2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class TOW

"Coupling up a trailer" function
!
The following distance specifications
refer to trailer tow hitches with ball
coupling that have been approved for this
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.D istances may
differ if you use other ball couplings. In this
case, take into account that actual
distances will not match the following
distance specifications. Otherwise you
could damage the trailer and vehicle. 0002
Vehicle center point on the yellow guide
line at a distance of approximately 3ft
(1 m) from the rear of the vehicle
0003 Trailer drawbar
0021 Ball coupling
This function is only available on vehicles with
a trailer tow hitch.
X Set the height of trailer drawbar 0003so that
it is slightly higher than ball coupling 0021.
X Position the vehicle centrally in fron tof
trailer drawbar 0003. 0002
Ball coupling
0003 Red guide line at a distance of
approximately 10 in (0.25 m)from the ball
coupling
0021 Trailer drawbar marker assistant
0020 Trailer drawbar
001E Symbol for the "Coupling up a trailer"
function
X Use the COMAND controlle rto select
symbol 001E, see the separate operating
instructions for COMAND.
The "Coupling up a trailer" function is
selected. The distance specifications now
only apply to objects that are at the same
level as the ball coupling.
X Reverse carefully, making sure that trailer
drawbar marker assistant 0021points
approximately in the direction of trailer
drawbar 0020.
X Reverse carefully until trailer drawbar 0020
reaches red guide line 0003.
X Couple up the trailer (Y page 257). 360° camera (surround view)
Important safety notes The 360° camera is only an aid. It is not a
replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering and
parking. When maneuvering or parking, make
sure that there are no persons, animals or Driving systems
229Driving and parking Z

objects in the area in which you are
maneuvering.
The 360° camera may show a distorted view
of obstacles, show them incorrectly or not at
all. It cannot show objects in the following
areas:
R
under the front bumper
R very close to the front bumper
R very close to the rear bumper
R under the rear bumper
R in close range above the handle on the
trunk lid
R very close to the exterior mirrors
You are always responsible for safety, and
must always pay attention to your
surroundings when parking and
maneuvering. This applies to the areas
behind, in front of and beside the vehicle. You
could otherwise endanger yourself and
others.
The rear view camera will not function or will
function in a limited manner:
R if the doors are open
R if the exterior mirrors are folded in
R if the trunk lid is open
R in heavy rain, snow or fog
R at night or in very dark places
R if the cameras are exposed to very bright
light
R if the area is lit by fluorescent light or LED
lighting (the display may flicker)
R if you exit a heated garage in winter,
resulting in a rapid change in temperature
R if the camera lenses are dirty or covered
R if the vehicle components in which the
cameras are installed are damaged. In this
event, have the camera position and setting
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not use the 360° camera in this case. You
can otherwise injure others or cause damage
to objects or the vehicle. General notes The 360° camera is a system consisting of
four cameras.
The system analyzes images from the
following cameras:
R
Rear view camera
R Front camera
R Two cameras in the exterior rear view
mirrors
The cameras capture the immediate
surroundings of the vehicle. The system
supports you, e.g. when parking or if vision is
restricted at an exit.
The 360° camera images can be shown in full
screen mode or in seven different split-screen
views on the COMAND display .Asplit-screen
view also includes a top view of the vehicle.
This view is calculated from the data supplied
by the installed cameras (virtual camera).
The seven split-scree nviews are:
R top view and picture from the rear view
camera (130° viewin gangle)
R top view and picture from the front camera
(withou tdisplaying the maximum steering
wheel angle)
R top view and enlarged rear view
R top view and enlarged front view
R top view and trailer view (vehicles with
trailer tow hitch)
R top view and pictures fro mthe rearward
facing mirror cameras (rear wheel view)
R top view and pictures from the forward
facing mirror cameras (front wheel view)
i The top view and trailer view are available
for vehicles equipped with a trailer tow
hitch.
When the function is active and you shift the
transmission from position Dor Rto N, you
see the previous view in the COMAND
display. The dynamic guidelines are hidden.
When you change between transmission
positions Dand R, you see the previously
selected front or rear view. 230
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Activation conditions
The 360° camera imag
ecan be displayed if:
R your vehicle is equipped with a 360°
camera
R COMAND is switched on, see the separate
COMAND operating instructions
R the 360° camera function is activated
Activating the 360° camera using the
SYS button X
Press and hold the 0003button for longer
than 2seconds, see the separate COMAND
operating instructions.
Depending on whether position Dor Ris
engaged, the following is shown:
R full screen display with the image from
the front camera
R full screen display with the image from
the rear camera
Activating the 360° camer awith
COMAND X
Press the 0003button, see the separate
COMAN Doperating instructions.
X Select System by turning
000E0002000Fthe
COMAND controller and press 000Cto
confirm.
X Select 360° camera and press
000Cto
confirm.
Depending on whether position Dor Ris
engaged, the following is shown:
R a split screen with top view and the
image from the front camera or
R a split screen with top view and the
image from the rear view camera
For further information about the COMAND
Controller, see the separate COMAND
operating instructions. Activating the 360° camer
ausing
reverse gear The 360° camera images can be
automatically displayed by engaging reverse
gear.
X
Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
2in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the Activation by R gear setting is active in COMAND, see the
separate COMAND operating instructions.
X To show the 360° camer aimage: engage
reverse gear.
The COMAND display shows the area
behind the vehicle in spli tscreen:
R vehicle with guide lines
R top view of the vehicle
Selecting the split-screen and full
screen displays X
To switc hbetween spli tscreen views:
switch to the line with the vehicle icons by
sliding 000B0002the COMAND controller.
X Turn 000E0002000F the COMAND controller and
selec tone of the vehicle symbols.
X To switc hto full screen mode: select
Full screen by turning
000E0002000Fthe
COMAND controller and press 000Cto
confirm.
Displays in the COMAND display Important safety notes
!
Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.:
R the bumper of a parked vehicle
R the drawbar of a trailer
R the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
R the rear section of an HGV
R a slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the
bottom-mos tguideline. Driving systems
231Driving and parking Z

