2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL brake

If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions, and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving.
Off-road ABS A 4ETS system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated ( Y
page 258).
At speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h), the front
wheels lock cyclically during braking. The dig-
ging-in effect achieved in the process reduces
the stopping distance on off-road terrain. This
limits steering capability.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
General information BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 68).
G WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Braking X
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS)
General information BAS PLUS can help you to minimize the risk of
a collision with a vehicle or reduce the effects
of such a collision. If BAS PLUS detects a
danger of collision, you are assisted when
braking.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 68).
BAS PLUS is only available in vehicles equip-
ped with DISTRONIC PLUS.
For BAS PLUS to assist you, the radar sensor
system must be operational.
With the help of the radar sensor system, BAS
PLUS can detect obstacles that are in the
path of your vehicle for an extended period of
time.
If the radar sensor system is malfunctioning,
BAS PLUS will not be available. The brake
system is still available with complete brake
boosting effect and BAS.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
BAS PLUS cannot always clearly identify
objects and complex traffic situations.
In such cases, BAS PLUS may: R
intervene unnecessarily R
not intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation.
G WARNING
BAS PLUS does not react: R
to people or animals R
to oncoming vehicles R
to crossing traffic R
when corneringDriving safety systems 69
Safety Z

As a result, BAS PLUS may not intervene in all
critical situations. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
In the event of snowfall or heavy rain, the rec-
ognition can be impaired.
Recognition by the radar sensor system is
also impaired in the event of: R
there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors R
there is interference by other radar sources R
there are strong radar reflections, for
example in parking garages R
a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike R
a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensors checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at low speeds where there is no visible
damage to the front of the vehicle.
Function
To avoid a collision, BAS PLUS calculates the
brake force necessary if: R
you approach an obstacle, and R
BAS PLUS has detected a risk of collision
When driving at a speed under 20 mph
(30 km/h) : if you depress the brake pedal,
BAS PLUS is activated. The increase in brake
pressure will be carried out at the last possi-
ble moment.
When driving at a speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h) : if you depress the brake pedal
sharply, BAS PLUS automatically raises the
brake pressure to a value adapted to the traf-
fic situation.
BAS PLUS provides braking assistance in haz-
ardous situations with vehicles in front within a speed range between 4 mph (7 km/h) and
155 mph (250 km/h).
At speeds of up to approximately 40 mph
(70 km/h), BAS PLUS can also react to sta-
tionary objects. Examples of stationary
objects are stopped or parked vehicles.
i If BAS PLUS demands particularly high
braking force, preventative passenger pro-
tection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are activa-
ted simultaneously. X
Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
BAS PLUS is deactivated and the brakes func-
tion as usual again, if: R
you release the brake pedal. R
there is no longer a risk of collision. R
no obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle.
If you have activated DSR ( Y
page 257), BAS
PLUS is likewise deactivated.
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
General notes
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST consists of
Adaptive Brake Assist and the distance warn-
ing function, which are described in the fol-
lowing.
Distance warning function
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 68).
G WARNING
The distance warning function does not react: R
to people or animals R
to oncoming vehicles R
to crossing traffic R
when cornering70
Driving safety systems
Safety

Thus, the distance warning function cannot
provide a warning in all critical situations.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
G WARNING
The distance warning function cannot always
clearly identify objects and complex traffic
situations.
In such cases, the distance warning function
may: R
give an unnecessary warning R
not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and do not rely solely on the distance
warning function.
Function X
To activate/deactivate: activate or deac-
tivate the distance warning function in the
on-board computer ( Y
page 281).
If the distance warning function is not activa-
ted, the

