2016 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class Owner's Manual

Pets in the vehicle
GWARNING
If you leave animals unattended or unsecured
in the vehicle, they could press buttons or
switches, for example.
As a result, they could:
Ractivate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
Ractivate or deactivate systems, thereby
endangering other road users
Unsecured animals could also be flung around
the vehicle in the event of an accident or sud-
den steering or braking, thereby injuring vehi-
cle occupants. There is a risk of an accident
and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle. Always secure animals properly during
the journey, e.g. use a suitable animal trans-
port box.
Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
RABS (Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
(Ypage 55)
RBAS ( Brake Assist System) (Ypage 56)
RAdaptive brake lights (Ypage 56)
RESP®(Electronic StabilityProgram)
(Ypage 57)
REBD ( Electronic Brake force Distribution)
(Ypage 58)
RADAPTIVE BRAKE (Ypage 59)
RTrailer stabilization
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The ABS, the BAS, and the ESP
®switch off
when the differential locks are switched on.
When the ABS, the BAS, and the ESP
®are
switched off
Rwheels may lock during hard braking
Rsteering capabilities are reduced
Rbraking distance is increased
Rvehicle stability in standard driving maneu-
vers is increased
Make sure the differential locks are switched on at all times except when driving off-road for
example. Switch on the differential locks
immediately when returning from off-road
driving.
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are
inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-
ther reduce the risk of an accident nor override the laws of physics. Driving safety systems are
merely aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed and for braking in good
time. Always adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions and
maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in
front. Drive carefully.
iPlease note that the driving safety systems
described only work as effectively as possible
if there is adequate contact between the tires
and the road surface. Pay particular attention
to the information regarding tires, recommen-
ded minimum tire tread depths etc. in the
"Wheels and tires" section (
Ypage 262).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will the driving safety
systems described in this section work as
effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 55).
Driving safety systems55
Safety
Z

GWARNING
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving systems such as the BAS or the ESP
®are also switched
off. Observe indicator and warning lamps that may come on as well as messages in the mul-
tifunction display that may appear.
If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing the steering
capability and extending the braking distance.
GWARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that
the wheels do not lock when you brake. This
allows you to continue steering the vehicle when
braking.
Provided that the differential locks are not
active, ABS works from a speed of approx-
imately 5 mph (8 km/h) upwards, regardless of
road-surface conditions. ABS works on slippery
surfaces, even if you only brake gently.
The yellow !ABS warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up when the ignition is
switched on. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
Braking
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal.
XIf ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal vigorously until the braking sit-
uation is over.
XTo make a full brake application: depress
the brake pedal with full force.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication
of hazardous road conditions, and functions as a
reminder to take extra care while driving.
Off-road ABS
An ESP®system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated.
At speeds below 37 mph (60 km/h), the front
wheels lock cyclically during braking. The dig-
ging-in effect achieved in the process reduces
the stopping distance on off-road terrain. This
limits steering capability.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 55).
GWARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
BAS operates in emergency braking situations.
If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS
automatically boosts the braking force, thus
shortening the stopping distance.
XKeep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
Adaptive brake lights
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
30 mph (50 km/h) or if braking is assisted by
BAS, the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way,
traffic traveling behind you is warned in an even
more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
45 mph (70 km/h) to a standstill, the hazard
warning lamps are activated automatically. If
the brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning lamps
are deactivated automatically if you drive faster
than 6 mph (10 km/h). You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning button (
Ypage 89).
56Driving safety systems
Safety

ESP®(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 55).
GWARNING
If ESP
®is malfunctioning, ESP®is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-
ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP
®checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
!Only operate the vehicle for a maximum of
ten seconds on a brake test dynamometer.
Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP
®may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
!A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a two-axle dynamometer.
Before you operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
workshop. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
ESP
®monitors the driving stability and the trac-
tion. Traction is the power transmission
between the tires and the road surface.
ESP
®is deactivated if the åwarning lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up continuously
when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarning
lamp are lit continuously, ESP
®is not available
due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(
Ypage 207) and display messages which may
be displayed in the instrument cluster
(
Ypage 185).
If ESP®detects that the vehicle is deviating from
the direction desired by the driver, one or more
wheels are braked to stabilize the vehicle. If
necessary, the engine output is also modified to keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP
®assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP®can
also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
If ESP
®intervenes, the ÷warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster. If ESP
®intervenes:
XDo not deactivate ESP®under any circum-
stances.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
XAdapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions.
iOnly use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP®function properly.
iIf differential locks are switched on, ABS,
BAS and ESP®switch off automatically.
4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP®.
XIf appropriate for the driving conditions,
engage the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(
Ypage 162).
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 transfer-
red 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 transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Deactivating/activating ESP®
GWARNING
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.
Driving safety systems57
Safety
Z