indicator lamp goes out and Blind Spot Assist
is operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above
20 mph (30km/h), warning lamp 0002on the
corresponding side lights up red. This warning
is always emitted when a vehicle enters the
blind spot monitoring rang efrom behind or
from the side .When you overtake a vehicle,
the warning only occurs if the difference in
speed is less than 7mph (12km/h).
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. In this event, Blind Spot
Assist is no longer active.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to
the ambient light.
Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the
corresponding turn signal, a double warning
tone sounds. Red warning lamp 0002flashes. If
the turn signal remains on, vehicles detected
are indicated by the flashing of red warning
lamp 0002.There are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that the radar sensor system
(Y page 281) and Blind Spot Assist (Y
page 277) are activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps 0002in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing atrailer
When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
correctly established the electrical
connection. This can be accomplished by
checking the trailer lighting. In this event,
Blind Spo tAssist is deactivated. The indicator
lamp in the exterior mirrors lights up yellow,
and the Blind Spot Assist Currently Unavailable See Operator's Manual
message appears in the multifunction
display.
i
You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors.
To do so, switch off Blind Spot Assist when:
R the SmartKey is in position 2in the
ignition lock
R the engine is not running
R the electrical connection to the trailer
has been established
Lane Keeping Assist Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Lane Keeping Assist may not always clearly
recognize lane markings.
In this case, Lane Keeping Assist may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic
situation and stay in lane, in particular if
warned by Lane Keeping Assist. Driving systems
239Driving and parking Z

If Active Blind Spot Assist detects a risk of a
lateral collision in the monitoring range, a
course-correcting brake application is carried
out. This is meant to assist you in avoiding a
collision.
If a course-correcting brake application
occurs, red warning lamp 0002flashes in the
exterior mirror and a dual warning tone
sounds. In addition, display 0003appears in the
multifunction display.
The course-correcting brake application is
available in the speed range betwee n20m ph
(30 km/h) and120 mph (200km/h).
Either no braking application, or a course-
correcting brake application adapted to the
driving situation occurs 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 ®
or PRE-SAFE ®
Brake.
R ESP ®
is switched off.
R the off-road program is activated (vehicles
without the ON&OFFROA Dpackage).
R off-road program 1 or 2 is activated
(vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package).
R the LOW RANGE off-road gear is activated
(vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package).
R a loss of tire pressure or a defective tire is
detected.
Switching on Active Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that the radar sensor system
(Y page 281) and Active Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 277) are activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps 0002in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing atrailer
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. 244
Driving systemsDriving and parking

