parking
Assist symbol is shown instead of the 0003
symbol ( Ypage 221).
Further information on the distance warning
function (Y page 68).
Activating/deactivating PRE-SAFE ®
Brake PRE-SAFE
®
Brake is only available in vehicles
with DISTRONIC PLUS.
X Press 0002or0005 on the steering wheel
to select the DriveAssist menu.
X Press the 0003or0004 button to select
PRE-SAFE Brake .
X Press the 000Bbutton.
The curren tselection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press the000B
button again.
When PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is activated, the
multifunction display shows the 0003symbol
as long as the HOLD function is not activated
(Y page 211).
Vehicles with Active Parking Assist: if
PARKTRONIC is activated and you are driving
at a speed under 22 mph (35 km/h), the 0011276
Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

Active Parking Assist symbol is shown instead
of the 0003symbol (Y page 221).
If the PRE-SAFE Brake: Sensors Deactivated message appears, the radar
sensor system is deactivated.
X Activate the rada rsensor system
(Y page 281).
For more information on PRE-SAFE ®
Brake,
see (Y page 73).
Activating/deactivating ATTENTION
ASSIST X
Press 0002or0005 on the steering wheel
to select the DriveAssist menu.
X Press the 0003or0004 button to select
Attention Asst. X
Press the 000Bbutton.
The curren tselection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press the000B
button again.
When ATTENTION ASSIST is activated, the
0003 symbol appears in the multifunction
display when the ignition is on.
For further information about ATTENTION
ASSIST, see (Y page 234).
Activating/deactivating Blind Spot
Assist X
Press 0002or0005 on the steering wheel
to select the DriveAssist menu.
X Press the 0003or0004 button to select
Blind Spot Asst. .
X Press the 000Bbutton.
The curren tselection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press the000B
button again.
If the Blind Spot Assist Sensors Deactivated or
Active Blind Spot Assist Sensors Deactivated message
appears, the radar sensor system is
deactivated. X
Activate the radar sensor system
(Y page 281).
For further information about Blind Spot
Assist, see (Y page 237).
For further information about Active Blind
Spot Assist, see (Y page 241).
Activating/deactivating Lane Keeping
Assist X
Press 0002or0005 on the steering wheel
to select the DriveAssist menu.
X Press the 0003or0004 button to select
Lane Keep. Asst. X
Press the 000Bbutton.
The curren tselection is displayed.
X Press 000Bto confirm.
X Press 0004or0003 to set Off ,
Standard or
Adaptive .
X Press the 000Bbutton to save the setting.
When Lane Keeping Assist or Active Lane
Keeping Assist is activated, the 0001symbol
appears in the multifunction display when the
ignition is on.
For further information about Lane Keeping
Assist, see (Y page 239).
For further information about Active Lane
Keeping Assist, see (Y page 245). Maintenance menu
In the
Serv menu, you have the following
options:
R call up display messages in message
memory (Y page 286)
R restart the tire pressure loss warning
system (Y page 408) Menus and submenus
277On-board computer and displays Z

Activating/deactivating the rada
rsensor
system
X Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to selec tthe Sett. menu.
X Press 0004or0003 to select the Vehicle submenu.
X Press 000Bto confirm.
X Press the 0003or0004 button to select
Radar Sensor (See Oper. Manual): .
You will see the selected setting: Enabledor
Disabled .
X Press the 000Bbutton to save the setting.
The following systems are switched off when
the radar sensor system is deactivated:
R DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 198)
R BAS PLUS (Y page 67)
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 73)
R Blind Spot Assist (Y page 237)
R Active Blind Spot Assist (Y page 241)
Convenience submenu Activating/deactivating the EASY-
ENTRY/EXIT feature
G
WARNING
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement, move
steering wheel adjustment lever or press one
of the memory position buttons.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver's door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
X Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to select the Sett. menu.
X Press the 0004or0003 button to select the
Convenience submenu.X
Press 000Bto confirm.
X Press 0004or0003 to select the Easy Entry/Exit function.
If the Easy Entry/Exit function is
activated, the vehicle steering wheel is
displayed in red in the multifunction
display.
X Press the 000Bbutton to save the setting.
Further information on the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT
feature (Y page 117).
Switching the belt adjustment on/off
X Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to select the Sett. menu.
X Press the 0004or0003 button to select the
Convenience submenu.
X Press 000Bto confirm.
X Press the 0004or0003 button to select the
Belt Adjustment function.
When the Belt Adjustment function is
activated, the vehicle seat belt is displayed
in red in the multifunction display.
X Press the 000Bbutton to save the setting.
For further information on belt adjustment,
see (Y page 57).
Switching the fold-in mirrors with the
locking feature on/off
This function is only available on vehicles with
the memory function (Y page 121).
When you activate the Auto. Mirror Folding function, the exterior mirrors are
folded in when the vehicle is locked. If you
unlock the vehicle and then open a door, the
exterior mirrors fold out again.
X Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to select the Sett. menu.
X Press the 0004or0003 button to select the
Convenience submenu.
X Press 000Bto confirm. Menus and submenus
281On-board computer and displays Z