2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL brakes

The HOLD function can also be activated if the
engine has been switched off automatically. It
is then not necessary to continue applying the
brakes during the automatic stop phase.
When you depress the accelerator pedal, the
engine starts automatically and the braking
effect of the HOLD function is deactivated.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles): automatic engine switch-off can take
place a maximum of four times in a row (initial
stop, then three subsequent stops).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the number of
consecutive automatic engine switch-offs is
unlimited.
Automatic engine start The engine starts automatically if: R
you switch off the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button R
in transmission position D or N the brake
pedal is released and the HOLD function is
not active R
you depress the accelerator pedal R
you engage reverse gear RR
you move the transmission out of position
P R
you switch to drive program S or M
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) R
you switch to an off-road program (except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) R
you unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door R
the vehicle starts to roll R
the brake system requires this R
the temperature in the vehicle interior devi-
ates from the set range R
the system detects moisture on the wind-
shield when the air-conditioning system is
switched on R
the battery's condition of charge is too low
Shifting the transmission to position P does
not start the engine. Deactivating or activating the ECO
start/stop function All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles) X
To deactivate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D goes out. X
To activate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.
If the indicator lamp on the ECO button is off,
the ECO start/stop function has been deac-
tivated manually or as the result of a mal-
function.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
X
To deactivate: in drive program C , press
ECO button C .
or X
Switch to drive program S or M
( Y
page 177).
Indicator lamp D goes out.170
Driving
Driving and parking

Transmission positions E Park position
Only shift the transmission into
position P when the vehicle is sta-
tionary ( Y
page 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 P is automatically
engaged if: R
you switch off the engine using
the SmartKey and remove the
SmartKey R
you switch off the engine using
the SmartKey or using the Start/
Stop button and open the driv-
er's door or front-passenger
door R
the driver's door is opened when
the vehicle is stationary or driv-
ing at very low speed and the
transmission is in position D or R
F Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission into
position R when the vehicle is sta-
tionary. D Neutral
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 R or D , the
automatic transmission shifts to N
automatically.
! Rolling in neutral N can damage
the drive train.
: Drive
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: R
the selected drive program ( Y
page 177)R
the position of the accelerator pedal
( Y
page 176) R
the road speed
Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear: R
little throttle: early upshifts R
more throttle: late upshifts176
Automatic transmission
Driving an d 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.: 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

Heavy and light loads
G WARNING
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. R
Brake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so. R
Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey. R
Maintain 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 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.
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 tips 195
Driving and parking Z

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

engine's air suction nozzles and this can
cause engine damage.
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
set the raised level before driving through
standing water.
Off-road fording
! Under no circumstances should you
accelerate before entering the water. The
bow wave could cause water to enter and
damage the engine and other 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 equip-
ment. R
Establish how deep the water is and the
characteristics of the body of water before
fording. R
Select the highest possible vehicle level. R
Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter. 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 an even 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 resist-
ance, and the ground is slippery and in
some cases unstable. Therefore, it is diffi-
cult and dangerous to pull away in the
water. R
Clean any mud from the tire tread after
fording. R
Apply the brakes to dry them after fording.
Always observe the fording depth values
( Y
page 455). 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.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
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.
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a quali-
fied specialist workshop at the onset of win-
ter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use the 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 .
Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package:
if driving in snow or with snow chains, select
the snow program ( Y
page 255) with the off-
road program selector wheel in the center
console.
i Vehicles with a diesel engine: do not
cover the radiator, e.g. with a protective
cover. The measuring function of the on-
board diagnosis system may otherwise pro-
vide inaccurate values. Some of these val- Driving tips 197
Driving and parking Z