R
ESP ®
is switched off.
R the transmission is not in position D.
R on vehicles with a trailer tow hitch, the
electrical connectio nto the trailer has been
correctly established.
R the off-road program is activated (vehicles
without the ON&OFFROAD package).
R off-road program 1 or 2 is activated
(vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package).
R the LOW RANGE off-road gear is activated
(vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package).
R a loss of tire pressure or a defective tire has
been detected and displayed.
Active Lane Keeping Assist does not detect
traffic situations or road users. An
inappropriate brake application may be
interrupted at any time if you:
R steer slightly in the opposite direction
R switch on the turn signal
R clearly brake or accelerate
Al ane-correcting brake applicatio nis
interrupted automatically if:
R a driving safety system intervenes, e.g.
ESP ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake or Active Blind
Spot Assist.
R lane markings can no longer be recognized.
Switching on Active Lane Keeping Assist X
Switch on Active Lane Keeping Assist using
the on-board computer; to do so, select
Standard or
Adaptive (Y
page 277).
Symbol 0002appears in the multifunction
display.
If Standard is selected, no warning
vibration occurs if: R
you switch on the tur nsignals .Inthis
event, the warnings are suppressed for a
certain period of time.
R a driving safety system intervenes, such
as ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
If Adaptive is selected, no warning
vibration occurs if:
R you switch on the turn signals. In this
event, the warnings are suppressed for a
certain period of time.
R a driving safety system intervenes, e.g.
ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
R you accelerate hard, e.g. kickdown.
R you brake hard.
R you steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid
an obstacle or change lanes quickly.
R you cut the corner on a sharp bend.
Towing atrailer
When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
correctly established the electrical
connection. This can be accomplished by
checking the trailer lighting. On-road programs (vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package)
General notes The on-road programs assist you during on-
road driving and the off-road programs when
driving off-road (Y
page 252).
The following progra mmessages remain in
the multifunction display until the
corresponding vehicle level has been set. Up
to off-road level 2, you can hide the program
messages using the 0007or000B button on
the multifunction steering wheel. Driving systems
247Driving and parking Z

longer has to be pressed as far to
accelerate.
R The sporty steering curve is selected,
e.g. greater force is required when
steering.
i You cannot selec tthe SPORT program if
LOW RANGE has been selected. The
Drive Program SPORT Not in LOW RANGE message then appears in the
multifunction display.
Snow program Select the snow program for driving in snow
with or without snow chains.
X Selector wheel 0002 engaged:
briefly press
selector wheel 0002.
Selector wheel 0002extends.
X To select: turn selector wheel 0002until
indicator lamp 0003comes on.
Snow indicator 0021appears in the
multifunction display. R
Highway level is set.
R ADS (Adaptive Damping System) adapts
comfortable damping characteristics to
the current operating and driving
conditions.
R 4ETS and the differential lock are
adapted for driving on snow-covered
roads.
R The automatic transmission selects the
automatic drive program for a
comfortable driving style that provides
for optimum fuel consumption.
R The soft accelerator pedal curve is
selected, e.g. the accelerator pedal must
be pressed significantly further to
accelerate.
R The optimum gear for pulling away is
engaged.
Trailer program Select the trailer program when towing a
trailer. Driving systems
249Driving and parking Z

X
Selector wheel 0002 engaged:
briefly press
selector wheel 0002.
Selector wheel 0002extends.
X To select: turn selector wheel 0002until
indicator lamp 0003comes on.
Trailer indicator 0021appears in the
multifunction display.
R Highway level is set.
R ADS (Adaptive Damping System) adapts
comfortable damping characteristics to
the current operating and driving
conditions.
R The automatic transmission selects the
automatic drive program for a
comfortable driving style that provides
for optimum fuel consumption, changing
gear at optimum points.
R While pulling away, the differential locks
are engaged. Off-road driving systems
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive) If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC
can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot
take account of road, weather and traffic
conditions. 4MATIC 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 your lane.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground
or be fully raised. Observe the instructions
for towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on atwo-axle
dynamometer. Before you operate the
vehicle on such a dynamometer, please
consult a qualified workshop .You could otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system.
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are
permanently driven. Together with ESP ®
and
4ETS, it improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficien tgrip.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 191).
DSR (Downhill Spee dRegulation) Important safety notes
DSR assists you when driving downhill. It
keeps the speed of travel at the speed set on
the on-board computer. The steeper the
downhill gradient, the greater the DSR
braking effect on the vehicle .When driving on
flat stretches of road or on an uphill gradient,
the DSR braking effect is minimal or
nonexistent.
DSR controls the set speed when it is active
and the automatic transmission is in the D,
R or Nposition. By accelerating or braking,
you can always drive at a higher or a lower
speed than that set on the on-board
computer.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 191).
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DSR can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. DSR cannot take
account of road, weather and traffic
conditions. DSR 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 your lane.
You are always responsible for keeping
control of the vehicle and for assessing
whether the downhill gradient can be
managed. DSR may not always be able to
keep to the set speed, depending on road 250
Driving systemsDriving and parking