2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class ESP

Transmission positions
BPark position
Only shift the transmission into
positionPwhen the vehicle is sta-
tionary (
Ypage 189). The parking
lock should not be used as a brake
when parking. Always apply the
electronic parking brake in addi-
tion to the parking lock in order to
secure the vehicle.
If the vehicle electronics are mal-
functioning, the transmission may
be locked in position P. Have the
vehicle electronics checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Park position Pis automatically
engaged if:
Ryou switch off the engine using
the SmartKey and remove the
SmartKey
Ryou switch off the engine using
the SmartKey or using the Start/ Stop button and open the driv-
er's door or front-passenger
door
Rthe driver's door is opened when
the vehicle is stationary or driv-
ing at very low speed and the
transmission is in position Dor R
CReverse gear
Only shift the transmission into
position Rwhen the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
ANeutral
Do not shift the transmission to N
while driving. Otherwise, the auto-
matic transmission could be dam-
aged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP
®is deactivated or faulty:
shift the transmission to position N
if the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding, e.g. on icy roads.
If you switch the engine off with the
transmission in position Ror D, the
automatic transmission shifts to N
automatically.
!Rolling in neutral Ncan damage
the drive train.
7Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Driving tips
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D. This automatic gear shift-
ing behavior is determined by:
Rthe selected drive program (Ypage 177)
Rthe position of the accelerator pedal
(
Ypage 176)
Rthe road speed
Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
Rlittle throttle: early upshifts
Rmore throttle: late upshifts
176Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
XDepress theaccelerato rpedal beyon dth e
pressur epoint.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on th eengin espeed.
XEas eoff th eaccelerato rpedal once th e
desired spee dis reached.
The automatic transmission shifts bac kup.
Rocking the vehicle free
Shifting th etransmission repeatedly between
gear sD and Rmay help to free th evehicl eif it
has become stuck in slus hor snow. The vehi-
cle's engin emanagemen tsystem limits th e
spee dto amaximum of 5mph (9 km/h) when
shifting bac kand forth .To shif tbac kand forth
between transmission position sD and R,
mov eth eDIRECT SELECT lever up and down
past th epoin tof resistance.
Towing a trailer
XDrive in th emiddle of th eengin espee d
range on uphill gradients .
XDependingon th euphill or downhill gradi-
ent, use left-han dsteering whee lpaddle
shifte r (
Ypage 178) to select alower gear ,
eve nif cruise control or DISTRONI CPLU S
are activated.
Program selector button
Vehicles withth e ON& OFFROAD package:
XPress program selector butto n:.
The lette rM appear sin th emultifunction
display. The manual drive program Mis
activated.
Mercedes-AM Gvehicles:
XPre ssprogram selector butto n: repeat -
edly until th elette rfor th edesired drive
program appear sin th emultifunction dis-
play.
The program selector butto nallows you to
choos ebetween differen tdrivin gcharacter-
istics .
iThe permanen tdrive program Mis avail -
able on th efollowin gvehicles:
RVehicles wit hth e
ON& OFFROAD packag e
RMercedes-AMGvehicles
Further information about permanen tdrive
program M(
Ypage 180).
As well as this permanen tdrive program M,
you can also activat etemporar ydrive pro -
gram M(
Ypage 178).
iMercedes-AMG vehicles:theautomatic
transmission switches to automatic drive
program Ceac htime th eengin eis started.
iDrive program Mis no tsaved after th e
engin ehas been switched off .If required,
you mus tselect th edrive program again
after startin gth eengine.
Automatic transmission17 7
Driving an d parking
Z

