2014 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class warning lights

automatically if there is fog, snow or other
causes of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
L.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's
lighting at all times. 1
W
Left-hand standing lamps
2 X
Right-hand standing lamps
3 T
Parking lamps, license plate and
instrument cluster lighting
4 Ã
Automatic headlamp mode,
controlled by the light sensor
5 L
Low-beam/high-beam headlamps
B R
Rear fog lamp
à is the favored light switch setting. The
light setting is automatically selected
according to the brightness of the ambient
light (exception: poor visibility due to weather
conditions such as fog, snow or spray):
R SmartKey in position 1in the ignition lock:
the parking lamps are switched on or off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light.
R With the engine running: if you have
activated the daytime running lamps
function via the on-board computer, the
daytime running lamps or the low-beam
headlamps and parking lamps are switched
on or off automatically depending on the
brightness of the ambient light. X
To switch on automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to Ã.
Only for Canada:
The daytime running lamps improve the
visibility of your vehicle during the day. The
daytime running lamps function is required by
law in Canada. It cannot therefore be
deactivated.
When the engine is running and the vehicle is
stationary: if you move the selector lever from
a drive position to P, the daytime running
lamps/low-beam headlamps go out after
three minutes.
When the engine is running, the vehicle is
stationary and in bright ambient light: if you
turn the light switch to T, the daytime
running lamps and parking lamps switch on.
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to L, the manual settings take
precedence over the daytime running lamps.
USA only:
The daytime running lamps improve the
visibility of your vehicle during the day. To do
this, the daytime running lamps function must
be switched on using the on-board computer
(Y page 283).
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to TorL, the manual settings
take precedence over the daytime running
lamps.
i In the USA, the daytime running lamps are
deactivated upon delivery from the factory.
Low-beam headlamps G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to Ã, the low-
beam headlamps may not be switched on
automatically if there is fog, snow or other
causes of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
L. Exterior lighting
129Lights and windshield wipers Z

High-beam headlamps
:
High-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= High-beam flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To switch on the high-beam headlamps:
turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position 2or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to LorÃ.
X Press the combination switch beyond the
pressure point in the direction of
arrow :.
In the Ãposition, the high-beam
headlamps are only switched on when it is
dark and the engine is running.
The blue Kindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up when the high-
beam headlamps are switched on.
X To switch off the high-beam
headlamps: move the combination switch
back to its normal position.
The blue Kindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
i Vehicles with Adaptive Highbeam Assist:
when Adaptive Highbeam Assist is active,
it controls activation of the high-beam
headlamps (Y page 134). High-beam flasher :
High-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= High-beam flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To switch on: turn the SmartKey in the
ignition lock to position 1or 2or start the
engine.
X Pull the combination switch in the direction
of arrow =. Hazard warning lamps
X
To switch on the hazard warning lamps:
press button :.
All turn signals flash. If you now switch on
a turn signal using the combination switch,
only the turn signal lamp on the
corresponding side of the vehicle will flash.
X To switch off the hazard warning
lamps: press button :.132
Exterior lightingLights and windshield wipers

The hazard warning lamps automatically
switch on if:
R
an air bag is deployed or
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a
speed of above 45 mph (70 km/h) and
comes to a standstill
The hazard warning lamps switch off
automatically if the vehicle reaches a speed
of above 6 mph (10 km/h) again after a full
brake application.
i The hazard warning lamps still operate if
the ignition is switched off. Active light function
The active light function is a system that
moves the headlamps according to the
steering movements of the front wheels. In
this way, relevant areas remain illuminated
while driving. This allows you to recognize
pedestrians, cyclists and animals.
Active: when the lights are switched on. Cornering light function
The cornering light function improves the
illumination of the road over a wide angle in
the direction you are turning, enabling better
visibility in tight bends, for example. It can
only be activated when the low-beam
headlamps are switched on.
Active:
R
if you are driving at speeds below 25 mph
(40 km/h) and switch on the turn signal or
turn the steering wheel
R if you are driving at speeds between
25 mph (40 km/h) and 45 mph (70 km/h)
and turn the steering wheel
Not active: if you are driving at speeds above
25 mph (40 km/h) or switch off the turn
signal or turn the steering wheel to the
straight-ahead position.
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a short
time, but is automatically switched off after
no more than three minutes. Exterior lighting
133Lights and windshield wipers Z

