2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL lights

C
Yellow indicator lamp/red warning lamp
When Blind Spot Assist is activated, indicator
lamp C in the exterior mirrors lights up yel-
low at speeds of up to 20 mph (30 km/h). At
speeds above 20 mph (30 km/h), the indica-
tor lamp goes out and Blind Spot Assist is
operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the blind spot
monitoring range at speeds above 20 mph
(30 km/h), warning lamp C on the corre-
sponding side lights up red. This warning is
always emitted when a vehicle enters the
blind spot monitoring range from behind or
from the side. When you overtake a vehicle,
the warning only occurs if the difference in
speed is less than 7 mph (12 km/h).
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. In this event, Blind Spot
Assist is no longer active.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to
the ambient light.
Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the
corresponding turn signal, a double warning
tone sounds. Red warning lamp C flashes. If
the turn signal remains on, detected vehicles
are indicated by the flashing of red warning
lamp C . There are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that Blind Spot Assist is activa-
ted in the on-board computer
( Y
page 282). X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the igni-
tion lock.
Warning lamps C in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately 1.5 seconds
and then turn yellow.
Towing a trailer
When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
cor rectly established the electrical connec-
t ion . This can be accomplished by checking
the trailer lighting. In this event, Blind Spot
Assist is deactivated. The indicator lamp in
the exterior mirrors lights up yellow, and the
Blind Spot Assist Currently Unavail‐
able See Operator's Manual message
appears in the multifunction display.
i You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors.
To do so, switch off Blind Spot Assist when: R
the SmartKey is in position 2 in the igni-
tion lock R
the engine is not running
Lane Keeping Assist
General notes
C
Lane Keeping Assist camera
Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area in
front of your vehicle with camera C , which is
mounted at the top of the windshield. Active
Lane Keeping Assist detects lane markings on246
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Adaptive
When Adaptive
is selected, no warning vibra-
tion occurs if: R
you swit ch on the turn signals. In this event,
the warnings are suppressed for a certain
period of time. R
a driv ing safety system intervenes, e.g.
AB S, BAS or ESP ®
.R
you accelerate hard, e.g. kickdown. R
you brake hard. R
you steer actively, e.g. swer ve to avoid an
obstacle or change lanes quickly. R
you cut the corner on a sharp bend.
In order that you are warned only when nec-
essary and in good time if you cross the lane
marking, the system recognizes certain con-
dit ions and warns you accordingly.
The warning vibr ation occurs earlier if:R
you appr oach the outer lane marking on a
ben d. R
the road has very wide lanes, e.g. a high-
way. R
the system recognizes solid lane markings.
The warning vibr ation occurs later if:R
the road has narrow lanes. R
you cut the corner on a ben d.
Active Driving Assistance package
General notes
The Active Dr ivin g Assistance package con-
sists of DI ST RONIC PLUS ( Y
page 205), Acti ve
Blin d Spo t Assist ( Y
page 248) and Active
Lane Kee pin g Assist ( Y
page 251).
Active Blind Spot Assist
General notes
Active Blin d Spo t Assist mon it ors the areas
on either side of the vehicle that are not
dire ct ly vis ible to the driver with two lateral,
rear-facing radar sensors. A warning lamp
lights up in the exterior mirrors and draws your attention to vehicles detected in the
mon it ored area. If you then switch on the cor-
respon din g turn signal to change lanes, you
will also receive a visual and audible co llisio n
warning. If a risk of lateral co llisio n is detec-
te d, correct ive braking may help you avoid a
co llisio n. Before a course-correcting brake
applic ation, Acti ve Blind Spo t Assist evalu-
ates the space in the dire ction of travel and at
the sides of the vehicle. For this, Acti ve Blind
Spot Assist uses the forward-facing radar
sensors.
Acti ve Blind Spo t Assist supports you from a
speed of approximately 20 mph (30 km/h).
Imp ortant safety notes
Acti ve Blind Spo t Assist is on ly an aid and is
not a substitute for attenti ve driving.
G WARNIN G
Activ e Blin d Spo t Assist does no t reac t to :R
vehicles overtake n to o closely on th e side ,
placing them in th e blin d spot areaR
vehicles whic h approac h wit h a larg e spee d
differential and overtake your vehicl e
As a result , Activ e Blin d Spo t Assist may nei-
ther giv e warning s no r interven e in suc h sit -
uations. Ther e is a ris k of an accident.
Always observ e th e traffic condition s care-
fully, and maintai n a saf e lateral distance.
i USA only: This device has been approved
by the FCC as a "Vehicular Radar System".
The radar sensor is intended for use in an
automot ive radar system only. Removal,
tampering, or altering of the device will void
any warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper wit h, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized mod ific ation to th is
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipm ent.
i Canada only: This device complies wit h
RSS -210 of In dustry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two cond it ions:248
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Indicator and warning display
C
Yellow indicator lamp/red warning lamp
Active Blind Spot Assist is not active at
speeds below approximately 20 mph
(30 km/h). Vehicles in the monitoring range
are then not indicated.
When Active Blind Spot Assist is activated,
indicator lamp C in the exterior mirrors lights
up yellow at speeds of up to 20 mph
(30 km/h). At speeds above 20 mph
(30 km/h), the indicator lamp goes out and
Active Blind Spot Assist is operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range at speeds above approximately 20 mph
(30 km/h), warning lamp C on the corre-
sponding side lights up red. This warning lamp
always lights up when a vehicle enters the
blind spot monitoring range from behind or
from the side. When you overtake a vehicle
with a difference in speed of less than 7 mph
(12 km/h), a delayed warning occurs.
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. Active Blind Spot Assist is
not operational.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to
the brightness of the surroundings.
Visual and acoustic collision warning
If you switch on the turn signals to change
lanes and a vehicle is detected in the side
monitoring range, you receive a visual and
acoustic collision warning. You then hear a
double warning tone and red warning lamp C
flas hes. If the turn signal remains on, detec-
ted vehicles are indicated by the flashing of red warning lamp C . There are no further
warning tones.
Course-correcting brake application
If Active Blind Spot Assist detects a risk of a
lateral collision in the monitoring range, a
course-correcting brake application is carried
out. This is meant to assist you in avoiding a
collision.
G WARNING
A course-correcting brake application cannot
always prevent a collision. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always steer, brake or accelerate yourself,
especially if Active Blin d Spot Assist warns
you or makes a course-correcting brake appli-
cation. Always maintain a safe distance at the
sides.
If a course-correcting brake application
occurs, red warning lamp C flashes in the
exterior mirror and a dual warning tone
sounds. In addition, display D underlining
the danger of a side collision appears in the
multifunction display.
In very rare cases, the system may make an
inappropriate brake application. A course-
correcting brake application may be interrup-
ted at any time if you steer slightly in the
opposite direction or accelerate.
The course-correcting brake application is
available in the speed range between 20 mph
(30 km/h) and 120 mph (200 km/h).250
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Either no braking application, or a course-
correcting brake application adapted to the
driving situation occurs if: R
there are vehicles or obstacles, e.g. crash
barriers, close to both sides of your vehicle. R
a vehicle approaches you too closely at the
side. R
you have adopted a sporty driving style with
high cornering speeds. R
you brake or accelerate significantly. R
a driving safety system intervenes, e.g.
ESP ®
or PRE-SAFE ®
Brake.R
ESP ®
is switched off.R
the off-road program is activated (vehicles
without the ON&OFFROAD package). R
off-road program 1 or 2 is activated (vehi-
cles with the ON&OFFROAD package). R
the LOW RANGE off-road gear is activated
(vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package). R
a loss of tire pressure or a defective tire is
detected.
Switching on Active Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that Active Blind Spot Assist is
activated in the on-board computer
( Y
page 282). X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the igni-
tion lock.
Warning lamps C in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately 1.5 seconds
and then turn yellow.
Towing a trailer
When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
co rr ectly established the electrical connec-
tion. This can be accomplished by checking
the trailer lighting. Active Blind Spot Assist is
then deactivated. The indicator lamp lights up
yellow in the exterior mirrors and the Active
Blind Spot Assist Currently Unavail‐
able See Operator's Manual message
appears in the multifunction display. Active Lane Keeping Assist General notes
Active Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area
in front of your vehicle by means of camera C
at the top of the windshield. Active Lane
Keeping Assist detects lane markings on the
road and warns you before you leave your
lane unintentionally. If you do not react to the
warning, a lane-correcting application of the
brakes can bring the vehicle back into the
original lane.
This function is available in a speed range
between 40 mph and 120 mph (60 km/h and
200 km/h).
For Active Lane Keeping Assist to assist you
when driving, the radar sensor system must
be operational
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, Active
Lane Keeping Assist can neither reduce the
risk of accident nor override the laws of phys-
ics. Active Lane Keeping Assist cannot take
into account road, weather or traffic condi-
tions. Active Lane Keeping Assist 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.
Active Lane Keeping Assist cannot continu-
ously keep your vehicle in its lane.
G WARNING
Active Lane Keeping Assist cannot always
clearly detect lane markings.Driving system s 251
Dr ivi ng an d parking Z

