2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE towing

tem and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly. If you need additional
braking, depress the brake pedal repeatedly
rather than continuously.
Driving tips If the trailer swings from side to side: X
Do not accelerate. X
Do not counter-steer. X
Brake if necessary. R
Maintain a greater distance from the vehicle
in front than when driving without a trailer. R
Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake gen-
tly at first to allow the trailer to run on. Then,
increase the braking force rapidly. R
The values given for gradient-climbing capa-
bilities from a standstill refer to sea level.
When driving in mountainous areas, note that
the power output of the engine and, conse-
quently, the vehicle's gradient-climbing capa-
bility, decreases with increasing altitude.
Installing the ball coupling
G WARNING
If the ball coupling is not correctly installed
and secured, it can come loose during the
journey and endanger other road users. There
is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter.
G WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed correctly or
not secured with the bolt provided and the
corresponding spring cotter, the trailer may
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter. G WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed and secured
correctly the trailer may come loose. There is
a risk of an accident.
Install and secure the ball coupling as descri-
bed in the ball coupling installation instruc-
tions. Make sure that the ball coupling is
installed and secured correctly before every
journey.
X
Pull protective cap C in the direction of the
arrow, out of the ball coupling recess. X
Stow protective cap C so that it cannot be
thrown around.
Observe the loading guidelines ( Y
page 329)
and the safety notes regarding stowage
spaces ( Y
page 330).258
Towing a trailer
Driving an d parking

X
Establish the electrical connection between
the vehicle and the trailer. X
Check that the trailer lighting system is work-
ing. X
Push the combination switch upwards/down-
wards and check whether the corresponding
turn signal on the trailer flashes.
A trailer that is connected is recognized only
when the electrical connection is established
correctly and when the lighting system is work-
ing properly. The function of other systems also
depends on this, for example: R
ESP ®
R
PARKTRONIC R
Active Parking Assist R
Active Blind Spot Assist R
Active Lane Keeping Assist
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package: if you
couple up a trailer, the vehicle always remains
at normal level. When coupling up a trailer,
please observe the following: R
If the normal level has not been set man-
ually, the vehicle is automatically lowered
to normal level. This is the case if a speed of
5 mph (8 km/h) is reached. R
The Sport drive program 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 leng th).
M ost 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 fas-
tened to the vehicle's trailer coupling, 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 tow-
ing 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 restric-
tions. Make sure that your car/trailer combina-
tion complies with the local regulations: R
in your place of residence R
in the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide reli-
able information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer: R
To gain driving experience and to become
accustomed to the new handling characteris-
tics, 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
using the brake controller and check whether
the brakes function correctly. R
Secure 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 regular
intervals that the load is firmly secured. If the
tra i ler is equipped with trailer lights and
brakes, check the trailer to ensure that these
are working. R
Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when driving
without one. Avoid sudden steering move-
ments. R
The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly, has a decreased
gradient climbing capability and a longer
braking distance.
It is more susceptible to side winds and
requires more careful steering.260
Towing a trailer
Driving an d parking

R
If possible, do not brake suddenly, but instead
depress the brake pedal moderately at first so
that the trailer can activate its brakes. Then
increase the pressure on the brake pedal. R
If the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears on uphill or downhill gra-
dients, 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 driving downhill, shift to a lower gear to
utilize the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if instal-
led, the trailer brakes. R
If the coolant temperature increases dramat-
ically while the air-conditioning system is
switched on, switch off the air-conditioning
system.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by open-
ing the windows and switching the ventilation
blower and the interior temperature to the
highest level. R
When overtaking, pay particular attention to
the extended length of your vehicle/trailer
combination.
Due to the length of the vehicle/trailer com-
bination, 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 WARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with the overrun
brake engaged, you could trap your hand
between the vehicle and the trailer drawbar.
There is a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer if the overrun brake
is engaged.
G WARNING
Vehicles with level control:
The vehicle is lowered as soon as you discon-
nect the trailer cable. This could result in your
limbs or those of other people that are
between the vehicle body and tires or under- neath the vehicle being trapped. There is a
risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the immediate
vicinity of the wheel housings or under the
vehicle when you disconnect the trailer cable.
! Do not disconnect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your vehicle could
be damaged by the rebounding of the overrun
brake. X
Shift the transmission to position P .X
Apply the vehicle's electric parking brake. X
Start the engine. X
Close the doors and tailgate. X
Apply the trailer's parking brake. X
Detach the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer. X
Switch off the engine.
Permissible trailer loads and drawbar
loads
Weight specifications
Maximum allowable gross mass The gross vehicle weight of the trailer is calcu-
lated by adding the weight of the trailer to the
weight of the load and equipment on the trailer.
You will find installing dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" ( Y
page 444).
Permissible noseweight
You will find installing dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" ( Y
page 444).
Loading a trailer R
When loading the trailer, make sure that nei-
ther the permissible gross weight of the trailer
nor the gross vehicle weight are exceeded.
The permissible gross vehicle weight is indi-
cated on the identification plate located on
the B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle.
You can find the maximum permissible values
on the type plates of your vehicle and the
trailer. When calculating how much weightTowing a trailer 261
Driving and parking Z

