2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class Owner's Manual

Other vehicles changing lanes
DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the
vehicle cutting in yet. The distance to this
vehicle will be too short.
Narrow vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the
vehicle in fron tonthe edge of the road,
because of its narrow width. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Obstructions and stationary vehicles DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for
obstacles or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the detected vehicle turns a corner
and reveals an obstacle or stationary vehicle,
DISTRONIC PLUS will not brake for these.
Crossing vehicles DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect
vehicles that are crossing your lane.
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights
with crossing traffic, for example, could cause
your vehicle to pull away unintentionally.
Level control (vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When the vehicle is being lowered, people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between the vehicle body and the wheels or
underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle
or in the immediate vicinity of the wheel
arches when the vehicle is being lowered. G
WARNING
When you drive with the vehicle raised, the
driving characteristics could be impaired by
the vehicle's raised center of gravity. The
vehicle could rollover more easily, for
example on a bend. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always select as low a vehicle level as
possible and adjust your driving style. Driving systems
207Driving and parking Z

G
WARNING
When you drive with the chassis lowered or
raised, the vehicle's braking and driving
characteristics can be significantly impaired.
You could also exceed the permissible vehicle
height if the chassis is raised. There is a risk
of an accident.
Adjust the vehicle level before pulling away. G
WARNING
Due to the high center of gravity, the vehicle
may start to skid and roll over in the event of
an abrupt steering maneuver and/or when
the vehicle's speed is not adapted to the road
conditions. There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt yours peed and driving style to
the vehicle's driving characteristics and to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
! When driving on extremely rough terrain,
select a high vehicle level in good time.
Make sure there is always sufficien tground
clearance. You will otherwise damage the
vehicle.
R Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
Failure to operate this vehicle safely may
result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury.
R In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
You and all vehicle occupants should
always weary our seat belts.
Level control adapts the vehicle level
automatically to the current operating and
driving situation. This results in reduced fuel
consumption and improved handling.
Make changes to the vehicle level while the
vehicle is in motion .This enables the vehicle
to adjust to the new level as quickly as
possible.
The vehicle level may change visibly if you
park the vehicle and the outside temperature
changes. If the temperature drops, the vehicle level is lower; with an increase in
temperature, the vehicle level rises.
If you unlock the vehicle or open a door, the
vehicle begins to compensate for load
discrepancies while still parked. However, for
significant level changes, such as after the
vehicle has been stationary for a long period,
the engine must be on. For safety reasons,
the vehicle is only lowered when the doors are
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door is
opened, and it continues once the door has
been closed.
For information about driving off-road, see
(Y
page 191).
Basic settings The extentt
o which the vehicle is raised or
lowered depends on the basic setting
selected.
Select:
R highway/high-speed level for driving on
normal roads
R off-road level 1for driving on easily
negotiable off-road terrain
R off-road level 2 for driving on normal off-
road terrain
R off-road level 3for freeing the vehicle in
particularly rough terrain at low speeds
only
The individual vehicle levels differ from
highway level as follows:
R highway level: +/–0 in (+/–0 mm)
R high-speed level: –0.6 in (–15 mm)
R off-road level 1: + 1.2 in (+30 mm)
R off-road level 2: + 2.3 in (+60 mm)
R off-road level 3: + 3.6 in (+ 90 mm)
Highway/high-speed level !
Make sure that there is enough ground
clearance when the vehicle is being
lowered. It could otherwise hit the ground,
damaging the underbody. 208
Driving systemsDriving and parking

0002
Selector wheel
0003 To raise the level
0021 Indicato rlamps
0020 To lower the level
X Start the engine.
X Selector wheel 0002 engaged:
briefly press
selecto rwheel 0002.
Selector wheel 0002extends.
If one or more indicator lamps 0021are on:
X Turn selector wheel 0002counter-
clockwise 0020until all indicator lamps 0021
that are lit start to flash.
The vehicle is lowered to highway level. As
soon as the next lowest level is reached,
the indicator lamp stops flashing and goes
out. During the adjustment, the
Loweringmessage, for example, appears in the
multifunction display.
If you press the 0007or000B button on the
multifunction steering wheel, the message will disappear. Once highway level has been
reached, all indicator lamps
0021go out.
The vehicle automatically selects highway
level if you are driving at a speed above
70 mph (115 km/h) or if you drive at a speed
between 62 mph (100 km/h) and 70 mph
(115 km/h) for approximately 20 seconds.
The vehicle is lowered to high-speed level if
you are traveling at higher speeds.
Off-road levels General notes
R
Only select off-road level 3 for driving off-
road in particularly rough terrain.
R Adjust your driving style to the altered
handling characteristics.
R Do not drive faster than 12 mph
(20 km/h). Only select an off-road level when this is
appropriate for road conditions. Otherwise,
fuel consumption increases and handling may
be affected.
X
Start the engine.
X Selector wheel 0002 engaged:
briefly press
selector wheel 0002.
Selector wheel 0002extends.
X To raise: turn selector wheel 0002
clockwise 0003.
The vehicle is raised.
or
X To lower: turn selector wheel 0002counter-
clockwise 0020.
The vehicle is lowered. Driving systems
209Driving and parking Z