XTo deactivate:press button:until the
å warning lamp lights up in the instrument
cluster.
XTo activate: press button :until the å
warning lamp goes out in the instrument clus-
ter.
ESP
®is activated automatically when the engine
is started.
iVehicles with the ECO start/stop func-
tion: the ECO start/stop function automati-
cally switches the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop. The engine starts automati-
cally when the driver wants to pull away again.
ESP
®remains in its previously selected sta-
tus. 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 follow-
ing situations:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
If you deactivate ESP®:
RESP®no longer improves driving stability.
Rthe engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of the wheels results in a cutting action, which pro-
vides better grip.
Rtraction control is still activated.
RESP®still provides support when you brake.
Rand 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.
iIf ESP®is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the ÷warning lamp in the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP
®will not stabilize the vehicle.
iIf ESP®is deactivated, it is reactivated auto-
matically if you are driving at above 37 mph
(60 km/h) (on AMG vehicles above 62 mph
(100 km/h)) or you exceed a certain lateral
acceleration.
Trailer stabilization
GWARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from swerv-
ing. Trailers with a high center of gravity can
tip over before ESP
®can detect this. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Trailer stabilization does not work if ESP
®is
deactivated because of a malfunction.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer com-
bination) begins to lurch, you can only stabilize
the vehicle/trailer combination by depressing
the brake firmly.
In this situation, ESP
®assists you and can
detect if the vehicle/trailer combination begins
to lurch. ESP
®slows the vehicle down by brak-
ing and limiting the engine output until the vehi-
cle/trailer combination has stabilized.
Trailer stabilization is active above speeds of
about 37 mph (60 km/h).
EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 55).
GWARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the
risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
58Driving safety systems
Safety

Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps (Ypage 206) as well as display
messages (Ypage 186).
EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
on the rear wheels to improve driving stability
while braking.
ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE provides increased braking
safety. In addition to the braking function,
ADAPTIVE BRAKE also has the HOLD function
(
Ypage 157) and hill start assist (Ypage 114).
Theft deterrent locking system
Immobilizer
XTo activate: remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock.
XTo deactivate: switch on the ignition.
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.
iThe immobilizer is always deactivated when
you start the engine.
In the event that the engine cannot be started
when the starter battery is fully charged, the
immobilizer may be faulty. Contact an author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA) or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
ATA (anti-theft alarm system)
XTo arm: lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
Indicator lamp :flashes. The alarm system
is armed after approximately 15 seconds.
XTo disarm: unlock the vehicle with the Smart-
Key.
iIf you then do not open a side door or the
rear door, the alarm system switches back on
again after approximately 40 seconds.
XTo stop the alarm: insert the SmartKey into
the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
or
XPress the %or& button on the Smart-
Key.
The alarm is switched off.
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed and you open:
Ra door
Ra door using the mechanical key
Rthe rear door
Rthe hood
The alarm is also triggered if:
Rthe position of the vehicle is changed.
Ra window is smashed.
The alarm is not switched off, even if you close
the open door that triggered it, for example.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, the mbrace emergency call sys-
tem (USA only) or Tele Aid system (Canada
only) initiates a call to the Customer Assis-
tance Center automatically. The mbrace
emergency call system initiates the call if:
Ryou have subscribed to the Tele Aid service.
Rthe Tele Aid service has been activated
properly.
Rthe required mobile phone, power supply
and GPS are available.
Theft deterrent locking system59
Safety
Z