! 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

vehicle rolling away unintentionally. There is a
risk of an accident.
Wait until the transfer case shift process is
completed.
Do not turn off the engine while changing gear
and do not shift the automatic transmission
to another position.
General notes
C
LOW RANGE off-road gear buttonD
LOW RANGE off-road gear indicator lamp
HIGH RANGE
Position for all normal on-
road driving conditions
LOW RANGE
Off-road position for driv-
ing off-road and fording
The transmission ratio
between the engine and
wheels is only approx-
imately one third of that in
the HIGH RANGE road
position. Drive torque is
thus proportionately
higher.
Do not use LOW RANGE: R
on slippery road surfa-
ces, e.g. in the case of
slush R
on snow or ice-covered
roads R
if you have mounted
snow chains to your
vehicle The LOW RANGE off-road gear assists you in
driving off-road and when fording. When LOW
RANGE is engaged, the engine’s performance
characteristics and the gearshifting charac-
teristics of the automatic transmission are
adapted for this purpose.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
( Y
page 198). You will find information about
driving safety systems in conjunction with
LOW RANGE in the "Safety" section
( Y
page 68).
From HIGH RANGE to LOW RANGE
! Only change from LOW RANGE to HIGH
RANGE if: R
the engine is running. R
the transmission is in position NR
you are driving at a speed below
40 km/h X
Press LOW RANGE button C .
Indicator lamp D flashes.
When the gear change is complete, indica-
tor lamp D lights up. LOW RANGE indica-
tor appears in the multifunction display and
in the status indicator.
While indicator lamp D is flashing, you can
cancel the gear change by pressing LOW
RANGE button C again.
i You cannot activate LOW RANGE if the
SPORT drive program is activated. The
LOW RANGE Not in Drive Program
"Sport" message then appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
From LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE
! Only change from LOW RANGE to HIGH
RANGE if: R
the engine is running. R
the transmission is in position NR
you are driving at a speed below
70 km/h260
Driving systems
Driving and parking

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

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