2014 MERCEDES-BENZ GL Owners Manual

Using the SmartKey:
RMake sure that the ignition is switched on.
RWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
RShift to neutralN.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RIf the electric parking brake is engaged,
release it.
RSwitch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
Using KEYLESS-GO:
RMake sure that the ignition is switched on.
RWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
REngage park positionP.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RRemove the Start/Stop button from the
ignition lock.
RInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
RSwitch on the ignition.
RDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
RShift to neutralN.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RIf the electric parking brake is engaged,
release it.
RSwitch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
Engaging drive position D
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever down past
the first point of resistance.
Transmission positions
EPark position
Do not shift the transmission into
positionP(Ypage 188) unless the
vehicle is stationary. The parking
lock should not be used as a brake
when parking. Always apply the
electronic parking brake in
addition to the parking lock in order
to secure the vehicle.
If the vehicle electronics are
malfunctioning, the transmission
may be locked in positionP. Have
the vehicle electronics checked
immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop.
The automatic transmission shifts
toPautomatically if you:
Rremove the SmartKey
Rswitch off the engine when inR
orDand open one of the front
doors
FReverse gear
Only shift the transmission toR
when the vehicle is stationary.
Automatic transmission175
Driving and parking
Z

DNeutral
Do not shift the transmission toN
while driving. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission could be
damaged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP®is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to
positionNif the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
If you switch off the engine using
the SmartKey or the Start/Stop
button, the automatic transmission
shifts to neutralNautomatically.
!Rolling in neutralNcan damage
the drive train.
:Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission positionD. This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
Rthe position of the accelerator pedal
Rthe road speed
Driving tips
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
XEase off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Rocking the vehicle free
Shifting the transmission repeatedly between
gearsDandRmay help to free the vehicle if
it has become stuck in slush or snow. The
vehicle's engine management system limits
the speed to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h)
when shifting back and forth. To shift back
and forth between transmission positionsD
andR, move the DIRECT SELECT selector
lever up and down past the point of
resistance.
Towing a trailer
XDrive in the middle of the engine speed
range on uphill gradients.
XDepending on the uphill or downhill
gradient, use left-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter (Ypage 177) to select a
lower gear, even if cruise control or
DISTRONIC PLUS are activated.
176Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Program selector button
General notes
Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package
XBriefly press program selector buttonC.
The letterMappears in the multifunction
display. The manual drive programMis
activated.
AMG vehiclesXPress program selector buttonC
repeatedly until the letter for the desired
gearshift program appears in the
multifunction display.
The program selector button allows you to
choose between different driving
characteristics.
iThe permanent drive programMis
available on the following vehicles:
RVehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package
RAMG vehicles
Further information about permanent drive
programM(Ypage 179).
As well as this permanent drive program
M, you can also activate temporary drive
programM(Ypage 178).
iAMG vehicles:the automatic
transmission switches to automatic drive
programCeach time the engine is started.
iDrive programMis not saved after the
engine has been switched off. If required,
you must select the drive program again
after starting the engine.
Drive program on vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package
MManualPermanent manual
gearshifting
Drive programs on AMG vehicles
CControlled
Efficiency
Comfortable, economical
driving
SSportSporty driving style
MManualPermanent manual
gearshifting
iFor further information on the automatic
drive program, see (Ypage 178).
Steering wheel paddle shifters
In the manual drive program, you can change
gears manually using steering wheel paddle
shiftersCandD.
Automatic transmission177
Driving and parking
Z

Further information about permanent drive
programM(Ypage 179).
Further information about temporary drive
programM(Ypage 178).
iYou can only change gear with the
steering wheel paddle shifters when the
transmission is in positionD.
Automatic drive program (AMG
vehicles)
Automatic drive programs C and S
Drive programCis characterized by the
following:
Rcomfort-oriented engine and transmission
settings
Roptimal fuel consumption resulting from
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner
Rthe vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully
Rincreased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for
example
Rthe automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being
driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin
Drive programSis characterized by the
following:
Rsporty engine and transmission settings
Rthe automatic transmission shifting up
later
Rthe fuel consumption possibly being higher
as a result of the later automatic
transmission shift points
Manual drive program M
General notes
In this drive program, you can briefly change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel
paddle shifters. The transmission must be in
positionD.
All vehicles (except AMG vehicles and
vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package):you can activate
manual drive programMusing the steering
wheel paddle shifters.
AMG vehicles:you can activate manual drive
programMin automatic drive programsCand
S.
Vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package:if manual drive
programMis deactivated using the program
selector button, you can activate manual
drive programMusing the steering wheel
paddle shifters.
iAs well as temporary drive programM,
you can also activate permanent drive
programM(Ypage 177).
Further information about permanent drive
programM(Ypage 179).
Activating
XShift the transmission to positionD.
XPull the left or right steering wheel paddle
shifter (Ypage 177).
Manual drive programMis temporarily
activated. The selected gear andMappear
in the multifunction display.
Shifting gears
If you pull on the left or right steering wheel
paddle shifter, the automatic transmission
switches to manual drive programMfor a
limited amount of time. Depending on which
paddle shifter is pulled, the automatic
transmission immediately shifts into the next
gear down or up, if permitted.
XTo shift up:pull the right-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter (Ypage 177).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
iIf the maximum engine speed on the
currently engaged gear is reached and you
continue to accelerate, the automatic
178Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

