2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class width

Vehicles traveling on a different line
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles
traveling on a different line. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Other vehicles changing lanes DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the vehi-
cle cutting in yet. The distance to this vehicle will be too short.
Narrow vehicles DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the
vehicle in front on the edge of the road, because of its narrow width. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Obstructions and stationary vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for obsta-
cles or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the
detected vehicle turns a corner and reveals
an obstacle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS will not brake for these.
Crossing vehicles DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect
vehicles that are crossing your lane. Activat-
ing DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights with
crossing traffic, for example, could cause
your vehicle to pull away unintentionally. Level control (vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package)
Important safety notes Level control adapts the vehicle level auto-
matically to the current operating and driving
situation. This results in reduced fuel con-
sumption and improved handling. 214
Driving systemsDriving and parking

0043
White guide line without turning the steer-
ing wheel, vehicle width including the
exterior mirrors (static)
0044 Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
0087 Red guide line for the vehicle width includ-
ing the exterior mirrors, for current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic)
0085 Yellow lane marking tires at current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic) 0083
Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
0084 Vehicle center axle (marker assistance)
006B Bumper
006C Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 10 in (0.25 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
The guide lines are shown when the trans-
mission is in position R.
The distance specifications only apply to
objects that are at ground level. Additional messages for vehicles with PARK-
TRONIC
0043
Front warning display
0044 Additional PARKTRONIC measurement
operational readiness indicator
0087 Rear warning display
Vehicles with PARKTRONIC: if PARK-
TRONIC is operational (Y page 226), an addi-
tional operational readiness indicator will
appear in COMAND display 0044. If the PARK-
TRONIC warning displays are active or light
up, warning displays 0043and 0087are also active
or light up correspondingly in the COMAND
display.
"Reverse parking" function Backing up straight into a parking space
without turning the steering wheel
0043
White guide line without turning the steer-
ing wheel, vehicle width including the
exterior mirrors (static)
0044 Red guide line for the vehicle width includ-
ing the exterior mirrors, for current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic) 234
Driving systemsDriving and parking

0087
Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
0085 Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 10 in (0.25 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
X Make sure that the rear view camera is
switched on (Y page 233).
The lane and the guide lines are shown.
X With the help of white guide line 0043, check
whether the vehicle will fit into the parking space.
X Using white guide line 0043as a guide, care-
fully back up until you reach the end posi-
tion.
Red guide line 0085is then at the end of the
parking space. The vehicle is almost paral-
lel in the parking space.
Reverse perpendicular parking with the
steering wheel at an angle Turning the steering wheel
0043
Red guide line for the vehicle width includ-
ing the exterior mirrors, for current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic)
0044 Parking space marking
X Make sure that the rear view camera is
switched on (Y page 233).
The lane and the guide lines are shown.
X Drive past the parking space and bring the
vehicle to a standstill.
X While the vehicle is at a standstill, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the park- ing space until red guide line
0043reaches
parking space marking 0044.
X Keep the steering wheel in that position
and back up carefully. Backing up with the steering wheel turned
0043
Red guide line for the vehicle width includ-
ing the exterior mirrors, for current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic)
X Stop the vehicle when it is almost exactly in
front of the parking space.
The white lane should be as close to parallel with the parking space marking as possi-
ble. Driving to the final position
0043
White guide line at current steering wheel
angle
0044 Parking space marking
X Turn the steering wheel to the center posi-
tion while the vehicle is stationary. Driving systems
235Driving and parking Z

X
To switch to full screen mode: select
Full Screen
Full Screen by turning00790052007Athe
COMAND controller and press 0098to con-
firm.
Displays in the COMAND display Important safety notes
! Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.:
R the bumper of a parked vehicle
R the drawbar of a trailer
R the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
R the rear section of an HGV
R a slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the bot-
tom-most guideline.
Top view with picture from the rear view
camera 0043
Symbol for the split screen setting with
top view and rear view camera image
0044 Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m) fromthe rear of the
vehicle
0087 Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors, for current
steering wheel angle (dynamic)
0085 Yellow lane marking tires at current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic) 0083
Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) fromthe rear of the
vehicle
0084 Vehicle center axle (marker assistance)
006B Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) fromthe rear of the
vehicle
006C Bumper
The guide lines are shown when the trans-
mission is in position R.
The distance specifications only apply to
objects that are at ground level.
Top view with picture from the front cam- era 0043
Symbol for the split screen setting with
top view and front camera image
0044 Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m)from the front of the
vehicle
0087 Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors, for current
steering wheel angle (dynamic)
0085 Yellow lane marking tires at current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic) Driving systems
239Driving and parking Z