Useful information
i
This Operator's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle available at the time of publica-
tion of the Operator's Manual. Country-spe-
cific 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.
iRead the information on qualified specialist
workshops: (Ypage 23).
SmartKey
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
Ropen the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
Rget out and disrupt traffic.
Roperate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of park
position P or shift manual transmission into
neutral.
Rstart the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
GWARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.
GWARNING
If you attach heavy or large objects to the
SmartKey, the SmartKey could be uninten-
tionally turned in the ignition lock. This could
cause the engine to be switched off. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not attach any heavy or large objects to the
SmartKey. Remove any bulky key rings before
inserting the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
SmartKey functions
:& To lock the vehicle
;%Unlocks the vehicle
XTo unlock centrally: press the%button.
If you do not open the vehicle within approx-
imately 40 seconds of unlocking:
Rthe vehicle is locked again.
Ranti-theft protection is reactivated.
XTo lock centrally: press the&button.
The SmartKey centrally locks/unlocks:
Rthe doors
Rthe rear door
Rthe fuel filler flap
iThe turn signals flash once when unlocking
and three times when locking.
You can also set an audible signal to confirm
that the vehicle has been locked. The audible
signal can be activated and deactivated using
the on-board computer (
Ypage 180).
When it is dark, the surround lighting also comes
on if it is activated in the on-board computer
(
Ypage 179).
60SmartKey
Opening and closing

Changing the settings of the locking
system
You can change the setting of the locking sys-
tem in such a way that only the driver's door and
the fuel filler flap are unlocked. This is useful if
you frequently travel on your own.
iIf the setting of the locking system is
changed within the signal range of the vehicle,
pressing the &or% button locks or
unlocks the vehicle.
XTo change the setting: press and hold down
the % and& buttons simultaneously
for approximately six seconds until battery
check lamp :flashes twice.
The SmartKey now functions as follows:
XTo unlock the driver's door and fuel filler
flap: press the %button once.
XTo unlock centrally: press the%button
twice.
XTo lock centrally: press the&button.
Restoring the factory settings
XPress the %and& buttons simultane-
ously for approximately six seconds until bat- tery check lamp :flashes twice.
Mechanical key
General notes
If the vehicle can no longer be unlocked with the
SmartKey, use the mechanical key.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door or the rear door, the anti-
theft alarm system will be triggered (
Ypage 59).
XTo end the alarm: insert the SmartKey into
the ignition lock.
Removing the mechanical key
:Release catch
;Mechanical key
XPush release catch :in the direction of the
arrow and at the same time remove mechan-
ical key ;from the SmartKey.
SmartKey battery
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Batteries contain toxic and corrosive substan- ces. If batteries are swallowed, it can result in
severe health problems. There is a risk of fatalinjury.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children. If
a battery is swallowed, seek medical attention
immediately.
SmartKey61
Opening and closing
Z

The SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Check your
national disposal guidelines. In California, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Perchlorate/index.cfm.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the
batteries replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Checking the battery
XPress the&or% button.
The battery is working properly if battery
check lamp :lights up briefly.
If battery check lamp :does not light up
during the test, the battery is discharged.
XChange the battery (Ypage 62).
iYou can obtain a battery at any qualified
specialist workshop.
iHave the batteries replaced at a qualified
specialist workshop.
iIf the SmartKey battery is checked within
the signal reception range of the vehicle,
pressing the &or% button:
Rlocks or
Runlocks the vehicle
Replacing the battery
You require a CR 2025 3 V cell battery.
XTake the mechanical key out of the SmartKey
(Ypage 61).
:Battery compartment cover
;Mechanical key
XPress mechanical key ;into the opening in
the SmartKey in the direction of the arrow
until battery tray cover :opens. Do not hold
the cover closed while doing so.
XRemove battery tray cover :.
=Battery
XRepeatedly tap the SmartKey against your
palm until battery=falls out.
XInsert the new battery with the positive ter-
minal facing upwards. Use a lint-free cloth to
do so.
XMake sure that the surface of the battery is
free from lint, grease and all other forms of
contamination.
XInsert the front tabs of battery tray cover :
and then press to close it.
XInsert the mechanical key into the SmartKey.
XCheck the function of all SmartKey buttons on
the vehicle.
62SmartKey
Opening and closing