2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV Owners Manual

The vehicle is raised by 30 mm.
The vehicle changes from the Offroaddrive pro-
gram to the Comfortdrive program if you drive
faster than 110 km/h.
The Please Please reduce
reducespeed
speedmessage appears in
the multifunction display.
Offroad Plus drive program :
DYNAMIC SELECT controller
; Offroad Plus drive program indicator lamp
Select the Offroad Plus drive program for rough
terrain, e.g. for steep and/or uneven terrain or
for driving on rocky terrain.
Your vehicle has an automatically activated dif-
ferential lock for the transfer case. It controls
the balance between the front and rear axles.
The differential lock improves the vehicle's trac-
tion. 4ETS (Y page 72) controls the balance
between both wheels on an axle.
Selecting the Offroad Plus drive program X To select a drive program: turn DYNAMIC
SELECT controller :until indicator lamp ;
lights up.
The Drive program "Offroad Plus"
Drive program "Offroad Plus"
Max. speed 40 km/h
Max. speed 40 km/h message appears in
the multifunction display.
R The Offroad Plus drive program is selected
and the vehicle is raised by 30 mm com-
pared with the Offroaddrive program.
R DSR is switched on.
R The differential lock is closed.
You can select the Offroad Plus drive program at speeds below 40 km/h.
The Offroad Plus drive program automatically
switches to the Offroad drive program if you
drive faster than 45 km/h. ThePlease
Please reduce reduce
speed
speed message appears in the multifunction
display. Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y
page 176).
LOW RANGE offroad gear (vehicles with
the Off-Road Engineering package) Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you select the LOW RANGE off-road gear on a slippery road surface, the wheels could lose traction:
R if you release the accelerator pedal when
the vehicle is in motion
R if Off-road ABS intervenes when braking
If the wheels lose traction, it will no longer be
possible to steer the vehicle. This increases
the risk of skidding and having an accident.
Never select the LOW RANGE off-road gear
when driving on slippery road surfaces. G
WARNING
If you do not wait for the transfer case gear
change process to complete, the transfer
case could remain in the neutral position. The power transmission to the driven wheels is
then interrupted. There is a danger of 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. 230
Driving systemsDriving and parking

General notes
:
LOW RANGE offroad gear button
; LOW RANGE offroad gear indicator lamp HIGH RANGE
Position for all normal on-
road driving conditions.
LOW RANGE
Off-road position for driving
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 posi-
tion. The drive torque is cor-
respondingly higher as a
result.
Do not use LOW RANGE:
R on slippery road surfaces,
e.g. in the event of slush
R on snow or ice-covered
roads
R if you have snow chains
on your vehicle The LOW RANGE offroad gear assists you when
driving off-road and when fording. When LOW
RANGE is engaged, the engine’s performance
characteristics and the gearshifting character-
istics of the automatic transmission are adapted
for this purpose.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 176). 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 HIGH RANGE to LOW
RANGE if:
R the engine is running
R the transmission is in position N
R you are driving at speeds below 40 km/h
X Press LOW RANGE button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes.
When the gear change is complete, indicator
lamp ;lights up. LOW RANGE indicator
appears in the multifunction display and in the
status indicator.
While indicator lamp ;is flashing, you can
cancel the gear change by pressing LOW
RANGE button :again.
i You cannot activate LOW RANGE if the
SPORT drive program is activated. The LOW LOW
RANGE RANGE Not Notin
indrive
drive program
program SPORT
SPORTmes-
sage then appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
From LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE ! Only change from HIGH RANGE to LOW
RANGE if:
R the engine is running
R the transmission is in position N
R if you are driving at speeds below
70 km/h X
Press LOW RANGE button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes.
When the gear change is complete, indicator
lamp ;goes out. In the multifunction dis-
play, the LOW RANGE Off
LOW RANGE Off message appears
and the status indicator goes out.
While indicator lamp ;is flashing, you can
cancel the gear change by pressing LOW
RANGE button :again. Driving systems
231Driving and parking Z

