2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE SUV lock

engine is switched off. Noises that occur are
normal.
Applying or releasing manually X
To apply: push handle :.
When the electric parking brake is applied,
the red !indicator lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
i The electric parking brake can also be
applied when the key is removed.
X To release: pull handle:.
The red !indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
i The electric parking brake can only be
released:
R when the key is in position 1in the ignition
lock (Y page 158) or
R if the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button
To ensure that you do not roll backwards when
pulling away on an uphill slope, you can apply
the electric parking brake (Y page 161).
Applying automatically The electric parking brake is automatically
applied when the transmission is in position
P
and:
R the engine is switched off or
R the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the
driver's door is opened
To prevent the electric parking brake from being
automatically applied, pull handle :.The electric parking brake is also applied auto-
matically if:
R
DISTRONIC PLUS brings the vehicle to a
standstill or
R the HOLD function is keeping the vehicle sta-
tionary
R Active Parking Assist is keeping the vehicle
stationary
In addition, at least one of the following condi-
tions must be fulfilled:
R the engine is switched off
R the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the
driver's door is opened
R there is a system malfunction
R the power supply is insufficient
R the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy period
The red !indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
The electric parking brake is not automatically
applied if the engine is switched off by the ECO
start/stop function.
Releasing automatically The electric parking brake is released automat-
ically when all of the following conditions are
fulfilled:
R
the engine is running
R the transmission is in position Dor R
R the seat belt is fastened
R you depress the accelerator pedal
If the transmission is in position R, the boot lid
must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake:
R the driver's door is closed
R you have shifted out of transmission position
P or you have previously driven faster than
3 km/h
i Ensure that you do not depress the accel-
erator pedal unintentionally. Otherwise, the
parking brake will be released and the vehicle will start to move. Parking
193Driving and parking Z

Off-road fording
!
Under no circumstances should you accel-
erate before entering the water. The bow
wave could cause water to enter and damage
the engine and neighbouring 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 equipment.
R Establish how deep the water is and the char-
acteristics of the body of water before ford-
ing.
R Select the highest possible vehicle level.
R Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing wheel gearshift paddle.
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 a constant speed through
the water.
R Ensure that a bow wave does not form as you
drive.
R Do not stop and do not switch off the engine.
Water offers a high degree of resistance, the
ground is slippery and, in some cases, unsta- ble. Therefore, it is difficult and dangerous to
pull away in the water.
R Clean any mud from the tyre tread after ford-
ing.
R Apply the brakes to dry them after fording.
Always observe the fording depth values
(Y page 444). 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.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
! Take care not to damage the sealing strip
and the moulding on the side of the rear win- dow when scraping ice off the rear window.
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
You should drive particularly carefully on slip-
pery road surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration,
steering and braking manoeuvres. Do not use
cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control by using
corrective steering.
When driving in snow with or without snow
chains, select driving program Slippery
(Y page 166).
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in wooded areas or on bridges. You should pay
special attention to road conditions when tem-
peratures are around freezing point.
Further information on driving with snow chains
(Y page 408).
Further information on driving with summer
tyres (Y page 407).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion (Y page 407). 198
Driving tipsDriving and parking

