2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE Owners Manual

The ECO display consists of three sections, with
an inner and outer area. The sections corre-
spond to the following three categories:
C
Acceleration (evaluation of all accel-
eration processes): R
the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: moderate
acceleration, especially at higher
speeds R
the outer area empties and the
inner area is gray: sporty acceler-
ation
D
Coasting (evaluation of all decelera-
tion processes): R
the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: anticipatory
driving, keeping your distance and
early release of the accelerator.
The vehicle can coast without use
of the brakes. R
the outer area empties and the
inner area is gray: frequent heavy
braking

helps avoid overheating and excessive wear
of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine brak-
ing effect, a drive wheel may not turn for some
time, e.g. on a slippery road surface. 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 pres-
sure to the pedal. This results in excessive and
premature wear to the brake pads.
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 airflow 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 vehicle
washed, brake firmly while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion. Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-
due 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
! The brake fluid level may be too low, if: R
if the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and R
you hear a warning tone while the engine is
running
Observe additional warning messages in the
multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immediately.
Consult a qualified specialist workshop to
arrange this.
! A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a 2-axle dynamometer. If
you wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified spe-
cialist workshop in advance. You could oth-
erwise 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 dyna-
mometer (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 qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the functional-184
Driving tips
Driving and parking

ity of your brakes at regular intervals. To do so,
depress the brake pedal firmly when driving at a
high speed. This improves the grip of the brake
pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist (BAS)
on ( Y
page 67) or of BAS PLUS on ( Y
page 67).
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 vehicle'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 corre-
sponds 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 tempera-
ture and humidity
The wear of individual components of the brake
system, such as the brake pads/linings or brake
discs, depends on the individual driving style
and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a mile-
age that will be valid under all circumstances. An
aggressive driving style will lead to high wear.
You can obtain further information about this
from your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after several
hundred kilometers of driving. Compensate 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 correspond-
ingly high brake wear. Observe the & brake
wear warning lamp in the instrument cluster and
note any brake status messages in the multi-
function display. Especially for high perform- ance 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 hydro-
planing 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. Oth-
erwise, water may enter the vehicle interior or
the engine compartment. This can damage
the electronic components in the engine or
the automatic transmission. Water can also
be drawn in by the engine's air suction nozzles
and this can cause engine damage.
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select the raised vehicle level before driving
through a body of water.
Off-road fording
! Under no circumstances should you accel-
erate 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 equipment. R
Establish how deep the water is and the char-
acteristics of the body of water before ford-
ing. R
Select the highest possible vehicle level. Driving tips 185
Driving and parking Z

R
Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing 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 resistance, and
the ground is slippery and in some cases
unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and danger-
ous to pull away in the water. R
Clean any mud from the tire tread after ford-
ing. R
Apply the brakes to dry them after fording.
Always observe the fording depth values
( Y
page 442).
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 qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter. Drive particularly carefully on slippery road sur-
faces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and
braking maneuvers. Do not use the cruise con-
trol 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 .
When driving in snow with or without snow
chains, select driving program Slippery
( Y
page 152).
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 values
are required by law and must therefore always
be accurate.
The outside temperature indicator is not
d
esigned to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in
wooded areas or on bridges. You should pay
special attention to road conditions when tem-
peratures are around the freezing point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see ( Y
page 390).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see ( Y
page 389).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion ( Y
page 389).
Off-road driving
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle.186
Driving tips
Driving and parking

G WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system. There is a risk
of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check the vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove parts of plants or other
flammable materials which have become
trapped. In the case of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
G WARNING
If the vehicle level is high, the vehicle center of
gravity is raised. This could cause the vehicle
to tip over more easily on uphill or downhill
gradients. There is a risk of an accident.
Select the lowest possible vehicle 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 drive 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 like this, the body, the undercar-
riage, chassis parts, wheels or tires could be
damaged without the damage being visible.
Components damaged in this way can unex-
pectedly fail or, in the case of an accident, no
longer withstand the strain they are designed
to.
If the underbody paneling is damaged, com-
bustible materials such as leaves, grass or
twigs can gather between the underbody and
the underbody paneling. If these materials
come in contact with hot parts of the exhaust
system, they can catch fire.
In such situations, have the vehicle checked
and repaired immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. If on continuing your jour-
ney you notice that driving safety is impaired,
pull over and stop the vehicle immediately,
paying attention to road and traffic condi-
tions. In such cases, consult a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
When driving off-road, substances such as sand,
mud and water or water mixed with 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 braking charac-
teristics change depending on the material
ingressing the brakes. Clean the brakes after
driving off-road. If you detect a reduced bra ki ng
effect or grinding noises, have the brake system
checked in a qualified specialist workshop as
soon as possible. Adapt your driving style to the
different braking characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the likelihood of dam-
age to the vehicle, which, in turn, can lead to
failure of the mechanical assembly or systems.
Adapt your driving style to suit the terrain con-
ditions. Drive carefully. Have damage to the
vehicle rectified immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Do not switch to transmission position N when
driving off-road. If you try to brake the vehicle
using the service brake, you could lose control
of the vehicle. If the gradient is too steep for your
vehicle, drive back down in reverse gear.
General notes Read this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road. Practice by driving over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics of
your vehicle and the gear shift operation before
driving through difficult terrain.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving: R
the Offroad drive program (vehicles without
Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 237) R
Offroad and Offroad Plus drive programs
(vehicles with Off-Road Engineering pack-
age) . ( Y
page 237) R
LOW RANGE off-road gear (vehicles with the
Offroad Engineering package) ( Y
page 239)R
Differential lock (vehicles with the Off-Road
Engineering package) ( Y
page 238)R
Off-road ABS ( Y
page 67) R
Off-road 4ETS ( Y
page 72) R
Off-road ESP ®
( Y
page 73) R
AIRMATIC package (vehicle level)
( Y
page 205) R
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
( Y
page 236)Driving tips 187
Driving and parking Z

Observe the following notes: R
Stop the vehicle before starting to drive along
an off-road route. If necessary, select the off-
road program ( Y
page 237) or shift to the
LOW RANGE off-road gear ( Y
page 239).R
Select a vehicle level that is suitable for the
terrain. To avoid damaging the vehicle, make
sure there is always sufficient ground clear-
ance. R
Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
( Y
page 333).R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate
DSR ( Y
page 236).R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope. R
Adapt your speed to the terrain. The rougher,
steeper or more ruts on the terrain, the slower
your speed should be. R
Do not jump with the vehicle as this will inter-
rupt the vehicle's propulsion. R
Drive with extreme care on unfamiliar off-road
routes where visibility is poor. For safety rea-
sons, get out of the vehicle first and survey
the off-road route. R
Look out for obstacles, such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows. R
Always keep the doors, the tailgate, the side
windows and the sliding sunroof closed while
the vehicle is in motion. R
Do not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N .R
Observe the notes on off-road fording
( Y
page 185).
i Do not use the HOLD function when driving
off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients
or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD
function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur-
faces.
Checklist before driving off-road
! If the engine oil warning lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion, stop the vehicle in a
safe place as soon as possible. Check the
engine oil level. The engine oil warning lamp
warning must not be ignored. Continuing the
journey while the symbol is displayed could
lead to engine damage. X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add oil if necessary.
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 167).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 normal
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
If the Offroad or Offroad Plus drive program
is selected: select the Individual , Sport ,
Comfort or Slippery drive program
( Y
page 152). X
Deactivate the LOW RANGE off-road gear
( Y
page 239). X
Deactivate DSR ( Y
page 236).X
Lower the vehicle level again to a level suita-
ble to the road conditions, e.g. to the normal
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.188
Driving tips
Driving and parking

