2014 MERCEDES-BENZ GL steering

The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action for better traction on loose
surfaces.
Rtraction control is still activated.
RESP®still provides support when you
brake.
Off-road ESP®
An ESP®system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated (Ypage 258).
Off-road ESP®intervenes with a delay if there
is oversteering or understeering, thus
improving traction.
ESP®trailer stabilization
General information
ESP®trailer stabilization is not available in
AMG vehicles.
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
swerve, ESP®assists you in this situation.
ESP®slows the vehicle down by braking and
limiting the engine output until the vehicle/
trailer combination has stabilized.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from
swerving. Trailers with a high center of gravity
can tip over before ESP®can detect this.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer
combination) begins to lurch, you can only
stabilize the vehicle/trailer combination by
depressing the brake firmly.
Trailer stabilisation is active above speeds of
about 37 mph (60 km/h).
ESP®trailer stabilization does not work if
ESP®is deactivated or disabled because of a
malfunction.
Crosswind driving assistance
General information
Strong crosswinds can cause your vehicle to
deviate from a straight course. The crosswind
driving assistance function integrated into
ESP®significantly reduces these effects.
ESP®intervenes automatically according to
the direction and intensity of the crosswinds
affecting your vehicle.
ESP stabilities the vehicle with braking
interventions to assist you in keeping the
vehicle in the lane.
Crosswind driving assistance is active at
vehicle speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h)
when driving straight ahead or cornering
gently.
Important safety notes
Crosswind driving assistance does not work
if ESP®is deactivated or disabled because of
a malfunction.
EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
General information
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking.
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes"
section for driving safety systems
(Ypage 67).
GWARNING
If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can
still lock, e.g. under full braking. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
74Driving safety systems
Safety

Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes"
section (Ypage 67).
No steering support is provided from STEER
CONTROL, if:
RESP®is malfunctioning.
Rthe lighting is faulty.
Power steering will, however, continue to
function.
Theft deterrent locking system
Immobilizer
XTo activate with the SmartKey:remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
XTo activate with KEYLESS-GO:switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door.
XTo deactivate:switch on the ignition.
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Anyone can start the engine if a valid
SmartKey has been left inside the vehicle.
iThe immobilizer is always deactivated
when you start the engine.
In the event that the engine cannot be
started when the starter battery is fully
charged, the immobilizer may be faulty.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA) or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
ATA (anti-theft alarm system)
XTo arm:lock the vehicle with the SmartKey
or KEYLESS-GO.
Indicator lampCflashes. The alarm
system is armed after approximately
15 seconds.
XTo deactivate using the SmartKey:
unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
or
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
XTo deactivate using KEYLESS-GO:unlock
the vehicle with KEYLESS-GO.
or
XPress the Start/Stop button on the
dashboard. The SmartKey must be inside
the vehicle.
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed and you open:
Ra door
Rthe vehicle with the mechanical key
Rthe tailgate
Rthe hood
XTo turn the alarm off with the
SmartKey:press the6or7button
on the SmartKey.
The alarm is switched off.
or
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
Theft deterrent locking system77
Safety
Z

Useful information............................106
Correct driver's seat position..........106
Seats..................................................107
Steering wheel..................................119
Mirrors...............................................122
Memory function..............................125
105
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

Useful information
iThis Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
iRead the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Ypage 28).
Correct driver's seat position
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you
do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel and mirror and fasten your
seat belt before starting the engine.
XObserve the safety guidelines on seat
adjustment (Ypage 107).
XMake sure that seat

XCheck whether you have fastened seat
beltDproperly (Ypage 57).
The seat belt should:
Rfit snugly across your body
Rbe routed across the middle of your
shoulder
Rbe routed in your pelvic area across the hip
joints
XBefore starting off, adjust the rear-view
mirror and the exterior mirrors in such a
way that you have a good view of road and
traffic conditions (Ypage 122).
XVehicles with a memory function:save
the seat, steering wheel and exterior mirror
settings with the memory function
(Ypage 125).
Seats
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Children could become trapped if they adjust
the seats, particularly when unattended.
There is a risk of injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you
do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel and mirror and fasten your
seat belt before starting the engine.
GWARNING
If you adjust the seat height carelessly, you or
other vehicle occupants could be trapped and
thereby injured. Children in particular could
accidentally press the electrical seat
adjustment buttons and become trapped.
There is a risk of injury.
While moving the seats, make sure that your
hands or other body parts do not get under
the lever assembly of the seat adjustment
system.
GWARNING
When you adjust a seat, you or other vehicle
occupants could become trapped, e.g. on the
seat guide rail. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure when adjusting a seat that no one
has any body parts in the sweep of the seat.
GWARNING
If head restraints are not installed and
adjusted correctly, they cannot provide
protection as intended. There is an increased
risk of injury in the head and neck area, e.g.
in the event of an accident or when braking.
Always drive with the head restraints
installed. Before driving off, make sure for
every vehicle occupant that the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at about eye level.
GWARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended level
of protection if you have not moved the
backrest to an almost vertical position. When
braking or in the event of an accident, you
could slide underneath the seat belt and
sustain abdomen or neck injuries, for
example. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
Adjust the seat properly before beginning
your journey. Always ensure that the backrest
is in an almost vertical position and that the
shoulder section of your seat belt is routed
across the center of your shoulder.
GWARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. Thus,
Seats107
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
Z