Indicator lamps
0021for the desired off-road
level flash:
R Off-road level 1: the loweri ndicatorlamp
flashes
R Off-road level 2: the lower and center
indicator lamps flash
R Off-road level 3: all three indicator lamps
flash
The vehicle adjusts to the off-road level
selected. As soon as an off-road level is
reached, the corresponding indicator lamp
stops flashing and lights up constantly.
Raising the vehicle
During the adjustment, the Vehiclerising message, for example, appears in the
multifunction display.
The vehicle rises from highway level to off-
road level 1.
If you press the 0007or000B button on the
multifunction steering wheel ,the message
will disappear.
i Up to off-road level 2, you can hide the
messages using the 0007or000B button
on the multifunction steering wheel.
Once off-road level 2has been reached, the
lower and cente rindicato rlamps of the
selecto rwheel are on. While the adjustment from off-road level
2to
off-road level 3is taking place, you will see a
message such as the following in the
multifunction display: Vehicle risingMax. speed 12 mph (20 km/h) .The
Max. Speed 12 mph (20 km/h) message draws your attention to the
maximum speed permitted for off-road
level 3.
Once off-road level
3has been reached, you
will see a message shown in white in the
multifunction display, for example: Max. Speed 12 mph (20 km/h) .
If you drive abov e20 km/h at off-road level
3, you will see the following message in red
in the multifunctio ndisplay: Vehicle Lowering Max. Speed 12 mph (20 km/h ).
i
You cannot clear these messages.
You also hear a warning. The vehicle is
lowered and off-road level 3is canceled.
If you continue to increase your speed, the
red message continues to be shown in the
multifunction display. The newly set level is
not displayed until the vehicle has been set
to a level suitable for the current speed.
Lowering the vehicle If you maintain or reduce your speed, you will
see a message in white in the display while
the vehicle is being lowered, such as the
following:
Vehicle Lowering Max. Speed
12 mph (20 km/h).
The vehicle is lowered to off-road level 2.
If you select an off-road level when driving at
too high a speed, the Please reduce speed message appears in the multifunction
display. 210
Driving systemsDriving and parking

You can selec
tfrom the following:
R Off-road level 1atspeeds up to 60 mph
(100 km/h)
R Off-road level 2atspeeds up to 40 mph
(65 km/h)
R Off-road level 3atspeeds up to 12 mph
(20 km/h)
If you are driving above 50 mph (80 km/ h)or
drive between 40 mph (65 km/h) and
50 mph (80 km/h) for longer than
20 seconds, off-road level 2will be canceled.
The vehicle is lowered to off-road level 1.
You will see a message in the multifunction
display, for example: Lowering .
If you are driving above 70 mph (115 km/h)
or drive between 62 mph (100 km/h) and
70 mph (115 km/h) for longer than
20 seconds, off-road level 1will be canceled.
Depending on the vehicle's speed and the
AD Sm ode selected (Y page 212), the vehicle
is automatically lowered to highway or high-
speed level.
You will see a message in the multifunction
display, for example: Lowering .
HOLD function
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R the HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident. If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
Deactivate the HOLD function (Y page 212).
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
R the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened
R the electric parking brake is released
R the transmission is in position D,Ror N
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated Driving systems
211Driving and parking Z

Activating the HOLD function
X
Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until 0001 appears in the multifunction
display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated
automatically if:
R you accelerate and the transmission is in
position Dor R
R you shif tthe transmission to position P
R you depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure until 0001
disappears from the multifunction display
R you secure the vehicle using the electric
parking brake
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS
i After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake.
The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if the HOLD function is
activated and:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engine is switched off.
R a system malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is a malfunction, the transmission may also
be automatically shifted into position P. AIRMATIC package
General notes AIRMATIC regulates the level of your vehicle.
As well as level control (Y
page 213), your
vehicle can be equipped with ADS (Adaptive
Damping System) (Y page 212) and ACTIVE
CURVE SYSTEM (Y page 213).
Observe the notes on driving with a trailer
(Y page 257).
ADS (Adaptive Damping System) General notes
ADS adapts the damping characteristics to
the current operating and driving situation.
This depends on:
R
your driving style
R the road surface conditions
R the ADS setting
R the vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Sports tuning Example: vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD
package
0002
Suspension tuning button
0003 Indicator lamp for sports tuning
0021 Indicator lamp for comfort tuning
X Start the engine. 212
Driving systemsDriving and parking