Messages in the multifunction display
If a gear change process has not been successful, the following messages may be displayed in the
multifunction display: Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions LOW RANGE Max.
LOW RANGE Max.
speed 40 km/h speed 40 km/h You have been driving faster than 40 km/h. Additionally, the indicator
lamp on the button in the centre console blinks.
X Drive more slowly to carry out the gear change process. LOW RANGE Shift to
LOW RANGE Shift to
position N briefly position N briefly The transmission is in position
Dand you are driving at below
40 km/h.
X Shift the transmission to Nto complete the gear change process. LOW RANGE Shifting
LOW RANGE Shifting
cancelled Please cancelled Please
reactivate reactivate The gear change process was not carried out.
X Maintain all gear change conditions and carry out the gear change
process again. LOW RANGE Stop
LOW RANGE Stop
Apply parking brake Apply parking brake A warning tone also sounds. The gear change process has not been
completed. LOW RANGE is in the neutral position. There is no con-
nection between the engine and the drive wheels.
! Do not drive any further. You could otherwise damage the vehi-
cle’s drive train.
X Stop the vehicle. Take into account the road and traffic conditions
when doing so.
X Apply the electric parking brake (Y page 170).
X Repeat the gear change process.
If the gear change process has been carried out, the LOW RANGE LOW RANGE
Stop Apply parking brake
Stop Apply parking brake message disappears.Driving dynamics display in the
COMAND display (vehicles with the Off-
Road Engineering-package) General notes
The driving dynamics display allows you to see
the selected drive program and additional infor-
mation about the vehicle's operating status in
the COMAND display. :
Drive program selected
; Status of the differential lock for the transfer
case
= Accelerator pedal position shown in %
? Brake pedal position shown in %
A Status of the LOW RANGE offroad gear
B Angle of inclination
C Steering angle
D Uphill or downhill gradient in percentage 232
Driving systemsDriving and parking

E
Level control
F Compass with angle scale
Activating the driving dynamics display X
Switch on COMAND Online. You can find fur-
ther information in the separate COMAND
Online operating instructions.
X Press button :.
The driving dynamics display appears in the
COMAND display. Towing a trailer
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Vehicles with level control:
The vehicle level may be changed uninten-
tionally, e.g. by other persons. If this happens while you are coupling or decoupling a trailer,
you could become trapped. In addition, other
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.
When coupling or decoupling a trailer, make
sure that no one:
R opens or closes the doors or the tailgate
R initiates a level change or turns the
DYNAMIC SELECT Controller
R locks or unlocks the vehicle G
WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle/trailer
combination if it begins to swerve. The vehi- cle/trailer combination could even overturn.
There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to
straighten out the vehicle/trailer combina-
tion by increasing speed. Decrease your
speed and do not countersteer. Brake if nec-
essary. G
WARNING
If the maximum permissible load for a carrier system is exceeded, the carrier could come
loose from the vehicle and endanger other
road users. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Never exceed the maximum permissible load
when using a carrier.
Exceeding the maximum permissible nose-
weight of the trailer drawbar on the ball coupling
may cause damage to the following:
R your vehicle
R the trailer
R the ball coupling
R trailer tow hitch
The vehicle/trailer combination could become
unstable.
If the noseweight used is lower than the mini-
mum permissible noseweight, the vehicle/
trailer combination could also become unstable. To avoid hazardous situations:
R make sure to check the noseweight before
each journey
R use a drawbar noseweight as close as possi-
ble to the maximum noseweight
R do not exceed the maximum permissible
noseweight
R do not use a noseweight lower than the min-
imum noseweight
When reversing the vehicle towards the trailer,
make sure there is nobody between the trailer
and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If you do not couple the trailer to the towing vehicle
correctly, the trailer could become detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight
R the permissible trailer load Towing a trailer
233Driving and parking Z