ues are required by law and must therefore
always be accurate.
The out side temperature indicator is not
designed to ser ve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indic ated temperatures just above the freez-
ing poin t do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especial ly in wooded areas or on bridges. You
should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around the
freezing poin t.
For more information on driving wit h snow
chains, see ( Y
page 407).
For more information on driving wit h summer
tires, see ( Y
page 406).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y
page 406).
Off-road driving
Important safety notes
G WARNIN G
If you driv e on a steep inclin e at an angle or
tur n when driving on an incline, th e vehicl e
could slip sideways, ti p and rollover. Ther e is a
ris k of an accident.
Always driv e on a steep inclin e in th e lin e of
fall (straight up or down ) and do no t tur n th e
vehicle.
G WARNIN G
Flammable materia l suc h as leaves, gras s or
twigs may ignit e if they come int o contact wit h
hot part s of th e exhaust system. Ther e is a ris k
of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check th e vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove part s of plants or other
flammable materials whic h have become
trapped . In th e cas e of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop. G WARNIN G
If th e vehicl e leve l is high , th e vehicl e cente r of
gravity is raised. This could caus e th e vehicl e
to tip ove r mor e easil y on uphill or downhill
gradients . Ther e is a ris k of an accident.
Selec t th e lowes t possible vehicl e level.
! There is a risk of damage to the vehicle if: R
the vehicle becomes stuck, e.g. on a high
curb or an unpaved road R
you driv e too fast over an obstacle, e.g. a
curb or a hole in the road R
a heavy object strikes the undercarriage
or parts of the chassis
In situations lik e this, the body, the under-
carriage, chassis parts, wheels or tires
could be damaged without the damage
being vis ible. Components damaged in th is
way can unexpectedly fail or, in the case of
an acc iden t, no longer withstand the strain
they are designed to.
If the underbody paneling is damaged,
combusti ble materials such as leaves,
grass or twigs can gather between the
underbody and the underbody paneling. If
these materials come in contact wit h hot
parts of the exhaust system, they can catch
fire.
In such situations, have the vehicle
checked and repaired immediately at a
qualif ied spec ialist worksho p. If on con-
tinuing your jo urney you notice that driv ing
safety is impaired, pull over and st op the
v eh
icle immediately, paying attention to
road and traff ic cond it ions. In such cases,
consult a qualif ied spec ialist worksho p.
When driv ing off-road, substances such as
san d, mud and water or water mixed wit h oil
may get into the brakes. This could result in a
reduced braking effect or in total brake failure
and also in increased wear and tear. The brak-
ing characteristics change depe nding on the
material ingressing the brakes. Clean the
brakes after driv ing off-road. If you detect a
reduced braking effect or grinding noises,
have the brake system checked in a qualif ied198
Driving tips
Driving and parking

When driving on steep gradients, the
engine oil level must be sufficiently high to
ensure a correct oil supply in the vehicle. X
DEF tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check the
level and add if necessary ( Y
page 186).X
Tire-changing tool kit: check that the jack
is working and make sure you have the lug
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle. X
Wheels and tires: check the tire tread
depth and tire pressure. X
Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tires. X
Replace any missing valve caps. X
Replace dented or damaged wheels. X
Rims: dented or bent rims can result in a
loss of tire pressure and damage the tire
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 nor-
mal roads. After driving off-road, check the
vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident to
yourself and other road users. X
Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD pack-
age: activate the on-road program
( Y
page 258). X
Deactivate the LOW RANGE off-road gear
( Y
page 259). X
Deactivate DSR ( Y
page 257).X
Lower the vehicle level again to a level suit-
able to the road conditions, e.g. to the high-
way level. X
Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage. X
Clean the front and rear license plates. X
Clean the wheels and tires with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects. X
Clean the wheels, wheel housings and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check
for any foreign objects and damage. X
Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bel-
lows of the axle joints and propeller shafts. X
After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage. X
After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned. X
If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
Driving on sand
Observe the following rules when driving on
sand: R
Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD pack-
age: select off-road program 1
( Y
page 258). R
Select a higher vehicle level. R
Avoid high engine speeds. R
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter to shift to a lower gear appropriate
to the terrain.200
Driving tips
Driving and parking