2014 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class tailgate

Automatic locking feature
X
To disarm: press and hold button :for
about five seconds until a tone sounds.
X To arm: press and hold button ;for about
five seconds until a tone sounds.
i If you press one of the two buttons and
do not hear a tone, the relevant setting has
already been selected.
The vehicle is locked automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels are
turning.
You could therefore be locked out if:
R the vehicle is being pushed.
R the vehicle is being towed.
R the vehicle is on a roller dynamometer.
You can also switch the automatic locking
function on and off using the on-board
computer (Y page 284). Power closing
Power closing pulls the doors and trunk lid
into their locks automatically even if they are
only partly closed.
X To power close a door: push the door into
the lock up to the first detent position.
Power closing will pull the door fully closed.
X To power close the tailgate: lightly press
the tailgate downwards.
Power closing will pull the tailgate fully
closed. Unlocking the driver's door
(mechanical key)
If the vehicle can no longer be unlocked with
the SmartKey, use the mechanical key.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door, the anti-theft alarm
system will be triggered ( Ypage 77).
X Take the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (Y page 82).
X Insert the mechanical key into the lock of
the driver's door as far as it will go. X
Turn the mechanical key counter-clockwise
to position 1.
The door is unlocked.
X Turn the mechanical key back and remove
it.
X Insert the mechanical key into the
SmartKey. Locking the vehicle (mechanical key)
If the vehicle can no longer be locked with the
SmartKey, use the mechanical key.
X Open the driver's door.
X Close the front-passenger door, the rear
doors and the tailgate.
X Press the locking button (Y page 87).
X Check whether the locking knobs on the
front-passenger door and the rear doors
are still visible. Press down the locking
knobs by hand, if necessary.
X Close the driver's door. 88
DoorsOpening and closing

X
Take the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (Y page 82).
X Insert the mechanical key into the lock of
the driver's door as far as it will go. X
Turn the mechanical key clockwise as far
as it will go to position 1.
X Turn the mechanical key back and remove
it.
X Make sure that the doors and the tailgate
are locked.
X Insert the mechanical key into the
SmartKey.
i If you lock the vehicle as described above,
the fuel filler flap is not locked. The anti-
theft alarm system is not armed. Cargo compartment
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected
to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate
is open when the engine is running,
particularly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust
fumes could enter the passenger
compartment. There is a risk of poisoning. Turn off the engine before opening the
tailgate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
G
WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or
not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury,
particularly in the event of sudden braking or
a sudden change in direction.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the
rear when opened. Therefore, make sure
that there is sufficient clearance above and
behind the tailgate.
i Tailgate opening dimensions
(Y page 453).
You should preferably place luggage or loads
in the cargo compartment. Observe the
loading guidelines (Y page 340).
Do not leave the SmartKey in the cargo
compartment. You could otherwise lock
yourself out.
You can:
R close the tailgate manually from outside
R open and close the tailgate automatically
from outside
R open and close the tailgate automatically
from inside
R limit the opening angle of the tailgate
R unlock the tailgate from inside with the
emergency release Tailgate reversing feature
On vehicles with tailgate remote closing
feature, the tailgate is equipped with
automatic obstacle recognition with a
reversing feature. If a solid object blocks or
restricts the tailgate when automatically Cargo compartment
89Opening and closing Z

opening or closing, this procedure is stopped.
If the tailgate is stopped during the closing
procedure, it will open again automatically.
The automatic obstacle recognition with
reversing function is only an aid. It is not a
substitute for your attentiveness when
opening and closing the tailgate. G
WARNING
The reversing feature does not react:
R to soft, light and thin objects, e.g. small
fingers
R over the last 1/3 in (8 mm) of the closing
movement
This means that the reversing feature cannot
prevent someone being trapped in these
situations. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that no body parts are in close
proximity during the closing procedure.
If somebody becomes trapped:
R press the Fbutton on the SmartKey, or
R press the remote operating switch on the
driver’s door, or
R press the closing or locking button on the
tailgate, or
R pull the handle on the tailgate Opening/closing manually from
outside
Opening X
Press the %button on the SmartKey.
X Pull handle :and release it.
The tailgate opens automatically.
Closing X
Pull the tailgate down using recess :.
X Allow the tailgate to drop into the lock.
X Lock the vehicle if necessary with
the & button on the SmartKey or with
KEYLESS-GO.
i If a KEYLESS-GO key is detected in the
cargo compartment, the tailgate will not
lock. Opening/closing automatically from
outside
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Parts of the body could become trapped
during automatic closing of the tailgate.
Moreover, people, e.g. children, may be
standing in the closing area or may enter the
closing area during the closing process. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the
closing area during the closing process.
Use one of the following options to stop the
closing process:
R press the Fbutton on the SmartKey.
R press the remote operating switch on the
driver's door. 90
Cargo compartmentOpening and closing

R
press the closing or locking button on the
tailgate.
R pull the handle on the tailgate. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate
is open when the engine is running,
particularly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust
fumes could enter the passenger
compartment. There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the
tailgate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the
rear when opened. Therefore, make sure
that there is sufficient clearance above and
behind the tailgate.
i Tailgate opening dimensions
(Y page 453).
i Notes on the reversing feature for the
tailgate (Y page 89).
Opening the tailgate automatically You can open the tailgate automatically with
the SmartKey or the handle in the tailgate.
X
Press and hold the Fbutton on the
SmartKey until the tailgate opens.
or
X If the tailgate is unlocked, pull the handle
and let it go again immediately.
Closing the tailgate automatically G
WARNING
Parts of the body could become trapped
during automatic closing of the tailgate.
Moreover, people, e.g. children, may be
standing in the closing area or may enter the
closing area during the closing process. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the
closing area during the closing process. Use one of the following options to stop the
closing process:
R
press the Fbutton on the SmartKey.
R press the remote operating switch on the
driver's door.
R press the closing or locking button on the
tailgate.
R pull the handle on the tailgate. Closing and locking button (example: vehicle with
KEYLESS-GO)
X
To close: press closing button :on the
tailgate.
or
X Press and hold the Fbutton on the
SmartKey until the tailgate closes.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: you can
simultaneously close and lock the tailgate.
X Press locking button ;on the tailgate.
If a KEYLESS-GO key is detected outside
the vehicle, the tailgate closes and locks.
All the doors must be shut and the
SmartKey located in the vicinity of the
tailgate.
i The tailgate cannot be opened and closed
with the SmartKey if there is a SmartKey in
the ignition.
If the tailgate touches an object while
closing, the closing procedure is
interrupted and the tailgate reopens.
i If a KEYLESS-GO key is detected in the
cargo compartment, the tailgate will not
lock. Cargo compartment
91Opening and closing Z

Opening/closing automatically from
inside
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Parts of the body could become trapped
during automatic closing of the tailgate.
Moreover, people, e.g. children, may be
standing in the closing area or may enter the
closing area during the closing process. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the
closing area during the closing process.
Use one of the following options to stop the
closing process:
R press the Fbutton on the SmartKey.
R press the remote operating switch on the
driver's door.
R press the closing or locking button on the
tailgate.
R pull the handle on the tailgate. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate
is open when the engine is running,
particularly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust
fumes could enter the passenger
compartment. There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the
tailgate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the
rear when opened. Therefore, make sure
that there is sufficient clearance above and
behind the tailgate.
i Tailgate opening dimensions
(Y page 453).
i Notes on the reversing feature for the
tailgate (Y page 89). Opening and closing
You can open and close the tailgate from the
driver's seat when the vehicle is stationary
and unlocked.
X To open: pull remote operating switch :
for the tailgate until the tailgate opens.
X To close: turn the SmartKey to position 1
or 2in the ignition lock.
X Press remote operating switch for
tailgate :until the tailgate is closed. Limiting the opening angle of the
tailgate
Important safety notes !
Make sure there is sufficient clearance to
open the tailgate fully when setting the
opening angle. The tailgate could otherwise
be damaged. Ideally, set the opening angle
outside.
Activating You can limit the opening angle of the
tailgate. This is possible in the top half of its
opening range, up to approximately 4 in
(10 cm) before the stop.
This could be useful, for example, if there is
insufficient space above the tailgate.
X To open the tailgate: pull the handle on
the tailgate.
X To stop the opening procedure at the
desired position: press the closing button92
Cargo compartmentOpening and closing

