2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL manual transmission

X
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: use the pro-
gram selector button to change the drive
program ( Y
page 177).
Manual drive program M is deactivated.
The automatic transmission switches into
the automatic drive program that was last
selected, i.e. E or S .
or X
Vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package: use the selector
wheel to switch to the on-road program
( Y
page 254) or the off-road program
( Y
page 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 .
i As well as this permanent drive program
M , you can also activate temporary drive
program M ( Y
page 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. X
Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD pack-
age: press the program selector button
( Y
page 177).
The letter M appears in the multifunction
display. X
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: press the pro-
gram selector button ( Y
page 177) repeat-
edly until M appears in the multifunction
display. Upshifting (all vehicles except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) X
If corresponding gearshift recommenda-
tion C appears in the multifunction display
on the instrument cluster, pull on the right-
hand steering wheel paddle shifter
( Y
page 178).
The automatic transmission shifts to rec-
ommended gear D .
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.
C
Gear indicator D
Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the mul-
tifunction display. X
When the UP message appears in the mul-
tifunction display, pull on the right-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter.180
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Downshifting X
Pull th e left-han d steerin g whee l paddle
shifter ( Y
page 178).
The automatic transmissio n shift s down to
th e next gear .
Maximum acceleration X
Pull th e left-han d steerin g whee l paddle
shifter until th e transmissio n selects th e
optimum gear fo r th e curren t speed.
i If you slo w down or stop without shiftin g
down , th e automatic transmissio n auto-
matically shift s down .
Kickdown You can also use kickdown fo r maximum
acceleration in manual drive program M .X
Depress th e accelerator peda l beyond th e
pressure point.
The automatic transmissio n shift s to a
lowe r gear dependin g on th e engin e speed.X
Shift bac k up once th e desire d speed is
reached.
i All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG
vehicles): if you apply full throttle, th e
automatic transmissio n shift s up to th e
next gear when th e maximum engin e speed
is reached. Thi s prevents th e engin e from
overrevving.
i Mercedes-AMG vehicles : it is no t possi-
ble to use kickdown in manual drive pro -
gram M .
Switchin g off th e manual drive programX
Vehicles wit h th e ON&OFFROAD pack-
age : press th e program selecto r butto n
( Y
page 177).
The M message in th e multifunction display
goe s out .X
Mercedes-AMG vehicles : press th e pro -
gram selecto r butto n ( Y
page 177) repeat -
edly until C or S appears in th e multifunc-
tion display. Automatic transmission 181
Driving and parking Z

Closing the DEF filler cap X
Install DEF filler cap D on the filler neck
and turn it clockwise. X
To close the fuel filler flap, press it in the
direction of arrow C .X
Drive faster than 10 mph (16 km/h).
The Check Additive See Operator's
Manual message goes out after approx-
imately one minute.
i If the Check Additive See Opera‐
tor's Manual message continues to be
shown in the multifunction display, you
must add more DEF.
Parking
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system or exhaust
gas flow. There is a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable mate-
rials come into contact with parts of the vehi-
cle which are hot. Take particular care not to
park on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields.
G WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
G WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example: R
release the parking brake. R
shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P . R
start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. 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 unsupervised in the vehicle.
! Always secure the vehicle correctly
against rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle
or its drivetrain could be damaged.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally: R
the electric parking brake must be applied. R
the transmission must be in position P and
the SmartKey must be removed from the
ignition lock. R
the front wheels must be turned towards
the curb on steep uphill or downhill gradi-
ents. R
the empty vehicle must be secured at the
front axle with a wheel chock or similar, for
example, on uphill or downhill gradients. R
a laden vehicle must also be secured at the
rear axle with a wheel chock or similar, for
example, on uphill or downhill gradients.
Switching off the engine
Important safety notes
G WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position N when you switch off the engine.Parking 189
Driving and parking Z

The function of the electric parking brake is
dependent on the on-board voltage. If the on-
board voltage is low or there is a malfunction
in the system, it may not be possible to apply
the released parking brake. X
If this is the case, only park the vehicle on
level ground and secure it to prevent it roll-
ing away. X
Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P .
It may not be possible to release an applied
parking brake if the on-board voltage is low or
there is a malfunction in the system. Contact
a qualified specialist workshop.
i The electric parking brake performs a
function test at regular intervals while the
engine is switched off. The sounds that can
be heard while this is occurring are normal.
Applying or releasing manually
X
To engage: push handle C .
When the electric parking brake is
engaged, the I (USA only) or $
(Canada only) red indicator lamp lights up
in the instrument cluster.
i The electric parking brake can also be
applied when the SmartKey is removed. X
To release: pull handle C .
The red I (USA only) or $ (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter goes out.
i The electric parking brake can only be
released: R
if the SmartKey is in position 1 in the
ignition lock ( Y
page 165) or R
if the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button
To ensure that you do not roll backwards
when pulling away on an uphill slope, engage
the electric parking brake ( Y
page 168).
Applying automatically The electric parking brake is applied auto-
matically: R
if DISTRONIC PLUS brings the vehicle to a
standstill or R
if the HOLD function is keeping the vehicle
stationary
In addition, at least one of the following con-
ditions must be fulfilled: R
the engine is switched off. R
the driver's door is open and the seat belt is
not fastened. R
the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy
period.
The red I (USA only) or $ (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up.
The electric parking brake is not automati-
cally engaged if the engine is switched off by
the ECO start/stop function.
Releasing automatically
The electric parking brake is released auto-
matically when all of the following conditions
are fulfilled: R
the engine is running. R
the transmission is in position D or R .R
the seat belt has been fastened. R
you depress the accelerator pedal. Parking 191
Driving and parking Z