R
the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
The applicable permissible values, which must
not be exceeded, can be found:
R in your vehicle documents
R on the identification plates of the trailer tow
hitch and the trailer
R on the vehicle identification plate
If the values differ, the lowest value applies.
You will find the values approved by the manu-
facturer on the vehicle identification plates and
those for the towing vehicle under "Technical
data" (Y page 390).
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to
when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradient-
climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R has a larger turning circle
This can impair the vehicle's handling charac-
teristics. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Maintain a safe distance. Drive carefully.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your speed to the current road and weather conditions. Do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed for
your vehicle/trailer combination. Notes on towing a trailer
General notes !
If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
changes to the engine cooling system may be necessary, depending on the vehicle type.
If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
observe the anchorage points on the chassis.
Check the tyre pressures when towing a trailer.
You will find the values in the tyre pressure table in the vehicle fuel filler flap (Y page 364).Please note that when towing a trailer, the fol-
lowing driving systems have limited availability
or are not available at all.
R Parking Assist PARKTRONIC (Y page 201)
R Blind Spot Assist (Y page 219)
R Active Lane Keeping Assist (Y page 224)
R Parking Pilot (Y page 204)
On vehicles without level control, the height of
the ball coupling will alter according to the load
placed on the vehicle. If necessary, use a trailer
with a height-adjustable drawbar.
You will find permissible trailer loads under
"Technical data" (Y page 390).
Driving tips Observe the information on ESP
®
trailer stabili-
sation (Y page 74) and on pulling away with a
trailer (Y page 151).
Select the Comfortdrive program using the
DYNAMIC SELECT controller (Y page 155).
The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations depends on the type of
trailer. Before beginning the journey, check the
trailer's documents to see what the maximum
permissible speed is for your trailer. Observe the legally prescribed maximum speed in the rele-
vant country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the maxi-
mum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. See the "Technical Data"
section to find out whether this applies to your
vehicle (Y page 390). If you utilise any of the
added maximum rear axle load when towing a
trailer, the vehicle/trailer combination may not
exceed a maximum speed of 100 km/h for rea-
sons concerning the operating permit. This also
applies in countries in which the permissible
maximum speed for vehicle/trailer combina-
tions is above 100 km/h.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different to when driving
without a trailer and the vehicle will consume
more fuel.
Use the left-hand gearshift paddle to shift to a
lower gear on long and steep downhill gradients.
This also applies if you have activated cruise
control, the speed limiter or Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC.
This will use the braking effect of the engine, so
less braking will be required to maintain the
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the 234
Towing a trailerDriving an
d parking

brake system 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 under any circumstances.
X Do not countersteer.
X Brake, if necessary.
R Maintain a greater distance to 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 from a standstill, decrease with increas- ing altitude. Swivelling the ball coupling out/in
Using the switch in the driver's door G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not engaged, the trailer
may come loose. There is a risk of an accident. Make sure that the ball coupling is securely
engaged and locked in position.
! Do not attempt to speed the up the swing-
out procedure by applying additional pressure
with your foot. The system could otherwise be
mechanically damaged.
In order to tow a trailer with your vehicle, you
must swing out the ball coupling using the
switch in the driver's door or in the tailgate.
The trailer socket is integrated into the ball cou- pling and swivels out with it.
Release the ball coupling only when the swivel
range is unobstructed. Swivelling out:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch the ignition on.
X Pull switch :briefly.
After a short time, the ball coupling swivels
out from under the rear bumper. It can take up to seven seconds before the ball coupling
visibly swivels out.
X Remove the protective cap from the ball cou-
pling and store it in a safe place.
Until the ball coupling vertically engages in a
securely locked position:
R indicator lamp ;flashes
R the multifunction display shows the display
message Trailer coupling extend‐ Trailer coupling extend‐
ing...
ing... .
The ball coupling swivels back into the out-of-
use position when:
R you drive off before the Trailer
Trailercoupling
coupling
extending...
extending... display message has disap-
peared from the multifunction display
R the ball coupling encounters an obstacle in
the swivel range
Folding in:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the trailer cables are disconnected.
X Place the protective cap on the ball coupling.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch the ignition on.
X Pull switch :briefly.
After a short time, the ball coupling swivels in under the rear bumper. It can take up to seven
seconds before the ball coupling visibly swiv- els in. Towing a trailer
235Driving and parking Z