The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R the Offroad drive program (vehicles without
Off-Road Engineering package)
(Y page 254)
R Offroad andOffroad Plus drive programs
(vehicles with Off-Road Engineering pack-
age) . (Y page 254)
R LOW RANGE offroad gear (vehicles with the
Off-Road Engineering package)
(Y page 255)
R Differential lock (vehicles with the Off-Road
Engineering package) (Y page 255)
R Off-road ABS (Y page 71)
R Offroad 4ETS (Y page 76)
R Offroad ESP ®
(Y page 77)
R AIRMATIC package (vehicle level)
(Y page 220)
R DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
(Y page 252)
Observe the following notes:
R Stop the vehicle before driving off-road. If
necessary, select the offroad program
(Y page 254) or shift to the LOW RANGE off-
road gear (Y page 255).
R Select a vehicle level suitable for the off-road
terrain. To avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure there is always sufficient ground clear-
ance.
R Make sure that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Y page 355).
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate
DSR (Y page 252).
R Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at walk-
ing pace.
R Ensure that the wheels are in contact with the
ground at all times.
R Drive with extreme care on unknown off-road
routes where visibility is poor. For safety rea-
sons, get out of the vehicle first and survey
the off-road route.
R Look out for obstacles such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
R Take care when turning on an uphill or down-
hill slope or when driving across a slope. The
vehicle could otherwise tip over. R
Always keep the doors, the tailgate and the
sliding sunroof closed while the vehicle is in
motion.
R Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
R Observe the notes on off-road fording
(Y page 198).
i Information about retrofitting special all-ter-
rain tyres is available from any qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
i Do not use the HOLD function when driving
off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD
function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur-faces.
Checklist before driving off-road X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil and top
it up if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the oil level must be sufficiently high to ensure a correct
oil supply in the vehicle.
X AdBlue ®
tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check
the level and top up if necessary
(Y page 180).
X Tyre-change tool kit: check that the jack is
working and make sure you have the wheel
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Wheels: dented or bent wheels can lead to a
loss of tyre pressure and damage to the tyre
bead. Before driving off-road, check the
wheels and replace them if necessary.
Checklist after driving off-road !
If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle.
This allows you to detect damage promptly and 200
Driving tipsDriving and parking

vehicle is facing in the direction of the line of
fall.
R Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
i Off-road ABS is activated when the off-road
program is selected.
At speeds below 30 km/h the front wheels
lock cyclically during braking. The digging-in
effect achieved in the process reduces the
stopping distance when driving off-road. The
steerability of the vehicle is considerably
reduced if the wheels lock. Driving systems
Intelligent Drive
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive stands for inno- vative driver assistance and safety systems
which enhance comfort and support the driver in
critical situations. With these intelligent co-ordi- nated systems Mercedes-Benz has set a mile-
stone on the path towards autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive embraces all
elements of active and passive safety in one well thought-out system – for the safety of the vehi-
cle occupants and that of other road users.
Further information on driving safety systems
(Y page 70). Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. You must select a
lower gear in good time on long and steep down-
hill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By doing so, you will make use of
the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions are appropriate for maintaining a steady
speed for a prolonged period. You can store any road speed above 30 km/h. Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise con-
trol can neither reduce the risk of an accident
nor override the laws of physics. Cruise control
cannot take into account road, weather or traffic conditions. Cruise control is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time, and for staying in lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed (e.g. in
heavy traffic or on winding roads)
R on smooth or slippery roads. Braking or accel-
erating can cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever :
To activate or increase speed
; LIM indicator lamp
= To activate at the current speed/last stored
speed
? To activate or reduce speed
A To switch between cruise control and varia-
ble SPEEDTRONIC
B To deactivate cruise control
You can operate cruise control and variable
SPEEDTRONIC with the cruise control lever.
X To switch between variable SPEED-
TRONIC and cruise control:
press the cruise
control lever in the direction of arrow A. Driving systems
203Driving and parking Z