Drive program on vehicles withth e
ON&OFFROAD package
M ManualPermanen tmanual gear -
shiftin g
Drive program son Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles
C Controlle d
EfficiencyComfortable, economical
drivin g
SSportSport ydrivin gstyle
M ManualPermanen tmanual gear -
shiftin g
iForfurther information on th eautomati c
drive program, see (
Ypage 178).
Steering wheel paddle shifter s
In themanual drive program, you can chang e
gear smanually usin gsteerin gwhee lpaddl e
shifters :and ;.
Further information about permanen tdrive
progra mM (
Ypage 180).
Further information about temporar ydrive
progra mM (
Ypage 178).
You can only chang egear wit hth esteerin g
whee lpaddl eshifters when th etransmissio n
is in position D.
Automatic drive program (Mercedes-
AMG vehicles)
Automatic drive program C
Drive programCis characterized by th efol-
lowing:
Rcomfort-oriented engin eand transmissio n
settings.
Roptimal fue lconsumption resultin gfrom
th eautomati ctransmissio nshiftin gup
sooner.
Rth evehicl epullin gaway mor egentl yin
forwar dand revers egears, unless th e
accelerato rpedal is depressed fully.
Rth evehicl ehas improved drivin gstabilit y
on slipper yroa dsurfaces, fo rexample.
Rth eautomati ctransmissio nshiftin gup
sooner. This result sin th evehicl ebein g
driven at lowe rengin espeeds and th e
wheels bein gless likely to spin .
Automatic drive program S
Drive programSis characterized by th efol-
lowing:
Rsport yengin eand transmissio nsettings.
Rth eautomati ctransmissio nshiftin gup
later.
Rth efue lconsumption possibl ybein ghigher
as aresult of th elater automati ctransmis -
sio nshift points .
Manualdrive program M
General notes
In this drive program, you can briefl ychang e
gear yourself by usin gth esteerin gwhee lpad-
dle shifters .The transmissio nmus tbe in posi-
tion D.
All vehicles (excep tMercedes-AMG vehi-
cles and vehicles wit hth e
ON&OFFROAD package): you can activate
manual drive progra mM usin gth esteerin g
whee lpaddl eshifters .
178Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

XMercedes-AMG vehicles:use the pro-
gram selector button to change the drive
program (
Ypage 177).
Manual drive program Mis deactivated.
The automatic transmission switches into
the automatic drive program that was last
selected, i.e. Eor S.
or
XVehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package: use the selector
wheel to switch to the on-road program
(
Ypage 254) or the off-road program
(
Ypage 258).
Manual drive program
General information
In this drive program, you can permanently
change gear yourself by using the steering
wheel paddle shifters. The transmission must be in position D.
iAs well as this permanent drive program
M, you can also activate temporary drive
program M(
Ypage 178).
Switching on the manual drive program
In manual drive program M, you can change
gear using the steering wheel paddle shifters
if the transmission is in position D. You can
see the currently selected drive program and
which gear is engaged in the multifunction
display.
XVehicles with the ON&OFFROAD pack-
age: press the program selector button
(
Ypage 177).
The letter Mappears in the multifunction
display.
XMercedes-AMG vehicles: press the pro-
gram selector button (
Ypage 177) repeat-
edly until Mappears in the multifunction
display.
Upshifting (all vehicles except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
XIf corresponding gearshift recommenda-
tion :appears in the multifunction display
on the instrument cluster, pull on the right-
hand steering wheel paddle shifter
(
Ypage 178).
The automatic transmission shifts to rec-
ommended gear ;.
Upshifting (Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
!In manual drive program M, the automatic
transmission does not shift up automati-
cally even when the engine limiting speed
for the current gear is reached. When the
engine limiting speed is reached, the fuel
supply is cut to prevent the engine from
overrevving. Always make sure that the
engine speed does not reach the red area of
the tachometer. There is otherwise a risk of
engine damage.
:Gear indicator
;Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the mul-
tifunction display.
XWhen the UPmessage appears in the mul-
tifunction display, pull on the right-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter.
180Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Downshifting
XPull theleft-han dsteerin gwhee lpaddle
shifter (
Ypage 178).
The automatic transmissio nshift sdown to
th enext gear .
Maximum acceleration
XPull th eleft-han dsteerin gwhee lpaddle
shifter until th etransmissio nselects th e
optimum gear fo rth ecurren tspeed.
iIf you slo wdown or stop without shiftin g
down ,th eautomatic transmissio nauto-
matically shift sdown .
Kickdown
You can also use kickdown fo rmaximum
acceleration in manual drive program M.
XDepress th eaccelerator peda lbeyond th e
pressure point.
The automatic transmissio nshift sto a
lowe rgear dependin gon th eengin espeed.
XShift bac kup once th edesire dspeed is
reached.
iAll vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG
vehicles): if you apply full throttle, th e
automatic transmissio nshift sup to th e
next gear when th emaximum engin espeed
is reached. Thi sprevents th eengin efrom
overrevving.
iMercedes-AMG vehicles :it is no tpossi-
ble to use kickdown in manual drive pro -
gram M.
Switchin goff th emanual drive program
XVehicles wit hth eON&OFFROAD pack-
age :press th eprogram selecto rbutto n
(
Ypage 177).
The Mmessage in th emultifunction display
goe sout .
XMercedes-AMG vehicles :press th epro -
gram selecto rbutto n (
Ypage 177) repeat -
edly until Cor Sappears in th emultifunc-
tion display.
Automatic transmission181
Driving and parking
Z