R
if there is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in
winter R
if the camera lens is dirty or obstructed.
Observe the notes on cleaning
( Y
page 380) R
if 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
X
To activate: make sure that the SmartKey
is in position 2 in the ignition lock.X
Make sure that the "Show rear view camera
display" function is selected in COMAND
(see the Digital Operator's Manual). X
Engage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display with guide lines. X
To change the function mode for vehi-
cles with trailer tow hitch: using the
COMAND controller, select symbol C for
the "Reverse parking" function or sym- bol D 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 P or 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: R
very close to the rear bumper R
under the rear bumper R
in the area immediately above the tailgate
handle
! Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.: R
the bumper of a parked vehicle R
the drawbar of a trailer R
the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch R
the rear section of an HGV R
a slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the bot-
tom-most guideline.
C
White guide line without turning the steer-
ing wheel, vehicle width including the
exterior mirrors (static)
D
Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle232
Driving system s
Dr ivi ng an d parking

! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a two-axle dyna-
mometer. 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.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M +S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
( Y
page 198).
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) General notes
DSR is an aid to assist you when driving down-
hill. It keeps the speed of travel at the speed
selected on the on-board computer. The
steeper the downhill gradient, the greater the
DSR braking effect on the vehicle. When driv-
ing on flat stretches of road or on an uphill
gradient, the DSR braking effect is minimal or
nonexistent.
DSR controls the vehicle’s speed when it is
activated and the transmission is in position
D , R or N . You can drive at a higher or a lower
speed than that set on the on-board computer
at any time by accelerating or braking.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If the speed driven and the set speed deviate
and you activate DSR on a slippery road sur-
face, the wheels may lose traction. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Before switching DSR on, please take into
consideration the road surface and the differ-
ence between driving speed and the set
speed.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DSR can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. DSR cannot take
account of road, weather and traffic condi-
tions. DSR is only an aid. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in front, for
vehicle speed, for braking in good time and for
staying in your lane.
You are always responsible for keeping con-
trol of the vehicle and for assessing whether
the downhill gradient can be managed. DSR
may not always be able to keep to the set
speed, depending on road surface and tire
conditions. Select a set speed suitable for the
prevailing conditions and when necessary,
apply the brakes manually.
Activating DSR
X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.
The

so will result in a loss of function of the
brake systems of both the vehicle and the
trailer. X
Shift the transmission to position P .X
Apply the vehicle's electric parking brake. X
Start the engine. X
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select highway level. X
Vehicles with ADS: set ADS to AUTO or
COMF .X
Switch off the engine. X
Close the doors and tailgate. X
Couple up the trailer. X
Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer. X
Check that the trailer lighting system is
working.
i Vehicles 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: R
Unless 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. R
High-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: R
Safety 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. R
A separate brake system for certain types
of trailer. R
Safety 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: R
in your place of residence R
in the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide
reliable information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer: R
To 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 R
Before driving, check: -
trailer tow hitch -
safety switch for braked trailers -
safety chains -
electrical connections -
lights -
wheels R
Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer. R
If the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually Towing a trailer 267
Driving and parking Z

H Environmental note
Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately
and recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the Main-
tenance Booklet or contact a qualified spe-
cialist workshop for more information.
! You should have all work involving the
battery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. In the exceptional case that it is
necessary for you to disconnect the battery
yourself, make sure that: R
you switch off the engine and remove the
SmartKey. On vehicles with KEYLESS-
GO, ensure that the ignition is switched
off. Check that all the indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster are off. Otherwise,
electronic components, such as the
alternator, may be damaged. R
you first remove the negative terminal
clamp and then the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps.
Otherwise, the vehicle's electronic sys-
tem may be damaged. R
the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. The vehi-
cle is secured against rolling away. You
can then no longer move the vehicle.
The battery and the cover of the positive
terminal clamp must be installed securely
during operation. Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking are
prohibited when handling the bat-
tery. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid con-
tact with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective clothing,
especially gloves, apron and face-
guard.
Rinse any acid spills immediately
with clear water. Contact a physi-
cian if necessary.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Operator's Manual.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which have
been tested and approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz. These batteries provide
increased impact protection to prevent vehi-
cle occupants from suffering acid burns
should the battery be damaged in the event of
an accident.
In order for the battery to achieve the maxi-
mum possible service life, it must always be
sufficiently charged.
The vehicle battery, like other batteries, can
discharge over time if you do not use the
vehicle. In this case, have the battery discon-
nected at a qualified specialist workshop. You
can also charge the battery with a charger
recommended by Mercedes-Benz. Contact a Battery (vehicle) 393
Breakdown assistance Z