the vehicle and trailer may carry, pay atten-
tion to the respective lowest values. R
The trailer drawbar load on the ball coupling
must be added to the rear axle load to avoid
exceeding the permissible gross axle weight.
The permissible gross vehicle weight is indi-
cated on the identification plate located on
the B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle.
i Mercedes-Benz recommends a trailer load
where the trailer drawbar noseweight
accounts for 8 % to 15 % of the trailer's per-
missible gross weight.
i The weight of additional accessories, pas-
sengers, and cargo reduces the permissible
trailer load and drawbar load for your vehicle.
Checking the vehicle and trailer weight R
To check that the weights of the towing vehi-
cle and the trailer comply with the maximum
permissible values, have the vehicle/trailer
combination (including the driver, passen-
gers, and cargo with a fully laden trailer)
weighed on a calibrated weighbridge. R
Check the gross axle weight rating of the front
and rear axles, the gross weight of the trailer
and the trailer drawbar noseweight.
Removing the ball coupling X
Remove the spring cotter. X
Remove the bolt from the ball coupling
recess. X
Remove the ball coupling from the ball cou-
pling recess. X
Clean the ball coupling if it is dirty. X
Stow the ball coupling so that it cannot be
thrown around.
Observe the loading guidelines ( Y
page 329)
and the safety notes regarding stowage spaces
( Y
page 330).
Information on cleaning and care of the trailer
tow hitch ( Y
page 366).
Trailer power supply
! Accessories with a maximum power con-
sumption of 180 W can be connected to the
permanent power supply. You must not charge a trailer battery using the
power supply.
The trailer socket of your vehicle is equipped at
the factory with a permanent power supply.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 4.
The trailer's permanent power supply is
switched off in the event of low vehicle supply
voltage and after six hours at the latest.
A qualified specialist workshop can provide
more information about installing the trailer
electrics.262
Towing a trailer
Driving an d parking

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Onl y E-MODE Availa ‐
ble Power Limite d
Refuel Immediately PLUG-I N HYBRID vehicles:
The fuel tan k has been run dry and th e combustion engin e has been
switched off .
A warning tone also sounds.
The vehicl e will be powered by electrical energ y only. Performance is
restricted and th e vehicl e may accelerate mor e slowly than normal.X
Refue l at th e neares t gas station without fail .
In th e "Total range and electric range" menu, you can display th e
approximat e range of th e vehicl e ( Y
page 250).
Withou t starting
engine again, con ‐
sul t workshop You canno t start th e engin e again due to a malfunction .
A warning tone also sounds.
If th e engin e is running:X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
If you switch off th e engine:X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 178).X
Notify a qualified specialist workshop or breakdown service.
á Towing Not Permit ‐
ted See Operator' s
Manual The hybrid drive system is faulty. X
Hav e th e vehicl e transporte d on a transporte r or trailer to th e near-
est qualified specialist workshop .