the height and angle of the head restraints to
the correct position.
Adjusting the head restraints manually
Adjusting the head restraint height
XTo raise:pull the head restraint up to the
desired position.
XTo lower:press release catchCin the
direction of the arrow and push the head
restraint down to the desired position.
Adjusting the fore/aft position of the
head restraint
With this function you can adjust the distance
between the head restraint and the back of
the seat occupant's head.
XTo adjust forwards:pull the head restraint
forwards in the direction of the arrow until
it engages.
There are several notches.
XTo move backwards:press and hold
release buttonCand push the head
restraint backwards.
XWhen the head restraint is in the desired
position, release the button and make sure
that the head restraint is engaged in
position.
iAdjust the head restraint so that the back
of your head is as close to the head
restraint as possible.
Adjusting the head restraints
electrically
XTo adjust the head restraint height:slide
the switch for head restraint adjustment
(Ypage 108) up or down in the direction of
the arrow.
Adjusting the luxury head restraints
XTo adjust the side bolsters of the head
restraint:push or pull right and/or left-
hand side bolsterCinto the desired
position.
XTo adjust the fore/aft position of the
head restraint:push or pull the head
restraint in the direction of arrowD.
iAdjust the head restraint so that the back
of your head is as close to the head
restraint as possible.
Seats109
Seats, steering wheel an d mirrors
Z

Rear seat head restraints
Adjusting the rear seat head restraint
height
XOnce the head restraint is fully lowered,
press release catchC.
XTo raise:pull the head restraint up to the
desired position.
XTo lower:press release catchCand push
the head restraint down until it is in the
desired position.
Removing and installing the rear seat
head restraints
XTo remove:pull the head restraint up to
the stop.
XPress release catchCand pull the head
restraint out of the guides.
XTo re-install:insert the head restraint so
that the notches on the bar are on the left
when viewed in the direction of travel.
XPush the head restraint down until you hear
it engage in position.
Rear seats (second and third row of
seats)
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the seat and backrest are not engaged, they
can fold forwards, e.g. in the event of sudden
braking or an accident.
RThis will cause the vehicle occupants to be
forced into the seat belt by a seat or
backrest which is not engaged. The seat
belt can no longer offer the intended level
of protection and could even cause injuries.
RA child restraint system would no longer be
anchored or positioned correctly and would
not be able to perform its required function.
RThe seat backrests cannot restrain objects
or loads in the cargo compartment.
There is an increased risk of injury.
Always make sure that the seat and backrest
are engaged as described:
Rbefore traveling with a passenger on a seat
with the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature
Rafter you have adjusted the seat
Rafter the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature has
been used
Rafter the cargo compartment enlargement
has been folded forwards
GWARNING
The seat does not engage in the entry/exit
position. The seat could fold back suddenly,
e.g. when accelerating, braking, changing
direction suddenly or in the event of an
accident. Persons in the sweep of the seat
could become trapped. There is a risk of
injury.
Always fold back a seat which has been folded
forwards before you pull away. Make sure that
the seat and backrest engage fully.
110Seats
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

GWARNING
Children could become trapped if they adjust
the seats, particularly when unattended.
There is a risk of injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
GWARNING
When you adjust a seat, you or other vehicle
occupants could become trapped, e.g. on the
seat guide rail. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure when adjusting a seat that no one
has any body parts in the sweep of the seat.
Adjusting the backrest angle (second
row of seats)
You can adjust the angle of the backrests in
the second row of seats. There are ten detent
positions to choose from.
XPull the left or right release leverD
upwards in the direction of the arrow until
relevant backrestCis fully released.
XPull backrestCforwards in the direction
of the arrow and allow it to engage.
XTo ensure that the backrest has engaged,
lean firmly against backrestC.
Folding the seats up/down (third row of
seats)
General notes
!Make sure that there is nothing on the
folded-down seats in the cargo
compartment. The cargo compartment
must be empty for the third row of seats to
be folded up. The seats or the objects in the
cargo compartment could otherwise be
damaged.
Make sure that the seats in the third row
are empty and not blocked before folding
them down.
The 3rd row of seats consists of two
electrically foldable individual seats, which
can be lowered into the cargo compartment.
If the seat is not correctly locked in position,
the display message:3rd Seat Row,3rd Seat Row,
Right Not LockedRight Not Lockedappears in the
multifunction display.
If you fold the seat back until it engages, the
display message disappears.
Pull the backrest firmly to ensure that it is fully
engaged.
The switches for folding the left or right-hand
seats up and down are marked:Lfor the left-
hand seat when viewed in the direction of
travel,Rfor the right-hand seat when viewed
in the direction of travel.
Seats111
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
Z