Problems with the transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear.The transmission is losing oil.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately.
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear.The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift intosecondgear and reverse gear.
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XSwitch off the engine.
XWait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
XShift the transmission to positionDor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately.
Transfer case
!
Performance tests may only be carried
out on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake
system or transfer case could otherwise be
damaged. Contact a qualified specialist
workshop for a performance test.
!Because ESP®is an automatic system,
the engine and ignition must be switched
off (SmartKey in position 0or 1or Start/
Stop button in position 0or 1) when the
electric parking brake is being tested on a
brake dynamometer (maximum
10 seconds).
Braking triggered automatically by ESP
®
may seriously damage the brake system.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
This section is only valid for vehicles with 4-
wheel drive (4MATIC). Power is always trans-
mitted to both axles.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refueling.
GWARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
182Refueling
Driving and parking

The percent value is the average value of the
three bars. The three bars and the mean value
begin at the value of 50%. A higher percent-
age indicates a more economical driving
style.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual
fuel consumption. A fixed percentage count
in the ECO display does not indicate a fixed
consumption.
Apart from driving style, consumption is
dependent on many factors such as, e.g.:
Rload
Rtire pressure
Rcold start
Rchoice of route
Relectrical consumers switched on
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
The evaluation of your driving style is carried
out using the following three categories:
RAccel.(evaluation of all acceleration pro-
cesses):
-The bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds
-The bar empties: sporty acceleration
RConstant(assessment of driving behavior
at all times):
-The bar fills up: constant speed and
avoidance of unnecessary acceleration
and deceleration
-The bar empties: fluctuations in speed
RCoasting(assessment of all deceleration
processes):
-The bar fills up: anticipatory driving,
keeping your distance and early release
of the accelerator. The vehicle can coast
without use of the brakes.
-The bar empties: frequent braking
iAn economical driving style specially
requires driving at moderate engine
speeds.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
Accel.
and Constant, observe the gear-
shift recommendations.
iOn long journeys at a constant speed, e.g.
on the highway, only the bar for Constant
will change.
iThe ECO display summarizes the driving
characteristics from the start of the journey
to its completion. For this reason, the bars change dynamically at the beginning of the
journey. On longer journeys, there are
fewer changes. For more dynamic changes,
carry out a manual reset.
For further information on the ECO display,
see (
Ypage 276).
Braking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
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.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients
!On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road sur-
face. This could cause damage to the drive
train. This type of damage is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Do not depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. causing the
brakes to rub by constantly applying light
pressure to the pedal. This results in exces-
sive and premature wear to the brake pads.
194Driving tips
Driving and parking

Heavy and light loads
GWARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
!Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac-
tion from the brakes when braking for the first
time. This may also occur after the vehicle has
been washed or driven through deep water.
You then have to depress the brake pedal
more firmly. Maintain a greater distance from
the vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehi-
cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions. This will warm up
the brake discs, thereby drying them more
quickly and protecting them against corro-
sion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt
residue may form on the brake discs and
brake pads. This can result in a significantly
longer braking distance.
RBrake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
RCarefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
RMaintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes
!If the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and you hear a warn-
ing tone while the engine is running, the
brake fluid level may be too low. Observe
additional warning messages in the multi-
function display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immedi-
ately. This work should be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
!A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a 2-axle dynamom-
eter. If you are planning to have the vehicle tested on such a dynamometer, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to
obtain further information first. Otherwise,
you could damage the drive train or the
brake system.
!Because ESP®is an automatic system,
the engine and ignition must be switched
off (SmartKey in position 0or 1or Start/
Stop button in position 0or 1) when the
electric parking brake is being tested on a
brake dynamometer (maximum
10 seconds).
Braking triggered automatically by ESP
®
may seriously damage the brake system.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. Consult a qualified
specialist workshop to arrange this.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
Driving tips195
Driving and parking
Z