2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class Diff

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 29). Overview of climate control systems
General notes
Observe the settings recommended on the
following pages. The windows could other-
wise fog up.
To prevent the windows from fogging up:
R switch off climate control only briefly
R switch on air-recirculation mode only
briefly
R switch on the cooling with air dehumidifi-
cation function
R switch on the defrost windshield function
briefly, if required
Climate control regulates the temperature
and the humidity in the vehicle interior and
filters undesirable substances out of the air.
Climate control can only be operated when
the engine is running. Optimum operation is
only achieved with the side windows and roof closed.
The residual heat function can only be acti-
vated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off (Y page 161).
i Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather, e.g. using the con-
venience opening feature (Y page 97).
This will speed up the cooling process and
the desired interior temperature will be
reached more quickly. i
The integrated filter filters out most par-
ticles of dust and soot and completely fil-
ters out pollen. It also reduces gaseous pol-
lutants and odors. A clogged filter reduces the amount of air supplied to the vehicle
interior. For this reason, you should alwaysobserve the interval for replacing the filter,which is specified in the Maintenance
Booklet. As it depends on environmental
conditions, e.g. heavy air pollution, the
interval may be shorter than stated in the
Maintenance Booklet.
i It is possible that the residual heat func-
tion may be activated automatically an hour
after the SmartKey has been removed in
order to dry the air-conditioning system.
The vehicle is then ventilated for 30
minutes. 146
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

0079
To switch rear-compartment climate control on/off (Y page 154)
007A To reduce the airflow (Y page 158)Optimum use of 3-zone automatic cli-
mate control
The following contains instructions and rec-
ommendations to enable you to get the most
out of your 3-zone automatic climate control.
R Activate climate control using the 0058and
005A/0056 buttons. The indicator lamps
above the 0058and005A/0056 buttons
light up.
R In automatic mode, you can also use the
00F0 button to set a climate mode
(FOCUS/MEDIUM/DIFFUSE). The
MEDIUM level is recommended.
R Set the temperature to 72 ‡ (22 †).
R Only use the "Windshield defrosting" func-
tion briefly until the windshield is clear
again.
R Only use air-recirculation mode briefly, e.g.
if there are unpleasant outside odors or
when in a tunnel. The windows could oth-
erwise fog up, since no fresh air is drawn
into the vehicle in air-recirculation mode.
R Use the ZONE function to adopt the tem-
perature settings on the driver's side for
the front-passenger side and the rear com- partment as well. The indicator lamp above
the 00D6 button goes out.
R Use the residual heat function if you want to
heat or ventilate the vehicle interior when
the ignition is switched off. The residual
heat function can only be activated or deac- tivated with the ignition switched off.
R Vehicles with COMAND: if you change the
settings of the climate control system, the
climate status display appears for approx-
imately three seconds at the bottom of the
screen in the COMAND display. See also
the separate COMAND operating instruc-
tions. You will see the current settings of
the various climate control functions. During automatic engine switch-off, the cli-
mate control system only operates at a
reduced capacity. If you require the full cli-
mate control output, you can switch off the
ECO start/stop function by pressing the ECO
button (Y page 173). Operating the climate control sys-
tems
Switching climate control on/off
General notes When the climate control is switched off, the
air supply and air circulation are also
switched off. The windows could fog up.
Therefore, switch off climate control only
briefly
i Switch on climate control primarily using
the 0058 button (Y page 156).
In the rear compartment, you can also switch
climate control on and off using the 0058and
0078 buttons.
Activating/deactivating X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 167).
X To activate: press the0058button.
The indicator lamp in the 0058button lights
up. Airflow and air distribution are set to
automatic mode.
or
X Press the 0078button.
The indicator lamp in the 0078button goes
out. The previously selected settings are
restored.
X To deactivate: press the0078button.
The indicator lamp in the 0078button lights
up. 154
Operating the climate control systemsClimate control

