2014 MERCEDES-BENZ GL sport mode

AMG adaptive sport suspension
system................................................ 221
AMG menu (on-board computer).....287
Anti-lock braking system
see ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Anti-Theft Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Approach/departure angle..............200
Ashtray...............................................351
Assistance display (on-board
computer)..........................................280
Assistance menu (on-board
computer)..........................................280
ASSYST PLUS
Displaying a service message........375
Hiding a service message..............375
Notes.............................................374
Resetting the service interval
display...........................................375
Service message ............................ 374
Special service requirements ......... 375
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Activating/deactivating...................77
Function ...........................................77
Switching off the alarm....................77
ATTENTION ASSIST
Activating/deactivating.................281
Display message............................309
Function/notes.............................239
Audio menu (on-board computer)....278
Audio system
see separate operating instructions
Authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
see Qualified specialist workshop
Authorized Workshop
see Qualified specialist workshop
AUTO lights
Display message............................306
see Lights
Automatic headlamp mode..............128
Automatic transmission
Automatic drive program...............178
Changing gear...............................176
DIRECT SELECT lever.....................173
Display message............................320
Drive program display....................173
Driving tips....................................176
Emergency running mode..............182
Engaging drive position .................. 175
Engaging neutral............................174
Engaging park position
automatically.................................174
Engaging reverse gear...................174
Engaging the park position............173
Kickdown.......................................176
Manual drive program....................178
Manual drive program (AMG
vehicles)........................................179
Manual drive program (vehicles
with the ON&OFFROAD package)..179
Overview........................................173
Problem (malfunction)...................182
Program selector button................177
Pulling away...................................170
Starting the engine........................169
Steering wheel paddle shifters......177
Trailer towing.................................176
Transmission position display........173
Transmission positions..................175
Automatic transmission
emergency mode............................... 182
Axle load, permissible (trailer
towing)...............................................457
B
Bag hook............................................346
Ball coupling
Installing........................................265
Removing.......................................269
Storing...........................................269
BAS (Brake Assist System).................68
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS)....................................................68
Battery (SmartKey)
Checking .......................................... 83
Important safety notes....................83
Replacing.........................................83
Battery (vehicle)
Charging........................................394
Display message............................307
Important safety notes..................391
Jump starting.................................395
Overview........................................391
Index5

If you have purchased a used car, please send
us the "Notification of Used Car Purchase" in
the Service and Guarantee booklet or simply
call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (USA) at the hotline number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) or
Customer Service (Canada) at
1-800-387-0100.
Vehicle operation outside the USA
and Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign
countries, please be aware that:
Rservice facilities or replacement parts may
not be readily available.
Runleaded fuel for vehicles with a catalytic
converter may not be available. Leaded fuel
may cause damage to the catalytic
converter.
Rthe fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Unsuitable fuel can cause
engine damage.
Some Mercedes-Benz models are available
for delivery in Europe through our European
Delivery Program. For details, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or write to
one of the following addresses.
In the USA
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9
Sports Utility Vehicle
GWARNING
Due to the high center of gravity, the vehicle
may start to skid and roll over in the event of
an abrupt steering maneuver and/or when
the vehicle's speed is not adapted to the road
conditions. There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your speed and driving style to
the vehicle's driving characteristics and to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
Failure to operate this vehicle safely may
result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person
wearing a seat belt.
You and all vehicle occupants should always
wear your seat belts.
Operating safety
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you do not have the prescribed service/
maintenance work or any required repairs
carried out, this can result in malfunctions or
system failures. There is a risk of an accident.
Always have the prescribed service/
maintenance work as well as any required
repairs carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
26Introduction