Adaptive Brake Assist
i Obs erv e th e "Importan t safet y notes" sec -
tion ( Y
page 68) .
Adaptive Brake Assis t provide s braking assis-
tance in hazardous situation s at speeds
abov e 4 mph (7 km/h). It uses radar sensor
technology to assess th e traffic situation .
G WARNIN G
Adaptive Brake Assis t canno t always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic situa-
tions.
In suc h cases, Adaptive Brake Assis t can :R
interven e unnecessarilyR
no t interven e
There is a ris k of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to th e traffic sit -
uation and be read y to brake. Terminate th e
intervention in a non-critical drivin g situation .
G WARNIN G
Adaptive Brake Assis t does no t react:R
to people or animals R
to oncomin g vehiclesR
to crossing traffic R
to stationary obstacles R
when cornering
As a result , th e Adaptive Brake Assis t may no t
interven e in all critical conditions. There is a
ris k of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to th e traffic sit -
uation and be read y to brake.
Due to th e nature of th e system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving condi-
tion s may also caus e Brake Assis t to inter-
vene.
Wit h th e help of Adaptive Brake Assist, th e
distanc e warning signal can detec t obstacles
that are in th e pat h of your vehicl e for an
extended period of time.
If adaptive Brake Assis t has detecte d that
there is a ris k of a collision , it calculates th e
braking force necessar y to avoi d a collision . Should you apply th e brakes vigorously,
Adaptive Brake As sist will automatically
increas e th e braking force to a level suitable
for th e traffic conditions. X
Kee p th e brak e pedal depressed until th e
emergenc y braking situation is over.
AB S prevents th e wheels from locking .
The brakes will wor k normally again if: R
you release th e brak e pedal .R
there is no longer any danger of a collision .R
no obstacle is detecte d in fron t of your
vehicle.
Adaptive Brake As sist is then deactivated.
Vehicles wit h PRE-SAFE ®
: if adaptive Brake
Assis t require s particularly high brak e pre s-
sure, preventive passenger protection meas -
ures (PRE-SAF E ®
) are deployed sim ultane -
ously.
Up to vehicl e speeds of aroun d 15 5 mph
(25 0 km/h), adaptive Brake Assis t is capable
of reacting to moving objects that hav e
already been recognized as suc h at least once
ove r th e period of observation . Adaptive
Brake Assis t does no t reac t to st ationary
obstacles.
If Adaptive Brake As sist is no t available due to
a malfunction in th e radar sensor system, th e
brak e system remain s available wit h full
brak e boosting effec t and BAS.
In particular, th e detection of obstacles can
be impaire d if there is: R
there is dirt on th e sensors or anythin g else
covering th e sensors R
there is sn ow or heav y rainR
there is interferenc e by other radar source sR
there are st ron g radar reflections, for
exampl e in parking garages R
a narrow vehicl e traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbik e R
a vehicl e traveling in fron t on a differen t lin e
relative to th e center of your vehicl eR
ne w vehicles or after th e COLLISION PRE -
VE NTION ASSIST system has been ser v-
ice d72
Driving safety systems
Safety

Observe the notes in the section on break-
ing-in ( Y
page 164).
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensor checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at low speeds where there is no visible
damage to the front of the vehicle.
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 68).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tires and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to
keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
4ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
In appropriate driving situations, activate the
off-road program ( Y
page 258). Off-road 4ETS (Electronic Traction Sys-
tem) A 4ETS system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated ( Y
page 258).
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-
ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Only operate the vehicle for a maximum of
ten seconds on a brake test dynamometer.
Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
! 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.
ESP ®
is only deactivated if the

The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-
ting action for better traction on loose sur-
faces. R
traction control is still activated. R
ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
Off-road ESP ®
(vehicles with ON&OFF-
ROAD package) An ESP ®
system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated ( Y
page 258).
Off-road ESP ®
intervenes with a delay if there
is oversteering or understeering, thus improv-
ing traction.
ESP ®
trailer stabilization
General information
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
swerve, ESP ®
assists you in this situation.
ESP ®
slows the vehicle down by braking and
limiting the engine output until the vehicle/
trailer combination has stabilized.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from swerv-
ing. Trailers with a high center of gravity can
tip over before ESP ®
can detect this. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer
combination) begins to lurch, you can only
stabilize the vehicle/trailer combination by
depressing the brake firmly.
Trailer stabilization is active above speeds of
about 37 mph (60 km/h).
ESP ®
trailer stabilization does not work if
ESP ®
is deactivated or disabled because of a
malfunction. Crosswind Assist General information
Strong crosswinds can cause your vehicle to
deviate from a straight course. The crosswind
driving assistance function integrated into
ESP ®
significantly reduces these effects.
ESP ®
intervenes automatically according to
the direction and intensity of the crosswinds
affecting your vehicle.
ESP intervenes with stabilizing braking to
assist you in keeping the vehicle in the lane.
Crosswind Assist is active at vehicle speeds
above 50 mph (80 km/h) when driving
straight ahead or cornering gently.
Important safety notes
Crosswind Assist does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function.
EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General information
EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability while braking.
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems ( Y
page 68).
G WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the
risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps ( Y
page 327) as well as dis-
play messages ( Y
page 293).Driving safety systems 75
Safety Z