Adjusting the climate mode settings
You can select the following climate mode
settings in automatic mode:
FOCUS high airflow that is set slightly cooler
MEDIUM medium airflow, standard setting
DIFFUS Elow airflow that is set slightly
warmer and with less draft X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 167).
X Press the 0058button.
X Press the 00F0button repeatedly until the
desired climate mode appears in the dis-
play. Setting the temperature
Dual-zone automatic climate control Different temperatures can be set for the
driver's and front-passenger sides.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 167).
X To increase/reduce: turn control0043or0084
clockwise or counter-clockwise
(Y page 147).
Only change the temperature setting in
small increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †). 3-zone automatic climate control
Automatic climate control zones
You can select different temperature settings
for the driver's and front-passenger sides as
well as for the rear compartment.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 167).
X To increase/reduce the temperature in
the front: turn control 0043or0084 clockwise
or counter-clockwise (Y page 150).
Only change the temperature setting in
small increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).
X To increase/reduce the temperature in
the rear compartment using the front
control panel: press the00D6button.
The indicator lamp in the 00D6button goes
out.
X Turn control 0043clockwise or counter-
clockwise (Y page 150).
Only change the temperature setting in
small increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).
The temperature setting for the driver's
side is adopted for the rear compartment
and the front-passenger side.
X To increase/decrease the rear compart-
ment temperature using the rear con-
trol panel: turn control 0075clockwise or
counter-clockwise on the rear control
panel (Y page 150).
Only change the temperature setting in
small increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †). Operating the climate control systems
157Climate control

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 29). Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Important safety notes
The sensor system of some driving and driv-
ing safety systems adjusts automatically
while a certain distance is being driven after
the vehicle has been delivered or after
repairs. Full system effectiveness is not
reached until the end of this teach-in proce-
dure.
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
1000 miles (1500 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 00C3of the way to the red
area of the tachometer. R
Do not manually shift to a lower gear to
brake the vehicle.
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the point of resistance (kick-
down).
After 1000 miles (1500 km), you can increase
the engine speed gradually and accelerate
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 Ideally, for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km),
drive in program C.
i You should also observe these notes on
breaking in if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced.
i Always observe the respective speed lim-
its. 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
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient clearance for the pedals. Do not use loose floormats and do not place floormats on
top of one another. 166
DrivingDriving and parking

G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles:
at low engine oil temper-
atures below 68 ‡ (+20 †), the maximum
engine speed is restricted in order to pro-
tect the engine. To protect the engine and
maintain smooth engine operation, avoid driving at full throttle when the engine is
cold. Key positions
SmartKey 005A
To remove the SmartKey
0047 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers
0048 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
0049 To start the engine
i The SmartKey can be turned in the igni-
tion lock even if it is not the correct Smart- Key for the vehicle. The ignition is not
switched on. The engine cannot be started.
KEYLESS-GO General notes
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO are equipped with
a SmartKey featuring an integrated KEYLESS- GO function and a detachable Start/Stop but-
ton.
The Start/Stop button must be inserted in the ignition lock and the SmartKey must be in the
vehicle.
When you insert the Start/Stop button into
the ignition lock, the system needs approx-
imately two seconds recognition time. You
can then use the Start/Stop button.
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
key positions in the ignition lock. This is only Driving
167Driving and parking Z

Program selector button
General notes Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package
X Briefly press program selector button 0043.
The letter Mappears in the multifunction
display. The manual drive program Mis
activated. AMG vehicles
X
Press program selector button 0043repeat-
edly until the letter for the desired gearshift program appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The program selector button allows you to
choose between different driving character-
istics.
i The permanent drive program Mis avail-
able on the following vehicles:
R Vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package
R AMG vehicles
Further information about permanent drive program M(Y page 182). As well as this permanent drive program
M,
you can also activate temporary drive pro-
gram M(Y page 181).
i AMG vehicles:
the automatic transmis-
sion switches to automatic drive program C
each time the engine is started.
i Drive program
Mis not saved after the
engine has been switched off. If required,
you must select the drive program again
after starting the engine.
Drive program on vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package M
Manual Permanent manual gear-
shifting
Drive programs on AMG vehicles
C
Controlled
Efficiency Comfortable, economical
driving
S
Sport Sporty driving style
M
Manual Permanent manual gear-
shifting
i
For further information on the automatic
drive program, see (Y page 181). Steering wheel paddle shifters
In the manual drive program, you can change
gears manually using steering wheel paddle
shifters 0043and 0044. 180
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

