Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip- ment 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.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 24). Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Important safety notes
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after sev-
eral hundred kilometers of driving. Compen-
sate for this by applying greater force to the
brake pedal. The first 1000 miles (1500 km)
The more you look after the engine when it is
new, the more satisfied you will be with its
performance in the future.
R You should therefore drive at varying vehi-
cle and engine speeds for the first
1,000 miles (1,500 km).
R Avoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throt-
tle, during this period.
R Change gear in good time, before the tach-
ometer needle is Ôof the way to the red
area of the tachometer.
R Do not manually shift to a lower gear to
brake the vehicle.
R If possible, do not depress the accelerator
pedal past the point of resistance (kick-
down).
R Only select shift ranges 3,2or 1when driv-
ing slowly, e.g. in mountainous terrain. After 1,000 miles (1,500 km), you can
increase the engine speed gradually and bring
the vehicle to full speed.
Additional breaking-in notes for AMG vehi-
cles:
R Do not drive faster than 85 mph
(140 km/ h)for the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
R Only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4,500 rpm briefly.
R Change gear in good time.
R Avoid driving off-road before the differen-
tial oil change at 2,000 miles (3,000 km).
R Ideally, for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km),
drive in program C.
i You should also observe these breaking-
in notes if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced.
i Always observe the respective speed lim-
its. AMG vehicles with rear axle locking
differential
Change the oil after a breaking-in period of
2,000 miles (3,000 km) to improve protection of the differential. This oil change will
lengthen the service life of the differential.
Have the oil change carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes- Benz Center for this purpose. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restrict the pedal travel or obstruct a depressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle is
jeopardized. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter 132
DrivingDriving and parking
Off-road driving
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not load items on the basic carrier bars. It
may cause instability during some maneuvers which could result in an accident.
Drive slowly in unknown terrain. This will
make it easier to recognize unexpected obsta-
cles and avoid damage to the vehicle.
To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never
turn it around on steep inclines. If the vehicle cannot complete the attempted climb, back it
down in reverse gear.
Do not drive along the side of a slope. The
vehicle might otherwise rollover. If in doing so
the vehicle begins to show a tendency to roll,
immediately steer into a line of gravity
(straight up or downhill).
Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle.
You may lose control of the vehicle if you use only the service brake. For information on
driving downhill, see "Driving downhill".
When driving off-road, sand, mud and water,
possibly mixed with oil, for example, could get
into the brakes. This could result in a reduced
braking effect or in total brake failure and also in increased wear and tear. The braking char- acteristics change depending on the material
ingressing the brakes. Clean the brakes after driving off-road. If you detect a reduced brak- ing effect or grinding noises, have the brake
system checked in a qualified specialist work- shop as soon as possible. Adapt your driving
style to the different braking characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the likelihood of
damage to the vehicle, which, in turn, can lead to failure of the mechanical assembly or sys-
tems. Adapt your driving style to suit the ter-
rain conditions. Drive carefully. Have damage to the vehicle rectified immediately at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. General notes H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Read this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road. Practice by driving over more gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics
of your vehicle and the gear shift operation
before driving through difficult terrain.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R 4ETS (Y page 63)
R Transfer case (Y page 186)
R Differential locks (Y page 188)
Observe the following notes:
R stop your vehicle and, if necessary, shift the
transfer case to LOW RANGE(Ypage 186)
before driving off-road.
R AMG vehicles: the ECO start/stop func-
tion is not available in transfer case posi-
tion LOW RANGE (Ypage 136).
R engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 189).
i ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS are deactivated
while the differential locks are engaged.
This allows the front wheels to lock briefly,
so that these can dig into a loose surface.
However, please note that locked wheels
skid and can no longer steer.
R Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Y page 253).
R To avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure
there is always sufficient ground clearance.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope.
R Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a
walking pace. 158
Driving tipsDriving and parking
Maintaining the time-dependent service
schedule:
X Before disconnecting the battery, note
down the service due date displayed.
or: X After reconnecting the battery, subtract
the battery disconnection periods from the
service date shown on the display.
i The service interval display should not be
confused with the 4engine oil level dis-
play.
The symbol and the letter indicate which type
of service is due:
¯ Minor service A A
± Major service B
B
The ASSYST service interval display does not
take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Hiding a service message X
To hide the service message, press the
% back button on the multifunction
steering wheel (Y page 33)(Ypage 199).
Displaying service messages Use the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Press =or; to select the standard
display menu on the steering wheel
(Y page 200).
X Press 9or: to select the service
interval display.
The ¯ or± service symbol and the
service due date are displayed. Points to remember The specified maintenance interval takes only
the normal operation of the vehicle into
account. Under arduous operating conditions
or increased load on the vehicle, mainte-
nance work must be carried out more fre-
quently, for example:
R regular city driving with frequent intermedi-
ate stops
R if the vehicle is primarily used to travel
short distances
R use in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
R if the engine is often left idling for long peri-
ods
Under these or similar conditions, have, for
example, the air filter, engine oil and oil filter
replaced or changed more frequently. Under
arduous operating conditions, the tires must
be checked more often. Further information
can be obtained at a qualified specialist work- shop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. Fuel/water separator
H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally responsible manner.
