
W
Warning and indicator lamps ABS ................................................ 237
Brakes .......................................... .236
Check Engine ................................. 243
Coolant .......................................... 243
Cruise control ................................ 163
Distance warning ........................... 245
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 245
ESP® ............................................. 239
ESP® OFF ...................................... 240
Fuel tank ........................................ 243
LIM (DISTRONIC PLUS) .................. 171
LIM (variable SPEEDTRONIC) ......... 167
Overview .................................. 32, 234
Parking brake ................................ 242
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF .............. .42
Reserve fuel .................................. .243
Restraint system ............................ 242
Seat belt ........................................ 235
Tire pressure monitor .................... 246
Warning triangle ................................ 290
Warranty .............................................. 21
Washer fluid
Display message ............................ 234
Wheel bolt tightening torque ........... 330
Wheels
Changing a wheel .......................... 327
Checking ........................................ 307
Cleaning ......................................... 282
Important safety notes .................. 306
Interchanging/changing ................ 327
Mounting a new wheel ................... 330
Mounting a wheel .......................... 328
Overview ........................................ 306
Removing a wheel .......................... 330
Storing .......................................... .328
Technical data ............................... 331
Tightening torque ........................... 330
Wheel size/tire size ....................... 331
Window curtain air bag
Display message ............................ 217
Operation ......................................... 49
Windows
see Side windows
Windows (cleaning instructions) ..... 283Windshield
Defrosting ...................................... 125
Windshield heating ........................... 126
Windshield washer fluid
see Windshield washer system
Windshield washer system
Adding washer fluid ....................... 278
Notes ............................................. 343
Windshield wipers
Problem (malfunction) ................... 116
Rear window wiper ........................ 115
Replacing the wiper blades ............ 115
Switching on/off ........................... 114
Winter
Driving in winter ............................ .157
Winter operation ............................ 308
Winter driving
Snow chains .................................. 309
Winter operation
Overview ........................................ 308
Winter tires
M+S tires ....................................... 308
Wiper blades
Cleaning ......................................... 284
Important safety notes .................. 115
Replacing ....................................... 115 Index
19 

X
If appropriate for the driving conditions,
engage the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(Y page 186).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Traction control is no longer active above a
speed of approximately 37 mph (60 km/h).
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain. X
To deactivate: press button:until the
å warning lamp lights up in the instru-
ment cluster.
X To activate: press button :until the å
warning lamp goes out in the instrument
cluster.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
i Vehicles with the ECO start/stop func-
tion: the ECO start/stop function automat-
ically switches the engine off when the
vehicle comes to a stop. The engine starts
automatically when the driver wants to pull
away again. ESP ®
remains in its previously
selected status. For example, if ESP ®
was
deactivated before the engine was
switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated
when the engine is switched on again.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
R and are driving at above 37 mph (60 km/h)
(on AMG vehicles above 62 mph
(100 km/h)), ESP ®
still intervenes when
one wheel reaches its grip limit even
though it is deactivated.
i If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the ÷warning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehi-
cle. 64
Driving safety systemsSafety 

Your vehicle is equipped with a differential
lock each for:
R the transfer case: this controls the balance
between the front and rear axles.
R the rear axle: this controls the balance
between the wheels on the rear axle.
R the front axle: this controls the balance
between the wheels on the front axle.
Information on differential gear system
and differential lock When the vehicle drives around a curve, the
wheels on the outside of the curve must cover
a greater distance. Therefore, the wheels turn
more rapidly than on the inside. The differen- tial, a gear system in the drive train, allows for
differing rotational speeds and facilitates cor-
nering.
The disadvantage of a differential is that the
wheels that have the least grip, get the most
drive. An example: a wheel of a driven axle is
on a snow-covered surface and therefore
does not have any traction. The differential
sends most of the drive force to this wheel
because the force takes the route of the low-
est resistance. The opposite wheel on this
axle, however, which stands on firm ground
and could therefore allow propulsion,
receives no driving power. 4ETS compen-
sates for this disadvantage. 4ETS provides
good steerability by automatically braking the spinning wheel. 4ETS provides the wheel on
the firm surface with more drive force, which
in turn provides propulsion.
ESP® and 4ETS are traction systems that are
ideal for road driving and suitable for light off- road driving. The LOW RANGEoff-road gear
also improves off-road capability.
More challenging off-road conditions require
additional measures such as locking one or
more differential. Your vehicle is equipped
with three differential locks: R
a central differential lock for the transfer
case
R a differential lock for the front axle and
R a differential lock for the rear axle
Each differential lock can be engaged with the corresponding switch on the center console.
If the differential in the transfer case is
locked, the front and rear wheels rotate at the
same speed. If the differential for the rear axle
is locked, both rear wheels rotate at the same speed, regardless of their respective torque.
Note, engaging the differential lock greatly
impairs the vehicle's steerability.
Note, it is imperative to use the differential
function when driving on firm road surfaces.
Under no circumstances should the differen-
tial be locked when driving on firm road sur-
faces. Otherwise, the vehicle may not be
steerable and you could lose control of the
vehicle. Therefore, only engage the differen-
tial lock when driving off-road. You should
only engage the differential lock if activating
4ETS and ESP ®
driving systems and LOW
RANGE off-road gear prove to be insufficient.
Engaging the differential locks Important safety notes
G
WARNING
When differential locks are engaged on a firm,
high-grip surface, the vehicle's steerability is
greatly impaired. In particular, engaging the
differential locks when cornering could lead
to you losing control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Disengage the differential locks immediately
on firm surfaces with good grip. G
WARNING
When the differential locks are engaged, ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS are deactivated. As a
result, the wheels could lock when braking
and the braking distance is increased. There is
a risk of an accident.
Disengage the differential locks immediately
on firm surfaces with good grip. Off-road driving systems
189Driving and parking Z 