Problems with fuel and the fuel tank
This section provides descriptions of and solutions to safety-relevant problems. Descriptions
of and solutions to further problems can be found in the Digital Operator's Manual. Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions Fuel is leaking from the
vehicle. The fuel line or the fuel tank is faulty.
G WARNING
Risk of explosion or fire. X Turn the SmartKey to position 0in the ignition lock and remove
it immediately (Y page 167).
X Do not restart the engine under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. DEF (BlueTEC vehicles only)
Important notes on use To function properly, BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment must be operated with the
reducing agent DEF. Adding DEF is one of the
tasks performed during maintenance. Under
normal operating conditions, a tank of DEF
lasts until the next service due date.
When the supply of DEF is almost used up, the
Check
Check Additive
Additive See SeeOperator's
Operator's Manual
Manual
message is shown in the multifunction dis-
play.
If you drive the vehicle faster than 10 mph
(16 km/h), the Check
Check Additive Additive See
SeeOper‐
Oper‐
ator's Manual
ator's Manual message goes out after
approximately one minute.
When the supply of DEF is down to a reserve
of approximately 1 gal (3.8 l) the Refill Refill
AdBlue/DEF
AdBlue/DEF See
SeeOperator's
Operator's Manual
Manualmes-
sage is shown in the multifunction display.
When the DEF supply drops to a minimum, the Remaining Starts: 16
Remaining Starts: 16 message is shown
in the multifunction display.
If the Refill AdBlue/DEF No Start in Refill AdBlue/DEF No Start in
XXXX km XXXX km message is shown in the multifunc-
tion display, you can still drive the vehicle
over the distance shown. If DEF is not refilled,
you will subsequently be unable to start the
engine. If the Refill AdBlue/DEF Eng.
Refill AdBlue/DEF Eng. Start Not Poss Start Not Poss
message appears in the
multifunction display and the engine does not
start, you must add DEF.
X Add at least 1 gal (3.8 l)of DEF.
X Switch on the ignition for at least 60 sec-
onds.
X Start the engine.
i Have the DEF tank refilled at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Use the special DEF refill bottle when adding DEF between maintenance intervals. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center with
any questions or, if necessary, contact Road-
side Assistance (Y page 26).
If the outside temperature is below 12 ‡
(00F811 †) it may be difficult to top up. If DEF is
frozen and there is an active warning indica-
tor, it may not be possible to add DEF. Park
the vehicle in a warmer place, e.g. in a garage,
until DEF has become fluid again. It will then
be possible to add DEF again. Alternatively,
have the DEF tank refilled at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Further information about BlueTEC exhaust
gas aftertreatment and DEF is available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 188
RefuelingDriving and parking

your driving and braking accordingly during
this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in corre-
spondingly high brake wear. Observe the
0026 brake wear warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster and note any brake status mes-
sages in the multifunction display. Especially
for high performance driving, it is important to maintain and have the brake system checkedregularly. Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of
hydroplaning occurring, even if:
R you drive at low speeds.
R the tires have adequate tread depth.
For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in
conditions in which hydroplaning may occur,
you must drive in the following manner:
R lower your speed.
R avoid ruts.
R avoid sudden steering movements.
R brake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads !
Do not drive through flooded areas.
Check the depth of any water before driving through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water may enter the
vehicle interior or the engine compartment.
This can damage the electronic compo-
nents in the engine or the automatic trans- mission. Water can also be drawn in by the
engine's air suction nozzles and this can
cause engine damage.
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
set the raised level before driving through
standing water. Off-road fording !
Under no circumstances should you
accelerate before entering the water. The
bow wave could cause water to enter and
damage the engine and other assemblies.
! Do not open any of the vehicle's doors
while fording. Otherwise, water could get
into the vehicle interior and damage the
vehicle's electronics and interior equip-
ment.
R Establish how deep the water is and the
characteristics of the body of water before
fording.
R Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select the highest possible vehicle level.
R Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Enter and exit the water at a flat place and
at a steady walking pace.
R Drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water.
R Do not stop.
R Water offers a high degree of resistance,
and the ground is slippery and in some
cases unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and
dangerous to pull away in the water.
R Ensure that a bow wave does not form as
you drive.
R Clean any mud from the tire tread after
fording.
R Apply the brakes to dry them after fording.
Always observe the fording depth values
(Y page 456). Winter driving
G
WARNING
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. 198
Driving tipsDriving and pa
rking