2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class width

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.
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 pos-
sible.
The vehicle level may change visibly if you
park the vehicle and the outside temperature
changes. If the temperature drops, the vehi-
cle level is lower; with an increase in temper-
ature, the vehicle level rises.
If you unlock the vehicle or open a door, the
vehicle begins to compensate for load dis-
crepancies while still parked. However, for
significant level changes, such as after the
vehicle has been stationary for a long period, the engine must be on. For safety reasons,
the vehicle is only lowered when the doors are
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door is
opened, and it continues once the door has
been closed.
Driving system s213
Driving an d parking
Z

Rif there is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in
winter
Rif the camera lens is dirty or obstructed.
Observe the notes on cleaning
(
Ypage 380)
Rif the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In this
event, have the camera position and setting
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
The field of vision and other functions of the
rear view camera may be restricted due to
additional accessories on the rear of the vehi-
cle (e.g. license plate holder, bicycle rack).
For technical reasons, leaving the standard
height can result in inaccuracies in the guide
lines on vehicles with a height-adjustable
chassis.
Activating/deactivating the rear view
camera
XTo activate: make sure that the SmartKey
is in position 2in the ignition lock.
XMake sure that the "Show rear view camera
display" function is selected in COMAND
(see the Digital Operator's Manual).
XEngage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display with guide lines.
XTo change the function mode for vehi-
cles with trailer tow hitch: using the
COMAND controller, select symbol :for
the "Reverse parking" function or sym- bol
;for "Coupling up a trailer" (see the
separate COMAND operating instructions).
The symbol of the selected function is high-
lighted.
To deactivate: the rear view camera deacti-
vates if you shift the transmission to Por after
driving forwards a short distance.
Displays in the COMAND display
The rear view camera may show a distorted
view of obstacles, show them incorrectly or
not at all. The rear view camera does not show
objects in the following positions:
Rvery close to the rear bumper
Runder the rear bumper
Rin the area immediately above the tailgate
handle
!Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.:
Rthe bumper of a parked vehicle
Rthe drawbar of a trailer
Rthe ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
Rthe rear section of an HGV
Ra slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the bot-
tom-most guideline.
:White guide line without turning the steer-
ing wheel, vehicle width including the
exterior mirrors (static)
;Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0m) from the rear of the
vehicle
232Driving system s
Driving an d parking

=Red guide linefor th evehicl ewidt hinclud -
in gth eexterio rmirrors, for curren tsteer -
in g whee langle (dynamic )
?Yellowlan emarking tires at curren tsteer -
in g whee langle (dynamic )
AYellowguide lin eat adistanc eof approx -
imately 3ft (1.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
BVehicle center axle (marker assistance)
CBumper
DRed guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 10 in (0.25 m) fromthe 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
PARKTRONIC
:
Front warning display
;Additional PARKTRONIC measurement
operational readiness indicator
=Rear warning display Vehicles with PARKTRONIC:
if
PARKTRONIC is operational (
Ypage 225), an
additional operational readiness indicator will
appear in COMAND display ;. If the
PARKTRONIC warning displays are active or
light up, warning displays :and =are 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
:White guide line without turning the steer-
ing wheel, vehicle width including the
exterior mirrors (static)
;Red guide line for the vehicle width includ-
ing the exterior mirrors, for current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic)
=Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) fromthe rear of the
vehicle
?Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 10 in (0.25 m) fromthe rear of the
vehicle
Driving system s233
Driving an d parking
Z

XMake sure that the rear view camera is
switched on (
Ypage 232).
The lane and the guide lines are shown.
XWith the help of white guide line :, check
whether the vehicle will fit into the parking
space.
XUsing white guide line :as a guide, care-
fully back up until you reach the end posi-
tion.
Red guide line ?is 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
:
Red guide line for the vehicle width includ-
ing the exterior mirrors, for current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic)
;Parking space marking
XMake sure that the rear view camera is
switched on (
Ypage 232).
The lane and the guide lines are shown.
XDrive past the parking space and bring the vehicle to a standstill.
XWhile the vehicle is at a standstill, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the park-
ing space until red guide line :reaches
parking space marking ;.
XKeep the steering wheel in that position
and back up carefully.
Backing up with the steering wheel turned
:
Red guide line for the vehicle width includ-
ing the exterior mirrors, for current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic)
XStop 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
:
White guide line at current steering wheel
angle
;Parking space marking
XTurn the steering wheel to the center posi-
tion while the vehicle is stationary.
234Driving systems
Driving and parking

XTo switch to full screen mode:select
Full Screen
by turning cVdthe
COMAND controller and press Wto 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.:
Rthe bumper of a parked vehicle
Rthe drawbar of a trailer
Rthe ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
Rthe rear section of an HGV
Ra 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
:Symbol for the split screen setting with
top view and rear view camera image
;Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m) fromthe rear of the
vehicle
=Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors, for current
steering wheel angle (dynamic)
?Yellow lane marking tires at current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic)
AYellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) fromthe rear of the
vehicle
BVehicle center axle (marker assistance)
CRed guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) fromthe rear of the
vehicle
DBumper
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
:Symbol for the split screen setting with
top view and front camera image
;Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m)from the front of the
vehicle
=Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors, for current
steering wheel angle (dynamic)
?Yellow lane marking tires at current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic)
238Driving systems
Driving and parking

AYellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) from the front of the
vehicle
BRed 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
:Symbol for the split screen setting with
top view and rear view camera image
enlarged
;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.
iThis setting can also be selected as an
enlarged front view. Top view with images from the exterior
mirror cameras
:Symbol for the setting with the top view
and forward view from the exterior mirror
cameras
;Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors (right side of
vehicle)
=Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors (left side of
vehicle)
Top view with trailer view
:Symbol for the trailer view setting
;Trailer drawbar marker assistant
=Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) from the ball cou-
pling
Driving systems239
Driving and parking
Z

so will result in a loss of function of the
brake systems of both the vehicle and the
trailer.
XShift the transmission to positionP.
XApply the vehicle's electric parking brake.
XStart the engine.
XVehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select highway level.
XVehicles with ADS:set ADS toAUTOor
COMF .
XSwitch off the engine.
XClose the doors and tailgate.
XCouple up the trailer.
XEstablish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
XCheck that the trailer lighting system is
working.
iVehicles 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:
RUnless 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.
RHigh-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:
RSafety 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.
RA separate brake system for certain types
of trailer.
RSafety switch for braked trailers. Check the
specific legal requirements applicable to
your state.
If the trailer becomes detached from the
towing vehicle, the safety switch applies
the trailer 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:
Rin your place of residence
Rin the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide
reliable information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
RTo 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
RBefore driving, check:
-trailer tow hitch
-safety switch for braked trailers
-safety chains
-electrical connections
-lights
-wheels
RAdjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
RIf the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually
Towing a trailer267
Driving and parking
Z

Rsolvents
Rcleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film.
!Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash
GWARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored.
!Before driving into an automatic car wash,
make sure that it is suitable for the dimen-
sions of the vehicle. In particular, make
sure that:
Rthere is enough ground clearance
between the vehicle underbody and the
guide rails of the automatic car wash.
Rthe clearance width of the automatic car
wash is sufficient, particularly the width
of the guide rails.
Ryou enter the automatic car wash
straight and in the center of the guide
rails in order to avoid damaging the tires or wheel rims.
Fold in the exterior mirrors before the vehi-
cle is washed. The exterior mirrors could
otherwise be damaged.
!If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deacti-
vate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD func-
tion in the following or other similar situa-
tions:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
!Make sure that:
Rthe side windows and the sliding sunroof are fully closed.
Rthe ventilation/heating is switched off
(the OFF button has been pressed).
Rthe windshield wiper switch is in position
0.
Otherwise, the vehicle might be damaged.
!In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission
is in transmission position N, otherwise the
vehicle could be damaged.
RVehicles with a SmartKey:
376Care
Maintenance and care