Activating Steering Assist and Stop&Go
Pilot
X Activate the DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering
Assist and Stop&Go Pilot function using the
on-board computer (Y page 290).
The DTR+: steering assistant On
DTR+: steering assistant On mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are active.
Information in the multifunction display If Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are activa-
ted but not ready for a steering intervention,
steering wheel symbol :appears in grey. If the
system provides you with support by means of
steering interventions, symbol :is shown in
green.
Deactivating Steering Assist and Stop&Go
Pilot
X Deactivate the DISTRONIC PLUS with Steer-
ing Assist and Stop&Go Pilot function using
the on-board computer (Y page 290).
The DTR+: steering assistant Off
DTR+: steering assistant Off mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are deac-
tivated.
When DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated or not
available, Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are deactivated automatically. Level control (vehicles with the Off-
road Engineering package)
Important safety notes Level control adapts the vehicle level automati-
cally to the current operating and driving situa-
tion. This results in reduced fuel consumption
and improved handling.
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 lowers; 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 discrep-
ancies while still parked. However, for signifi-
cant level changes, e.g. after the vehicle has
been stationary for a long period, the engine
must be running. For safety reasons, the vehicle
is only lowered when the doors are closed. Low-
ering is interrupted if a door is opened; it con-
tinues once the door has been closed.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 199). G
WARNING
People's limbs may become trapped if they
are located underneath the vehicle or
between the vehicle body and the tyres when the vehicle is lowering. There is a danger of
injury.
When lowering the vehicle, make sure no one
is underneath the vehicle or in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches. G
WARNING
When driving at a raised vehicle level, the driv- ing characteristics may be significantly affec-ted by the vehicle's raised centre of gravity.
The vehicle may be more liable to tip when
cornering, for example. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always select as low a vehicle level as possi-
ble and adjust your driving style accordingly. G
WARNING
When driving with a lowered or raised chassis frame, the driving and braking characteristics
may be seriously affected. A raised chassis
frame may also exceed the permissible vehi-
cle height. There is a risk of an accident.
Set the driving level before pulling away. G
WARNING
Due to the high centre of gravity, the vehicle
may start to skid and overturn in the event of abrupt steering manoeuvres and/or when the 216
Driving systemsDriving and pa
rking

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.
! When driving on extremely rough terrain,
select a high vehicle level in good time. Make
sure there is always sufficient ground clear-
ance. You will otherwise damage the vehicle.
R SUVs overturn considerably more often than
other vehicle types.
If this vehicle is not driven in a safe manner, it can lead to an accident, to the vehicle over-
turning as well as serious or even fatal inju-
ries.
R In the event of an accident with the vehicle
overturning, passengers who are not wearing
their seat belt are considerably more likely to die than passengers wearing their seat belt.
You and all vehicle occupants should always
wear your seat belts.
Basic settings The extent to which the vehicle is raised or low-
ered depends on the basic setting selected.
Select:
R the Comfort orSport drive program for driv-
ing on normal roads
R the Offroad drive program for driving on eas-
ily negotiable off-road terrain
R the Offroad Plus drive program for off-road
driving
R Offroad level 1 for driving on easily negotiable
off-road terrain
R Offroad level 2 for driving on normal off-road
terrain
R Offroad level 3 for freeing the vehicle from
especially difficult off-road terrain at low
speeds
The individual vehicle levels differ from the nor- mal level as follows:
R –15 mm in the Sportdrive program
R +/–0 mm in the Comfortdrive program
R + 30 mm in the Offroaddrive program
R + 60 mm in the Offroad Plusdrive program
R + 30 mm in offroad level 1 R
+ 60 mm in offroad level 2
R + 90 mm in offroad level 3
Setting the vehicle level !
Make sure there is enough ground clear-
ance when the vehicle is being lowered. It
could otherwise hit the ground, damaging the
underbody. Setting the vehicle level using the selector
wheel
X Start the engine.
X Press selector wheel :.
Selector wheel :extends.
X To raise the vehicle: turn selector wheel :
clockwise ;.
The vehicle is raised.
X To lower the vehicle: turn selector wheel :
anti-clockwise ?.
The vehicle is lowered.
During the adjustment, the Lowering LoweringorVehi‐
Vehi‐
cle
cle rising
rising message appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
If you press the %ora button on the
multifunction steering wheel, the message will
disappear. Once normal level has been reached, all indicator lamps =go out.
The vehicle automatically selects normal level if
you:
R drive at speeds above 115 km/h or
R drive at speeds between 100 km/h and
115 km/h for approximately 20 seconds
The vehicle is lowered to low level if you are
travelling at higher speeds. Driving systems
217Driving and parking Z

