2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL Owners Manual

C
Selector wheelD
To raise the level

Indicator lamps

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

Activating the HOLD function X
Mak e sur e that th e activation condition s
are met .X
Depress th e brak e pedal .X
Quickl y depress th e brak e pedal further
until C appear s in th e multifunction dis-
play.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release th e brak e pedal .
i If depressing th e brak e pedal th e first
time does no t activat e th e HOLD function ,
wait briefly and then tr y again .
Deactivating the HOLD function
The HOLD function is deactivated automati-
call y if: R
you accelerate and th e transmission is in
position D or R .R
you shif t th e transmission to position P .R
you depress th e brak e pedal again wit h a
certain amoun t of pressur e until C disap -
pear s from th e multifunction display.R
you secure th e vehicl e usin g th e electric
parking brake. R
you activat e DISTRONI C PLUS.
i Afte r a time, th e electric parking brak e
secures th e vehicl e and relieves th e servic e
brake.
The electric parking brak e secures th e vehicl e
automatically if th e HOLD function is activa-
te d when th e vehicl e is stationary and :R
th e driver' s door is open and th e driver' s
seat belt is unfastened. R
th e engin e is switched off , unless it is auto -
matically switched off by th e ECO start /
stop function . R
a system malfunction occurs. R
th e power suppl y is no t suf ficient.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is a malfunction , th e transmission may also
be automatically shifte d int o position P .
AIRMATIC package
Gene ra l notesAIRMATIC regulates th e level of your vehicle.
As well as level control ( Y
page 219), your
vehicl e can be equipped wit h AD S (Adaptive
Dampin g System) ( Y
page 218) and ACTIVE
CURVE SYSTE M ( Y
page 219).
Obs erv e th e note s on driving wit h a trailer
( Y
page 264).
ADS (Adaptive Damping System)
Genera l notes
AD S adapt s th e damping characteristics to
th e curren t operating and driving sit uation .
This depend s on : R
your driving style R
th e road sur fac e condition sR
th e AD S setting R
th e vehicl e level setting
Your selection remain s st ore d eve n if you
remove th e SmartKey from th e ignition lock.218
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Sports tuning
Example: vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD
package
C
Suspension tuning buttonD
Indicator lamp for sports tuning

cle could rollover more easily, for example on
a bend. There is a risk of an accident.
Always select as low a vehicle level as possi-
ble and adjust your driving style.
G WARNING
When you drive with the chassis lowered or
raised, the vehicle's braking and driving char-
acteristics can be significantly impaired. You
could also exceed the permissible vehicle
height if the chassis is raised. There is a risk of
an accident.
Adjust the vehicle level before pulling away.
G WARNING
Due to the high center of gravity, the vehicle
may start to skid and roll over in the event of
an abrupt steering maneuver and/or when
the vehicle's speed is not adapted to the road
conditions. There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your speed and driving style to
the vehicle's driving characteristics and to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
! When driving on extremely rough terrain,
select a high vehicle level in good time.
Make sure there is always sufficient ground
clearance. You will otherwise damage the
vehicle.
! When you raise the vehicle in such a way
that not all wheels have contact with the
ground, remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock. R
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
Failure to operate this vehicle safely may
result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury. R
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a per-
son wearing a seat belt.
You and all vehicle occupants should
always wear your seat belts. General notes
Further information about "Driving off-road"
( Y
page 198).
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.
If y
ou select ADS comfort mode ( Y
page 218),
the vehicle is lowered to high-speed level as
the speed increases. As the vehicle speed
decreases, the vehicle is raised back up to
highway level.
If you select ADS sport mode ( Y
page 218),
the vehicle skips highway level and lowers
directly to high-speed level depending on the
basic setting ( Y
page 220).
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.
Basic settings (excluding Mercedes-AMG
vehicles)
The extent to which the vehicle is raised or
lowered depends on the basic setting selec-
ted. Sele ct raised level for off-road driving or
hi g
hway/high-speed level for normal roads.220
Driving systems
Driving and parking

The individual vehicle levels differ from high-
way level as follows: R
highway level: +/–0 in (+/–0 mm) R
high-speed level: –0.6 in (–15 mm) R
raised level: +2.3 in (+60 mm)
Basic settings Mercedes-AMG vehicles
The extent to which the vehicle is raised or
lowered depends on the AMG adaptive sport
suspension setting selected. Select the
raised level for off-road driving or highway/
high-speed level for normal roads.
The raised level corresponds to a vehicle level
raised by 50 mm when compared with high-
way level in comfort mode.
Raised level
Only select raised level if this is appropriate
for the road conditions. Otherwise, fuel con-
sumption may increase and handling may be
affected. X
Start the engine.
If indicator lamp D is not lit:X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D flashes. The vehicle rises
to raised level. During the adjustment, the Vehicle Rising
message, for example, appears in the multi-
function display.
If you press the 8 or v button on the
multifunction steering wheel, the message
will disappear.
Once the vehicle has reached raised level,
indicator lamp D remains lit. The Vehicle
Rising message disappears from the multi-
function display.
If you try to select raised level at a speed
above 40 mph (64 km/ h) , the Drive More
Slowly message appears in the multifunction
display.
Highway/high-speed level
! Make sure that there is enough ground
clearance when the vehicle is being low-
ered. It could otherwise hit the ground,
damaging the underbody.
C
Level control button
D
Level control indicator lamp X
Start the engine. Driving systems 221
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