! If you continue driving without having the
fuel/water separator serviced, this could
cause damage to the engine. Any resulting
damage is not covered by the warranty.
If the fuel/water separator needs servicing,
the following message appears in the multi-
function display: You will also hear a brief warning tone.280
MaintenanceMaintenance and care
Cleaning the plastic trim
G
WARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing solvents cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. As a result, plastic parts may
come loose in the event of air bag deploy-
ment. There is a risk of injury.
Do not use any care products and cleaning
agents to clean the cockpit.
! Do not affix the following to plastic surfa-
ces:
R stickers
R films
R scented oil bottles or similar items
You can otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent
or sunscreen to come into contact with the
plastic trim. This maintains the high-quality look of the surfaces.
X Wipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use care and cleaning prod-
ucts recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change color temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or selector lever X
Thoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning genuine wood and trim strips !
Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners, pol-
ishes or waxes. There is otherwise a risk of
damaging the surface.
! Do not use chrome polish for trim strips.
The trim strips have a chrome look but are
mostly made of anodized aluminum and
can lose their shine if chrome polish is used. Use a damp, lint-free cloth instead
when cleaning the trim strips.
If the chrome-plated trim strips are very
dirty, you can use a chrome polish. If you
are unsure as to whether the trim strips are
chrome-plated or not, consult an author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center.
X Wipe the wooden trim and trim strips with a
damp, lint-free cloth, e.g. a microfiber
cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning the seat covers General notes
! Do not use microfiber cloths to clean gen-
uine leather, artificial leather or DINAMICA
covers. If used often, these can damage the cover.
i Note that regular care is essential to
ensure that the appearance and comfort of the covers is retained over time.
Genuine leather seat covers
! To retain the natural appearance of the
leather, observe the following cleaning
instructions:
R Clean genuine leather covers carefully
with a damp cloth and then wipe the cov-
ers down with a dry cloth.
R Make sure that the leather does not
become soaked. It may otherwise
become rough and cracked.
R Only use leather care agents that have
been tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz. You can obtain these from a quali- fied specialist workshop.
Leather is a natural product.
It exhibits natural surface characteristics, for
example: 286
CareMaintenance and care
every 3,000 to 6,000 miles
(5,000 to 10,000 km), or earlier if tire wear
requires. Do not change the direction of
wheel rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is rotated. Check the tire pressure and reac-
tivate the tire pressure monitor (Y page 313)
if necessary. Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk
of hydroplaning. You will only gain these ben-
efits if the correct direction of rotation is
observed.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation.
You may mount the spare wheel against the
direction of rotation. Adhere to the time
restriction on use as well as the speed limi-
tation specified on the spare wheel. Storing wheels
Store tires that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel. Mounting a wheel
Preparing the vehicle G
WARNING
When you remove the spare wheel from the
spare wheel bracket, the vehicle’s weight dis- tribution changes. If the vehicle is already
raised, the jack could tip over. There is a risk
of injury.
Remove the spare wheel from the spare wheel
bracket before lifting the vehicle.
X Prepare the vehicle as described
(Y page 292). X
Remove the vehicle tool kit and the jack
(Y page 290).
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Remove the spare wheel from the spare
wheel bracket (Y page 291).
i Vehicles without a spare wheel or emer-
gency spare wheel are not equipped with a tire-change tool kit at the factory. For more
information on which tools are required to
perform a wheel change on your vehicle
e.g. lug wrench or jack, consult an author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Securing the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling away X
On level ground: place chocks or other
suitable items under the front and rear of
the wheel that is diagonally opposite the
wheel you wish to change.
X On downhill gradients: place chocks or
other suitable items in front of the wheels
of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle G
WARNING
If you do not position the jack correctly at the appropriate jacking point of the vehicle, the
jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.
There is a risk of injury.
Only position the jack at the appropriate jack-
ing point of the vehicle. The base of the jack
must be positioned vertically, directly under
the jacking point of the vehicle.
! The jack is designed exclusively for jack-
ing up the vehicle at the jacking points.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged.
The following must be observed when raising
the vehicle:
R To raise the vehicle, only use the vehicle-
specific jack that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. If used incor- 328
Changing a wheelWheels and tires
X
Turn pressure release screw =clockwise
as far as it will go using notch ;on the
pump lever.
Pressure release screw =is closed.
i Do not turn pressure release screw
=by
more than one to two revolutions. Other-
wise, hydraulic fluid could escape. X
Set jack :on solid ground.
X Position jack :on the axle carrier tube ;
of the front or rear axle. Jack :must
always stand vertically, even on slopes.
Make sure that jack :is correctly posi-
tioned under axle carrier tube ;. The front
or rear axle must sit securely in the recess of jack :.
X Raise the vehicle by pumping in the direc-
tion of the arrow until the tire is 1.2 in
(3 cm) off the ground at the most.