transmission automatically shifts up in
order to prevent engine damage.
XTo shift down:pull on the left-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter
(Ypage 177).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
iIf the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
iAutomatic down shifting occurs when
coasting.
Shift recommendation
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The
recommended gear is shown in the
multifunction display.
XShift to recommended gearDaccording
to gearshift recommendationCwhen
shown in the multifunction display of the
instrument cluster.
Deactivating
If you have activated manual drive program
M, it will remain active for a certain amount
of time. Under certain conditions the
minimum amount of time is extended, e.g. in
the case of lateral acceleration, during an
overrun phase or when driving on steep
terrain.
If manual drive programMhas been
deactivated, the automatic transmission
shifts into the automatic drive program that
was last selected.
You can also deactivate manual drive
programMyourself:
XPull on the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter and hold it in place
(Ypage 177).
or
XUse the DIRECT SELECT lever to switch the
transmission position.
or
XAMG vehicles:use the program selector
button to change the drive program
(Ypage 177).
Manual drive programMis deactivated.
The automatic transmission switches into
the automatic drive program that was last
selected, i.e.EorS.
or
XVehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package:use the selector
wheel to switch to the on-road program
(Ypage 253) or the off-road program
(Ypage 258).
Manual drive program
General information
In this drive program, you can permanently
change gear yourself by using the steering
wheel paddle shifters. The transmission must
be in positionD.
iAs well as this permanent drive program
M, you can also activate temporary drive
programM(Ypage 178).
Switching on the manual drive program
In manual drive programM, you can change
gear using the steering wheel paddle shifters
if the transmission is in positionD. You can
see the currently selected drive program and
which gear is engaged in the multifunction
display.
Automatic transmission179
Driving and pa rking
Z

XAMG vehicles:press the program selector
button (Ypage 177) untilMappears in the
multifunction display.
XVehicles with the ON&OFFROAD
package:press the program selector
button (Ypage 177).
The letterMappears in the multifunction
display.
Shifting up (all vehicles except AMG
vehicles)
XIf corresponding gearshift
recommendationCappears in the
multifunction display on the instrument
cluster, pull on the right-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter (Ypage 177).
The automatic transmission shifts to
recommended gearD.
Shifting up (AMG vehicles)
!In manual drive programM, the automatic
transmission does not shift up
automatically even when the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
CGear indicator
DUpshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the
multifunction display.
XIf the color in the speedometer
multifunction display changes to red and
theUPUPdisplay message is shown, shift up
a gear.
Downshifting
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Ypage 177).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
Maximum acceleration
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter until the transmission selects the
optimum gear according to the speed.
iIf you slow down or stop without shifting
down, the automatic transmission
automatically shifts down.
Kickdown
You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual drive programM.
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
XShift back up once the desired speed is
reached.
iAll vehicles (except AMG vehicles):if
you apply full throttle, the automatic
transmission shifts up to the next gear
when the maximum engine speed is
180Automatic transmission
Driving and pa rking

reached. This prevents the engine from
overrevving.
iAMG vehicles:it is not possible to use
kickdown in manual drive programM.
Switching off the manual drive program
XVehicles with the ON&OFFROAD
package:press the program selector
button (Ypage 177).
TheMmessage in the multifunction display
goes out.
XAMG vehicles:press the program selector
button (Ypage 177) repeatedly untilCor
Sappears in the multifunction display.
Automatic transmission181
Driving and parking
Z

Problems with the transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear.
The transmission is losing oil.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear.
The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift intosecondgear and reverse gear.
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to positionP.
XSwitch off the engine.
XWait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
XShift the transmission to positionDorR.
IfDis selected, the transmission shifts intosecondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
Transfer case
!Performance tests may only be carried
out on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake
system or transfer case could otherwise be
damaged. Contact a qualified specialist
workshop for a performance test.
!Because ESP®is an automatic system,
the engine and ignition must be switched
off (SmartKey in position0or1or Start/
Stop button in position0or1) when the
electric parking brake is being tested on a
brake dynamometer (maximum
10 seconds).
Braking triggered automatically by ESP®
may seriously damage the brake system.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
This section is only valid for vehicles with 4-
wheel drive (4MATIC). Power is always
transmitted to both axles.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and
explosion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before
refueling.
GWARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come
into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
182Refueling
Driving and parking