in the ECO display does not indicate a fixed
consumption.
Apart from driving style, consumption is
dependent on many factors such as, e.g.:
RLoad
RTire pressure
RCold start
RChoice of route
RElectrical consumers switched on
These factors are not included in the ECO
display.
The evaluation of your driving style is carried
out using the following three categories:
RAccelerationAcceleration(evaluation of all
acceleration processes):
-The bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds
-The bar empties: sporty acceleration
RConstantConstant(assessment of driving behavior
at all times):
-The bar fills up: constant speed and
avoidance of unnecessary acceleration
and deceleration
-The bar empties: fluctuations in speed
RCoastingCoasting(assessment of all deceleration
processes):
-The bar fills up: anticipatory driving,
keeping your distance and early release
of the accelerator. The vehicle can coast
without use of the brakes.
-The bar empties: frequent braking
iAn economical driving style specially
requires driving at moderate engine
speeds.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
AccelerationAccelerationandConstantConstant, observe the
gearshift recommendations.
iOn long journeys at a constant speed, e.g.
on the highway, only the bar forConstantConstant
will change.
iThe ECO display summarizes the driving
characteristics from the start of the journey
to its completion. For this reason, the bars
change dynamically at the beginning of the
journey. On longer journeys, there are
fewer changes. For more dynamic changes,
carry out a manual reset.
For further information on the ECO display,
see (Ypage 276).
Braking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients
!On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Do not depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. causing the
brakes to rub by constantly applying light
pressure to the pedal. This results in
excessive and premature wear to the brake
pads.
Heavy and light loads
GWARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
Driving tips193
Driving and parking
Z

clearance. You will otherwise damage the
vehicle.
!When you raise the vehicle in such a way
that not all wheels have contact with the
ground, remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock.
RUtility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
Failure to operate this vehicle safely may
result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury.
RIn a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
You and all vehicle occupants should
always wear your seat belts.
General notes
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Ypage 197).
Level control adapts the vehicle level
automatically to the current operating and
driving situation. This results in reduced fuel
consumption and improved handling.
If you select ADS comfort mode
(Ypage 217), the vehicle is lowered to high-
speed level as the speed increases. As the
vehicle speed decreases, the vehicle is raised
back up to highway level.
If you select ADS sport mode (Ypage 217),
the vehicle skips highway level and lowers
directly to high-speed level depending on the
basic setting (Ypage 219).
Make changes to the vehicle level while the
vehicle is in motion. This enables the vehicle
to adjust to the new level as quickly as
possible.
The vehicle level may change visibly if you
park the vehicle and the outside temperature
changes. If the temperature drops, the
vehicle level is lower; with an increase in
temperature, the vehicle level rises.
If you unlock the vehicle or open a door, the
vehicle begins to compensate for load
discrepancies while still parked. However, for
significant level changes, such as after the
vehicle has been stationary for a long period,
the engine must be on. For safety reasons,
the vehicle is only lowered when the doors are
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door is
opened, and it continues once the door has
been closed.
Basic settings (excluding AMG vehicles)
The extent to which the vehicle is raised or
lowered depends on the basic setting
selected. Select raised level for off-road
driving or highway/high-speed level for
normal roads.
The individual vehicle levels differ from
highway level as follows:
Rhighway level: +/–0 in (+/–0 mm)
Rhigh-speed level: –0.6 in (–15 mm)
Rraised level: +2.3 in (+60 mm)
Basic settings for AMG vehicles
The extent to which the vehicle is raised or
lowered depends on the AMG adaptive sport
suspension setting selected. Select the
raised level for off-road driving or highway/
high-speed level for normal roads.
The raised level corresponds to a vehicle level
raised by 50 mm when compared with
highway level in comfort mode.
Raised level
Only select raised level if this is appropriate
for the road conditions. Otherwise, fuel
consumption may increase and handling may
be affected.
XStart the engine.
Driving systems219
Driving and parking
Z