(Y
page 90) in the tailgate or pull the handle
on the outside of the tailgate again.
X To store the position: press and hold the
closing button in the tailgate until you hear
a short tone.
The opening angle limiter is activated. The
tailgate will now stop in the stored position
when opening.
Deactivating X
Press and hold the closing button
(Y page 90) in the tailgate until you hear
two short tones. Tailgate emergency release
Important safety notes !
The tailgate swings upwards and to the
rear when opened. Therefore, make sure
that there is sufficient clearance above and
behind the tailgate.
i Tailgate opening dimensions
(Y page 453).
If the tailgate can no longer be opened from
outside the vehicle, use the emergency
release on the inside of the tailgate.
Opening X
Take the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (Y page 82).
X Insert mechanical key ;into the opening
in paneling :. X
Turn mechanical key ;90° clockwise.
X Push mechanical key ;in the direction of
the arrow and open the tailgate.
X Insert the mechanical key into the
SmartKey.
i When you lock the vehicle (Y page 88),
the cargo compartment is also locked. Side windows
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
While opening the side windows, body parts
could become trapped between the side
window and the door frame as the side
window moves. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody touches the side
window during the opening procedure. If
somebody becomes trapped, release the
switch or pull the switch to close the side
window again. G
WARNING
While opening the side windows, body parts
in the closing area could become trapped.
There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that no body parts are in close
proximity during the closing procedure. If
somebody becomes trapped, release the
switch or press the switch to open the side
window again. G
WARNING
If children operate the side windows they
could become trapped, particularly if they are
left unsupervised. There is a risk of injury.
Activate the override feature for the rear side
windows. When leaving the vehicle, always
take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle. Never leave children unsupervised in
the vehicle. Side windows
93Opening and closing Z

Switching the rear window wiper on/
off Combination switch
:
è Rear window wiper switch
2 b To wipe with washer fluid
3 ITo switch on intermittent wiping
4 0To switch off intermittent wiping
5 ô To wipe with washer fluid
X Turn the SmartKey to position 1or 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 167).
X Turn switch :on the combination switch
to the corresponding position.
When the rear window wiper is switched on,
the icon appears in the instrument cluster. Replacing the wiper blades
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the windshield wipers begin to move while
you are changing the wiper blades, you could
be trapped by the wiper arm. There is a risk
of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
ignition before changing the wiper blades.
! Never open the hood/tailgate if a wiper
arm has been folded away from the
windshield/rear window.
Never fold a windshield wiper arm without
a wiper blade back onto the windshield/
rear window. Hold the windshield wiper arm firmly when
you change the wiper blade. If you release
the wiper arm without a wiper blade and it
falls onto the windshield/rear window, the
windshield/rear window may be damaged
by the force of the impact.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have
the wiper blades changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
! To avoid damaging the wiper blades,
make sure that you touch only the wiper
arm of the wiper.
Changing the windshield wiper blades Removing the wiper blades
X
Remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
X Fold the wiper arm away from the
windshield. X
Firmly press release knob :and pull wiper
blade ;upwards from the wiper arm in the
direction of the arrow. Windshield wipers
141Lights and windshield wipers Z

R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
Activate DSR (Y page 256).
R Always keep the doors, tailgate, windows
and sliding sunroof closed while driving.
R Adapt your speed to the terrain. The
rougher, steeper or more ruts on the
terrain, the slower your speed should be.
R Drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water. Ensure that a bow wave does not
form as you drive.
R Drive with extreme care on unfamiliar off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
R Look out for obstacles, such as rocks,
holes, tree stumps and furrows.
R Check the depth of water before fording
rivers and streams.
R When fording, do not stop and do not
switch off the engine.
R On sand, drive quickly to overcome the
rolling resistance. Otherwise the vehicle's
wheels could become stuck in loose
ground.
R Do not jump with the vehicle as this will
interrupt the vehicle's propulsion.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope.
R Do not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N.
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.
Checklist before driving off-road !
If the engine oil warning lamp lights up
while the vehicle is in motion, stop the
vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible.
Check the engine oil level. The engine oil
warning lamp warning must not be ignored.
Continuing the journey while the symbol is
displayed could lead to engine damage. X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add oil if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the
engine oil level must be sufficiently high to
ensure a correct oil supply in the vehicle.
X DEF tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check the
level and top up if necessary (Y page 186).
X Tire-changing tool kit: check that the jack
is working and make sure you have the lug
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tires: check the tire tread
depth and tire pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tires.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Rims: dented or bent rims can result in a
loss of tire pressure and damage the tire
bead. Therefore, check your rims before
driving off-road and replace them as
required.
Checklist after driving off-road !
If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
X Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD
package: activate the on-road program
(Y page 258).
X Deactivate the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(Y page 259).
X Deactivate DSR ( Ypage 256).
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
lower the vehicle to a ride height suitable
for the road conditions, e.g. to the
highway/high-speed level.
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear license plates.
X Clean the wheels/tires with a water jet and
remove any foreign objects. 198
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