ADAPTIVE BRAKEADAPTIV E BRAKE enhance s braking safet y
and offers increased braking comfort . In addi-
tion to th e braking function , ADAPTIV E BRAKE
also has th e HOLD function ( Y
page 217) and
hill start assist ( Y
page 168).
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake
Gene ra l inf orm ationPRE-SAF E ®
Brake can help you to minimiz e
th e ris k of a collision wit h a vehicl e ahead , and
reduce th e effects of suc h a collision . If PRE -
SAFE ®
Brake has detecte d a ris k of collision ,
you will be warned visually and acoustically as
well as by automatic braking . PRE-SAF E ®
Brake canno t preven t a collision without your
intervention .
i Pay attention to th e important safet y
note s in th e "Drivin g safet y systems " sec -
tion ( Y
page 68) .
PRE ‑ S AF E ®
Brake is only available for vehi-
cle s wit h th e Drivin g Assistance package.
Fo r PRE-SAF E ®
Brake to assist you when driv -
ing , th e radar sensor system mus t be opera-
tional.
Wit h th e help of th e radar sensor system,
PRE-SAF E ®
Brake can detec t obstacles that
are in fron t of your vehicl e for an extended
period of time.
Import ant safety notes
G WARNIN G
PRE-SAF E ®
Brake will initially brak e your vehi-
cle by a partial application of th e brakes if a
danger of collision is detected. There may be
a collision unless you also brake. Automatic
emergenc y braking canno t preven t a colli-
sion . There is a ris k of an accident.
Always apply th e brakes yourself and tr y to
tak e evasive action . In th e event of a partial application of th e
brakes, th e vehicl e is braked wit h up to 50 % of
th e full braking pressure.
G WARNIN G
PRE-SAF E ®
Brake canno t always clearly iden -
tify objects and comple x traffic conditions.
In these cases, PRE-SAF E ®
Brake may:R
giv e an unnecessary warning and then
brak e th e vehicl e R
no t giv e a warning or interven e
There is a ris k of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to th e traffic
situation and be read y to brake, especially if
PRE-SAF E ®
Brake warn s you. Terminate th e
intervention in a non-critical drivin g situation .
In order to maintai n th e appropriat e distanc e
to th e vehicl e in fron t and thus preven t a col-
lision, you mus t apply th e brakes yourself .
At speeds of up to approximately 40 mph
(70 km/h ) PRE-SAF E ®
Brake can also detec t
stationary objects . Examples of stationary
objects are st oppe d or parked vehicles.
G WARNIN G
PRE-SAF E ®
Brake does no t react:R
to people or animals R
to oncomin g vehicles R
to crossing traffic R
when cornering
As a result , PRE-SAF E ®
Brake may neither
giv e warning s no r interven e in all critical sit -
uations. There is a ris k of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to th e traffic sit -
uation and be read y to brake.
In th e event of snowfall or heav y rain , th e rec -
ognition can be impaired.
Recognition by th e radar sensor system is
also impaire d in th e event of: R
there is dirt on th e sensors or anythin g else
covering th e sensors R
there is interferenc e by other radar source s76
Driving safety systems
Safety

R
there are strong radar reflections, for
example in parking garages R
a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike R
a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensors checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at low speeds where there is no visible
damage to the front of the vehicle.
Function X
To activate/deactivate: activate or deac-
tivate PRE-SAFE ®
Brake in the on-board
computer ( Y
page 282).
If the PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is not activated, the