2014 MERCEDES-BENZ GL ESP

also automatically moved to the previously
set position.
The last position of the steering wheel is
stored when you switch off the ignition or
when you store the setting with the memory
function (Ypage 125).
Crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature
If the crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
triggered in an accident, the steering column
will move upwards when the driver's door is
opened. This occurs irrespective of the
position of the SmartKey in the ignition lock.
This makes it easier to exit the vehicle and
rescue the occupants.
The crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
only operational if the EASY-EXIT/ENTRY
feature is activated in the on-board computer
(Ypage 285).
Mirrors
Rear-view mirror
XAnti-glare mode:flick anti-glare leverC
forwards or back.
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrors
GWARNING
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side reduces the size of the image. Visible
objects are actually closer than they appear.
This means that you could misjudge the
distance from road users traveling behind,
e.g. when changing lane. There is a risk of an
accident.
For this reason, always make sure of the
actual distance from the road users traveling
behind by glancing over your shoulder.
XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
1or2in the ignition lock.
XPress buttonCfor the left-hand exterior
mirror or buttonDfor the right-hand
exterior mirror.
The indicator lamp in the corresponding
button lights up in red.
The indicator lamp goes out again after
some time. You can adjust the selected
mirror using adjustment button

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
X.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's
lighting at all times.
GcLeft-hand standing lamps
HdRight-hand standing lamps
I`Parking lamps, license plate and
instrument cluster lighting
JXAutomatic headlamp mode,
controlled by the light sensor
KXLow-beam/high-beam headlamps

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
GWARNING
Adaptive Highbeam Assist does not recognize
road users:
Rwho have no lights, e.g. pedestrians
Rwho have poor lighting, e.g. cyclists
Rwhose 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:
Rpoor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or
snow
Rdirt on the sensors or the sensors are
obscured
Switching Adaptive Highbeam Assist
on/off
CHigh-beam headlamps
DTurn signal, right

GO function and a detachable Start/Stop
button.
The Start/Stop button must be inserted in the
ignition lock and the SmartKey with the
integrated KEYLESS-GO function must be in
the vehicle.
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
key positions in the ignition lock. This is only
the case if you are not depressing the brake
pedal.
If you depress the brake pedal and press the
Start/Stop button, the engine starts
immediately.
The Start/Stop button can be removed from
the ignition lock. Then, you can insert the
SmartKey into the ignition lock.
iYou do not have to remove the Start/Stop
button from the ignition lock when you
leave the vehicle. You should, however,
always take the SmartKey with you when
leaving the vehicle. As long as the
SmartKey is in the vehicle:
Rthe vehicle can be started using the
Start/Stop button and
Relectrically powered equipment can be
operated.
iThe engine can be turned off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding
the Start/Stop button for approximately
three seconds.
Key positions with KEYLESS-GO
If Start/Stop buttonChas not yet been
pressed, this corresponds to the SmartKey
being removed from the ignition.
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
starting the engine or lights up while driving,
see (Ypage 326).
XInsert Start/Stop buttonCinto ignition
lockD.
iWhen you insert Start/Stop buttonC
into ignition lockD, the system needs
approximately two seconds recognition
time. You can then use Start/Stop
buttonC.
XTo switch on the power supply:press
Start/Stop buttonConce.
The power supply is switched on. You can
now activate the windshield wipers, for
example.
iThe power supply is switched off again if:
Rthe driver's door is opened and
Ryou press Start/Stop buttonCtwice
when in this position.
XTo switch on the ignition:press Start/
Stop buttonCtwice.
The ignition is switched on.
iThe power supply is switched off again if:
Rthe driver's door is opened and
Ryou press Start/Stop buttonConce
when in this position.
168Driving
Driving and pa rking

The redI(USA only) or$(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Hill start assist
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient.
It holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and to depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll.
GWARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could roll
away. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
XRemove your foot from the brake pedal.
The vehicle is then held for about a second.
XPull away.
Hill start assist is not active if:
Ryou are pulling away on a level road or on
a downhill gradient.
Rthe transmission is in positionN.
Rthe electric parking brake is applied.
RESP®is malfunctioning.
Driving171
Driving and parking
Z

Problems with the engine
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard.
RThere is a malfunction in the engine electronics.
RThere is a malfunction in the fuel supply.
XTry to start the engine again (Ypage 169). Avoid excessively
long and frequent attempts to start the engine as these will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
The engine does not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor.
The on-board voltage is too low because the battery is too weak
or discharged.
XJump-start the vehicle (Ypage 395).
If the engine does not start despite attempts to jump-start it:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
The starter motor was exposed to a thermal load that was too high.
XAllow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.
XTry to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
The engine is not
running smoothly and
is misfiring.
There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical
component of the engine management system.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
XHave the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic
converter and damage it.
The coolant
temperature gauge
shows a value above
248 ‡ (120 †).
The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
XStop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant
to cool down.
XCheck the coolant level (Ypage 373). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and add coolant if necessary.
172Driving
Driving and parking

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

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