Until the ball coupling engages in a securely
locked position under the bumper:
R indicator lamp ;flashes
R the multifunction display shows the display
message Trailer coupling extend‐
Trailer coupling extend‐
ing...
ing...
The ball coupling swivels back into the out-of-
use position when:
R you drive off before the Trailer
Trailer coupling
coupling
extending...
extending... display message has disap-
peared from the multifunction display
R the ball coupling encounters an obstacle in
the swivel range
Using the switch in the tailgate Swivelling out:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Open the tailgate.
X Pull switch :briefly.
After a short time, the ball coupling swivels
out from under the rear bumper. It can take up to seven seconds before the ball coupling
visibly swivels out.
X Remove the protective cap from the ball cou-
pling and store it in a safe place.
Until the ball coupling vertically engages in a
securely locked position:
R indicator lamp ;flashes
R the multifunction display shows the display
message Trailer coupling extend‐
Trailer coupling extend‐
ing... ing... The ball coupling swivels back into the out-of-
use position when:
R you drive off before the Trailer
Trailercoupling
coupling
extending...
extending... display message has disap-
peared from the multifunction display
R the ball coupling encounters an obstacle in
the swivel range
Folding in:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the trailer cables are disconnected.
X Place the protective cap on the ball coupling.
X Open the tailgate.
X Pull switch :briefly.
After a short time, the ball coupling swivels in under the rear bumper. It can take up to sevenseconds before the ball coupling visibly swiv-
els in.
Until the ball coupling engages in a securely
locked position under the bumper:
R indicator lamp ;flashes
R the multifunction display shows the display
message Trailer coupling extend‐ Trailer coupling extend‐
ing...
ing...
The ball coupling swivels back into the out-of-
use position when:
R you drive off before the Trailer
Trailercoupling
coupling
extending...
extending... display message has disap-
peared from the multifunction display
R the ball coupling encounters an obstacle in
the swivel range Coupling up a trailer
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Vehicles with level control:
If you disconnect the trailer cable, the vehicle is lowered. This can cause you or others to
become trapped between the vehicle body
and tyres, or underneath the vehicle. This
poses a risk of injury.
Make sure that no-one is in the immediate
vicinity of the wheel arch or underneath the
vehicle when disconnecting the trailer cable. 236
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package
!
Before beginning the journey, make sure
that the trailer support wheel is completely
raised. Otherwise, the trailer or the vehicle
could be damaged by the lowered trailer sup- port wheel during the journey.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering
package:
set the vehicle level to normal level
(Y page 192).
X Vehicles without the Off-Road Engineer-
ing package: select theComfortdrive pro-
gram using the DYNAMIC SELECT controller
(Y page 197).
X Switch off the engine.
X Close the doors and tailgate.
X Position the trailer horizontally behind the
vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
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 and
downwards and check whether the corre-
sponding turn signal indicator on the trailer is
flashing.
A connected trailer is only detected when the
electrical connection is established correctly
and when the lighting system is working prop-
erly. The function of other systems also depends on this, for example:
R ESP ®
R Parking Assist PARKTRONIC
R Parking Pilot
R Active Blind Spot Assist
R Active Lane Keeping Assist
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
if
you couple up a trailer, the vehicle initially
remains at the selected level of the drive pro- gram set. Observe the following when cou-
pling up a trailer:
R If the normal level was not selected previ-
ously, the vehicle automatically adopts the normal level starting from a speed of 30 km/h. Even at higher speeds, it does not
drop below the normal level.
R Vehicle levels below the normal level are
not available.
R The raised level is available up to a speed of
30 km/h.
R This also applies when using accessories
that are plugged into the socket of the
trailer tow hitch (e.g. a bicycle rack).
R Before driving with a trailer, please observe
the information on the trailer support
wheel. Uncoupling a trailer
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with an engaged over- run brake, you could trap your hand between
the vehicle and the trailer drawbar. This poses a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. G
WARNING
Vehicles with level control:
If you disconnect the trailer cable, the vehicle is lowered. This can cause you or others to
become trapped between the vehicle body
and tyres, or underneath the vehicle. This
poses a risk of injury.
Make sure that no-one is in the immediate
vicinity of the wheel arch or underneath the
vehicle when disconnecting 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.
! Remove the adapter cable before folding in
the ball coupling. You could otherwise dam-
age the rear bumper and the adapter cable.
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package X
Shift the transmission to position P.
X Apply the electric parking brake. Towing a trailer
237Driving and parking Z