The vehicle automatically adjusts to highway
level when you:
Rdrive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h).
Rdrive between 40 mph (64 km/h) and
50 mph (80 km/h) for approximately
20 seconds.
Depending on the ADS mode selected
(Ypage 217), the vehicle is lowered to high-
speed level at high speeds.
AMG adaptive sport suspension
system
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When the vehicle is being lowered, people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between the vehicle body and the wheels or
underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle
or in the immediate vicinity of the wheel
arches when the vehicle is being lowered.
GWARNING
The vehicle is lowered if:
Ryou have selected the Comfort or Sport
suspension tuning and
Rlock the vehicle after switching off the
engine
Persons in the vicinity of the wheel arch or the
underbody may thus become trapped. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the
wheel arch or the underbody when you switch
off the engine.
!The vehicle is lowered by approximately
10 mm if:
Ryou have selected the Sport or Comfort
suspension tuning and
Ryou switch off the engine and then
Rlock the vehicle
When parking, position your vehicle so that
it does not make contact with the curb as
the vehicle is lowered. Your vehicle could
otherwise be damaged.
Vehicle level
Level control adapts the vehicle level
automatically to the current operating and
driving situation. Level control ensures the
best possible suspension and constant
ground clearance, even with a laden vehicle.
This improves driving safety and fuel
consumption.
The AIRMATIC package and ACTIVE CURVE
SYSTEM are always components of AMG
adaptive suspension system (Ypage 217).
Due to the sportier suspension settings
compared to standard vehicles, the levels and
speed thresholds for sinking and raising the
vehicle are different.
In Comfort and Sport driving modes, after
locking the vehicle it lowers to the Sport+
level. When locking the vehicle at the raised
level, the vehicle does not lower.
The settings will remain stored after you
switch off the engine. When starting the
engine, the selected setting, e.g. AMG
adaptive suspension system Comfort, is
restored.
iThe vehicle level may change visibly if you
park the vehicle and the outside
temperature changes. If the temperature
drops, the vehicle level lowers; with an
increase in temperature, the vehicle level
rises.
Suspension tuning
General notes
The electronically controlled damping system
works continuously. This improves driving
safety and ride comfort.
Driving systems221
Driving and parking
Z

The damping is tuned individually to each
wheel and depends on:
Ryour driving style
Rthe road surface conditions
Ryour individual selection of Sport, Sport +
or Comfort
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Sport mode
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing a sporty
driving style, e.g. on winding country roads.
XPress buttonConce.
Indicator lampDlights up. You have
selected Sport mode.
TheAMG Suspension System SPORTAMG Suspension System SPORT
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Sport + mode
The very firm setting of the suspension tuning
in Sport + mode ensures the best possible
contact with the road. Select this mode
preferably when driving on race circuits.
If indicator lamps

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).
Stowage areas
Loading guidelines
GWARNING
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.
GWARNING
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 gross vehicle weight (GVW) is the vehicle
weight including fuel, vehicle tool kit, spare
wheel, installed accessories, vehicle
occupants and luggage/cargo.
The gross load limit and the gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR) for your vehicle must
never be exceeded. The gross load limit and
the GVWR are specified on the vehicle
identification plate on the B-pillar of the
driver's door (Ypage 415).
The load must also be distributed so that the
weight on each axle never exceeds the gross
axle weight rating (GAWR) for the front and
rear axles. The specifications for GVWR and
GAWR are on the vehicle identification plate
on the B-pillar of the driver's door
(Ypage 415).
Observe the notes on the loading the vehicle
(Ypage 415).
The handling characteristics of a laden
vehicle are dependent on the distribution of
the load within the vehicle. For this reason,
you should observe the following notes when
transporting a load:
RNever exceed the maximum permissible
gross vehicle weight or the gross axle
weight rating of the vehicle (including
occupants).
RThe cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects.
RPosition heavy loads as far forwards as
possible and as low down in the cargo
compartment as possible.
RThe load must not protrude above the
upper edge of the seat backrests.
RAlways place the load against the rear or
front seat backrests. Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
RAlways place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
RUse the cargo tie down rings and the parcel
nets to transport loads and luggage.
RUse cargo tie-down rings and fastening
materials appropriate for the weight and
size of the load.
RHook in the cargo net when loading.
RSecure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistant tie-downs. Pad sharp edges
for protection.
340Stowage areas
Stowage and features

!Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
!Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes, or the trailer tow hitch, if
available. You could otherwise damage the
vehicle.
!Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
this could damage the vehicle. If in doubt,
recover the vehicle with a crane.
!When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
!When towing vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
use the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission may shift to positionPwhen
the driver's or front-passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to the
transmission.
!Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
!Vehicles with differential locks: make
sure the differential locks are in automatic
mode. When towing, the differential locks
must not be switched on. The transmission
may otherwise be damaged.
!The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of
30 mph (50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles(50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
!If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum
permissible gross vehicle weight of your
vehicle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Ypage 444).
iInformation on your vehicle's gross
vehicle weight rating can be found on the
vehicle identification plate; see the printed
Operator's Manual.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, have it transported on a transporter
or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in
positionNwhen the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
Rcannot turn the SmartKey to position2in
the ignition lock
Rcannot release the electric parking brake
Rcannot shift the automatic transmission to
positionN
iDisarm the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Ypage 284).
You could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
Example: towing eye mounting covers
CFront cover
DBack cover
398Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance