2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL ECO mode

Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine The Start/Stop button can be used to start
the vehicle without inserting the SmartKey
into the ignition lock. The Start/Stop button
must be inserted in the ignition lock and the
SmartKey must be in the vehicle. This mode
for starting the engine operates independ-
ently of the ECO start/stop automatic engine
start function. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Press the Start/Stop button once
( Y
page 165).
Vehicles with a gasoline engine: the
engine starts.
Vehicles with a diesel engine: preglow is
activated and the engine starts.
Pulling away
General notes
G WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position D or R ,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is
a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position D or R ,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
Depress the accelerator carefully when pull-
ing away.
The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at any
time.
You can also deactivate the automatic locking
feature ( Y
page 285).
It is only possible to shift the transmission
from position P to the desired position if you
depress the brake pedal. Only then is the
parking lock released. If you do not depress
the brake pedal, the DIRECT SELECT lever can still be moved but the parking lock remains
engaged.
i Upshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
Information on the automatic release of the
electric parking brake ( Y
page 190).
Pulling away with a trailer
To ensure that you do not roll backwards
when pulling away on an uphill slope, engage
the electric parking brake. X
Press and hold handle C .
The electric parking brake continues to
brake and prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards.
The red I (USA only) or $ (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter remains on. X
Depress the accelerator pedal. X
As soon as the vehicle/trailer combination
is held by the driving force of the engine,
release lever C .
The electric parking brake is released.
The red I (USA only) or $ (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter goes out.
Hill start assist
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient. It
holds the vehicle for a short time after you168
Driving
Driving and parking

Problems with the transmission Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil. X
Have 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 into second gear and reverse gear.X
Stop the vehicle. X
Shift the transmission to position P .X
Switch off the engine. X
Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine. X
Shift the transmission to position D or R .
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into second gear; if R is
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear. X
Have 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 0 or 1 or Start/
Stop button in position 0 or 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
G WARNING
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.
G WARNING
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.182
Refueling
Driving and parking

If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h) the vehicle covers a
distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m) per
second.
Drive sensibly – save fuel Observe the following tips to save fuel: X
The tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure. X
Remove unnecessary loads. X
Remove roof carriers when they are not
needed. X
Warm up the engine at low engine speeds. X
Avoid frequent acceleration or braking. X
Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or by the service
interval display.
Fuel consumption also increases when driv-
ing in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in
hilly terrain.
Drinking and driving
G WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent is greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-
ing drugs. Emission control
G WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with
the manufacturer's specifications. For this
reason, all work on the engine must be carried
out by qualified and authorized Mercedes-
Benz technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. Furthermore, all
specific service work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Maintenance Booklet.
ECO display
The ECO display provides feedback on how
economical your driving characteristics are.
The ECO display assists you in achieving the
most economical driving style for the selec-
ted settings and prevailing conditions. Your
driving style can significantly influence the
vehicle's consumption.
The ECO display consists of three bars: R
Accel. R
Constant R
Coasting Driving tips 193
Driving and parking Z

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.: R
load R
tire pressure R
cold start R
choice of route R
electrical 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: R
Accel. (evaluation of all acceleration pro-
cesses): -
The bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds -
The bar empties: sporty acceleration R
Constant (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 R
Coasting (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
i An 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. i On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g.
on the highway, only the bar for Constant
will change.
i The 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 ( Y
page 276).
Braking
Important safety notes
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.
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.194
Driving tips
Driving and parking

If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the function-
ality of your brakes at regular intervals. To do
so, depress the brake pedal firmly when driv-
ing at a high speed. This improves the grip of
the brake pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist
(BAS) on ( Y
page 69) or of BAS PLUS on
( Y
page 69).
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your
vehicle which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which correspond
to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
pads/linings which have not been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your vehi-
cle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use brake fluid that has been specially
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz,
or which corresponds to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake fluid which has not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which is not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
High-performance brake system
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
The high-performance brake system is
designed for heavy loads. This may lead to
noise when braking. This will depend on: R
Speed R
Braking force R
Environmental conditions, such as temper-
ature and humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual driv-
ing style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all circum-
stances. An aggressive driving style will lead
to high wear. You can obtain further informa- tion about this from your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after sev-
eral hundred kilometers of driving. Compen-
sate for this by applying greater force to the
brake pedal. Keep this in mind, and adapt
your driving and braking accordingly during
this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in corre-
spondingly high brake wear. Observe the
& brake wear warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster and note any brake status mes-
sages in the multifunction display. Especially
for high performance driving, it is important to
maintain and have the brake system checked
regularly.
Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of
hydroplaning occurring, even if: R
you drive at low speeds. R
the tires have adequate tread depth.
For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in
conditions in which hydroplaning may occur,
you must drive in the following manner: R
lower your speed. R
avoid ruts. R
avoid sudden steering movements. R
brake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads
! Do not drive through flooded areas.
Check the depth of any water before driving
through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water may enter the
vehicle interior or the engine compartment.
This can damage the electronic compo-
nents in the engine or the automatic trans-
mission. Water can also be drawn in by the196
Driving tips
Driving and parking

You can select from the following: R
Off-road level 1 at speeds up to 60 mph
(100 km/h) R
Off-road level 2 at speeds up to 40 mph
(65 km/h) R
Off-road level 3 at speeds up to 12 mph
(20 km/h)
If you are driving above 50 mph (80 km/h) or
drive between 40 mph (65 km/h) and 50 mph
(80 km/h) for longer than 20 seconds, off-
road level 2 will be canceled. The vehicle is
lowered to off-road level 1.
You will see a message in the multifunction
display, for example: Lowering
.
If you are driving above 70 mph (115 km/h) or
drive between 62 mph (100 km/h) and
70 mph (115 km/h) for longer than
20 seconds, off-road level 1 will be canceled.
Depending on the vehicle's speed and the
ADS mode selected ( Y
page 218), the vehicle
is automatically lowered to highway or high-
speed level.
You will see a message in the multifunction
display, for example: Lowering
.
HOLD function
General notes
The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations: R
when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes R
when maneuvering on steep slopes R
when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
i Do not use the HOLD function when driv-
ing off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gra-
dients or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle on
such surfaces.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if: R
there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply. R
the HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant. R
the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with. R
the battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
! 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: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
Deactivate the HOLD function ( Y
page 218).
Activation conditions
You can activate the HOLD function if: R
the vehicle is stationary R
the engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function R
the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened R
the electric parking brake is released R
the transmission is in position D , R or NR
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated Driving systems 217
Driving and parking Z

If indicator lamp D is lit:X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D flashes. The vehicle is
adjusting to highway/high-speed level.
During the adjustment, the Lowering mes-
sage, for example, appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
If you press the 8 or v button on the
multifunction steering wheel, the message
will disappear.
Once highway level has been reached, indi-
cator lamp D goes out. The Lowering
mes-
sage disappears from the multifunction dis-
play.
The vehicle automatically adjusts to highway
level when you: R
drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) R
drive between 40 mph (64 km/h) and
50 mph (80 km/h) for approximately
20 seconds
Depending on the ADS mode selected
( Y
page 218), the vehicle is lowered to high-
speed level at high speeds.
AMG adaptive sport suspension sys-
tem
Important safety notes
G WARNING
When the vehicle is being lowered, people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between the vehicle body and the wheels or underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or
in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches
when the vehicle is being lowered.
G WARNING
The vehicle is lowered if: R
you have selected the Comfort or Sport
suspension tuning and R
lock the vehicle after switching off the
engine
Persons in the vicinity of the wheel arch or the
underbody may thus become trapped. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the
wheel arch or the underbody when you switch
off the engine.
! The vehicle is lowered by approximately
10 mm if: R
you have selected the Sport or Comfort
suspension tuning and R
you switch off the engine and then R
lock the vehicle
When parking, position your vehicle so that
it does not make contact with the curb as
the vehicle is lowered. Your vehicle could
otherwise be damaged.
Vehicle level
Level control adapts the vehicle level auto-
matically to the current operating and driving
situation. Level control ensures the best pos-
sible suspension and constant ground clear-
ance, even with a laden vehicle. This improves
driving safety and fuel consumption.
The AIRMATIC package and ACTIVE CURVE
SYSTEM are always components of AMG
adaptive suspension system ( Y
page 218).
Due to the sportier suspension settings com-
pared to standard vehicles, the levels and
speed thresholds for sinking and raising the
vehicle are different.222
Driving systems
Driving and parking

using the brake controller and check
whether the brakes function correctly. R
Se cure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is
in motion. R
When you couple up a trailer, check at reg-
ular intervals that the load is firmly secured.
If the trailer is equipped with trailer lights
and brakes, check the trailer to ensure that
these are working. R
Bear in mind that the han dlin g will be less
st able when towing a trailer than when driv-
ing wit hout one. Avoid sudden steering
movements. R
The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly, has a decreased
gradient cli mbin g capability and a longer
braking dist ance.
It is more susceptible to side winds and
requires more careful steering. R
If poss ible, do not brake suddenly, but
instead depr ess the brake pedal moder-
ate ly at first so that the trailer can activate
it s brakes. Then increase the pressure on
the brake pedal. R
If the automat ic transmission repeat edly
shifts between gears on uphill or down hill
gradients, shift to a lower gear using the
left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter.
A lower gear and lower speed reduce the
risk of engine failure. R
When driv ing down hill, shift to a lower gear
to uti liz e the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
m ay
overheat the vehicle brakes and, if
instal led, the trailer brakes.R
If the coolant temperature increases dra-
matical ly while the air-cond it ioning system
is swit ched on, switch off the air-condition-
ing system.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by
opening the win dows and switching the ventilation blowe r and the interior temper-
ature to the highest leve l.R
When overtaking, pay particular attention
to the extended length of your vehicle/
trailer combination.
Due to the length of the vehicle/trailer
combination, you require additional road
space in relation to the vehicle you are
overtaking before you can change back to
the original lane.
Decoupling a trailer
G WARNIN G
If you uncouple a trailer wit h th e overrun
brak e engaged , you could trap your han d
between th e vehicl e and th e trailer drawbar.
Ther e is a ris k of injury.
Do no t uncouple a trailer if th e overrun brak e
is engaged .
G WARNIN G
Vehicles wit h leve l control :
The vehicl e is lowered as soo n as you discon -
nect th e trailer cable. This could result in your
limb s or those of other people that are
between th e vehicl e body and tires or under-
neath th e vehicl e bein g trapped . Ther e is a
ris k of injury.
Mak e sure that nobody is in th e immediat e
vicinity of th e whee l housing s or under th e
vehicl e when you disconnect th e trailer cable.
! Do not disc onnect a trailer wit h an
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle could be damaged by the reboun d-
ing of the overrun brake. X
Sh ift the transmission to position P .X
Ap ply the vehicle's electr ic parking brake.X
St art the engine. X
Close the doors and tailgate. X
Apply the trailer's parking brake.268
Towing a trailer
Driving and parking