X
Press button 0002.
Indicator lamp 0003lights up. Sports
suspension tuning is selected. The vehicle
is lowered by 0.6 in (15 mm).
The firmer suspension tunin ginSport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing a sporty
driving style, e.g. on winding country roads.
Comfort tuning Example: vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD
package
0002 Suspension tuning button
0003 Indicator lamp for sports tuning
0021 Indicator lamp for comfort tuning
X Press button 0002.
Indicator lamp 0021lights up. Comfort tuning
is selected. The vehicle is raised by 0.6 in
(15 mm).
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable.
Therefore, select this mode if you favor a
more comfortable driving style. Select
comfort mode also when driving fast on
straight roads, e.g. on straight stretches of
freeway.
Active Curve System The Active Curve System uses active
stabilizers to optimize both driving comfort
and vehicle agility. Depending on the ADS
mode selected (Y page 212), the Active Curve
System also changes the setting. If you select ADS comfort mode:
R
rolling movement is reduced in the event of
changing surface undulations
R the roll angle when cornering is reduced
R the driving style is agile
If you select ADS sport mode:
R the roll angle is reduced significantly
R the driving style is even more agile
Level control Important safety notes
G
WARNING
When the vehicle is being lowered, people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between the vehicle body and the wheels or
underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle
or in the immediate vicinity of the wheel
arches when the vehicle is being lowered. G
WARNING
When you drive with the vehicle raised, the
driving characteristics could be impaired by
the vehicle's raised center of gravity. The
vehicle could rollover more easily, for
example on a bend. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always select as low a vehicle level as
possible and adjust your driving style. G
WARNING
When you drive with the chassis lowered or
raised, the vehicle's braking and driving
characteristics can be significantly impaired.
You could also exceed the permissible vehicle
height if the chassis is raised. There is a risk
of an accident.
Adjust the vehicle level before pulling away. G
WARNING
Due to the high center of gravity, the vehicle
may start to skid and roll over in the event of
an abrupt steering maneuver and/or when Driving systems
213Driving and parking
Z

the vehicle's speed is not adapted to the road
conditions. There is a risk of an accident.
Always adap tyour speed and driving style to
the vehicle's driving characteristics and to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
! When driving on extremely rough terrain,
select a high vehicle level in good time.
Make sure there is always sufficient ground
clearance. You will otherwise damage the
vehicle.
! When you raise the vehicle in such a way
that not all wheels have contact with the
ground, remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock.
R Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
Failure to operate this vehicle safely may
result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury.
R In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
You and all vehicle occupant sshould
always wear your seat belts.
General notes
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 191).
Level control adapts the vehicle level
automatically to the current operating and
driving situation. This results in reduced fuel
consumption and improved handling.
If you select ADS comfort mode
(Y page 212), the vehicle is lowered to high-
speed level as the speed increases. As the
vehicle speed decreases, the vehicle is raised
back up to highway level.
If you select ADS sport mode (Y page 212),
the vehicle skips highway level and lowers
directly to high-speed level depending on the
basic setting (Y page 214).
Make changes to the vehicle level while the
vehicle is in motion. This enables the vehicle
to adjust to the new level as quickly as
possible. The vehicle level may change visibly if you
park the vehicle and the outside temperature
changes. If the temperature drops, the
vehicle level is lower; with an increase in
temperature, the vehicle level rises.
If you unlock the vehicle or open a door, the
vehicle begins to compensate for load
discrepancies while still parked. However, for
significant level changes, such as after the
vehicle has been stationary for a long period,
the engine must be on. For safety reasons,
the vehicle is only lowered when the doors are
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door is
opened, and it continues once the door has
been closed.
Basic settings (excluding AMG vehicles)
The extentt
o which the vehicle is raised or
lowered depends on the basic setting
selected. Select raised level for off-road
driving or highway/high-speed level for
normal roads.
The individual vehicle levels differ from
highway level as follows:
R highway level: +/–0 in (+/–0 mm)
R high-speed level: –0.6 in (–15 mm)
R raised level: +2.3 in (+60 mm)
Basic settings for AMG vehicles
The extentt o which the vehicle is raised or
lowered depends on the AMG adaptive sport
suspension setting selected. Select the
raised level for off-road driving or highway/
high-speed level for normal roads.
The raised level corresponds to a vehicle
position raised by 50 mm compared with
highway level in comfor tmode. 214
Driving systemsDriving and parking