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 

X
Open the pressure release screw on the
jack using the pump lever (Y page 328) by
approximately one turn.
X Lower the vehicle until it is once again
standing firmly on the ground.
X Place the jack to one side.
X Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a cross-
wise pattern in the sequence indicated ( :
to A). The specified tightening torque is
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
X Disassemble the pump lever.
X Push the jack piston back in and close the
drain plug.
X Use the bolts to secure the faulty wheel to
the spare wheel bracket (Y page 291).
X Stow the jack and the vehicle tools in the
vehicle again.
X Check the tire pressure of the newly instal-
led wheel and adjust it if necessary.
A table with the tire pressures for your vehi-cle can be found on the B-pillar on the driv-
er's side. Wheel and tire combinations
General notes
G
WARNING
If wheels and tires of the wrong size are used, the wheel brakes or suspension components
may be damaged. There is a risk of an acci-
dent. Always replace wheels and tires with those
that fulfill the specifications of the original
part.
When replacing wheels, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R model
When replacing tires, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R manufacturer
R model G
Warning
A flat tire severely impairs the driving, steer-
ing and braking characteristics of the vehicle.
There is a risk of an accident.
do not drive with a flat tire. Immediately
replace the flat tire with your spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tires, wheels
and accessories which have been approved by Mercedes-Benz specifically for your
vehicle. These tires have been specially
adapted for use with the driving safety sys-
tems, such as ABS or ESP ®
.
Only use tires, wheels or accessories tes-
ted and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Cer-
tain characteristics, e.g. handling, vehicle
noise emissions or fuel consumption, may
otherwise be adversely affected. In addi-
tion, when driving with a load, tire dimen-
sion variations could cause the tires to
come into contact with the bodywork and
axle components. This could result in dam-
age to the tires or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for
damage resulting from the use of tires,
wheels or accessories other than those tes- ted and approved.
Further information about wheels, tires and
approved combinations can be obtained Wheel and tire combinations
331Wheels and tires Z 

Approach/departure angle
G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle. For vehicles with steel springs, loaded and
ready to drive means: a full tank, all fluids
refilled and the driver is in the vehicle.
: : ;
;
G 550
34° 29°
G 63 AMG
27° 27°
For further information about approach/
departure angles, see (Y
page 161).Maximum gradient-climbing capabil-
ity
Note that the vehicle's gradient-climbing
capability depends on the off-road conditions and the road surface conditions.
On good road surfaces the maximum gradi-
ent-climbing capability of your vehicle is
100%, which corresponds to an approach/
departure angle of 45°.
Accelerate carefully and make sure that the
wheels do not spin when driving on steep ter-
rain. i
If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS detects this and brakes the wheels
accordingly. The rear wheel torque is
increased, making it easier to drive off.
For further information about the maximum
gradient climbing ability, see (Y page 161). Trailer tow hitch
Mounting dimensions
Only have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
changes to the engine cooling system may
be necessary, depending on the vehicle
type.
If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
observe the anchorage points on the chas- sis frame. :
Anchorage points
; Overhang dimension
For trailer tow hitches installed at the factory, the overhang dimension including protective
covering is 35.2 in (895 mm). 346
Trailer tow hitchTechnical data