Normal level
Setting the vehicle to normal level
X Start the engine.
X Press selector wheel :.
Selector wheel :extends.
X To lower the vehicle: turn selector wheel :
anti-clockwise ?.
The vehicle is lowered.
If one or more indicator lamps =are on:
X Turn selector wheel :anti-clockwise ?
until all indicator lamps =that are lit start to
flash.
The vehicle is lowered to normal level. As
soon as the next lowest level is reached, the
indicator lamp stops flashing and goes out.
Offroad levels General notes
Only select an offroad level if this is appropriate for road conditions. Otherwise, fuel consump-
tion may increase and handling performance
may be affected.
You can select the following:
R Offroad level 1 at speeds up to 100 km/h
R Offroad level 2 at speeds up to 65 km/h
R Offroad level 3 at speeds up to 20 km/h
If you select an offroad level when driving at too
high a speed, the Please reduce speed
Please reduce speed mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
Offroad level 3 is only suitable for driving on
extremely difficult off-road terrain under partic- ularly rough conditions.
R Adjust your driving style to the altered han-
dling characteristics.
R Do not drive faster than 20 km/h. Indicator lamps
=for the desired offroad level
flash:
R the lower indicator lamp flashes, offroad
level 1 is selected
R the lower and centre indicator lamps flash,
offroad level 2 is selected
R all three indicator lamps flash, offroad level 3
is selected
The vehicle is being adjusted to the offroad level
selected. As soon as an offroad level is reached,
the corresponding indicator lamp stops flashing and lights up constantly.
Raising the vehicle
Setting the vehicle level using the selector
wheel
X To raise the vehicle: turn selector wheel :
clockwise ;.
The vehicle is raised to offroad level 1 by
30 mm compared to the normal level.
During the adjustment, the Vehicle rising Vehicle rising
message, for example, appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
If you press the %ora button on the
multifunction steering wheel, the message will
disappear.
i Up to offroad level 2, you can hide the mes-
sages using the %ora button on the
multifunction steering wheel.
While the adjustment from offroad level 2 to off-
road level 3 is taking place, you will see a mes-
sage such as the following in the multifunction
display: Vehicle rising Max. speed
Vehicle rising Max. speed
20 km/h 20 km/h.
The Max. Max. speed
speed 20
20km/h
km/h message draws your
attention to the maximum speed permitted for
offroad level 3.
If you drive above 20 km/h at offroad level 3,
you will see the following message shown in red 218
Driving systemsDriving an
d parking

When lowering the vehicle, make sure no one
is underneath the vehicle or in the immediate
vicinity of the wheel arches.
If you unlock the vehicle or open a door, the
vehicle begins to compensate for load discrep-
ancies while still parked. However, for signifi-
cant level changes, e.g. after the vehicle has
been stationary for a long period, the engine
must be running. For safety reasons, the vehicle
is only lowered when the doors are closed. Low-
ering is interrupted if a door is opened; it con-
tinues once the door has been closed.
ADS and ADS PLUS (Adaptive Damping
System) General notes
The Adaptive Damping System automatically
controls the calibration of the dampers. The
damping characteristics adapt to the current
operating and driving situation.
The damping is tuned individually to each wheel
and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface conditions
R the drive program selected
R the vehicle level setting
Selecting Comfort mode In the
Comfort drive program, the driving char-
acteristics of your vehicle are more comforta-
ble. Therefore, select this drive program if you
prefer a more comfortable driving style. Also
select the Comfortdrive program when driving
fast on straight roads, e.g. on straight stretches
of motorway. X
Select the Comfortdrive program using
DYNAMIC SELECT controller :.
The vehicle is adjusted to normal level.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles): in theComfort drive program, the vehicle
is lowered by 15 mm if you:
R drive at speeds above 140 km/h or
R drive at speeds between 120 km/h and
140 km/h for longer than 20 seconds
The vehicle is raised again if you:
R drive at speeds below 40 km/h or
R drive at speeds between 40 km/h and
70 km/h for longer than 20 seconds
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: in theComfort drive
program, the vehicle is:
R lowered by 10 mm if you drive at speeds
above 180 km/h
R raised again if you drive at speeds below
140 km/h
Selecting Sport mode The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in
the
Sport drive program ensures even better
contact with the road. Select this drive program when employing a sporty driving style, e.g. on
winding country roads.
DSR is not available in the Sportdrive program.
Further information on DSR (Y page 252).
X Select the Sportdrive program using
DYNAMIC SELECT controller :.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles): the vehicle is lowered by 15 mm com-
pared to the normal level.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the vehicle
remains at the normal level. Driving systems
221Driving and parking Z