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Blind Spo t Assist
Not Available Whe n
Towing a Traile r
See Operator' s Man ‐
ual or A ct. Blind
Spo t Assist Not
Available Whe n Tow ‐
ing a Traile r See
Operator' s Manual Blind Spot Assis t or Active Blind Spot Assis t is deactivated while tow-
ing a trailer .
You hav e established th e electrical connection between th e trailer and
your vehicle. X
Press v on th e steering whee l to confirm th e display message .
Blind Spo t Assist
Inoperative or A ctive
Blind Spo t Assist
Inoperative Blind Spot Assis t or Active Blind Spot Assis t is defective.
The yellow c indicator lamp s also ligh t up in th e exterio r mirrors.X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
Par k Assist Canceled The driver's door is open .X
Repeat th e parking gap measuremen t and parking process wit h th e
driver's door closed .
You hav e inadvertentl y touched th e multifunction steering whee l while
steering intervention was active .X
Whil e steering intervention is active , mak e sur e that th e multifunc-
tion steering whee l is no t touched unintentionally.
The vehicl e has started to skid and ES P ®
has intervened.X
Use Active Parking Assis t again later ( Y
page 213).
Par k Assist Inoper ‐
ative PARKTRONI C is malfunctioning or faulty.X
Follow th e instruction s and helpful hints in th e "Problem s wit h
PARKTRONIC" section ( Y
page 213).
If th e multifunction display still shows th e display message :X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
Active Parking Assis t is unavailable or faulty.X
Switc h off th e ignition and restar t th e engine.
If Active Parking Assis t continues to be unavailable (the ] symbol
does no t appear in th e multifunction display):X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
Par k Assist Finished The vehicl e is parked. A warning tone also sounds.
The display message disappear s automatically.
DISTRONIC PLU S Off DISTRONI C PLU S has been deactivated.
If a warning tone also sounds, DISTRONI C PLU S has switched itself off .
( Y
page 193)
DISTRONIC PLU S Now
Available DISTRONI C PLU S is operational again after having been temporarily
unavailable . You can no w reactivat e DISTRONI C PLU S ( Y
page 193).306
Display messages
On-board computer and displays

Stowage spaces
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If objects in the passenger compartment are
stowed incorrectly, they can slide or be
thrown around and hit vehicle occupants.
There is a risk of injury, particularly in the
event of sudden braking or a sudden change
in direction. R
Always stow objects so that they cannot be
thrown around in such situations. R
Always make sure that objects do not pro-
trude from stowage spaces, parcel nets or
stowage nets. R
Close the lockable stowage spaces while
driving. R
Stow and secure objects that are heavy,
hard, pointy, sharp-edged, fragile or too
large in the cargo compartment.
Observe the loading guidelines ( Y
page 329).
Glove box
X
To open: pull handle C and open glove box
flap D .X
To close: fold glove box flap D upwards until
it engages.
i The glove box can be cooled ( Y
page 142). G
Glove box unlocked H
Glove box locked
The glove box can be locked and unlocked using
the mechanical key.
Partition C for stowing flat objects is located in
the upper section of the glove box. It can be
removed to increase the stowage space in the
glove box. X
To remove: pull out partition CX
To install: insert partition C and push it back
until it engages.
Stowage compartment under the arm-
rest330
Stowage areas
Stowage and features

lished between the Customer Assistance Center
and the vehicle occupants. R
If the vehicle occupants respond, the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center
attempts to get more information on the
emergency. R
If there is no response from the vehicle occu-
pants, an ambulance is immediately sent to
the vehicle.
If no voice connection can be established to the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center,
the system has been unable to initiate an emer-
gency call.
This can occur, for example, if the relevant
mobile phone network is not available. The indi-
cator lamp in the SOS button flashes continu-
ously.
The Call Failed message appears in the mul-
tifunction display and must be confirmed.
In this case, summon assistance by other
means.
Making an emergency call
X
To initiate an emergency call manually:
press cover C briefly to open.X
Press and hold SOS button D for at least one
second.
The indicator lamp in SOS button D flashes
until the emergency call is concluded. X
Wait for a voice connection to the Mercedes-
Benz Customer Assistance Center. X
After the emergency call, close cover C .
If the mobile phone network is unavailable,
mbrace will not be able to make the emergency
call. If you leave the vehicle immediately after
pressing the SOS button, you will not know
whether mbrace placed the emergency call. In
this case, always summon assistance by other
means. Roadside Assistance button X
To call Roadside Assistance: press Road-
side Assistance button C .
This initiates a call to the Mercedes-Benz Cus-
tomer Assistance Center.
The indicator lamp in Roadside Assistance
button C flashes while the call is active. The
Connecting Call message appears in the
multifunction display. The audio output is
muted.
If a connection can be made, the Call Con‐
nected message appears in the multifunction
display.
If a mobile phone network and GPS reception
are available, the system transfers data to the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center,
for example: R
current location of the vehicle R
vehicle identification number
The multimedia system display indicates that a
call is active. During the call, you can change to
the navigation menu by pressing the NAVI but-
ton on the multimedia system, for example.
Voice output is not available in this case.
A voice connection is established between the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center
and the vehicle occupants.
From the remote malfunction diagnosis, the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center
can ascertain the nature of the problem
( Y
page 350).
The Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter either sends a qualified Mercedes-Benz tech-
nician or makes arrangements for your vehicle
to be transported to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
You may be charged for services such as repair
work and/or towing. Features 347
Stowage and features Z