0083
Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) from the front of the
vehicle
0084 Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) from the front of the
vehicle
Top view and enlarged rear view 0043
Symbol for the split screen setting with
top view and rear view camera image
enlarged
0044 Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
This view assists you in estimating the dis-
tance to the vehicle behind you.
i This setting can also be selected as an
enlarged front view. Top view with images from the exterior
mirror cameras 0043
Symbol for the setting with the top view
and forward view from the exterior mirror
cameras
0044 Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors (right side of vehicle)
0087 Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors (left side of
vehicle)
Top view with trailer view 0043
Symbol for the trailer view setting
0044 Trailer drawbar marker assistant
0087 Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) from the ball cou-
pling 240
Driving systemsDriving and parking

of the towing vehicle, as the latter is equip-
ped with an anti-lock brake system. Doing
so will result in a loss of function of the
brake systems of both the vehicle and the
trailer.
X Make sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.
X Apply the vehicle's electric parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select highway level.
X Vehicles with ADS: set ADS toAUTOor
COMF.
X Switch off the engine.
X Close all doors and the tailgate.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish all electrical connections.
X Check that the trailer lighting system is
working.
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
with a trailer attached, the vehicle will
always remain at highway level. When cou-
pling up a trailer, please observe the fol-
lowing:
R Unless highway level has been set man-
ually, the vehicle is automatically low-
ered to highway level. This is the case if a
speed of 5 mph (8 km/h) is reached.
R High-speed level is not available.
These restrictions apply to all accessories
powered through a connection to the trailer power socket of your vehicle, e.g. a bicycle
carrier.
Observe the maximum permissible trailer
dimensions (width and length).
Most U.S. states and all Canadian provinces
require by law:
R Safety chains between the towing vehicle
and the trailer. The chains should be cross-
wound under the trailer drawbar. They must be fastened to the vehicle's trailer cou-
pling, not to the bumper or the axle. Leave enough play in the chains to make
tight cornering possible.
R A separate brake system for certain types
of trailer.
R A safety switch for braked trailers. Check
the specific legal requirements applicable
to your state.
If the trailer detaches from the towing vehi- cle, the safety switch applies the trailer's
brakes. Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements con-
cerning the towing of a trailer, e.g. speed
restrictions. Make sure that your car/trailer
combination complies with the local regula-
tions: R in your place of residence
R in the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide
reliable information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
R To gain driving experience and to become
accustomed to the new handling charac-
teristics, you should practice the following
in a traffic-free location:
- cornering
- stopping
- backing up
R Before driving, check:
- trailer tow hitch
- safety switch for braked trailers
- safety chains
- electrical connections
- lights
- wheels
R Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the trailer.
R If the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually 268
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb or
other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over
curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, try to do so slowly and at an obtuse angle. Oth-
erwise, the tires, particularly the sidewalls,
may be damaged. Regular checking of wheels and tires
G
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Regularly check the wheels and tires of your
vehicle for damage at least once a month, as well as after driving off-road or on rough
roads. Damaged wheels can cause a loss of
tire pressure. Pay particular attention to dam-
age such as:
R cuts in the tires
R punctures
R tears in the tires
R bulges on tires
R deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width of the tire (Y page 407). If necessary, turn the
front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
mount anything onto the valve other than the standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
Do not use any other valve caps or systems,
e.g. tire pressure monitoring systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire pressure as necessary (Y page 410).
Observe the notes on the emergency spare
wheel (Y page 440). The service life of tires depends on the fol-
lowing factors amongst other things:
R Driving style
R Tire pressure
R Distance covered Important safety notes on the tire
tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk of hydroplaning increases, in particular where speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
R Summer tires: 00CEin (3 mm)
R M+S tires: 00CFin (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached. Bar indicator
0043for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned on the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth is Operation
407Wheels and tires Z

Step 3
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Permissible load
(maximum gross vehi-
cle weight rating from
the Tire and Loading
Information placard
minus the gross
weight of all occu-
pants) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
00F8750 lbs (340 kg) =
750 lbs (340 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
00F8540 lbs (245 kg)
=960 lbs (435 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
00F8150 lbs (68 kg) =
1350 lbs (612 kg)
Vehicle identification plate
Even if you have calculated the total cargo
carefully, you should still make sure that the
gross vehicle weight rating and the gross axle weight rating are not exceeded. Details can
be found on the vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle
(Y page 418).
Permissible gross vehicle weight: the
gross weight of the vehicle, all passengers,
load and trailer load/noseweight (if applica-
ble) must not exceed the permissible gross
vehicle weight.
Gross axle weight rating: the maximum per-
missible weight that can be carried by one
axle (front or rear axle).
To ensure that your vehicle does not exceed
the maximum permissible values (gross vehi-
cle weight and maximum gross axle weight
rating), have your loaded vehicle (including
driver, occupants, cargo, and full trailer load if applicable) weighed on a suitable vehicle
weighbridge. Trailer load/noseweight
The trailer load/noseweight affects the gross
weight of the vehicle. If a trailer is attached,
the trailer load/noseweight is included in the
load along with occupants and luggage. The
trailer load/noseweight is usually approx-
imately 8% of the gross weight of the trailer
and its cargo. All about wheels and tires
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Stand-
ards
Overview of Tire Quality Grading Stand- ards Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards are
U.S. government specifications. Their pur-
pose is to provide drivers with uniform relia-
ble information on tire performance data. Tire
manufacturers have to grade tires using three
performance factors: 0043tread wear grade, 0044
traction grade and 0087temperature grade.
These regulations do not apply to Canada.
Nevertheless, all tires sold in North America
are provided with the corresponding quality
grading markings on the sidewall of the tire.
Where applicable, the tire grading informa-
tion can be found on the tire sidewall between
the tread shoulder and maximum tire width. All about wheels and tires
421Wheels and tires Z