Adaptive Highbeam Assist
General notes You can use this function to set the
headlamps to change between low beam and
high beam automatically. The system
recognizes vehicles with their lights on, either
approaching from the opposite direction or
traveling in front of your vehicle, and
consequently switches the headlamps from
high beam to low beam.
The system automatically adapts the low-
beam headlamp range depending on the
distance to the other vehicle. Once the
system no longer detects any other vehicles,
it reactivates the high-beam headlamps.
The system's optical sensor is located behind
the windshield near the overhead control
panel.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Adaptive Highbeam Assist does not recognize
road users:
R who have no lights, e.g. pedestrians
R who have poor lighting, e.g. cyclists
R whose lighting is blocked, e.g. by a barrier
In very rare cases, Adaptive Highbeam Assist
may fail to recognize other road users that have lights, or may recognize them too late.
In this or similar situations, the automatic
high-beam headlamps will not be deactivated
or activated regardless. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always carefully observe the traffic conditions
and switch off the high-beam headlamps in
good time.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist cannot take into
account road, weather or traffic conditions.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only an aid. You
are responsible for adjusting the vehicle's
lighting to the prevailing light, visibility and
traffic conditions.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be restricted if there is:
R poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or
snow
R dirt on the sensors or the sensors are
obscured
Switching Adaptive Highbeam Assist
on/off :
High-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= High-beam flasher
? Turn signal, left 134
Exterior lightingLights and windshield wipers

A
p To switch the right-hand front
reading lamp on/off
B To switch the automatic interior lighting
control on
X To switch the front interior lighting on:
set the switch to the cposition.
X To switch the interior lighting off: set the
switch to the |position or (if the door
is closed) to the center position.
X To switch the rear interior lighting on/
off: press the ubutton.
X To switch the reading lamps on/off:
press the pbutton. Crash-responsive emergency lighting
The interior lighting is activated automatically
if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
X To switch off the crash-responsive
emergency lighting: press the hazard
warning lamp button.
or
X Lock and then unlock the vehicle using the
SmartKey. Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes
G
DANGER
Xenon bulbs carry a high voltage. You can get
an electric shock if you remove the cover of
the Xenon bulb and touch the electrical
contacts. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Never touch the parts or the electrical
contacts of the Xenon bulb. Always have work
on the Xenon bulbs carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
If your vehicle is equipped with Xenon bulbs,
you can recognize this by the following: the
cone of light from the Xenon bulbs moves
from the top to the bottom and back again
when you start the engine. For this to be observed, the lights must be switched on
before starting the engine. G
WARNING
Bulbs, lamps and connectors can get very hot
when operating. If you change a bulb, you
could burn yourself on these components.
There is a risk of injury.
Allow these components to cool down before
changing a bulb.
Do not use a bulb that has been dropped or if
its glass tube has been scratched.
The bulb may explode if:
R you touch it
R it is hot
R you drop it
R you scratch it
Only operate bulbs in enclosed lamps
designed for that purpose. Only install spare
bulbs of the same type and the specified
voltage.
Marks on the glass tube reduce the service
life of the bulbs. Do not touch the glass tube
with your bare hands. If necessary, clean the
glass tube when cold with alcohol or spirit and
rub it off with a lint-free cloth.
Protect bulbs from moisture during
operation. Do not allow bulbs to come into
contact with liquids.
There are bulbs other than the Xenon bulbs
that you cannot replace. Replace only the
bulbs listed (Y page 138). Have the bulbs that
you cannot replace yourself changed at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If you require assistance changing bulbs,
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult
a qualified specialist workshop.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly. Replacing bulbs
137Lights and windshield wipers 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

the engine has been switched off. The heating
time depends on the set interior temperature.
Switching on/off X
To activate: press theÌ/Á button.
The indicator lamp in the Ì/Á
button lights up.
i The blower will run at a low speed
regardless of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the residual heat function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
medium speed.
X To deactivate: press theÌ/Á
button.
The indicator lamp in the Ì/Á
button goes out.
Residual heat is deactivated automatically:
R after approximately 30 minutes
R when the ignition is switched on
R if the battery voltage drops Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in
the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air outlets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes:
R keep the air inlet grille on the hood and in
the engine compartment on the front-
passenger side free of blockages, such as
ice, snow or leaves.
R never cover the air vents or air intake grilles
in the vehicle interior.
i For virtually draft-free ventilation, adjust
the sliders of the air vents to the center
position. Setting the center air vents
:
Center air vent, left
; Center air vent, right
= Center vent thumbwheel, right
? Center vent thumbwheel, left
X To open/close: turn thumbwheels =
and ?to the right or left. 162
Setting the air ventsClimate control

Start/Stop button
=
USA only
? Canada only Starting the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R Start the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient ventilation.
G
WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or
parts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk
of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system.
i Vehicles with a gasoline engine: the
catalytic converter is preheated for up
30 seconds after a cold start. The sound of
the engine may change during this time.
Automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position P
(Y page 173).
The transmission position display in the
multifunction display shows P
(Y page 173).
i You can also start the engine when the
transmission is in position N.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey X
To start a gasoline engine: turn the
SmartKey to position 3in the ignition lock
(Y page 167) and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
X To start a diesel engine: turn the
SmartKey to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 167).
The % preglow indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X When the %preglow indicator lamp
goes out, turn the SmartKey to position 3
(Y page 167) and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
i You can start the engine without preglow
if the engine is warm. Driving
169Driving and parking Z