Removing a wheel !
Do not place wheel bolts in sand or on a
dirty surface. The bolt and wheel hub
threads could otherwise be damaged when you screw them in.
X Unscrew the wheel bolts.
X Remove the wheel.
Mounting a new wheel G
WARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts/wheel nuts and damaged wheel bolt/wheel nut/wheel hub
threads can cause wheel bolts/wheel nuts to come loose. As a result, you could lose a wheel while driving. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts/wheel nuts. In the event of damage to the threads, contact a
qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Have the damaged wheel bolts/wheel nuts or hub threads replaced/renewed. Do not con-
tinue driving. G
WARNING
If you tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is raised, the jack could tip
over. There is a risk of injury.
Only tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is on the ground.
! To prevent damage to the paintwork, hold
the wheel securely against the wheel hub
while screwing in the first wheel bolt.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes in the "Changing a wheel" sec-
tion (Y page 327).
X Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
X Place the new wheel on the wheel hub and
push it on.
X Tighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
Lowering the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts and bolts are not tightened to the specified
tightening torque. There is a risk of accident.
Have the tightening torque immediately
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
after a wheel is changed. 330
Changing a wheelWheels and tires
Additives
! Operating the engine with fuel additives
added later can lead to engine failure. Do
not mix fuel additives with fuel. This does
not include additives for the removal and
prevention of residue buildup. gasoline
must only be mixed with additives recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz. Comply with
the instructions for use on the product
label. More information about recommen-
ded additives can be obtained from any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
branded fuels that have additives.
The quality of the fuel available in some coun- tries may not be sufficient. Residue could
build up in the fuel injection system as a
result. In such cases, and in consultation with
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, the
gasoline may be mixed with the cleaning addi-
tive recommended by Mercedes-Benz. You
must observe the notes and mixing ratios
specified on the container.
Fuel consumption information H
Environmental note
CO 2(carbon dioxide) is the gas which scien-
tists believe to be principally responsible for
global warming (the greenhouse effect). Your
vehicle's CO 2emissions are directly related to
fuel consumption and therefore depend on:
R efficient use of the fuel by the engine
R driving style
R other non-technical factors, such as envi-
ronmental influences, road conditions or
traffic flow
You can minimize your vehicle's CO 2emis-
sions by driving carefully and having it serv-
iced regularly.
The vehicle will use more fuel than usual in the following situations:
R at very low outside temperatures
R in city traffic R
on short journeys
R in mountainous terrain
R when towing a trailer Engine oil
General notes !
Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specification other than is necessary to ful-
fill the prescribed service intervals. Do not
change the engine oil or oil filter in order to achieve longer replacement intervals than
those prescribed. You could otherwise
cause engine damage or damage to the
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Follow the instructions in the service inter-
val display regarding the oil change. Other-
wise, you may damage the engine and the
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
When handling engine oil, observe the impor- tant safety notes on service products
(Y page 337).
The engine oils are matched to the perform-
ance of Mercedes-Benz engines and service
intervals. For this reason, only use engine oils and oil filters that are approved for vehicles
with a service system.
For a list of approved engine oils and oil filters,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or go to the Internet site
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com (USA
only).
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle. Model Engine
model MB
Approval
G 550 273 229.5
G 63 AMG 157 229.5
i
MB approval is indicated on the oil con-
tainers. 340
Service products and filling capacitiesTechnical data
Filling capacities
The following values refer to an oil change
including the oil filter. Vehicle model Capacity including
oil filter G 550
2.4 US gal (9.0 l)
G 63 AMG
2.25 US gal (8.5 l)
Additives
!
Do not use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine.
Engine oil viscosity Viscosity describes the flow characteristics
of a fluid. If an engine oil has a high viscosity, this means that it is thick; a low viscosity
means that it is thin.
Select an engine oil with an SAE classification (viscosity) suitable for the prevailing outside
temperatures. The table shows you which
SAE classifications are to be used. The low-
temperature characteristics of engine oils
can deteriorate significantly, e.g. as a result
of aging, soot and fuel deposits. It is therefore
strongly recommended that you carry out reg- ular oil changes using an approved engine oil
with the appropriate SAE classification. Climate control system refrigerant
Important safety notes The climate control system of your vehicle is
filled with refrigerant R‑
134a.
The instruction label regarding the refrigerant type used can be found on the radiator cross
member.
! Only the refrigerant R‑134a and the PAG
oil approved by Mercedes-Benz may be
used. The approved PAG oil may not be
mixed with any other PAG oil that is not
approved for R-134a refrigerant. Other-
wise, the climate control system may be
damaged.
Service work, such as topping up refrigerant
or replacing components, may only be carried out by a qualified specialist workshop. All
applicable regulations must be adhered to,
SAE standard J639 included.
Always have work on the climate control sys-
tem carried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Refrigerant instruction label Example: refrigerant instruction label
:
Warning symbol
; Refrigerant filling capacity
= Applicable standards
? PAG oil part number
A Type of refrigerant Service products and filling capacities
341Technical data Z