X
Clean the wheels, wheel housings and the
veh icle undersi de wit h a water je t; check for
any foreign objects and damage. X
Check whether twigs or other parts of plan ts
have become tr apped. These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes , brake
hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle jo ints
and pro peller shafts.X
After the tr ip, examine wit hout fail the entire
undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes, body-
work structure, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage. X
After driv ing for extended per iods across
san d, mud, gravel, water or in sim ilarly dirt y
conditions, have the brake disc s, wheels,
brake pads/ lin ings and axle jo ints checked
and cleane d.X
If you detect strong vibr ations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the wheels
and driv e train and remove them if necessary.
Foreign objects can dist urb the balance and
cause vibr ations.
Driving on sand Observe the foll owin g rules when driv ing on
san d: R
Select the Off roa d driv e program (veh icle s
wit h Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 237). R
Select the Off roa d driv e program (veh icle s
wit hout Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 237). R
Select a higher veh icle leve l.R
Avoid high engine speeds. R
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter to shift to a lower gear appr opriate to
the terrain. R
Drive quic kly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. Other wise the veh icle 's wheels could
become stuck in loose ground.R
Drive in the tracks of other veh icle s if poss i-
ble. Make sure that: -
the tire ruts are not too deep. -
the sand is suff icie nt ly firm.-
the ground clearance of the veh icle is suf-
ficient. Tire ruts and gravel roads
! Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or
bottom out and get stuck.
Observe the foll owin g rules when driving along
ruts in off-road terrain or on roads wit h loose
gravel: R
Select the Off roa d drive program (vehicles
wit h Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 237). R
Select the Off roa d drive program (vehicles
wit hout Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 237). R
Select a higher vehicle leve l.R
Avoid high engine speeds. R
Sh ift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing wheel paddle shifter. R
Drive slowly. R
Where ruts are too deep, drive wit h the
wheels of one side on the center grassy area,
if possible.
Driving over obstacles
! Obstacles could damage the floor of the
vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask
passengers for guidance when driving over
large obstacles. The passenger should always
keep a safe distance from the vehicle when
doing so in order to avoid injury as a result of
unexpected vehicle movements. After driving
off-road or over obstacles, check the vehicle
for possible damage, especially to the under-
body and the components of the chassis. Driving tips 189
Driving and parking Z

Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other obstacles: R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
with Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 237).R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 237).R
Select LOW RANGE offroad gear (vehicles
with Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 239)R
Raise the vehicle level. R
Avoid high engine speeds. R
Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing wheel paddle shifter. R
Drive very slowly. R
Drive straight over the center of obstacles.
Traveling uphill
Approach/departure angle
G WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle. R
Observe the rules on off-road driving. R
Do not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines or
gradients, but instead follow the direct line of
fall. R
When driving down an incline, make use of the
engine's braking effect. Observe the engine
speed; do not overrev the engine. R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
with Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 237).R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 237).R
Before driving on extreme uphill and downhill
gradients, select the LOW RANGE off-road
gear (vehicles with Off-Road Engineering
package) ( Y
page 239).R
Drive slowly. R
Avoid high engine speeds. Drive at appropri-
ate engine speeds (maximum 3,000 rpm). R
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter to shift into a lower gear in good time
on long and steep downhill gradients. R
Check the brakes after prolonged off-road
driving.
Hill start assist will aid you when pulling away on
a hill. For further information about hill start
assist, see ( Y
page 149).
Do not switch to transmission position N when
driving off-road. If you try to brake the vehicle
using the service brake, you could lose control
of the vehicle. If the gradient is too steep for your
vehicle, drive back down in reverse gear.
Always observe the approach/departure angle
values ( Y
page 443).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability Always observe the maximum gradient climbing
ability values ( Y
page 444).
Hilltops When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator immediately
before reaching the brow of the hill. Make use of
the vehicle's own impetus to travel over the
brow.
This style of driving prevents: R
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill R
the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill R
Drive slowly. R
Do not drive at an angle down steep inclines.
Steer into the line of fall and drive with the
front wheels aligned straight. Otherwise, the
vehicle could slip sideways, tip and rollover. R
Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand pad-
dle shifter before tackling steep downhill gra-
dients. R
Activate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake
gently. When doing so, make sure that the
vehicle is facing in the direction of the line of
fall. R
Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.190
Driving tips
Driving and parking